Reynaud's Redemption, стр. 29

“I’m so sorry, Madame.”

She caressed his face. “Please, my darling, you were more than just a pupil to me. My time grows short. I would like you to call me Delphine.”

Reynaud nodded, offering her a soft smile. “As you wish, Delphine.”

“What’s done is done, sweetheart. What you need to know is Baptiste is here.”

His blood instantly boiled. “Baptiste?”

“Yes, and I believe he stole the others’ magic.”

Reynaud gasped. Did the man’s treachery have no bounds?

“When we started to age out of our positions, Baptiste was the one who put us into these houses years ago. He placed those who were loyal to him in the elder seats, but he seeks my position for himself. I have known that since before you were condemned. He will come for me.”

“I won’t let him. I will kill him this time—for all that he has done, and for Angele,” he said.

“I have summoned you to me for a purpose, Reynaud. If Baptiste has indeed stolen the power of the elders, he will be considerably stronger than you remember. You will need my help to ensure your victory.”

“I will do as you ask, Delphine.”

“Take my magic as your own.”

Stunned by her request, he jumped back, dropping her hand. “What? No. How can you ask—?”

Delphine reached for his hand and brought it to her chest. “I outlived my position long ago. Only Baptiste’s greed for control has stopped him from taking what he wants from me. He wants to wield all the power so no one can ever best him. The others grew weak and frail with time. They became much easier prey for him.” She tossed back the sheet covering her and sat up on the edge of the bed. “I pretend to be much weaker in his presence, but my control over all the elements has kept me stronger.”

“Delphine, I don’t know if I can—”

“Reynaud, Baptiste will come for me. I would rather give you my power than have him strip it from me.”

She’d made up her mind, and he knew it. She was also right. He would need her gifts to defeat Baptiste. Though he loathed losing her again, what choice did he have? He sighed.

She smiled at him. “Reynaud, you will never lose me,” she told him, as if reading his mind. “You will wear my amulet. I will always be with you.”

Reynaud nodded and slumped his shoulders. “Very well, Delphine. What must I do?”

She removed her necklace and Reynaud lowered his head so she could place it around his neck.

“Give me your hands, and no matter what, don’t take your eyes off mine. It will happen quickly,” she warned.

He did as he was told. Delphine mumbled an incantation he barely heard. Suddenly the expressive brown eyes he had known most of his life began to change. The chocolate color faded until it was a soft sky-blue. It was fascinating to watch. He couldn’t have turned away if he’d wanted to. The air cooled around him. Goosebumps rose on his skin and his nipples hardened as a chill raced down his spine. He blew a breath out and it condensed before him in a tiny cloud. Eyes widening, he blinked, and the blue in her eyes lost even more color. They were almost colorless—like ice. Delphine’s hands lay frosty in his. His teeth started to chatter as the cold traveled up his arms. He wanted to pull away from her arctic grasp, but her grip tightened to hold him in place. His breath heaved as the chilliness inside his chest gripped his lungs. He blinked rapidly, trying to hold her gaze, but it was getting too difficult. The cold was almost unbearable, and Delphine’s mutterings intensified.

Reynaud tried to pull away as her eyes turned bright, searing red. He gasped, almost jumping from his seat. But her grip prevailed. A sudden rush of heat infused his body, forcing him to howl. He was on fire from head to toe and yet there were no flames anywhere. Closing his eyes on instinct, he screamed. Delphine grabbed his chin, shaking his head and forcing him to look at her again.

“You must not break contact,” she told him frantically. “Hold on.”

He nodded and widened his eyes. Delphine continued to mumble. The heat steadily rose within him. Sweat ran down his temples and saturated his back. Just as he started to yell again, his body cooled. Delphine’s eyes returned to their original brown. New strength flowed through Reynaud’s being when her grip eased. She fell back against the pillow with a loud sigh. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, only dust remained where she had once lain. He fell to his knees exhausted, resting his head on the edge of the bed.

* * * *

“Make sure he doesn’t leave. I’m almost there,” Baptiste said then disconnected the call. “Hurry up, Reg. It would seem I have one more problem to deal with.”

The car slowed in front of the house. Baptiste exited the car, slamming the door. Taking the steps two at a time, he walked in and his men rushed him, talking all at once. He held a hand up to stop their chatter and moved toward the staircase. Baptiste went straight to the bedroom, needing to know who had the audacity to violate his home. The closer he got to the door, the angrier he became but when he turned the knob and found it locked, his fury rose to new heights.

He pressed his palm to the center of the door. The wood splintered and cracked beneath the paint until the door flew apart. He pushed past the debris and moved toward the inner bedroom. Inside, there was a man kneeling at Madame Cousteau’s bedside. Baptiste furrowed his brows at the