Free Silver-Tongued Devil by Jaye Wells Page B

contacted or an enemy immolated from twenty paces, a Chthonic was the mage for the job. But good luck finding one when you needed them. My father was a Chthonic, but he was dead. Maybe there were a few others floating around the world, but I hadn’t heard of them. As far as I knew, I was the only one.
    “You know what?” I said. “Being a Chthonic is a pain in the ass. Every time I think I’m finally getting the hang of magic, my Chthonic power sweeps in and fucks it up.”
    Rhea dragged her attention from whatever theories were spinning in her headspace. “Now, now, Sabina. What happened is troublesome, but let’s not go into martyr mode. This could end up being an opportunity.”
    “Right,” I snorted. Despite my flippant response, I was remembering that howl and the sickening conviction I’d die if I didn’t escape. Goose bumps spread on my forearms. “An opportunity to get my ass chewed up by some horrible netherworld beast.”
    Rhea ignored my dramatics. “I’ll look in Ameritat’s old journals. Maybe Tristan had a similar experience.”
    My head jerked up. “You have her journals?”
    “I don’t have them personally,” she said. “They’re kept in secured archives out at the Crossroads,” she said, referring to the mage estate up near Sleepy Hollow. “I need to go out there tomorrow anyway to help finalize some things for the festival.” She paused and gave me a thorough once-over. “Are you going to be all right? Should I call Adam?”
    I shook my head. “Don’t bother. I’m on my way to see him now anyway.” I blew out a breath. “I’m fine though. But if it’s all the same to you I think I’ll stick to public transportation for the time being.”
    She patted my arm. “That’s probably best. Let me smudge you before you head out.”
    I paused. “Why?”
    She looked like she was considering lying but thought better of it. “It’s just a precaution since we don’t know where you were or what type of creature was coming for you.”
    “You think that thing followed me back?” My stomach dropped.
    “No, nothing like that. A good cleanse will help dispel the negative energy that’s clinging to you. Your aura is all wonky.”
    I frowned at her. “Define ‘wonky.’ ”
    She moved away to grab the sage and some matches. “Your aura is normally bright red. And lately it’s also had happy gold and purple streaks running through it.”
    I’d known about the red part but this was the first I’d heard of streaks. “What does that mean?”
    “That you’re in love.” She smiled. “The gold means happiness and the purple is the result of Adam’s blue aura melding with your red one.”
    I wasn’t sure whether to feel all mushy or embarrassed. On the one hand, yes, being with Adam made me very happy. On the other, I didn’t like the idea that I’d been wearing my heart on my aura for all to see.
    “Anyway, that was before. Right now, the gold has been replaced by a smoky black.” She paused and added, “That’s bad.”
    “I figured as much,” I said. “So the sage will clean that off?”
    Rhea lit the sage bundle and blew on it until its fragrant smoke billowed. “Yep.” She came back to me. “Now, try to think happy thoughts.”
    She circled me three times clockwise, chanting the whole time in Hekatian. Over the last few months, I’d picked up more of the ceremonial mage language. I was far from fluent, but I was able to pick out enough to recognize she was calling on Hekate to banish any bad energy from my being. I concentrated on breathing deep to allow the sweet smoke to do its magic inside as well as out. When she’d finished the third circle, she turned and went the other direction. This time I recognized the words “purify” and “protect.”
    By the time she finished her third lap, I was already feeling better. Like a heavy garment had been lifted from my body. Rhea stood back and squinted at me. “Well?” I asked.
    She nodded. “I think we’re good