Page 72 of First Ritual

I watched her for a time, then let my attention wander. There was a tall man circulating who had the deepest voice I’d ever heard. He nodded at me from across the room but didn’t approach. Could he feel my resistance? If he was a master of divination, then likely.

“Mordgug, you sly bastard.” Rooke chuckled.

She’d forgotten I was here. This Rooke was absorbed by her work and 100 percent in her element. The life of a magus was meant to be spent fine-tuning our gifts and furthering our understanding and skill. To do so was a natural drive and offered respect to the mother who’d given us power. To hone our craft was a dedication and gratitude to the work of our ancestors also. Some magus felt the drive far more than others, but all of us had it.

By the time my stomach rumbled, Rooke’s nose was nearly touching one particular rune. She’d been whispering to herself in a floating voice for the last twenty minutes. She was traveling down her divination affinity, well and truly.

As I walked out, another boom rocked the cave system. The screen descended and there was a mass surge of the magus in divination in their clamor to see.

I hovered, strangely tempted to watch Fertim’s mission. Where Vero’s mission was just to seize our weapons, our mission was to capture their charm store territory, not just a few charms from within.

My stomach rumbled again.

Food.

The tunnels were empty as I trekked to the eating chamber. Ahead, delighted squeals were interrupted by screams of outrage and full-fledged tantrums. The children were in full lunch-mode. Just before entering the chamber to join them, a spearing pain stopped me dead in my tracks.

“Ouch,” I hissed, doubling over in the tunnel.

I peered down as the bolt of agony ebbed to a pins-and-needles sensation, expecting a dagger to be sticking out under my ribs.

Nothing was there, but I could feel the remnants of pain on my skin.

I tugged at the waistband of my skirt, then pulled my top up. And stared. “Wild, what the fuck have you done?”

18

“Library. Now,” I ordered.

The way the quad’s conversation cut off was music to my ears. But I wasn’t in the mood to enjoy their reaction.

“I’m hungry.” Huxley was the first to resume eating. He paused. “Now I sound like you.”

“I’ll get you a tray of food. Library. Now.”

Wild’s gaze was on me. “What’s happened?”

I swallowed. “Not here.”

“We’ve been fighting all day,” Corentin said. “Wait.” He peered up. “Unless you’d like to get me a tray of food too?”

“That offer isn’t open to you,” I replied coolly.

“Watch that mouth of yours,” he said just as coolly.

I winked. “Only if you watch yours.”

Wild jerked his head at the space between him and Sven. “Sit. You’re drawing attention. We need to eat before we help you. Have you eaten?”

“No,” I snapped.

“Hungry-female phenomenon,” Huxley muttered.

“And I’m nearly at the eating small critters stage,” I shot back.

Wild didn’t seem fazed. “You won’t think clearly if your body doesn’t have what it needs.”

I blew out a breath and stole one of Sven’s sweet potato fries. Long fingers wrapped around mine and forced me to release the food. I’d just opened my mouth to breathe fire on Wild, when he moved my hand to the fries on his plate.