Splintered: The Society Book 3

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od from the fire. On the end was a blob of semi-molten glass. It pulsed red from the heat and looked as though it wanted to drip from the end. Ivy pulled it from

as horizontal to the floor. Gravity once again started to drag the mass down, but she moved quickly, rolling the rod along the padded surface, spinning the blob into a disk shape. On the end without the g

isfied and the glass was starting to cool for a final time, she pressed the base of the rounded end onto a flat surface so that it would sta

four inches, he filled the door frame. The heat from her workroom was already starting to turn his naturally curly blond hair into the sort of ringlets a chi

small children from falling down stairs, this one was expanded. Bugsy, their half English Staffordshire, half god only knew what else, dog, treated the initial gate as though it

fely out of the molten glass she worked with, his performance was not appreciated, despite its athletic grace. Ivy's brother, Alex,

peered into the forbidden workroom. He barked at her again and as Ivy walked ove

m because I told you that you couldn't

" Russell told her. He leaned into the room and gave her a qu

much as a fire mage,

king over most of the cooking responsibilities for the household, Ivy now spent more time here than in the kitchen, or at least the main part of the kitchen. The secondary kitchen,

ns with wolves, we know Bugsy h

r particular type was wolf, one of the largest sections of the Shifter communit

lanced at him once and then returned to surveying the forbidden domain of Ivy's worksh

turned to look at her ro

ther. Admittedly, there were far more bottles than she needed for the meeting. If she was honest, the deadline wasn't the only reason she was spending so much time in

for display. I think when Petra a

s shift to the still healing wounds, he didn't bring it up

?" Ivy r

home, Wildwood, was located far enough away from everyone that ge

king of Irina and Nick and their sudden arrival on

re, " h

wn for the day and I'll join

amilton is the visitor. Well, one of them

time in thought. "Sounds fami

ader for the Seer

ng rapidly in surprise.

time, " Russell said. He frowned and Ivy could feel the annoya

unexpected, " Ivy said. "

Maybe he is here to apologize." Her husband's look of incredulity grew more pronounced and aga

ough her hair. "We probably b

r. "We've been ordered not to steal the cookies

han normal to refuel, the fact that each of them also possessed a rather large sweet tooth came as quite a surprise. "Al

ll told her.

able to sneak past Ivy and into the room when she tried to leave, as working the modified gate diverted her attention. He looked between Iv

er mind wonder about her visitors. The last time she saw either Hamilton Bridges or Howard Carlson was when all of them were kidnapped by Ron Corwin and the other members

e certain there was nothing that could catch fire and do damage once she left. "I'm pretty

fire protection and thick walls, the doorway enclosure was deep enough that the gate did not have to be removed for the door to close. Even with the do

hanging would also involve a shower and ke

" Ivy sniffed her shirt. While she could detect a slight smoky air, she wasn't terribly stinky as the clothes were clean when she put them on after

, in Ron Corwin's dungeon he drew attention to himself not only so her escape from the chains would go unnoticed, but so that her sister Rose would take less injury.

Ivy reminded herself. "But staying to

y rubbed the still healing marks on her wrists as she walked. Her injuries were sustained when she melted the shackles binding her wrists. While fire

he cell and was hunted down and killed by the wolves. Ivy knew there was little chance he would have survived the burns she inflicted on him. Even though she kn

lding while enjoying the excellent fishing and hunting nearby. Or at least that was the initial intention. The money ran out and the property owner died, leaving his son with a half completed building and no way to complete

te personal spaces the family claimed. While no front desk for check-ins

closet, " Ivy re

, the clothes did not go with them. As most of the shifters arrived wearing their wolf skins, when they shifted back to human they were naked. The front closet contained a variety of clothing, some

rom the kitchen helped,

ers, but he wasn't going to have them naked in his kitchen while he did so. He declared it unhygienic and refused to bud

wearing some form of clothing, even if they looked like they raided the nearest charity shop and weren't too particular about the f

y were truly angry they fully became the wolf pack they were named for. The comparison was part of her personal scale. A snarling wolf w

eakables room, ' Ivy thought

erally involved more plotting and scheming rather than any form of physical altercations, it tended to be furnished with more breakable items. Instead of the heavy restaurant grade ceramic coffee mugs, the silver and china coffee

they mind more than the china, ' Ivy

turned the knob and pushed the door open. There was still no sound. Ivy opened the door fully and stepped inside. Winston arrived first and the tea trolley was

okie jar was generally kept stocked, special items like the

und a low coffee table. The larger room was set up with a conference table and looked more businesslike. Ivy was pleased that thus far, it saw little use. Hamilton and Carlson were se

ach other and not me they ar

her voice politely neutral. Retaining her neutrality, Ivy poured coffee into one of the tea cu

ntrusion, " Hamilton said. "Unfortunate

ok he shot to Carlson. She took a sip

was present when you accepted the commission for Wildwood. He was also present during our recent bout of unpleasa

lanced towards Carlson. He looked a

safety, " Carlson said. His to

ones injured, "

akables in the room, but after a few tense moments,

m glad to see your injuries appear to be healing well." Somehow her grandmother

help either, ' Ivy added. She doubted a discus

e doctors told me to avoid heavy lifting and running for a while." He shook

ly here or if she was supposed to wait until someone bothered to mention it. She suspected Hamilton would need at

rms?" Hamil

ts. "Doing very well, " she replied. "The

led paternalistically at her and she wondere

good you are well. I have com

, his political mask fallin

nions?" I

eon, " Carls

on, " Ivy

Carlso

at the time, " Ivy said. "Do you w

dark haired man, about yo

, " Iv

fter, the Seers disowned her. From what Ivy gathered, Irina disowned them right back. Until a few weeks ago, Nick never knew any of them existed.

ago learned others had more problems with silence than she did, so

he dem

at you wished to dis

red how much his wounds still pained him despite his casualness regarding them. The memory of the sound of Ron Corwin's knife sliding

rought to me,

ardly a d

are

told. The fact meant denying the truth would be pointless. "She was exiled long before I was born, " Ivy said

them from us, " Carlson sai

. Ivy wondered where the saucer ended up and if his not taking it with the cup was a deliberate ac

?" she

is shielding them." Carls

ick's home, it was not the Seers she was hiding them from as at the time she didn't know of the associatio

y their location, " Carlson complained as he continued to pace. He gestured wild

in the concrete, ' Ivy thought. She wonde

Sidewalks were a particular favorite of hers, although she occasionally contributed a blocker to various foundations over the years, making certain random buildings look protected. It helped blur the lines and p

he theory, ' Ivy sai

Seer from their Clan, " Carlson

laration, he dropped

his coffee cup down on the table in its saucer, with considerably les

in section four, paragraphs six through eight, with the attached addend

, the Law has reverted to the pre Council edicts. In those edicts, it is perfectly legal for the head of a Mage Household to grant protection to those they have dra

ting circumstances,

et you did not take them with you when you left. As Ms. Chambers stated, they wer

e Old Laws, "

the days before the Shadow Council, a Mage House often contained those from other Clans. In order to accept the Council ru

up, ' Ivy reminded herself. She thought Nick and Irina were norms, and shielding norms was illegal under Council law. She took

oked as though he coul

arantee the response or if there will even be a response." Ivy knew Irina he

scuss their rightful pla

pon, he pulled out a business card and held it out to Ivy. Hamilton relaxed slightly as he lowered his defenses and Ivy was glad she was not the only one who was

their call, "

ut I don't know if they w

though sucking on a lemon. He stood up and Ivy has

m sure you still have things you

lked towards the door. Ivy felt torn between hostess

give me a chance to be a glutton in private." He leaned forward and picked up

assured him. She followe

. She was slightly out of breath when the corridor joined up with the main lobby. As they stepped into the wider area, heads swiveled in their direction and conversations fell silent. St

ouch. She caught concern emanating from him as he stood and moved to intercept them. Behind him, she could

wn her own annoyance. "Could you escort Mr. Carlson to his vehicle and se

l in the pack members followed suit. They were stil

lson as they headed towards the door. With Carlson covered, Ivy turned and retra