Thomas East was meant to be the youngest Arch-Mage in history, a magical genius and a solver of problems. But he hadn’t expected quite so many problems -- not to mention the endless meetings, bureaucracy, and political negotiations. So he’s currently hiding in a sleepy California seaside town, working in an ice cream parlor and avoiding everyone he’s let down ... until a firebird in need of rescue crashes into his shop.<br><br>Nicholas Incandesco has far too many problems. He’s a firebird, a shapeshifter, and a power source, and a lot of magicians could use someone with his gifts. He’s also technically a murder suspect with two magical bounty hunters on his trail. He just wants someplace safe to land, and the attractive witch behind the ice cream counter might offer a sweet refuge.<br><br>This encounter might be exactly what both Nicholas and Tom need to find themselves ... and rescue each other.

The Arch-Mage's Firebird

Tom hadalways been good at illusion. Coaxing the world to play along, to weave those threads in a particular requested direction. He still loved the world. He hadn’t given up that much.


“Who areyou?” demanded the man’s partner, hands poised.


“Some guy in an ice cream parlor. As you said. Now. What did you mean?”


“No,” Tom agreed calmly, “you don’t haveto answer me.” Frost bloomed across glass for emphasis.


“Um. You know he’s not human, right?”


Tom did not glance down, though he hadn’t been expecting that; he felt Nicholas wince, leaning against his leg. “Go on.”


“He’s not just a familiar, either. Not somebody’s pet with some gifts, some enchantments, whatever. He’s a real shapeshifter. Proper rare one. One of the original bloodlines. That’s valuable, man.”


Chapter 2