Benny beamed. “That’s the one. You have done some studying yourself.”
“Oh, wow. I read a book by one of your ancestors. It helped me solve a problem.”
“Really? Which one?”
“Lenora Ganger.”
“Oh, that’s my mom. She’s older than she looks.” Benny smiled. “Was it a textbook?”
“Oh. No. It was a romance and a diary rolled into one.”
Smith was the shifter; he looked back at her in the mirror and grinned. “I think Benny might be willing to trade you for that one. It doesn’t seem that she has it.”
“It isn’t mine to trade.”
Benny smiled. “To whom does it belong?”
“The owner of Reegar Hall. That is where I live.”
Benny’s expression was shocked. “I used to visit Reegar Hall. I don’t remember who owned it, though.”
“Technically, the college owns it, but Reegar is the spectre of the hall. It is his support, and it keeps him going.”
Tremble piped up, “He was mourned by one of my clan.”
“Liirick?”
Tremble nodded. “How did you know?”
“He comes by, and he and Reegar knock boots now and then. Mostly, when he is doing speaking engagements at the college.”
Tremble looked around Benny in astonishment. “How is that possible?”
Imara wrinkled her nose. “I am a Death Keeper. My passive talent is boosting the presence of the spectres. Reegar is as solid as he wants to be.”
Argyle turned around in his seat, and he gave her a piercing look with his red gaze. “Are you single?”
“No. I have a boyfriend.”
Benny grinned. “Do tell. We have a long drive before we get to the college.”
“Oh, can we stop at Ritual Space? I have to drop this off.” She held up her closed fist.
Smith nodded. “Wherever you need to go. Iofer says that you saved their teammate.” Smith grinned before he turned back to driving. “And we can go very fast.”
The acceleration to the interstate was very tangible.
Benny turned to her again. “So, tell me about your fella or lady, and then, let me know what is clenched in your hand and why is it turning black?”
Imara sighed. “I am holding the spectral amalgamation of seventeen mages who were not pleasant men. There has been a rash of these kinds of stones recently. The right combination of faded spectres can make an incredibly powerful talisman, but this one is just dangerous.”
“And why is your hand turning black?”
She grumbled, “It is trying to take power from me, so I have to deaden the area for containment. It will be fine, I hope.”
Benny frowned. “Well, while we rocket down the highway, I am going to return to the topic I am interested in. How did you meet your boyfriend?”
Imara wrinkled her nose. “We met in class.”
“Aww, did he help you with your homework?” Argyle had a strange singsong to his voice.
“No, he helped me with a skeevy instructor, and I helped him with his homework.” She smirked and checked the stone. There was a little leakage, so she had to change her technique. Argyle was getting influenced.
She pulled in the energy she needed to contain the stone and let the band of black form around her wrist. She watched the vampire shake his head to clear it.
Benny raised her brows. “What was that?”
“Leakage. The technically undead are more susceptible. Sorry, Argyle. I have it now.”
Mr. E crept down her arm. Let me have it. This is doing damage to you.
Are you okay with the occupants of the vehicle?
Yes. My investigations indicate that their link to the demon king who spawned them has been severed. It is a daring and complicated move. I must say, I am impressed, now give me the stone before it hurts you.
Thank you. If it gives you trouble, I will take it back.
“My familiar is going to take the stone. There is going to be a bit of a release of power, and then, things should be fine.” She watched the kitten crouch over the stone, and when he gave her a slight nod, she opened her hand.
A slight flare of energy and the pulse of power shut off. The colour started to return to her hand immediately.
“Thanks, Mr. E.” She smiled, and he walked over to her lap and curled up.
“Wow. Is he seriously a kitten?” Benny’s fingers were flexing.
“Yes, but wait until he has hacked up the stone before you try and pet him. He has warmed to the demon influence in you and your men, but he isn’t a fan in general.”
Tremble laughed. “He picked up on that?”
“Your connection? No, your posture on your vehicle did. You were all equal, and all fixated on Benny’s walk. That indicated intimacy.”
Smith nodded. “Body language is key. What do you and your boyfriend do for private time?”
She smirked. “We find a public place and go to a movie or something. No sex until I finish college. Mr. E is willing to enforce it.”
The entire group was shocked. Imara laughed, and Mr. E started purring. It was interesting. She had never murdered a conversation before.
Chapter Nine
They made the three-hour trip to Ritual Space in ninety minutes. Mr. E was growing cool with his efforts to contain the spectres, and she wanted to get it out of him.
Adrea came out to the parking area with a smile that turned into delight. “Benny!”
Benny passed Tremble and hugged Adrea.
Imara undid her seatbelt and carefully carried Mr. E to the proprietor of Ritual Space. “Hi, Adrea.”
Adrea came forward and hugged her as well, her white hair swinging around her face. “Not again. Okay, come this way.”
“If Blueberry is in, he can lead me to the stones.”
“Of course. I will see you when everything is contained.”
Imara nodded and clutched her limp familiar to her as she entered the space. Blueberry was waiting, and he hopped ahead of her at a good pace, leaving her to stride after him and into the space between realities where it was safe to store this sort of spirit.
Blueberry sat next to the open gateway on his hind legs, and his expression indicated that he was willing to wait.
Imara set Mr. E down on the wide stone bench, and she tickled him. He kicked his legs and opened his eyes.
“Hack it up.”
She petted his fur and held him as he started hacking. For a moment, it seemed that it wouldn’t come up, but then, the small crystal dropped to the stone.
She sighed and picked up Mr. E with one hand while placing the stone into the arc above the bench.
“Right. Gentlemen, I want the bossiest of you to come out now.” She sent a trickle of power into the stone, and a torso formed above the containment band.
“I don’t need to talk to a lowly mage.”
“I am not just a mage, but keep insulting me. I will just do this.”
She grabbed his energy and tore it apart, shredding it into particles so small that they were only good for blending with the next wave.
Sighing, she spoke to the stone. “I will return, I will question all of you, and I want to know who you are. If you give me a satisfactory answer, I will put you into a soul stone and give you a second life as a rejuvenated spectre. Think it over.”