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slides out a bag of carrots from the fridge and starts to munch. “You know, what you’re eating there is a tiny smidgeon of granola and a whole bunch of chocolate.”
    â€œHence the name Demon bar.” I bite off another chunk. “I’m at peace with that.”
    â€œOnly you, Myla.”
    I polish off the bar. “So, I can’t get over how my igni acted around that Durus. They wouldn’t do what I told them. They only wanted to sing. And it was the dark igni too, so their music was a bunch of screeching. Think about two-dozen Yoko Ono clones doing speed metal covers. That’s pretty much the idea.”
    Lincoln starts laughing so hard, he almost chokes on a carrot. “What were they singing about?”
    â€œSomething about dragons and finding someone. I don’t know. Finally, I told them to shut up and they went away. It was so strange.”
    â€œDoesn’t sound like a big deal to me. Don’t they pop in every so often with odd messages, anyway? This is just the first time they did it when you were telling them to do something else.”
    â€œThat’s true.” The igni are notorious for chattering on about cryptic nonsense.
    â€œI wouldn’t worry about it, not unless it happens again.” Lincoln bites off more carrot. “Now, tell me more about Adair. Let’s start with the investigation. What’s she looking into, specifically?”
    â€œHow the Ghost Towers are overcrowded and ready to blow. It’s an official inquiry, so there’s no way to bury it. Cissy said she could stall the news getting out, though. So, that’s a help.”
    â€œNice to have friends in high places.”
    â€œYou’re telling me.” I frown. “But after announcing her investigation, Adair asked if I couldn’t move souls to Heaven because I’ve lost some of my powers. I hate to admit it, but after the igni ignored me with the Durus, her words have really gotten under my skin.”
    â€œYou losing your powers? That’s impossible.”
    â€œNo, it’s possible, alright. There’s one disease where a Scala loses their igni. It’s called the Bloodstone Curse.” I’m tempted to discuss the symptoms, but I’ve had enough nastiness to contemplate for one day.
    â€œSo there’s one disease where a Scala loses igni. Whatever. You’re the most powerful Scala in a thousand years. Adair’s just trying to rile you up.”
    â€œMost likely.” I raise my pointer finger, as if an idea’s just occurred to me. “Hey, why can’t she stalk you for a change?”
    â€œAntrum’s totally locked-down. If she got within fifty yards of me without an official reason to be there, my guards would chuck her in the dungeons like that.” Lincoln snaps his fingers. “So, unfortunately, you have to be the focus of her mania.” He bows slightly at the waist. “My sincere apologies.”
    â€œWell, now that you’re here, I’m sure we can share the load.” I tear open another Demon bar.
    Lincoln’s right eyebrow lifts in disbelief. “Aren’t you going to ruin your dinner?”
    â€œWhat are you, my mom? Besides, my parents won’t be back for hours. Dinner is late-night thing around here, if we get to it at all.”
    Lincoln sets aside his carrots, a sudden gleam in his eyes. “So, I’ve been thinking about your warehouse problem.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œWhat if I call in the thrax Alchemists?”
    I munch more Demon bar and ponder. For thrax royalty, Alchemists are like food tasters, only with magic. Everyone wants to control the King and Queen of the Thrax, and lots of bad-minded folks try enchantments, potions, you name it. Thrax Alchemists test stuff for evil magic.
    â€œIt’s a thought at that,” I say.
    â€œDo you think Walker would be insulted? He’s been running this operation all along and you’ll be