Daeghana manifested in the chambers of her master, the jewel Rory had stolen clutched in her fist. The compulsion of the command dragged her legs forward even as her mind screamed against obedience. This is how Rory feels, a quiet voice said from somewhere deep inside. Daeghana pushed it away. This wasn't the same thing.

"Ah, Daeghana," her master said, turning to face her as she scuffed her feet along the stone floors. "Do you have it?"

A retort died on her lips. She lifted her hand, the amethyst brooch in her palm.

"Good." Her master took the gem, inspecting it. "You're sure it belongs to Princess Cecily?"

"Rory had specific instructions."

"And the princess is none the wiser?"

"Not as far as I'm aware."

"Good. Good. Everything is going our way." Her master turned to the table in the center of the sitting room. "Bring Barbos to me."

Daeghana vanished in an instant, reappearing in the center of a gilded room decorated with velvet furniture. A chubby, balding little man half-rose from his seat, his eyes wide.

Before Barbos could blink, Daeghana leaped upon him, grabbing hold of his tunic. Closing her eyes, she flickered away, taking Barbos with her. While sorcerers could flicker in and out as they pleased, only shapeshifters could flicker with another person in tow. Even a half human, half shifter like Daeghana could manage a task like this. They reappeared in front of her master within one minute of her leaving.

"Barbos," her master said with a purr meant to put the sorcerer at ease. A shiver slithered down Daeghana's spine. "I'm in need of your vast knowledge and power."

The sorcerer bowed his head, his apple cheeks aglow. "I wouldn't say vast. I'm not as powerful as others."

The master's brows arched, surprise dancing in his dark eyes. "You are a sorcerer trusted throughout Myrzel. It's what keeps you in your lavish lifestyle."

Barbos twisted his foot, ducking his head and blushing. "I'm not as powerful as Sir Vera will be once he's properly trained."

Daeghana watched as her master's expression froze, the corner of his eye twitching. "Sir Vera has power, yes, but it's raw. He's dangerous. You should know. You were the one who cleaned up his mess."

Barbos bobbed his head up and down. "True, but every sorcerer needs to be taught."

"Perhaps I'd feel differently if Daegan hadn't been endangered."

At the use of her false name, Daeghana bit down on her tongue to keep from snapping back, her fingers twitching. So help me, if you blame this on me one more time . . .

"You asked for a spell?" Barbos asked.

"I did. I am in need of a love spell." Her master produced Princess Cecily's brooch. "This is an item belonging to the young lady who needs, shall we say, encouragement."

"A love spell . . ." Barbos accepted the jeweled brooch, inspecting it. "That should be simple enough. You're sure this belonged to the young lady? Well then, did you have a specific spell in mind?"

Cocking her head to the side, Daeghana read Barbos's face, surprised at the lack of hesitation. "Do you often place love spells?" she asked, drawing a curious glance from both Barbos and her master. "I never thought much of them before." Could I use one on Rakesh?

"Love spells are a dime a dozen," Barbos said, setting the gem on the table in the middle of the room. "Most who come to me are parents, hoping their children will find more happiness in their matches than they did. On occasion, a jealous husband or wife will come and request a love spell to keep their partner from straying. That never works."

Daeghana's master waved his comment away. "I had hoped you could use Love at First Sight and—"

"Oh, no, no." Barbos gave a vigorous shake of his head, his enormous white mustache bouncing. "Love at First Sight is unwise, my liege. You never know who the young lady might see first. If you have an intended target, it's best not to put something so temperamental upon her."

"What would you suggest?" her master asked, pressing long, steepled fingers to his temple.

"Love at First Kiss is always a nice one if you think things will happen naturally, but Love at First Fight is the quickest, if you have a pair that might be opposites. Either can be gender specific, but Love at First Fight has to be brought about physically."

"Physically?" Daeghana frowned at him.

"An argument isn't enough. It requires a physical act of antagonism. If she slaps him or shoves past him in anger, for example."

"What about a binding?" Daeghana asked, remembering something she'd seen in one of her father's books as a child.

"Ah, no, dear girl." Barbos rocked back and forth on his heels. "I am not in the business of bindings. Those are as good as a curse, if you ask me."

"What's the difference?"

"A binding has not love, only obsession. A binding will prevent the girl from seeing any real fault in her target. She'll be unable to remain angry at him or fight with him. She will, more or less, be his slave without realizing she is. If a binding is weak, the girl might only be infatuated with a gentleman and could grow to love him on her own, but my magic is too advanced. Any binding I did would be too strong to overcome."

"Well then." The master startled Barbos back to attention. "Love at First Fight it is. You shall be compensated."

"Very well." Barbos pushed up his billowing sleeves. "Let's get to work."

#

After Barbos returned, her master put the jewel in Daeghana's hands. "Return it to the princess so she doesn't suspect anything."

"What if she sees me?"

The master let out an exasperated grunt, spinning Daeghana around and shoving her toward the door. "Use your Rory if you must. Just get it back in place." The master's face slackened, his tone softening. "Remember, I'm doing this for you—for us. Myrzel is our enemy. As long as they put aristocracy before justice, we'll never be safe."

Your hypocrisy is unmatched. "I know."

"Go, then."

Daeghana flickeredout, happy to be free, even for a short while. 

Now you know Daeghana's true name! Also, it looks like Rory isn't the only one with a master. Dun dun duuuun. 

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