Chapter 39
Not an ounce of hesitation weighs on Crew as he pushes against the door, swinging it open with force. He storms inside like his typical cocky self, and I follow behind, keeping my gaze forward—hard and ready.
My hands tighten into fists, and I feel my nails digging into my skin.
The pain dulls the anxiety swirling inside me, so I squeeze harder, indifferent to the possibility of bleeding.
The familiar office unfolds, revealing the large table in the center for meetings, followed by a smaller nook around the corner that holds Carver’s large wooden desk.
“Good evening,” Crew says, casually.
Sitting before us, my gaze lands on Carver first—his large frame stands out—and I can’t help but notice the striking resemblance between him and Crew.
I quickly shift back into character and smirk as Carver approaches me.
He wears a fitted black suit, his black hair perfectly styled, and his beautiful olive skin peeks out from his unbuttoned white shirt.
He grabs my hand, planting a gentle kiss on the back of it, and his eyes meet mine.
“Wonderful to see you as always, Mara.” Carver’s bright smile dazzles. “You look beautiful.”
I don’t dare look at Crew—there’s no need. I can sense his fury from a few feet away.
“Nice to see you as well, Elder.” I flutter my eyes.
Crew clears his throat, and his father shifts his gaze from me to his son.
“Hello, Crew.”
Crew doesn’t respond because I don’t think he can. His emotions are swirling chaotically through his system. Carver steps toward his son, clearing a space for me to see the rest of the room.
I see Lowell first, the surge of anger striking my chest like a crimson tidal wave, but I smile sarcastically—there's nothing surprising about that reaction for either of us.
He stands slowly, and I shift my gaze to the figure sitting beside him.
Shaw beams at the sight of me for the first time in over a week, and everything inside me screams.
My stance is steady, but my insides tremble with too many emotions for a single person to compute.
“Mara, my God,” Shaw says, standing and walking toward me fast. “I’m so damn happy to see you.”
He wraps his strong arms around me, and my hands start to shake, but I respond by pulling him into a tight embrace to steady myself.
His usual calming effect on me is gone, and all I can see is my father when I look at him.
A vicious anger swells in my chest, and each steady breath is a challenge this close to him.
“It’s great to see you,” I respond, as genuinely as I can. “I… missed you.”
Lowell walks toward us, and I pull away from Shaw. “Good evening, Lowell.”
“Hello, Mara,” his deep voice echoes. “I’m happy you returned in one piece.”
“Of course.”
Lowell smirks. “I was concerned you and Mr. Bannermin would kill each other.”
I cut my gaze to Crew. “He’s not worth my time, Elder. I got my shots in.”
“Please.” Crew huffs a sarcastic laugh. “She’s too afraid to take me on.”
Carver steps in. “Oh, I doubt that, son. She’s made you bleed twice before.”
More than that.
“Yeah, let’s not forget,” I say, sharply. “Your blood is still on my knife. We can go again if you need me to remind you of the pain I can cause.”
Crew’s eyes widen, as if the true memories of what happened between us shock him. I smile and let a coldness sweep over me.
“I’d love to go again with you, Mara. All night,” Crew bites.
Oh, fuck.
My cheeks flush, and I lower my gaze, knowing precisely what Crew is referring to right now. Lowell and Carver laugh at the chaos moving around the room, and I glance at Shaw to roll my eyes.
“Anyway, did we return to speak about something important or just that Mara still has a strong disdain for me?” Crew asks, crossing his arms.
“Someone is in a foul mood,” Carver says, sitting at the large table.
“Like always,” I mumble.
Crew plops down next to him, throwing his arm over the back of the chair. “Wouldn’t you be if you had to spend days with her?”
“No,” Carver says, boring his gaze into mine. “Quite the opposite.”
The air leaves my lungs.
This fucking man.
Crew throws his hands up. “Either way. We did what was asked and completed the assignments. The targets are dead.”
Thinking of one target sends a wave of sadness through me. I move around the table to take a distant seat across from Crew and Carver, while Shaw and Lowell sit on either side of me. I feel suffocated as they settle in, caging me in—exactly how it’s been for years.
“So is Griffin Kaa,” Carver says. “Did news travel to you there?”
Crew nods. “Damien came to tell us the news.”
“And what of the Voids?” Lowell asks, clasping his hands together.
Crew leans forward. “We don’t believe their headquarters are in Hilna. We think it’s here somewhere—either in the city or just outside.”
The lies slither out of his mouth with confident grace, and I silently applaud him for the performance so far.
“Mara was able to kill around six of them at a time, and we gathered whatever information we could while one was still breathing,” he says. “It was quite impressive.”
Lowell cuts his gaze to me, and Carver’s brows raise.
“Amazing, Mara,” Lowell says with pride. “Ridding the world of the Voids will keep us going with order and elegance.”
Hilarious.
Carver glances at Crew. “And what were you doing? Nothing, I assume?”
I watch the words strike Crew, and I step in, leaning my chest forward. “He was letting me have all the fun, Elder.”
Carver shifts his gaze from Crew back to me, and a sly grin spreads across his face.
Play the game better than they do.
“And that’s why your reputation precedes you,” Carver grins, sitting back in his chair. “I did not doubt that you would easily pass Crew in ranks.”
I glance at Crew, and his gaze is as dark and unyielding as stone.
“The Voids that infect Hilna City are of no importance. Just lowlifes that clutter the streets with their rebellions,” I say.
“Very well,” Lowell replies. “And you think they’re in Halcyon City?”
“We do,” Crew steps in. “And we plan to find them.”
“Very good,” Carver says. “And Josh Haber is dead?”
“I shot him in the heart,” I say, and the words feel nasty leaving my lips.
“Well, Mara, you had all the fun, didn’t you?” Lowell says. “You must be making up for all that time you were…away.”
A dig.
I smile at him and Shaw. “Must be.”
“Maybe Crew should have stayed home,” Carver says. “I expect that next time you will step in to assist her with these assignments. I wouldn’t want you to be seen as lazy.”
Crew focuses his gaze on me, and I tense.
“Any signs of the Grim?” Lowell asks.
“No,” I respond. “I never saw him. Everything was fast-paced, not allowing for time to stick around.”
Lowell nods.
“We are happy to have you two back,” Carver says. “We have suspicions that the Voids are in Halcyon City as well, which leads you two to a new assignment that we would like to have completed in two days.”
“I thought I was done working with him,” I snap, looking at Crew.
Carver laughs. “Soon. We hope we can move on to something else once we restore the balance. Although I will be upset not to see you at the Jade Order anymore.”
I notice Crew’s fists tightening out of the corner of my eye.
“We aren’t surprised that we didn’t get very far this time,” Lowell says. “This was merely a mission to see what you two were capable of as a team.”
“We are not a team,” Crew snaps.
“That’s not true,” Lowell says.
“We are assassins,” Crew responds harshly. “That’s it and all it ever will be for us.”
I don’t let his words pierce me, and I think back to what Sam said about how I can drain the Elders’ souls.
I let my curiosity get the better of me and let a wave of power flow through me, focusing solely on it.
I watch their faces closely as I try to think of anything that would help me do what I’m capable of.
They engage in conversation around me, unaware of the turmoil swirling in my mind, but nothing happens.
Crew doesn’t even glance at me, and my annoyance deepens.
I replay his words in my mind, and my stomach drops.
The bond between Crew and me is where our power will stem from.
To drain them, we would have to open our connection in front of them, and as soon as Lowell discovers that we are sealed, everything would be over.
I don’t let the defensive feeling show on my face as I glance at Shaw. He is watching me intently, and I offer him a quick smile before focusing back on the conversation at hand.
“We will return to the Lyre Order tonight,” Lowell says. “Mara will come with us, since she isn’t needed immediately. I’m sure she would like her own room and to rest away from Crew before they begin again.”
My body goes rigid.
“Absolutely. Whatever she would like,” Carver says, smiling. “Mara can come and go as she pleases. Her bedroom will remain hers.”
Crew straightens in his chair. “It would be easier for her to stay. That way I don’t have to wait on her.”
I cut my eyes to him, and watch as his chest caves in.
I can’t stay.
That feels too obvious, but the thought of leaving with Lowell and Shaw sends a wave of nausea through me that I can barely ignore. I swallow hard and hide my trembling hands under the table. I don’t want to leave.
“Distance would do me well.” I lie. “The past few days have drained me, and I’d prefer to stay on my own tonight.”
Crew’s gaze remains hard, but I watch as a second of hurt flows through his silver eyes.
“Very well, Miss Castten,” Carver smiles. “That is understandable. I can imagine being around my son is a cause for that draining feeling.”
I curl my fists under the table.
“Are we wrapping this up?” Crew asks, his jaw tensing. “I have other matters to attend to.”
Carver sighs. “You and your pathetic women, I’m sure.”
“Something like that.”
I glare at him, but get no response.
“Typical,” Carver says, sliding the document his way.