Valec laughs. “Better calm yourself, Kingsmage. Wherever he is, your Scion of Arthur can feel you right now, can’t he? Your desire to kill me. From the whispers I’ve heard about Nicholas Davis, he wouldn’t particularly like that—” Valec stops short, looking between us. He tilts his head in that listening gesture I know all too well. “Both o’ your hearts flipped just now, and your breathing changed when I mentioned the Scion’s name. Is there anything either of you would like to tell me about the once and future king?”

Sel jerks back, eyes wide with the desire not to panic Nick, at war with his desire to keep me safe. “Keep his name out of your mouth.”

“Sensitive about your Scion, are you?” Valec snorts. “Kingsmages are so… single-minded. Play nice and I’ll ensure everyone’s limbs remain attached, and your precious Nick won’t have to worry about what trouble you’ve found.” He tilts his head toward me, voice low and conspiratorial. “I bet it’s annoying, isn’t it? So focused on protecting his king that he forgets about anyone else.”

Heat swirls up my spine and burns my cheeks. Valec notices and chuckles. “Oh, I detect a story there.”

“You have no idea,” Sel growls—and lunges again.

Valec shoves me aside to meet him. In a flash, he grasps Sel around the throat and lifts him up in the air. Sel claws at Valec’s fingers, his shoes scraping the carpet. “You are too young and too weak to beat me, so stop trying.” He tosses Sel against the back wall—hard enough that his head cracks against the brick. Faded photos in old frames rattle from the impact.

“No!” I run past Valec, who doesn’t bother stopping me. I reach Sel just as he moves into a sitting position with a grunt. My hand flies to his hair, past the thick waves to the back of his skull. My fingertips come away red. “Sel—”

He bats my hand away. Setting his back against the wall and using his legs more than anything, he slides to a half-standing position. “I’m fine!”

“No, you’re not.” Valec steps forward, casually lifting his desk to clear the way and pushing it aside like it weighs nothing. He stands beside me with his hands in his pockets, looking between Sel and then me. “Who you think you’re fooling, pup? You’re a wreck.”

“Shut up.” Sel’s head snaps up. Fury and some other emotion I can’t read mingle on his face.

“Why?” Valec tilts his head in confusion.

Sel glares at Valec, teeth bared. A silent warning.

That Valec ignores.