23. Ever
Chapter 23
Ever
“ S on of a bitch,” I grumble, rubbing the back of my throbbing head as I get to my feet.
I must’ve hit my head harder than I thought, because I’m pretty sure I’m hallucinating. Instead of rocks under my feet, it’s a wooden floor, and I glance around a dark living room in confusion. Sure as hell isn’t mine, or Ledger’s for that matter. The entire room appears to be made for giants, the couch cushions starting at my chest. That, or I pulled an Alice and shrunk on top of my disappearing act down the rabbit hole.
What the fuck is going on?
A faint creak and heavy footsteps has me scrambling for the necklace Myles gave me, pushing the button right before a massive man stalks into the room. His skin has a grey hue, clawed feet clicking against the wood with every step. Massive leathery wings are folded tight against his back, with fathomless black eyes as dark as his hair. His nostrils flare as he scans the room with a fierce scowl, but he passes right by where I’m frozen in fear without a second glance.
Holy shit, Myles’s gift really works. If I make it out of here alive, that man deserves one hell of a blow job.
Another gargoyle-looking man comes up behind the first. “What’s up?”
He shakes his head with an annoyed grunt. “Thought I heard something.”
The newcomer claps his back. “Better safe than sorry. We’re lucky as hell they tried to bust a hole through the wards instead of strapping the explosives on the bottom of the supply run’s truck. We need to get that mage to strengthen the barrier before whatever vulture’s circling figures out the loopholes.”
“I’ll track him down in the morning,” the first growls, scrubbing a weary hand down his stoney face. “I need some Sera time first so I don’t lose my shit when I see him.”
His buddy snorts. “Be nice, that mage has made our job a breeze since he moved to town. Now come on, if we’re quick, we can snag the good spots. Leave Marcus and Leo riding the edges of the bed for a change.”
The first raises an eyebrow before shoving past him with a grin and takes off sprinting down the hallway. The entire house shakes as they thunder away, but still, I don’t move a muscle despite being cloaked. The necklace might make me invisible and hide my scent, but I don’t remember Myles saying anything about it hiding the sound of my footsteps. I’m better off waiting until they’re distracted with their mate or fast asleep before risking creaky floors and door hinges trying to sneak out.
A woman’s voice is far too close as she calls, “Pick out a movie, I’ll be up in a minute!” Moments later, a stunning woman enters the living room. Dark red hair falls to her waist in a perfectly smooth curtain, her black silk pajama shorts and tank top highlighting her slim curves, comically tiny compared to the hulking beasts running around.
Flipping on the light, she casually sips her tea. “I must admit, I’ve never seen someone stupid enough to break into a home guarded by four gargoyles before. You must either be incredibly suicidal, or have balls of steel.”
Shit.
Debating which way to play this, I opt for the truth. If she already knows I’m here, hiding won’t do any good, and she just needs to shout for her mates to have me trampled to death.
With a bit of fumbling, I clutch my pendant and click off the illusion. “I’m so sorry, I swear, it was an accident. I don’t even know how I wound up here. One second I was by the river, the next I was falling on my ass in your living room.” I hitch a thumb over my shoulder, taking a step back. “So I’ll let you get back to your movie, and-”
“Everest Moore, classification unknown,” she says, taking another sip of her tea.
I pause midstep. “You know who I am?”
She raises one immaculate eyebrow. “I know every resident in my city.” She tilts her head slightly, green eyes clouding over as she hums contemplatively under her breath. Once they start to clear, she sets her cup aside and says, “Keep practicing, darling. This is one problem you truly can’t run from.”
“What are you talking about?”
She offers a secretive smile and winks. “Only time will tell. Now, come along.”
She strides off down the hall, expecting me to follow. After a moment of hesitation, I jog to catch up with her, because it’s better than the alternative. Her house is gorgeous, if not chaotic. Black and purple painted walls with silver accents, weapons mounted and easily accessible at every turn intermingled with gothic decor.
She sets her cup down on a small table near the front door. “You chose well. Those mates of yours are a good match for you.”
“I haven’t chosen anyone yet. We’re… testing the waters.”
She smirks. “Send Myles to my office in the morning, if you'd be so kind. We have business to discuss.”
“I don’t even know who you are.”
With a genuine laugh, she opens the door. “What a breath of fresh air you are. I’m Seraphina, my mates and I run Mercy Ridge.”
My eyes widen. “Shit, I broke into the mayor’s house. I’m going to jail, aren’t I?”
Seraphina’s grin widens. “Of course not, my mates would’ve simply flown the lost little myst home. If you were anyone else though,” that smile turns wicked, “why waste a jail cell on a dismembered corpse?”
A chill snakes down my spine.
“Legion by the way, not mayor. We’re a little more… permanent than elected officials,” Sera adds.
Warlords, I knew it. Better than an evil council though, I suppose?
“So,” I croak, “You need Myles to strengthen the barrier?” Seraphina taps the side of her nose and winks. “Someone is seriously setting off bombs to try and get into town? Shouldn’t you warn people that someone's attacking the city so they can have their guards up?”
“And incite a panic that’ll give the enemy the opening they need to sneak past our defenses? Stretch our resources thin fighting a battle on both sides of the barrier?” she counters with a shake of her head. “Trust me, Ever, fear is the greatest weapon an enemy can wield. People make reckless, foolish decisions when they’re afraid, and nearly every single resident in this city came here to escape one horror or another. They’d turn on each other, and instead of one threat to our people, we’d suddenly have thousands, and the ones in here can do far more damage. Worse, many would assume their pasts had caught up to them and make a run for it, driving them outside the barrier and right into the enemy’s waiting arms. Trust me, I’ve been running this city for longer than you’ve been on this earth. I’ll ensure that people are aware they shouldn’t leave the safety of the city in a discreet way so they’ll have their guards up, but without throwing gasoline on the fire.”
Chagrined, I dip my head in reluctant agreement. It makes perfect sense, I just hate the concept of keeping someone oblivious to danger in an effort to protect them. But in this scenario, I can’t think of a better approach. Doesn’t mean I have to like it, though.
“Can I tell the guys at least? Since Myles is about to find out anyway?”
She mulls it over for a minute, then nods. “Ledger is one of the most trustworthy people I’ve ever met, and having another set of eyes to ensure people remain calm, but away from the edges of town would be helpful. And with your abilities being unreliable, Arson will need his guard up to protect you and his brother.”
I whip my head toward her. “How the heck could you have known about that? Myles didn’t even know until the other day. And what do you mean, unreliable. Do you know what I am?”
“I have my suspicions,” she says slowly, “but for all of our sakes, pray that I’m wrong.”
Like hell I’m going to simply let it go. “Tell me. Please.”
A howl in the distance has me glancing at the setting sun, wondering how the hell I’m going to find my way home in the dark. And what else might be waiting for me to get lost.
Sera shakes her head. “You never know who’s listening. Make sure that mage of yours activates a sound barrier before you discuss it when you get home.”
I clench my fist, fighting the urge to shake her into giving me answers. “Can you at least point me in the right direction of my house so I can start walking, since you apparently know everything?”
She snorts. “Give me your arm.” Before I can ask why, she slices a perfectly manicured nail down my forearm.
I yank my arm back with a yelp. “What the hell was that for?!”
“I’ve always thought it was ridiculous that people use the palm of the hand or fingertips to draw blood for rituals. Far more nerve endings, and it hurts like a bitch to grab anything for a few days,” she says.
The blood drains from my face. “Ritual?”
Her eyes widen before she suddenly bursts into laughter. “No no, random thought, I’m so sorry. One of your men is a shifter whose mate disappeared on him. Ledger will be losing his mind right about now and on the hunt. One whiff of your blood on the breeze is all he’ll need to track you down.”
“You could have at least asked first, you know,” I grumble, arm stinging. “Or let me do it. What if I didn’t want him to find me?”
She studies my face for a long moment, eyes misting over again before declaring, “Sometimes what we want and what we need are wildly different things. And it takes someone taking the choice out of our hands to set us free.”
Before I can question her further, she shuts the door, leaving me out on her front step with far more questions than answers, but in one piece at least. Mostly.