Chapter Fourteen
Sage
"I found something," I say, barely keeping the excitement out of my voice.
I'm curled up on the sofa, fire crackling warm beside me. A fresh mug of hot chocolate sits half-finished within reach, steam still curling faintly. The heat has worked its way into my bones.
Asher is in the armchair across from me, focused on whatever he's scrolling through on the laptop balanced on his knees. Kayden's at the other end of the couch—book open, but eyes not really on the page. He's close, but not touching.
Both of them look up when I speak.
"It's a little vague," I admit, "kind of poetic. But I think it's legit. It says this crystal, celestite, can 'break a satyr's song.' But only if it's 'awakened by one of the magic words.' Which I guess means the crystal alone won't work."
Kayden scoffs. "Of course. Nothing's ever simple."
"At least it's a lead," Asher says, straightening slightly. "The 'magic words' might mean an incantation. Or a witch. Or someone who knows the old languages."
"Great," I mutter, blowing hair out of my face. "So now I need a rare crystal and a magical linguist."
"Just means you'll have to stick around a little longer," Kayden says, reaching out and catching my ankle. His grip is tight enough to count as possessive. "Tragic."
He smirks, and I barely resist the urge to kick him.
Asher looks up from his laptop. "If you don't mind, Sage, we could use our inner circle for this. Tap into the hive mind. Speed things up."
"You mean that Assembly Winston mentioned?" I ask. Asher nods. "But isn't it only for people who actually live here?"
Kayden mutters something under his breath, grip tightening slightly on my ankle.
"We can make an exception," Asher says smoothly. "Emergency clauses exist for a reason. If this crystal can help protect you from Darius, we'll find it. And then, after, you decide what you want to do."
I nod slowly, lips pressing together. It means pulling more people into this. More eyes. More opinions. More ties I didn't plan on making.
"Who exactly would be involved?"
Asher leans back, thoughtful. "Winston or Jace—one of them will have to stay behind to manage the bar. They'll sort it."
I nod. Hopefully it's Winston. Jace wasn't all that thrilled to see me last time, which is understandable.
"There are more in their pack, right?" I ask, curious.
"Yes. Coyote packs aren't as tightly knit as wolves, but there are others in the county."
I nod again, satisfied enough with that.
"There's Astrid," Asher adds, "the one whose clothes you borrowed. She handles security around here. She's a valkyrie."
"And a certified pain in the ass," Kayden mutters, shaking his head.
"She's not that bad," Asher says mildly. "You just antagonize her."
Kayden smirks, utterly unapologetic. "I may have blown a couple of her contracts. By accident."
Asher shoots him a look. "And you won't do it again."
Kayden raises both hands in mock surrender, all innocent charm. "I'm on my best behavior. For now."
I arch a brow. Asher doesn't buy it either. But instead of pressing, he just sighs—a long-suffering older-brother noise—and moves on.
"There's Eira," he says. "A banshee. She works at the hospital. And then… there are two more vampires."
The words land with a little too much care.
I stiffen.
"You don't have to worry," Asher says quickly. "Donna's very nice. And Tomas…" His gaze holds mine. "I sired him. I vouch for him."
My eyes widen. "You sired someone?"
Asher nods once.
Before I can even process that, Kayden chimes in with a theatrical groan. "Before we veer off into 'Saint Asher turned someone?' territory—yes, he saved the guy's life. Asked him first and everything. Heroic to a fault."
Asher's tone stays level. "He was a soldier under my command. Saved my life first. Took a hit that would've killed him. This… this was the only option."
I nod slowly. It's a lot. "And they're both like you? In control?"
"I was with Tomas when he turned," Asher says. "He never lost his empathy. And he listens. Wasn't hard to guide. Unlike most fledglings who fall to instinct."
"And Donna's been through Asher's kumbaya vampire rehab program," Kayden adds with a smirk. "She's clean. Mostly sunshine. Sometimes cinnamon roll."
Asher nods again. "They're safe. These are people I trust. But—" He leans forward, folding his hands. "You need to be comfortable with revealing what you are to them. And what you're trying to find."
I hold his gaze. "Are you comfortable potentially putting them on Darius's radar?" I don't need to spell it out. He knows what I mean.
I don't know if Darius has any interest in banshees, valkyries, or coyotes, but he's a threat to all vampires.
"I'll warn them of the risk," Asher says. "Without giving them details about you. If they're not comfortable, they won't come. But these aren't naive civilians—they've all survived things to make it here. They're powerful in their own ways. And if you choose to trust them, they'll stand with you."
I lean back, thinking.
I don't want to drag anyone into this storm. But if I can get that crystal, then maybe I can disappear again. And maybe the storm won't come here.
I exhale slowly, the weight of the decision settling on my shoulders. Then I nod.
"All right," I say. "Let's do it."
"Let's get the party started." Kayden stretches, his grin sharp. "I'm sure they'll be thrilled to see me again."
Asher gives him a flat look before turning back to me. "I'll call them tonight. See if they can make it by tomorrow."
"Thanks," I say quietly. "I… appreciate that." I start to rise, but Asher's voice halts me.
"One more thing, Sage."
I pause.
"I've been digging into Darius. So far, nothing. No paper trail, no exposed connections. Squeaky clean. Is there anything else you can tell us about him?"
Both of them are watching me now—Kayden casual on the couch, Asher sharper in the armchair—but the intensity behind their eyes is the same.
I draw in a breath, my mind flicking through all the fragments I know. What I can say.
"He keeps the dirty work buried. It's not tied to Hawthorn Industries.
All the shady operations run through shell companies, disconnected on paper.
Money flows through a maze of offshore accounts, fake entities.
He has people for it—lawyers, accountants.
You won't find much unless you already know exactly where to look. "
Kayden's brow lifts slightly. Asher remains unreadable.
"And even if we did expose him… who would listen?" I add. "Who in the regular world would believe a nymph with no evidence accusing a green-tech billionaire of magical mind control and blood trafficking?"
Asher nods slowly. "That's true. Still, anything else? About his powers? Just in case we need to prepare countermeasures."
I hesitate, then answer as plainly as I can. "Satyrs are tied to the cycles of nature—sun and moon. They can channel power through both. It's deeper than nymphs or leshy can manage. I also read that they can tap into a nymph's power. I just don't know if the crystal can block that too."
"That's something," Asher says. "We'll keep looking. Maybe one of Winston's books will give us more."
He nods at me in dismissal. "Have a good night, Sage."
"Good night, sunshine," Kayden drawls, all heat and smug satisfaction.
Neither of them brings up what happened on the porch, but it lingers thick in the air between us like a question. One I pretend not to hear.
I climb the stairs slowly, each step heavier than the last. My chest tightens. Guilt twists sharp in my gut.
Because I haven't told them everything.
Like the fact that satyrs can only access a nymph's power once they marry her.
Like the fact that Darius proposed to me.
Like the fact that I said yes.
And that we're still technically engaged, because he never let me go.
Because his damn ring is still buried at the bottom of my backpack.