Tyler could have had the magic cover the entire building, just like his new home in the city, but he was in a hospital, in Salvena; such an act would harm anyone in need or under any form of gem-supported care.That was what the gold casing and other gems in the clock were controlling.However, Tyler was not a simpleton. He knew the Lord could just as easily bash his head in with the sturdy stick in his hands before anyone got in to stop him.But he had not been exaggerating when he told the old man what his death would mean to the remaining Kramers.Even if Vincent had killed him by accident on that farm, his order would have activated, and Vincent would have joined him in death before the week ran out.Lincoln’s men had not only saved Tyler, they had saved Vincent and Edward Kramer as well.His people from Karisa and other parts of the world had their orders. He was not playing a losing game.He wai

Tyler fell back on the inclined bed.“Bridge.”The man behind the reflector came out.“Raymond Belarnt. What of him?”“He’s in this hospital, Sir.”“Why?”“Lord Belarnt, Sir.”Tyler closed his eyes.He nodded lightly. Bridge disappeared.Lord Ashton Belarnt. You keep fighting for my attention… Tyler mused weakly. He thought of Ashley, then pushed her out of his mind. No…he wouldn’t harm her. He’s running out of children to pressure, Tyler reflected.The young Raymond floated into his mind.He held the younger man’s image.Ray… don’t become another mistake… he mumbled in his heart.==========“Have we sent the package?”“Yes, Sir. It arrived yesterday.”“Any response?”“Not yet, Sir.”“Hmph,” the tall man with the incredibly toned physique scoffed as he sipped brandy from his family’s distillery. “She will answer. She must.”“

When Raymond woke, he was in a stone room. No windows, low ceiling, thick door. A dungeon.He almost laughed, but his face wouldn’t move. His cheekbone was broken, his jaw shattered. The pain was the only thing that let him know he wasn’t asleep or hallucinating.For two days, he was left there, alone. No food, no water, no company.In his silent prison, he kept his mind as light as he could, focusing on little things, like how the space wasn’t dark. Gems in the wall and ceiling lit up the room.He was also glad it was dry, as he knew much about the Belarnt private cells; every noble family, at least, everyone at the very top of nobility, had such things, and he knew how bad the Belarnt ones could get.The Belarnt’s, miners by trade and profession, had very special cells. Old, former mines. Places no one would ever go, or simply stumble into. Places where, if they liked, the gatekeeper could forget their prisoner and have no need to make burial arr

Tyler had woken last night, after over forty hours of sleep. He had taken a potion to help him move, despite all his wounds and pain, despite knowing what the reaction would be in the morning, and had turned down the strength of his black rock clock.Limiting its range to twenty feet and activating a cloaking spell once he got out of range.He went to Raymond’s room. A private one on the topmost floor of the hospital.Tyler’s floor was in the middle of the hospital building, ensuring that if anything happened at his location, the entire structure would suffer for it.He stared at the boy who was in a body cast and had been unconscious for over four weeks. He had gotten all the information from his men about the boy’s injuries.He had been beaten, with magic fully involved, breaking bones, damaging nerves, and rupturing organs.A weaker person, physically, would have died.Whether it was intentional or by accident that the boy was stil

Tyler’s eyes drifted to Emily’s, and she held his gaze. A moment later, his hand dropped, and he glanced away from her, back to the city.Emily stayed where she was and shook his chair.He turned back to her, slowly, like his body was too heavy for him, like he was underwater.“What have you done?” she asked patiently, her voice calm as she repeated her initial question.“I helped Raymond.”“How?”“Magic.”“Why?”“I owe him.”“What did you give him?”“An earring, of a sort.”“I didn’t see one.”“You won’t. No one will.”“Why?”“To heal his body.”Unlike Ashley, Emily knew full well the limitations of a hospital on some matters.She held Tyler’s gaze.“Will he wake up?”“Maybe.”“Do you think he’ll wake up?”“Yes.”“Why?”“He’s a strong kid. A strong mind. A focused drive. Passionate. He loves life. Loves living. He should wake up.