Chapter 26 Ezra
Ezra
One minute, I was tailing Quinn on her first real outing.
The next, chaos erupted. I’d tried to rush to Quinn’s side, but a body snatcher with greasy espresso hair in an unkempt topknot appeared out of thin air.
I barreled into him. We hit the ground. I recovered first. He died under my sword. Those seconds cost me my path to Quinn.
‘Quinn. Trapped. Royal Mile. Abernathy bakery.’ I shot it across my link and charged.
Body snatchers fell under my blade. Another dropped, and a man in a red uniform threw up his hands and backed off. The few Griersons on The Mile had rallied behind the twins, but Quinn wasn’t with them.
Brit seamlessly worked with three of my enforcers.
They broke up bystanders while targeting body snatchers, who were already turning tail and fleeing.
Racing clouds crossed the sun, breaking apart the light and shadow around me.
I flitted from one outline to the next until I found her at the bakery front.
A triangle of Lawsons stood too close to Quinn.
Rowan stood off to one side, looking like a pincushion, with his elemental Majekah swirling around him.
I stepped into Cayden’s shadow, ready to cut him down.
“Quinn will never carry Lawson offspring.” Cayden’s voice was even and firm. “The Prophet has lied to us. He’s a sick man.”
The words struck like lightning, burning away centuries of obedience in a single breath.
“How dare you!” an older man, who looked just like Cayden, spat. “This was your test, your chance to bring all of us closer to God. And you’ve destroyed it. The Prophet warned us you would either glow with his warmth or wither in the world’s poison. And look at you!”
Cayden flinched. Shame filled his face, but he held his ground. “Women do not belong to anyone. Especially not us.” A prayer, not a protest.
I didn’t have to ask my lover what he wanted or what would be best for our family. The Lawson. Cayden had just declared war on his own blood for the woman who’d stolen my heart.
I’d seen people go to war for power, for land. Never like this. Never so purely.
I couldn’t stand back and watch.
I stepped from Cayden’s shadow, sword to the older Lawson’s throat. For once, shadow and light stood on the same side. Rowan didn’t leave Quinn’s side, and his elements hovered above her, ready for anything.
The older Lawson clenched his jaw. “They’ve forced you to take their side.”
I hadn’t noticed the younger Lawson casting, but he thrust his hands down. A spiderweb of runes expanded at our feet.
“Bloodshed will not fix what they’ve broken in you, brother,” the older Lawson said. “I love you. All your family does. Aludena still cries every night from the loss of her daughter, your daughter, and now you as well.”
Cayden shook. Anguish I couldn’t imagine twisted his features.
Wind roared. Pressure dropped, crushing my ears. Magic tore through my chest like a heartbeat too strong for one body. The runes swirled, and the two Lawsons phased out.
A single cold shiver of fear ran down my spine. Transportation. My lover had the juice, but I didn’t. Only a handful of people still existed with that much magic. I had no doubt Cayden was one of them; how much of his family could do the same?
Quinn wobbled, but her magic pinning her in place didn’t ease.
“Ezra, stay with her,” Rowan commanded. “She’s drunk.”
I didn’t appreciate my subordinate giving me orders, but I’d have stayed by her side regardless. Rowan and Cayden sprinted to the nearest building and pissed. I didn’t know what to make of it.
Quinn wobbled. I moved closer. She clung to my bicep. Her grip left a burning trail through my sleeve; I couldn’t breathe for wanting her to hold tighter.
“Your arms… sssso nice. And abs.” Her words slurred.
Drunk or not, her praise hit deep.
“I wish y-you weren’t gay. Xan feels it… my lust. It’s for you. Which is amazing. But… gah. I’m drunk. Talking is bad. Um-kay.” She hiccupped.
It hit me slow, our careful pace had made her think we weren’t interested.
I swore across the bond, enough to shame a sailor.
‘What’s happening?’ Xan asked.
‘Too many things at once. I’m securing The Mile as best I can. We must talk to Quinn, in detail. Tonight.’
Cayden and Rowan returned. I couldn’t help myself. I cupped Quinn’s cheek and kissed her softly. Her lips tasted of fear and rain. I told myself it was comfort, not confession.
“We’ll continue this when you’re sober.”
Her dull gaze lit. She nodded.
Cayden’s scowl burned, rage trembling through him. The air cracked between us, not from magic, but from jealousy too raw to name, and he lunged for me. Rowan caught the rune mage with his good arm.
I didn’t react. I murmured reassurance, eased Quinn’s grip, and turned to duty. My men needed me.
I jerked my head, letting Rowan know he was once again responsible for Quinn’s safety, and trotted to my enforcers, who had grouped up around Brit.
Everly and Hero stood in front of a trio of Griersons.
Two wore crisp dark-red uniforms and matching hats that hadn’t wrinkled despite the fight.
The third could have been Everly’s uncle in rich leathers and bright trainers.
My few enforcers mingled with men I didn’t recognize.
Splashes of mud and blood peppered their uniforms; one held his arm to his chest, while another leaned heavily on a short man in dark-purple robes.
A third pod of men in the washed-out orange of the Abernathys watched both groups distrustfully.
More groups solidified. What started small now looked like an inkblot of men from every family in front of the bakery.
Tension filled the air, moments away from becoming a fight once more.
‘Situation under control,’ I told my lover. ‘But still tense.’
‘I’m almost there,’ Xan responded.
As I barked orders, I let Xan rifle through my experiences so he could take control with as complete a picture as I could paint.
Two barrel-chested men with beaded braids shoved one of my enforcers—bad luck. I exhaled, slid into his shadow, and stepped out into the McDonald leader’s face.
“I’m glad we arrived when we did,” I said, subtly giving my enforcer a hand signal.
My man turned and made his way to the Abernathys, who were forming a defensive line across The Mile. Although I couldn’t see any more of the gray camo uniforms, body snatchers didn’t necessarily conform to rules. Any of them could be one, and no one would know.
“The Mile’s neutral territory.” Wayde McDonald stepped back. Small victory. I relished it.
Nothing about this place felt neutral anymore.
Wayde scowled at me through his sludge-brown beard.
“Extra hands are acceptable,” I said. “With body snatchers about, no daughter is safe.” Sons too, but the McDonalds were traditionalists.
Wayde McDonald grunted while his son pursed his lips.
“The Architect’s en route,” I said flatly. “Express your concerns to him.”
Wayde McDonald pointed at Quinn, who balanced on Cayden while Rowan kneeled at her feet. “Quinn. The powerhouse with eyes from the past, poisoned by the Architect’s mind magic—”
“She’s not under our control. No one is here against their will.” My hand itched for my sword. I held it.
“Her family?” the younger McDonald pressed.
His Intention was one of the many in Xan’s office. Neither of these McDonalds even knew her. They wanted power in their line, not ours.
I kept my face neutral. “We’re her family.”
“You erased her family from her mind.” Wayde McDonald asserted. “And now you keep her behind your walls. You serve a mentalist. Has he taken your thoughts, too?”
“If she were trapped, we wouldn’t be here,” I said calmly. In my head, I gutted him slowly—one organ at a time.
“If she’s free of mind, then she’s free for suitors,” Wayde grinned. “Your gaze says these are her suitors, but the Lawson has no interest, and the Tate’s under contract. I expect our Intentions answered within the day. Thank you, Commander.”
He waved his hand, dismissing me like the slave I’d been.
My anger boiled. Instead of striking out, I turned like the good soldier I’d become.
‘I should have called her mine, if only to keep the wolves at bay.’ I spat through my link with my lover.
My lover’s horse clattered to a stop. Its hooves echoed on the harsh stone of The Mile.
‘We can’t. Not until we show the world her mind is her own,’ Xan responded.
I hated that he was right, but the McDonald’s accusations rang in my ears. Xan had the power to do everything he was accused of, but he would never abuse it like that. Never.
My lover dismounted without glancing at Quinn, surveying The Mile like he already owned it.
Rich leathers, fine silks, and gold replaced his trainee uniform.
Instead of a mop of hair bouncing around his ears, gel slicked back the baby blue, making it shine as brightly as his eyes.
Even the air shifted. He wasn’t just powerful—he was inevitable.
While everyone’s attention was drawn to him, I surrounded Quinn and her friends with my best enforcers.
The group slipped back toward our walls while I stepped into my lover’s shadow to salvage what we could of the situation.
Even victory felt like loss when her safety was the only thing that mattered.