Chapter 2
Seph
“I want to come with you,” Ash said.
“You can’t. Elliot said there isn’t enough room in the helicopter.” I pulled on my boots, smoothing my jeans.
I’d been at the Equinox Compound for three days now. Elliot had given me space to recover, but my time was up.
I think he hoped to recruit me. And I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
Outside my room, carved deep in the mountain, Sy waited. He was already dressed in his usual motorcycle boots and jeans, staring at the sky like he was tracking something only he could see.
“How come the big guy gets to go?” Ash frowned. He didn’t like me going anywhere without him anymore.
Kieran stepped inside. “Because he doesn’t trust me.”
Sy’s gaze followed him through the window. He didn’t blink. Kieran didn’t either.
“What did you do?” Ash demanded. “Why did you piss off the dragon?”
“I guess it’s just a gift,” Kieran said mildly. “Are we ready to go?”
“Just about.” I tugged my other boot on. “Will Sable be coming?”
“No, I think she wants to stay and help the others settle in. You’ll probably all be put to work by the end of the day.”
Ash frowned. “Jobs?” he said, as if the word didn’t belong to him. He poked out his tongue in distaste.
I smiled. I reached for him with my gloved hand and touched his arm. He relaxed instantly.
“Hey, it will only be a few hours. Maybe we can watch a movie later.”
“There are no TVs,” Kieran said. “Except in Elliot’s room. The mountain blocks most of the signals. And even then, he only watches the news.”
Ash paled.
“No TV?” he said. “What about Wi-Fi?”
“Maybe,” Kieran said. “We do have an exercise centre if you need to burn off energy.”
I heard a thud from the room next door. Then raised voices. I exchanged a look with Ash and headed to the room Jess and Dev had been forced to share.
As soon as I opened the door, I ducked as an ashtray went flying at my head, smashing against the wall.
“Learn to breathe quieter! You sound like a goddamn bear!” Jess yelled, her red hair mussed from lack of sleep. She stood glaring at Dev with a look that could melt steel.
Dev glared back, perfectly dressed as normal.
“Me?” he shot back. “You’re accusing me of annoying noises? I’ve listened to that lighter click all night—”
“Hey!” Ash barked, kicking the shattered ashtray pieces away from the doorway.
Jess and Dev both flinched.
“What the hell, Ash!” Dev snapped.
“You almost hit Seph,” Ash said, stepping fully into the room, his body already squared like he was ready to tear into someone.
Kieran grabbed his arm. “Stop. What’s going on in here?”
Jess whirled on him.
“What’s going on is that I haven’t slept,” she said sharply, “because every time he breathes, I’m ready to commit murder.”
“I do not breathe loud!” Dev snapped.
“You sound like an asthmatic lion!”
“A what?” Dev clenched his fists, jaw tight. Jess raised her chin, defiant.
Kieran stepped between them.
“Why are you rooming together?” Kieran said. “I thought Elliot put you in with Seph, Jess.”
Jess laughed sharply and pointed at Ash. “Ask him! He won’t let me near Seph!”
Ash growled, low. “That is my space.”
“This is getting ridiculous!” I snapped. “I’m not something you get to fight over!”
“Seph—” Jess started.
“No. You’re acting like children,” I said flatly. “Grow up.”
Dev smirked. “Yeah, Jess.”
“You are just as bad!” I shot back. He glared at me.
“I’m not the one throwing ashtrays.”
“Fuck you, Dev,” she growled.
“What is going on in here?” A voice asked, stepping up behind me.
The room went still.
“Elliot,” Kieran said, his voice calm.
“I could hear yelling across the courtyard. Is there a problem here?” Elliot didn’t need to speak loudly. His very presence made the air heavy.
I stepped back into Ash instinctively and felt his hands on my waist, light and still.
No one answered.
Elliot’s gaze moved over the room, taking in the shattered ashtray, Jess’s wild hair, Dev’s clenched jaw, the way Ash stood just behind me. He smiled faintly.
“I see,” he said. “Tensions are high.”
No one spoke.
“That’s understandable,” Elliot went on mildly. “You’ve all been through a great deal. New surroundings. New rules.” His eyes flicked to Jess. Then Dev. “New compromises.”
Dev straightened, suddenly precise.
Jess folded her arms, jaw tight, but she didn’t look away.
Elliot’s attention returned to me.
“Seph,” he said gently, as if we were alone. “Are you alright?”
Ash’s hands tightened at my waist protectively.
“I’m fine,” I said. “But this stops now.”
Something unreadable passed over Elliot’s face. Approval, perhaps.
“Good,” he said. “Because we can’t afford disorder here.”
He let the words settle.
“I’ll have the rooming arrangements adjusted,” Elliot continued calmly. “Until then, I expect restraint. From all of you.”
His gaze lingered on Dev a fraction longer than necessary.
“Am I understood?”
“Yes,” Kieran said immediately.
Jess nodded once. Dev inclined his head.
Elliot smiled again — satisfied.
“Excellent,” he said. “We leave in ten minutes, Seph.”
Then he turned and walked away, as though nothing of consequence had happened.
Only after he was gone did the room breathe again.
Sy stepped into the room behind me. He must have been there all along. Waiting. Dev and Jess both stilled, then stepped back.
Jess went to clean up the ashtray, refusing to look at Dev.
Kieran and Dev exchanged a look. Dev’s mouth tightened before he looked away.
I watched them closely, trying to understand why the temperature dropped between them.
“Dev.” I said quietly. He looked at me.
“I’m fine, Seph,” he said flatly, his shoulders tight. Then he turned and stalked out of the room.
“Little one?” Sy murmured.
Ash’s grip tightened on my waist.
I gently extricated myself before turning to kiss him quickly on the cheek.
“I’ve got to go,” I said.
Ash actually whimpered. I pressed my lips together.
“Ash.”
“But I like being with you.”
“I know.”
“Ash,” Kieran snapped.
Ash’s gaze flicked to Kieran, glaring.
“Fine,” he muttered. “Dick.”
At a sharp look from Kieran, Ash left the room, grumbling loudly.
When it was just Sy and Kieran, I rubbed my eyes.
“Are you okay?” Kieran asked softly.
Sy stepped in front of me.
“She is fine.”
I let out a breath.
“I’m just realising how much easier it was when nobody cared what happened to me.”
Both men frowned.
“Seph—” Kieran began.
I forced a smile. “I’m just adjusting. Come on.”
I tugged at Sy’s sleeve. “Elliot’s waiting.”
“Seph, you don’t have to do this today if you don’t want to. I can talk to Elliot if you aren’t ready,” Kieran said, even as he fell into step beside me.
“I’m ready. I am. Besides, it’s just a tour, right?”
Sy stepped in beside me, forcing Kieran to fall back.
For a moment, I saw Kieran scowl. Sy just glared at him.
“We can leave when you choose,” Sy said quietly. “No matter what this Elliot says.”
“Thank you, Sy,” I said softly, offering a watery smile.
I looked ahead as we walked out the door and felt the chill of the air bite immediately.
Elliot waited by his helicopter, speaking closely with Sable. They both looked up at my approach.
“Seph.” Elliot’s smile was immediate. “Perfect timing.”
But for a moment I hesitated.
And I couldn’t say why.
He stepped towards me. I felt Sy’s hand at my back.
“Elliot. Sable,” I said.
“Hey sis,” she smiled, but there was something guarded in her eyes. “Enjoy the ride today,” she said lightly. “I hope you get some clarity.”
I nodded and took Elliot’s offered hand. Once we were in the chopper, I was handed some headphones, same as Kieran and Sy.
As we rose above the Moorshire compound, the mountains falling away beneath us, I saw the scope of the bomb we were sitting on.
There were hundreds of people. Thousands.
All a part of the movement.
“Welcome to the Equinox Front,” Elliot said.