Trial by Fire

“The Councilmen are overcautious,” Gideon said coolly, finally able to rein in his emotions. Carrick nodded in deference, and Gideon continued. “Only hire guards who haven’t been claimed by Lillian. And no one with any ties to the Council or the Coven.”


Carrick exhaled sharply. “You don’t leave me many options.” Carrick regarded Rowan’s dark windows for a moment. “I’ll need something in return.”

Gideon gave him a calculating smile. “How much?”

“Not money,” the Outlander replied. “At least, no more than it requires to find the special sort of help you need. No, if I’m going to run this right, I’ll need more than money. I need the authority to do it. A title.”

Gideon nodded once. “Done. You are now a—what do you think will fit? Captain of the city guard?”

It cost Gideon little to bestow that title. Carrick’s salary would be paid by the city of Salem, not him. He could have his father arrange the appointment easily.

Carrick held out his hand, palm up, in the old way. Gideon laid his palm over Carrick’s and slid his hand up until the two men were grasping each other’s forearms firmly. Gideon briefly recalled that this was an ancient way of proving that you had no blades strapped to your arms and could therefore be trusted. He smiled. Sometimes the Outlander ways were so quaint.

“Done,” Carrick replied.




Sunlight was streaming straight down through the skylight when Lily finally awoke. She sat up and looked around.

She felt completely rested for the first time since she’d come to this world. In fact, she’d never felt this good in her life. The sun was warm on her skin. Lily sensed that she could take that energy, change it, and use it for another purpose. She lay in bed, piecing together why she’d always hated the dark. It was because all kinds of heat and light fueled her, and being separated from the light weakened her. Lily opened her hand and looked at her three willstones. Rowan had been right. She was changed forever.

Lily sat up and saw a glass of water on the bedside table. A tiny card was propped up against it. It said, THIRSTY? in bold uppercase letters. Lily realized that she’d never seen Rowan’s handwriting before. She stared at it, sipping her water, memorizing every swoop and curve.

She swung her legs out of bed and noticed that she’d somehow struggled out of her robe while she slept. Rowan had left a stack of clothes on the floor next to her, with its own accompanying card that read NAKED?. Lily laughed quietly to herself and got dressed. The soft button-down shirt and pajama pants were way too big, but she figured it was better than the robe she’d drenched with sweat during the night.

Lily turned her willstones over in her hand, a stunned smile on her face as she dressed slowly, soaking in every detail. The shape and smell of Rowan’s shirt filled her with so much tenderness that she didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry. Lily realized with a start that she was changed in more ways than one.

She went down the hall, marveling at how aware she was of everything. The feel of the clothes on her body, the texture and springiness of the wooden floor under her feet, everything from the taste of the air to the muffled sound of her steps was clearer to her now. Sharper. Even something as mundane as walking down a hallway became a revelation. She was starting to discern all the different forces at play when she put one foot in front of the other. She could feel the air pressure changing as she moved through it and knew that with a subtle variation in energy—one tiny adjustment inside her willstones—she could will the air around her to be as motionless and silent as a vacuum.