Hexes and Bones by Alesha Escobar

Author:Alesha Escobar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Creative Alchemy, Inc.

16

“I can’t give up Lucas,” I say to Samuel, hoping he understands that for once in my life I’m doing something because I care, and not out of self-interest. “He was never yours anyway, and he wants to stay with me.”

The DMA director just shakes his head in response. “How many times do I have to tell you that he’s merely programmed to simulate human behavior and desires. Lucas isn’t human. You’re going to get shot over him?”

I subtly tug at the magic-muting wave of energy the grenade had released, testing its strength to see if I could at least get one good spell in. “I notice Sal and Alanna aren’t here,” I say, trying to buy some time. “Are you too cowardly to tell them what you’re doing today?”

He cocks his pistol. “Hand over the automaton. You’re out-gunned, your magic’s muted, and I don’t like you.”

Damn. He’s right. I reach out with my senses again, but the invisible wave of energy dampening my powers still flows throughout the room. I won’t be able to launch an elemental spell or use True Name magic.

Baltazar clears his throat. “Director Mayhew, your grenade mutes the magic of natural born wizards. It doesn’t mute automaton magic…or a faerie’s.”

Samuel fires a shot at Baltazar, but Olette weaves a shield and deflects the bullet. I lose my balance and nearly fall over when the faerie grows herself to human size and sends a blast of amethyst energy toward Samuel and five of his men. They fly backward and hit the wall. Lucas pivots and speeds toward three other agents on the other side of the sarcophagus. The automaton’s movements are so quick and fluid that they don’t even have time to get a shot off. He makes a jab to the first agent’s chest and the man heaves and falls backward. Lucas’s fist crashes down onto the helmet of the second, stunning him and knocking him to the floor, and an uppercut to the third agent lands him on the ground, knocked out cold.

I rush over to Baltazar to join him behind Olette’s magical shield. The remaining four agents open fire on us, but the faerie’s protection holds. The bullets halt as soon as they hit the shield, flattening and then dropping to the floor like coins. She brings her hands together in a loud clap, and a deep purple energy wave spreads from her fingers and surrounds the four agents. An invisible force lifts them into the air, and they yell in shock when their weapons are yanked from their hands and clatter to the floor.

“I could use one of those, my dear.” Baltazar nods toward one of the rifles on the ground.

Olette, still at normal human height, screws her face up in concentration and uses telekinesis to send the rifle flying toward Baltazar. The wizard catches it with ease then trains it on the four men still floating in mid-air.

“Much better odds, wouldn’t you say, Jack?” the Irishman asks with a smirk.

“Agreed.”

Lucas is standing over the three agents he had knocked down, his hands glowing pale-yellow.

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