Shadow Hunt by Erin Kellison

exhaustion. His brain felt heavy and sluggish from the work of dividing this world from the Shadowy one that was always in sight. Dark shapes moved in and out of his vision, but he tried to ignore them. He was losing his mind, the one part of himself he trusted, and at the worst possible time.
    Ellie would not wake. That alone was enough to drive him crazy.
    A rattle at the door had Cam surging upward from his seat next to the bed. He was ready to fight, sticky with sweat in one flash of adrenaline.
    But it was that other mage, Zander, who entered. “I hear the party’s in here tonight, though it looks like”—he glanced around—“I’m early.”
    Cam felt ill. Ellie.
    Zander closed the door behind him, his expression lit with humor. “Been an exciting day.”
    Cam smelled the stink of his own fear. He didn’t care what they did with him. But, oh, God —
    “Willa sends her apologies. She can’t come tonight as she’s not feeling well, nor will be for a long time, I’m afraid.”
    Gunnar and Mathilde must have found out about their little talk yesterday after dinner.
    Cam had to know. “What did you do to her?”
    “Me?” Zander put a hand to his chest. “Nothing. Mathilde, on the other hand, thought that Willa should become personally acquainted with the Shadow knife she discussed with you.”
    “Willa was loyal to the House,” Cam said in a too late defense.
    “Willa gave you the means-by-information to kill Martin’s heir.” Zander looked pained for a moment, then laughed in mock sadness. “So close! I’m second, you know.”
    “Second what?”
    “Second in line to inherit,” Zander said. “I’ve been a student here all my life, fostered from childhood. At first Martin was concerned that a girl could not do what was necessary to hold the House. Then he got to know his daughter.”
    Cam thought of his gun, which he’d tucked under Ellie’s pillow. One reach, covered by a tender caress, and he’d be armed. He’d decided not to have it in hand when someone came in, didn’t want to initiate a bloodbath if there was any hope of Ellie getting out alive. Just Ellie. They could do what they liked with him.
    “I feel that I owe you something for trying at least.” Zander stalked to the window and looked out.
    “Owe me?” Cam’s brain was still moving too slowly.
    “I don’t like debts, and thanks to your very foolish move earlier at the Seminary, I almost became heir to this great House.”
    Zander turned, the moonlight making one half of his face look gaunt. “Mathilde’s a peach, isn’t she?”
    “Lovely woman,” Cam replied.
    “She’ll be here shortly, the new Martin in tow. I believe she has a welcome gift for him in mind.”
    The new Mar—? Oh. Slight.
    “Greatmage and High Seat of the Council Kaye Brand sponsored our visit here.” Did they fear Brand? Could she save them? Could her name alone save them?
    “Brand will be here tomorrow. Too late. And no human death can be put before the Council for discipline, unless it involves the safety of greater magekind. Further, Gunnar believes that Brand will have no choice but to overlook the events here because he feels she needs Martin House. Or will need Martin House. Brand didn’t get where she is by being stupid.”
    “She won’t ally herself with Martin House if anything happens to us,” Cam said. Adam would not do business with someone who would. “I promise you that.”
    Zander shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. It will be too late for you, and a lesson learned in hindsight by Gunnar.”
    Cam had nothing to say to that. His vocal chords were tied with frustration. Was there no way out?
    Zander’s eyes softened somewhat. “The Segue trained you to fight, did it not?”
    “Yes.” That’s right. Cam could still fight. And he would.
    “Do they teach you how to die?”
    Cam gritted his teeth.
    Zander sighed, glancing toward the door, as if he sensed someone’s approach. “At the Seminary we are taught how to die. How we are