Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 13180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 66(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 66(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
“The appreciation is mutual. I’ve been running into mentions of your agency for several years now. I’m intrigued to find out what it is about this particular case that made you reach out.” He waved a hand at the chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat, and I’ll get you something to drink. Coffee or tea?”
“Coffee would be great, thanks.”
Noel used the time Xavier was gone to look around his office, which was all sleek gray, black and white lines. Very modern feeling except for the walls of old books, which provided a stark contrast. There were candles and gemstones—all things he’d expect to see when it came to wizards, witches, and sorcerers. But otherwise, the room was painfully neat. And said a lot about the sorcerer who worked here. A mix of old and new.
Xavier walked back in and handed him a steaming cup of coffee and a handful of creamers and sweeteners. Since Noel drank it black, he set those on the desk.
“Thank you,” he said, then sipped it. “It’s very good coffee.”
“There are a lot of coffee snobs here.” Xavier took his seat and folded his arms on top of his desk. He said nothing—just waited for Noel to speak. His stare was hard, keen…and Noel got the feeling this sorcerer didn’t like him for some reason.
But whether the sorcerer liked him or not didn’t matter.
Noel leaned back in the chair and held onto the warm mug. “We’re reaching out to you because we feel it would be of mutual benefit to collaborate on this investigation. As you are probably already aware, several very powerful magical items have been stolen, but one of those in particular is alarming. An amulet that grants the holder control over minds and, we believe…magical abilities. Have you heard of such an amulet?”
“I have, and I hadn’t heard that it had actually been stolen.” His frown was fierce. “I don’t see how that could have been taken. The sorcerer who protects it had it in a very secure location, and in fact, it was his main job to make sure it never got into the wrong hands. He would have had powerful wards surrounding it.”
“We believe the thief is a jinn, so he or she was able to get into that secure location. How they broke the wards is a question we haven’t yet figured out.”
“Just what is it that your company does?” Xavier asked.
“Are you asking because you really don’t know, or do you know and just want to hear my answer?” Of course, Noel knew. And while he knew he needed to get through this conversation with all his faculties intact, a part of him was still humming with impatience to see Daniel.
The corner of Xavier’s lips went up. “Arcane Intelligence originated fifteen years ago, put together by Robert Hamm and Dillon Springs, two humans who have the ability to see through magical glamours. They believe they can actually police situations that happen in the magical community, but I must say, that would be impossible. Not without having their own magic to counteract. But then, you also have three preternaturals on your payroll.”
Noel gave a slow nod. “I’m impressed. But not surprised. You know, you’re kind of a legend in my company.”
“Only kind of?” Xavier lifted one black brow.
Noel snorted. “No one is actually able to guess how old you are, though. I don’t suppose you’d like to share?”
Xavier smiled faintly. “I would not.”
“I do have a rather personal question. For someone with your extraordinary abilities, why a company for bodyguards? Why not a flat-out investigation firm?” Especially because he had someone like Daniel on his payroll. Daniel had impressed the IT guys at Arcane so much, he’d been a topic of conversation many times.
Xavier studied him for what felt like a long time before he finally spoke. “Every single preternatural who works for me is good. They are able to use their talents to make a difference, and I, in turn, benefit from knowing that together we are putting good out into the world. That is all you need to know.”
“It seems both our organizations have the same goal. We’d like to work with you to get this amulet back and to find it a more secure location—or destroy it altogether. Is that possible?”
“It is. But Warner, the sorcerer who guarded it, would have taken the possibility of a jinn into account. There is something more at play here.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know yet.” Xavier leaned forward. “But I will find out.”
Noel nearly shivered at the surge of power that poured off Xavier, but he managed to suppress it because he wanted to show no weakness here. He needed the sorcerer’s help. Plus, he actually did want his respect.
Especially when he was about to be “introduced” to Daniel.
“So,” Noel said casually. “I was told I’d be working with your IT specialist, since he’s already so close to finding the thief.” Could Xavier tell how nervous he was? The sorcerer’s face was unreadable.