As the final notes of the dance hung in the air, Kevlin leaned forward to kiss Indira again. She closed her eyes and tipped her chin up to meet him.

As their lips touched, the amulet poured a trickle of magic into his chest.

Kevlin released Indira and stumbled away as he changed the magic to gain ownership of it. Had Indira slipped and touched him with her power? Had someone else done it?

Indira opened her eyes. The confusion on her face made it clear she had no idea what was going on. She hadn't done it.

The distraction proved disastrous. The magic revolted against his control and drove into his still-unprotected mind like a burning dagger. Kevlin clutched his head and staggered into another couple.

The man pushed him roughly away and Kevlin dropped to one knee. His vision faded to black. The magic roared like invading hoards as it tore down the mental barriers he struggled to raise against it. He smelled burning hair and tasted blood.

It was such a small amount of magic, but it tore at his shields with terrible force. Panic flickered at the edge of his thoughts. He wasn't sure he could stop it this time.

Then everything stopped and silence as deep as a tomb settled over him. Kevlin looked around, even though he didn't want to see. Everyone appeared frozen in time around him. Indira hung with one foot extended and one hand reaching toward him, her face locked in an expression of concern.

A flash of light drew Kevlin's gaze up toward the gigantic murals painted on the upper half of the dome. A brilliant silver light raced across the dome, like a living snake. It flashed between widely spaced images, pausing at each one for a single heartbeat.

Gods. Kevlin hadn't noticed these subtle images of the gods concealed amidst the broader murals, but the light outlined each one before moving one. The images continued to glow softly after the light left them, and they seemed to pulse as if about to move.

"Sherah's Teeh," Kevlin muttered fearfully.

"They're not that special, really."

The rope-like light ended its mad dash across the dome at the image of Akillik. It flared like a sunburst, and the youthful-looking god emerged from the mural, laughing as if he'd just heard the funniest joke ever. Tonight, as if in honor of the grand event, Akillik wore a glittering waistcoat that looked like pure gold.

"What?"

"Her teeth. They're really not that special. Why do you always talk about them?" Akillik drifted down toward Kevlin. "If you're going to talk about Asherah, there's a couple other features that deserve a lot more attention, you know."

How could he possibly respond to that?

Akillik laughed again. "No, maybe not. She might destroy you." He glanced up at the softly glowing image of Asherah in another mural. "Want to find out?"

"No!" Akillik was more than Kevlin wanted. He couldn't handle two gods.

"You're right," Akillik shrugged. "She'd just ruin the fun." He laughed louder than ever, threw out his arms and shouted, "And there's so much fun to be had tonight!"

Kevlin noticed for the first time that the Wheel spun so fast it blurred in the young god's hand. The blurring intensified until it looked like many wheels spun simultaneously in the same space. The sight gave Kevlin a headache, but he couldn't look away.

"Yes, my good man," Akillik whispered, leaning close. "So many people taking chances tonight. So many spinning the Wheel, grasping for Luck to win a fair lady's heart, to dance, to plot the death of an enemy. So many giving their souls into my care, entrusting me with their fate!"

He snapped the Wheel toward Kevlin and the blurring vanished. The Wheel began to slow, and Akillik's expression became intent. "What about you, Kevlin? Ready to try your luck?"

Kevlin shook his head, his mouth suddenly too dry to speak. He'd often spun the Wheel in the past, but never really understood the true scope of what he did. Now that he saw it, he didn't want to ever again willingly trust his fate to this crazy god.

"What do you have to lose?" Akillik whispered as he hovered just above Kevlin's head. The Wheel slowed until it barely moved.

The Black side, so dark it sucked the light out of the air around it, was spinning up.

Akillik whistled. "Might not be a good time, really." Then he laughed again, this time a hard, unfriendly laugh.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Kevlin found his voice. "I don't want your luck. Just leave me alone."

Akillik rose a few feet and gestured around at the dome. "Think about it, man. If the Wheel spins for you, you'll be the greatest hero ever to walk the earth."

He descended again and extended the Wheel toward Kevlin. "If it spins against you, you could destroy everything." Akillik grinned. "Either way, no one will ever forget your name. Well, no one that lives, anyway."

Anger helped center his mind. Akillik claimed to be different, but just like Savas, he wanted only to destroy, to control Kevlin's life.

"I will not!" Kevlin shouted. He snatched a goblet from the hands of a nearby lady and threw it at Akillik. It disappeared in a flash of golden light before reaching the god.

Akillik floated higher, but his whisper floated back down. "You can't hold out forever, Kevlin. The longer you do, the greater the consequence."

His eyes blazed with power, and he looked far older and far more dangerous than ever before. "In the end, I always win."

Then he disappeared.

Pain crashed in on Kevlin's senses. He grabbed his head as magic tore through his mind, ripping at his thoughts and pushing the limits of his control.

A new thought floated to the surface of the turbulent battlefield of his mind. Why struggle? It could all be over. All I have to do is give in.

Sweat drenched Kevlin's shirt and dripped from his face. His muscles quivered as if he'd been fighting for hours, and pain pounded through him. All he had to do was let go, release the magic.

Indira dropped to her knees beside him. He couldn't focus on her, but he felt her presence, smelled the gentle fragrance she wore.

If he surrendered, what would happen to her?

Kevlin groaned with the effort and marshaled his scattered thoughts for a counterattack. He formed the image of himself standing atop his broken battlements, sword held high, ringed with blue fire.

He leaped off the wall, driving into the attacking horde.

You will obey me, by the gods.

Akillik's mocking laugh rang through his mind, and he cursed himself for the choice of words. But he didn't allow fear of Akillik to distract him. With every ounce of will he could muster, Kevlin led the charge against the magic.

He sought the peace of discipline and strength he'd felt while linked to his brothers in battle. The rogue magic beat against him, but he fought back with growing intensity.

He tasted dirt, and the sounds of steel rending flesh sounded in his ears as memories of real battles flickered through his mind. Kevlin rocked forward, groaning, barely suppressing the urge to shout aloud his battle cry.

The tide shifted in his favor and the magic retreated. He raised the reinforced battlements around his mind and populated them with invisible forces. As his control improved, the rebellious power subsided and submitted to his control. It flowed through his limbs, healing and refreshing his body where seconds earlier it had torn at his flesh to escape.

Kevlin blew out a breath and sat straight. Indira hovered close beside him, one hand extended toward him, but not quite touching. A few other people were looking on in concern.

Let them think he was drunk. If only life were that simple.

Kevlin wanted nothing more than to lie down, but he still knelt on the dance floor. The band was just beginning the first chords of another song, so he had to move.

"Are you all right?" Indira asked, finally touching his shoulder.

"I'm alive."

She helped him up and they moved off the dance floor. Kevlin suddenly felt ravenous, so they moved to one of the food tables and he piled a plate high and started wolfing it down.

"I don't often encourage binge eating after an injury," Indira said. "Slow down and tell me what happened."

"I'm not sure. Someone touched me with magic."

"Who?"

"I don't know." He shrugged and popped a sugar-coated pastry into his mouth.

"Why?"

"Who would even know to try?"

Indira looked around at the sea of humanity on every side, frowning.

Kevlin took her hand. "I have to find Harafin. He needs to know about this."

"I'll come with you."

Kevlin slipped a hand around her waist and leaned on her as they moved slowly across the floor. She frowned as they walked and Kevlin asked, "What's wrong?"

"I saw you fall," she said softly, her grip tightening around his waist. "I wanted to help you, but I didn't dare. For the first time in my life, I didn't know what to do."

"You did the right thing."

"But I didn't," she said with surprising heat. "Kevlin, the right thing is always to help and to heal, but I can't do that with you."

Her intensity surprised him. "Indira, sometimes the best way to help is to let someone deal with a problem alone."

"That doesn't make sense."

A dark-haired youth dressed in the green and gold of the palace staffers interrupted. He looked strangely familiar, but Kevlin couldn't place where he might have seen him before.

"Sir Kevlin, Master Harafin wishes to see you at once."

Kevlin smiled ruefully. "How did he know?"

The young man pointed toward the wide corridor leading toward the Southern Kingdoms Admin Palace. "He is waiting for you in one of the sunken gardens."

Kevlin sighed. If Harafin wanted privacy, he must have somehow felt the almost-Tai-Pari. What would he do?

The servant gave Kevlin directions, but then blocked Indira from joining Kevlin. "Pardon, Lady, I was told Sir Kevlin needed to come alone."

"It's all right," Kevlin told her and kissed her cheek. "I'll find you later."

"Be careful."

He glanced back twice, and she remained there, watching him. He hated leaving her right when things had been going so well. Hopefully Harafin would be quick, because he planned to enjoy this party.

The crowds thinned rapidly as he moved away from the Great Dome. He found a side corridor and descended to the second sub-level as instructed. He munched on the remnants of the food on the plate he still carried, and in a few minutes arrived at the sunken garden.

It was a simple one, with half a dozen pear trees already harvested for the season, and several benches scattered around the clearing and near the doors. The cascading fountain glowed with an amber light.

Since this level of the garden stood empty, Kevlin moved toward the stairs leading down to the lowest level. Harafin was taking the privacy a little far this time. It wasn't a good sign.

Fifty feet from the stairs, he stopped and spit out the food he'd been chewing. Eight men dressed in black clothing and armor erupted out of the shadows of the stairs in a silent charge.

Kevlin was not wearing his sword.