Capitol Magic Read Free Page B

strained. “One of Hecate’s warders, I presume.”
    Hecate’s warders. That made Jane Madison a witch.
    â€œDavid Montrose.” The newcomer did not offer to shake hands. Instead, he nodded toward Jane. “She knows you’re a vampire?”
    James’s smile was tight, but he inclined his head gracefully. “I suspect she’s figured that out.”
    The warder turned toward me. “And you?”
    He wasn’t asking for my credentials as Clerk of Court. “I’m a sphinx,” I said.
    I was gratified by the flicker of surprise in his eyes. A quick glance at Jane confirmed that she did not recognize my race.
    Much as I had not recognized hers. A witch… I hadn’t met one before. Not one of them had filed a claim in the eight months I’d been working for the Night Court. There was something I had read, though, something deep in one of the Night Court handbooks. Witches had their own lower court. What was it called…? Hecate’s Court. That was it. Hecate’s Court handled specialized disputes, arguments between witches, cases about their specialized rights regarding warders and familiars.
    Jane Madison was a witch. That was why I’d felt power in her. Why I’d been drawn to her in the bakery. Why it had seemed right and proper to bring her into the Old Library.
    Montrose extended a hand toward Jane. “Let’s get out of here.”
    He clearly expected her to cross to him. He thought that she would slip her fingers between his, that he would lead her out the door and up the stairs—or maybe spirit her away with some magical warder’s power.
    But Jane purposely missed her cue. She didn’t take his hand. She didn’t turn her back on my vampire boss. She didn’t march away from me.
    Instead, she shook her head. “Sarah was just about to show me the materials she needs cataloged.”
    I was shocked at her words. Not at the defiance—although her resistance clearly rattled Montrose. Rather, by the fact that she was still interested in my project, still interested in the work, despite all that had happened since I had shown her the Old Library.
    â€œJane, I don’t think —”
    But she cut Montrose off. “I need a job, David. Now that I’ve left the Peabridge.”
    Clearly, this was a familiar discussion between the two of them. “I thought we had agreed… In any case, there are lots of jobs —”
    Again, she interrupted. “And this one is perfect. It lets me use all my librarian skills.”
    I had the distinct impression that David Montrose, Hecate’s Warder, was not interrupted by many people. But I also understood that he made special allowances for his witch.
    â€œJane —”
    â€œDavid. I’ll be fine here. Just as soon as you and Mr. Morton let us get back to work.”
    The warder’s throat worked. He obviously longed to tell her that she was wrong, that she needed to submit, that she was required to leave with him.
    But she merely stared at him, hazel eyes meeting grey. There was determination in her stance, a rooted stubbornness that did not require the benefit of words.
    Finally, Montrose shrugged and turned his attention to James. “I think we’re being told to leave.”
    I saw James’s own resistance. He still believed that these intruders were a threat to the Eastern Empire, to the secret workings of the Night Court.
    But I knew otherwise. I had felt otherwise, the instant I met Jane.
    I took a step closer to the librarian. “The sooner we get to work, the sooner we’ll know the extent of the problem with the collection.”
    James started to protest. He started to say something to me. Then to Jane. To Montrose.
    But he wasn’t a fool. He knew when he was beaten. With a perfectly arched eyebrow, he said to me, “I wouldn’t want to delay your getting to work.” And then he turned toward Montrose.