Nora's POV
"What's your plan with that thing?" James glances away from the darkening road ahead, his eyes settling on the hagstone resting in my palm. The sun has disappeared behind the hills, and we're making our way back to Vivian Hill.
"I'm keeping it. These stones are incredibly rare." I turn the carved rock over, tracing the ancient etchings with my fingertip. "Traditional binding spells work well enough, but they require extended focus and preparation time. With this little beauty, you just slip it over someone's throat and their powers vanish instantly."
"Won't having it in your home put you at risk? What if someone turns it against you?"
"It's no more hazardous than keeping a loaded weapon in the house. I know how to hide it properly with concealment magic, so don't stress about it." A yawn escapes me as I wind the leather cord around the stone and tuck it into my bag.
