Magic Burns

Page 98

 

 

 

I felt it. It had pulsed through me like a wild wine ever since this magic wave had hit. Power twisted and wound within me, wanting to break loose, but I had held it in check this long and I wasn’t about to let myself off the leash now.

 

“Can you dance?” he asked.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Dance with me, Kate!”

 

And we were off, spinning and twirling through the snow, raising glittering snowflakes with our feet. The snow refused to fall but chased us, following our movement like a light shroud. It was a wild dance, primitive and fast, and all I could do was follow his lead.

 

“I need some information,” I yelled at a strategic moment.

 

He clamped my waist, picked me up like I weighed nothing, and spun around. “Ask.”

 

“Too complicated for a fast dance.”

 

He set me into the snow and held me close in a classic stance, one hand on my waist, one cradling my fingers. “Then we’ll dance slowly. Put your arms around me.”

 

No!“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

 

We moved gently through the snow. “Things are chasing me.” Which wasn’t strictly true, but considering the circumstances, brevity was a virtue. “They’re called reeves. They are undead. Their hair can tangle you up and hold you like a lasso.”

 

“I don’t know what they are.”

 

“They are piloted by a tall creature who wears a white habit like a monk. He has tentacles. His name is Bolgor the Shepherd. I was told he’s a Fomorian.”

 

“I don’t know him, either.”

 

Damn it, Saiman. “What would a sea-demon want in our world?”

 

“What we all want: life.” Saiman leaned in close, his lips nearly brushing my cheek. His eyes drew me in, and I knew that if I looked too long into them, I would forget why I came here.

 

“This Shepherd’s hunting a young girl. Can you research why?”

 

“I could, but there is too much magic. I can’t concentrate. I would rather dance. It’s a magic time, Kate!

 

Time of the gods.”

 

The thought of mentioning money briefly popped into my head. But then he always gave me a discount, both because I had once saved his life and because he found me entertaining. He wasn’t that interested in money even during normal time, and right now he was simply too far gone.