Page 24 of Magic Claimed

She hugged me harder. “You mean people like Kira and Hugh. And Faris and Callum and ‘Gelica.”

No clue why she included Callum’s uptight secretary in that list, but the gryphon did seem to have at least a tiny soft spot for children.

“Yep, all of those people. And me and Kes and Logan. We care about you because we’re your family. And family looks out for each other.”

She let go of me long enough to look over her shoulder. Right at the two dragons who’d been watching this entire drama unfold.

“Then what about them? Why do they care?”

I gulped. Tried to figure out what I could safely tell her about my two unexpected visitors.

But I wasn’t fast enough. Ari turned around and marched right up to Tairen, tilting her head back to look Callum’s mother dead in the eye.

“Who are you?” she demanded suspiciously, her tiny hands perched belligerently on her hips.

Pretty sure everyone in the room held their breath.

The former queen of the dragons looked down from her imposing height, folded her arms, and scowled.

“I am a dragon,” she said. “I have ruled kingdoms, defeated armies, and devoured my enemies. And I can devour you too if you are not respectful.”

Ari giggled. “I meant yourname.”

The Devourer of Enemies blinked at her. “I am Tairen-li-Corva.”

I hastened forward and crouched down beside Ari. “This is Kira’s mother, Ari. So be polite.”

My Bug’s eyes widened. “Ohhh. You’re Auntie Kira’s mom.” Her head tilted, and one small finger tapped her lips before she burst into a delighted grin and proclaimed, “Then I’m going to call youGrandma!”

Kill. Me. Now.

SEVEN

Tairen’s eyesnearly bugged out of her head. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

I’d already stepped partially between her and Ari, preparing to intervene, when Faris glanced towards the front door and called out, “We’re closed for the night. Come back tomorrow.”

I looked over my shoulder. A woman stood in the doorway. She was probably in her thirties, with dark brown skin and short dark hair, and her eyes were darting from one side of the room to the other—taking in the damages before resting on Hugh.

As I watched, she took a deep breath—as if for courage—and then another step into the room.

“Is this The Portal?” she asked in a surprisingly steady voice.

Kira turned, sniffed the air surreptitiously and then moved towards the newcomer. “It is,” she said, and I sensed caution in her reply. “Who told you to come here?”

Faris began muttering under his breath, and I suddenly realized what was bothering them.

The newcomer was human.

The door had been left standing open, so she’d been able to see straight through the glamour that typically concealed the truth of what happened inside The Portal’s front windows.

“I asked around,” the woman said, folding her arms over her chest as if to protect herself. Or possibly just to keep them from shaking. “Neighbors and friends. I’ve got nothing against Idrians. Everyone I know is good people. But two nights ago, my sixteen-year-old son went missing. Right out of his bedroom, at night. I called the police. They did their investigation and said there was no way anyone could have taken him. Everything was locked, nothing was disturbed, so he’s been labelled a runaway. They put out a BOLO, promised to check with his friends. But I know he didn’t just leave.”

Oh, this wasnotgood. Disappearance with no explanation… Humans had been blaming that on magic for centuries, even before they shared this planet with over a dozen magical races.

“I’m sorry your son is missing,” Faris said steadily. “But what does it have to do with us?”

“The police say they’re going to keep looking, but I know the truth. If they think a crime was committed using magic, they’ll refuse to investigate. Make excuses and claim there’s no evidence. But word is that someone here… might be willing to help.”