CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Manhattan compared to most cities was large and beautiful, so much history in the mixture of architectures. The tall buildings sat like beacons of a better life for many, and though it wasn’t New York City, Manhattan still had its own appeal. Muni understood the fascination, but she had forgotten that Vidar and Brin had never seen such cities; their own knowledge extended to hand-built homes no taller than a single level. Seeing this city, even compared to her own city she held her apartment in, was something grand. Manhattan was its own brand of beast.
“It’s so bright,” Brin breathed, staring out the window into the city. “Like wizards threw magic everywhere.”
Muni smiled at his wonder. There was something profound at being the one to show him the world, at being the one to hold his hand through it all. With that thought in her mind, she threaded her fingers into his and stood beside him at the window, looking out at a city she’d seen a million times but somehow, it felt different seeing it through his eyes for the first time.
“The High Wizard of the North would balk at being given credit for cities,” she commented. “But he would likely still happily accept it.”
“It’s not magic,” Eirik corrected. “Just technology.”
“Which is magic to me,” Brin replied. “It’s all magic to me.”
They’d been given a hotel room in the city the moment they’d arrived, another falcon dropping an envelope with an address and a room key. Someone was tracking their movements, clearly, and though that was dangerous, Muni understood it couldn’t be avoided for this part of her plan. The Race Games came with cameras and being followed, life stories shared on the news. It was part of the games and why many sought to enter for their own five minutes of fame. The Race Games were a quick way to earn fame and power, and sometimes wealth depending on the prize. It made sense that many would risk everything for something so trivial.
The room was lavish, the best that money could afford without it being the penthouse. Likely the penthouses were all taken by the elite of the supernatural realm. So they’d been given the second-best rooms, the ones still high in the tower and easily watched without taking room from those who paid heavily for it. The inner workings of the elite class were both simple and not. They were selfish, easily predictable, but just when you thought you knew what they would do, they changed the game because they were bored. One second, they were hyper fixated on hosting large orgies. The next, they were in the news programs for bathing in the blood of humans they slaughtered. There was no in-between for the elite. They worked in extremes.
The location of the ball still hadn’t been revealed, the secret still teasing Muni’s mind, but she was doing her best to ignore it. It helped to remind herself it would be revealed soon enough anyways if she was patient. She didn’t need to know it sooner than everyone else. That was just silly when it wouldn’t hold any benefit at all. She knew it for the distraction it was and continued operating as if there was no secret at all.
“We should check the room over for bugs,” Eirik commented, looking around the decent hotel room. There was only one king sized bed there, as if the organizers had assumed they would all sleep together. A single sofa sat against the wall, the only other option for sleep. “We don’t know if they’re spying on us.”
“Insects?” Vidar asked with a frown.
Eirik shook his head. “Tiny electrical machines that record audio or pictures of us while in the room.”
Vidar’s face soured and he looked around as if he could see them.
Muni nodded. “I’ll search. Like recognizes like.”
She moved through the room, searching for any auras or feelings that didn’t belong. It took her only a minute to find the hum of vibration in the lampshade. She reached inside and removed the tiny audio recorder before tossing it to Brin. The Viking promptly smashed it between his hands and dumped it in the trashcan. In the end, Muni found three more devices, two cameras and another audio recorder near the bed.
“If I didn’t know they were trying to find our secrets, I’d think they were all perverts,” Eirik commented with a shake of his head. They’d crushed all the devices and tossed them away. Once Muni was satisfied she got them all, she stopped searching and took a seat.
“They’re all perverts,” Muni revealed. “Even if there wasn’t someone aware of our plans, they would have still tried it. We’re being talked about because of the size of our team. Many will speculate about our romantic history.”
Brin grinned. “Let them speculate, I say!” He leaned down to press a commanding kiss against Muni’s lips in front of the others. There was a shift in the air at the action.
When Brin pulled away and Muni could look around, she was surprised to see fire in Vidar’s eyes before he glanced away. Eirik, in contrast, didn’t look away at all when she turned to study him. Instead, he leaned forward to press his own chaste kiss to her lips, a quick reminder that he was there, but too respectful to take advantage in front of the others.
It was as Muni stared into his eyes, debating if she wanted to expand on the kiss, that the table in front of the sofa lit on fire so suddenly, she jumped in her seat.
Eirik immediately covered her body as if to shield her from the flames. Vidar leapt up and moved forward in confusion. Brin only furrowed his brow.
“Did someone light a pyre that I don’t know about?” he asked in confusion.
Just as quickly as the table lit on fire, the flames disappeared, leaving behind a single canary yellow envelope behind. The table didn’t even look charred, as if it had never been on fire at all.
“What in the Chris Angel bullshit is that?” Eirik asked, flabbergasted.
Muni reached toward the envelope, but Vidar wrapped strong fingers around her wrist to stop her. “Are you sure you should touch it?” he asked.
“It’s probably from the council,” she mused. “Perhaps the location?” Vidar frowned in worry. “I’ll be fine, Vidar. It’s difficult to kill me with paper. It takes much more than that.”
With an annoyed huff, he released her wrist and Muni picked up the envelope. There was nothing written on the outside of it, not like the previous envelope had. The color was bright against her skin, and it only grew brighter when the opened it and pulled out the piece of paper inside.
“It’s glowing,” Eirik mused. “Is that normal?”
Muni scanned the paper and blinked in surprise. “Not for the council, no.”
“Then why does this one?” Brin asked.
“Because it’s not from the council at all,” she answered before looking up. “It’s from the High Wizard.”
Eirik frowned. “Didn’t you say he was dangerous?”
“He’s extremely dangerous. Far more powerful than many even on the council.”
“And he’s never been on the council himself?” Vidar asked.
“The High Wizard isn’t one for politics but if he was, the council seats are either won in the Games or they’re voted on. Those sitting in the seats would never allow him to have a seat.” Muni stared down at the paper again. “He’s powerful and a threat. And apparently, he wants to meet with us.”
Eirik leaned closer to read the paper she held. “We could refuse,” he offered, sensing her unease.
Muni shook her head. “No one refuses an audience with Theo St. James.” She worried her bottom lip. “We’ll go, if only to keep the High Wizard from being an enemy.”
She couldn’t imagine what it would be like for him to decide to go against them. And perhaps, the High Wizard would be a good connection to have.
“Do you have any secrets over the High Wizard?” Vidar asked, no doubt searching for a strategy.
“No,” Muni admitted. “If the High Wizard has secrets, he either announces them to the world or keeps them so locked tight in his mind, I’ll never find them. He’s one of the only earth creatures who can block me out completely.”
Brin whistled. “Sounds like we need to go into this meeting armed.”
“It wouldn’t do any good. If the High Wizard wanted us dead, we would be.” Muni shifted in her seat. “The fact we’re still alive means he’s not interested in that. We’ll go in unarmed and open to conversation. We set the tone when we meet him for dinner in a few hours.”
While Muni knew Theo’s power, she didn’t feel threatened by the request. Dinner was harmless enough. Curiosity ate at her, but without complaint, she grabbed a pen and wrote on the bottom of the invitation, “we accept”. The ink bled outwards before disappearing completely, the message sent to the high wizard. Within a few seconds, a tiny heart appeared on the bottom, confirming he’d received it. That done, Muni ran a hand through her hair.
What did one wear to meet a powerful wizard?