Chapter 32
Thirty-Two
IGGY
The prince insisted that Lucas, Damon, and my grumpy dragon follow their doctor to help him convince the others to ingest the potion.
That left me with him, three of his demon buddies, and Slade—something that probably isn’t a big deal, but it feels very uneven.
I understand why, though, as this door has been eluding my magic, demon magic, and the combined effort of siren magic.
It feels like it’s eternally welded shut, and I have no idea what we’re going to do.
“Perhaps we are approaching it wrong,” the elder Gemini says as he scowls at the damn thing.
“When the prince and his brothers found my family, we were attempting to open the restricted section in the library. Our determination was that not only demon magic, but other kinds were used to create the ‘lock’ that prevented us from getting in. We are using different types of magic on this one, but we haven’t tried varied methods as well. ”
Slade scratches his chin as he peers at the door from his spot on the floor.
He’s been down there examining it since we started attempting to get it open, and I’m not sure why.
“You know, Angelo, that might be something. Maybe this lock is not magically combined as the library one, but rather is kept shut through assumptions demons would make.”
The Kitsune blinks, his tails swishing as he thinks that over.
“Jasper, they may have cracked it. Students do not always have access to various magic types; if the owner of this studio used them, it would identify them as either a hybrid or someone who is not a student at Discordia. That means they may have used physical, magical, and technological methods of sealing the fucking thing to trick us.”
I snort as I look at the four residents of this realm incredulously. “Are you saying that no one has tried to just pick the damn thing yet? Because that’s a go-to where we are from, and I can’t…” I run my fingers through my hair as I laugh, shaking my head. “And none of you is the thief, right?”
“No, but I actually listen when he talks,” Anton says with a smug smile.
“I have a small lock pick set in my pocket. Oriel is constantly reminding us that we should have one if we are sneaking around, no matter where we are. He was certain magic dependency would fail us at some point, and I am shocked to find that he was actually correct.”
The studious one is off-the-charts smart—that much is clear to my professor's heart.
“Excellent job, Annie,” the prince murmurs, and I watch as the peacock looks at him in shock. “Unfortunately, it means we will have to tell Oriel of his victory, which will be absolutely unbearable for weeks.”
“He’s definitely going to strut everywhere,” Zavida says as he lets go of his tails to hold his hand out. “I think I’ll be the best at trying this out; my motor control is top-notch from gaming.”
Angelo steps in front of him, shaking his head as he looks at the demons.
“Wrong. I’ve picked more locks since I could toddle.
I’m the heir to a gang, remember? I mean, the pretty boy down there probably knows how to as well.
Experience in real life trumps what you did on a screen every day of the week. ”
Slade flushes, but he nods in agreement. “I definitely learned how to pick locks and crack safes young. My parents run the biggest MC in Bay City, not that I enjoy discussing it much. They’re… not the most desirable caregivers.”
That makes the prince laugh, and his fellow demons join in. “Slade, I’m going to assume that no one in any of these families has parents who would win awards for their child-rearing skills.”
“Definitely not,” I mutter. “My family is gilded with blood as well.”
“Man, we’re all screwed,” the panda says sheepishly. “But that’s what has us doing all of this to help a fuckton of people who we’ve never met, and I think that’s what is important. Give those picks to the Gemini, and let’s get this show on the road.”
The willowy demon nods and hands the case to Angelo, who gets down next to Slade to look at the lock.
He and our siren murmur to one another for a moment as they look at the tools.
Hopefully, whatever Anton brought isn’t missing something they think they need.
I’m getting hungry and tired, and I can tell the others are as well.
I don’t know how demon/shifter hybrids behave when they get hangry, but I know how Lucas and Kaspar behave.
It’s not something I want to experience, truthfully.
“Okay, this looks pretty simple. All the magic people should be ready to work once I get the tumblers popped, just in case the asshole who did this put layers in. Got it?”
Everyone murmurs their approval as the demon inserts the picks into the ornate hardware.
He tilts his head, obviously listening as he moves the picks carefully.
He takes longer than I expected, but eventually, there’s a loud click and the knob turns.
Angelo and Slade high-five, but the moment he removes the tools, a visible shield encases the damn doorknob as if it was waiting for him to do so.
“Son of a bitch,” Slade says as he turns back to us. “Angelo was right about the magic. This is probably a job for Anton and Iggy to start. I can try to help if needed, but I’m not really a caster by nature.”
Stepping forward, I mutter a quick spell under my breath to get a visual of the enchantment on the damn thing.
I tilt my head as a delicately intertwined set of magics appears, making me groan.
This is more complex than we imagined, and it’s definitely not what I’d expect from a student in my lower-level courses.
The construction is more graduate-style and beyond, especially with the hints of combined magical sub-types.
“Someone quite skilled did this,” I finally say. “I think we might need to send for Liam to assist. There’s a hint of Fae magic in it along with demonic and general magical wielder stuff. I won’t be able to unravel it without him here to ensure I don’t trip something I’m unaware of.”
The bushy-tailed demon waves his hand. “I can go get him. I know where to pop in, and, hopefully, they’re all in Jasper’s room as directed.”
“They’d better be,” Jasper grumbles as he considers it. “Go ahead, Zavvie. Grab the prince and tell the others they have to stay in the damn room until we return to deal with dinner and sleeping arrangements.”
Angelo shrugs, looking unconcerned with the dragon’s wrath from his spot on the floor. “Fine. But if we’re all staying here for longer than the night, we also need your techie to assist with devices that work down here. My group especially does as we’re heading into Hell proper afterward.”
“Another brilliant idea,” the prince says wryly, but he relents. “We will work on that in the morning. I do not want anyone running around after we’re settled in. It raises the chances of being caught with undeclared visitors by a thousandfold.”
Zavida salutes him and opens a small portal to duck into.
His cheek makes the rest of us laugh, but the dragon just glares.
The panda sighs, shaking his head as he glances at Anton, and I watch them have a conversation silently via facial movements.
It makes me smile, as Morgana does that with Lucas and Liam, which frustrates the fuck out of the dragon and me.
Slade, like now, is usually pretty laid back about it.
That kid is so happy to have support that I’m not sure anything that any of us do would piss him off.
Except that he’s been a little cheeky with you since he and Morgana got together, and you noticed.
Running a hand through my hair, I go back to thinking about what the group from Bay City and even Lucas have been saying.
They’re right, of course, and the not-so-subtle nudges aren’t just applicable to the damn dragons.
I’m an outlier, too, and it’s from my own stupid shit that was drilled into me by my father and his ilk.
Deep down, I know that mages or any of our brethren aren’t better than other species, even the oldest families who hoard power.
In fact, it’s all just smoke and mirrors for most of the dipshits he hangs out with, as their lines have been diluted over the years despite their focus on purity and keeping the heritage intact.
“Damn ingrained bullshit is what it is,” I mutter, and I’m surprised when the prince walks over to me with a curious expression.
“Briarton, I don’t know what you’re mumbling about, but if it’s regarding the criticism?
I think I understand.” He sighs, the dangerous tail twitching at his feet as he says softly, “My childhood was abusive and formed a lot of bad habits, no matter how hard I fought to avoid it. I don’t like sharing emotions as that was a pain point, and now I’m in the middle of more people than I ever prefer to be stuck alone with.
Perhaps you’re suffering similar issues? ”
I snort. “Yes, I am. I had shitty formative years, though likely not as bad as yours. Bad enough to fuck up my ability to form and act on attachments, plus a great deal of stupidity about other species and whatnot. My brain knows it’s rot, but occasionally, when I feel threatened, it pops up.
I shield myself with the echoes of the wealthy morons my family still mingle with. ”
“Bravado to stay safe… Yes, I can relate.” He looks at the others as they chat easily and grits his jaw. “I’m fine when I don the mask of the haughty prince and heir to the throne in sizable crowds and around random beings. I struggle when it’s like this or smaller and I have to… be real.”
I’m willing to bet he doesn’t tell anyone that shit, and he’s only unloading on me because I’m not a demon.
“I’m fine with mingling and even in private, but…
my issues pop up when I have to be vulnerable to people as well.
” I shrug as I adjust my glasses. “We’re all a mess in this secret cadre, I fear, but the women bring us to a balanced center.
At least, that’s what I believe Morgana does for us, even if I haven’t admitted it to her.
She’s also quite good at calling my ass to the carpet on another matter I’m struggling with. ”
He arches a brow. “If you want the siren, he’s clearly head over heels and waiting for you to declare your intentions.
I recognize the behavior from when I first knew I wanted Zavida.
He waited too and let me lead, which meant we’re lucky we got together at all.
Slash and Xerxes gave me grief until I dealt with it.
The others, too, but none as much as those two.
I’m grateful now, though I don’t express it enough. ”
The portal opens again, and I’m cut off as the foxy demon and the Fae prince step out with the scowling dragon bodyguard. Liam nods at me, and then at Slade, before he turns to Jasper.
“I’m told you have a multi-layered enchantment with Fae magic?
I’d be happy to help, though I dislike being away from my recovering mate.
Lucas likes to pretend to be tough, but he is a young shifter and has been put through a lot physically in recent times.
If someone doesn’t curb his instincts to puff up and ignore it, he might injure himself more. ”
“Zav can take you back as soon as we untangle the lock, Prince Liam. I understand being concerned with mates who don’t pay attention to their own safety.”