Chapter 21 #2
Cole spares him a chilly glance. “I read the ephemera she left behind after it happened. She didn’t throw up because the poison made her sick—she shoved her finger down her throat to make herself vomit.
How could she have realized what was happening to her?
Why would Elodie Devine ever imagine she’d been poisoned? ”
Byron’s brow knits. “What are you trying to say? It’s a good thing if she’s taking steps to protect herself.”
He knows I was worried that someone was after me before the poisoning even happened. It must be easy for him to justify all the evidence as pointing to the same initial problem, one that still paints me as the victim.
Cole scoffs. “Only if she’s being honest about why she needs protection.
I think the Devines have gotten messed up in something much darker than their typical business interests.
Increased Elodie’s training so she can keep up with their new alliances.
Except those alliances turned sour, and they weren’t ready for just how bad the backlash would be.
And Elodie’s still protecting her family’s interests while pushing us into the line of fire. ”
His theory is so absurdly far from the truth that I can’t hold back a sputter of laughter.
I’ve been stretching myself to the limit trying to protect him—and the other men around us. I have no idea who my enemies are, and Dad and Aunt Daphne clearly don’t have a clue either. Most of the “proof” he’s noticed is the result of my experiences in a totally different reality.
I should probably be glad he hasn’t stumbled on my real story, but his claims might sound valid to the others. They’re certainly a lot more believable than what I’ve actually been through.
I let sarcasm drip from my response. “Wow, with your ability to make huge assumptions based on the most random of evidence, I’m surprised you haven’t joined the Flat Earth Society.”
Cole blinks at me, momentarily baffled. It doesn’t seem like a good time to try to explain my extensive knowledge of humanity’s most bizarre beliefs.
He recovers quickly enough, folding his arms over his chest and sharpening his glower into a glare. “What’s the real explanation then, Miss Devine? Are you going to enlighten us or continue leaving your matches in the dark?”
My mind scrambles for any excuse he might believe.
“I can read ephemera too, you know. I sensed that someone might want to hurt me, so I started focusing on skills to defend myself. When my food tasted strange, I wasn’t taking any chances.
I’m trying to piece this puzzle together like the rest of you.
And I just told you why Byron and I decided to awaken his glim.
Maybe you should work on your hearing as well as your logical reasoning. ”
I probably shouldn’t have included that last barb. I was trying to sound tough enough to be convincing, but Cole just bares his teeth like he wants to tear out my throat with them.
He manages to keep his voice even despite the anger tingeing it. “So we’re supposed to believe that you made these major choices based on nothing but a vague suspicion?”
I stare back at him unflinching. “Yes. You’ve seen how my family reacts when we’re aware of a threat. I don’t know why it’s easier for you to believe in a vast conspiracy than me simply looking out for my own safety.”
“No one improves their abilities that suddenly. And if it’s a legitimate threat, why didn’t your family get the police involved earlier?”
“How do you know when I started training in anything? I was being cautious at first about how much I put what I’d learned into practice. And I didn’t tell my family about my worries at first, because I didn’t want to freak out my dad if I was wrong.”
The lies tumble easily enough off my tongue, but Cole still looks unconvinced.
He scowls at me. “I know there’s more to it. If that’s all it is, let me read your ephemera right now—everything, no shielding. Since you obviously have nothing to hide.”
Send me straight to Tartarus.
I open my mouth, groping for a response. “This is bullshit. I don’t want you gawking at my private time with Byron or my dad’s work secrets. What are you really after?”
The flipped accusation brings a blotchy flush to Cole’s cheeks. He jabs his finger toward me. “You’re trying to dodge the question. Because there’s something going on, and—”
“That’s enough.” Byron’s firm baritone cuts through Cole’s spewed complaints, clipped with the hint of a British accent that reveals his own anger.
“She’s answered your questions. It isn’t her fault you’re caught up in a delusion that she’s screwing us all over.
I know she isn't. And she's right—she shouldn’t have to expose herself to you to prove it.”
His faith in me sends a sickly pang through my chest that’s both love and shame.
Salvatore jerks his head toward Byron. “What Worth said. You’re fucking insane. Let her go, now, before we have to knock the magic out of you.” He balls both of his hands, his eyes gleaming fiercely.
Cole pauses. For a second, I think their pushback will be enough, he’ll back down. I’ll still have a problem on my hands, but one I’ll have more time to solve.
Then his back draws straighter, and his face sets with resolve. “No. If we let her weasel out of a full accounting now, who knows when we’ll have another chance.”
His gaze flicks back to me. “What about the woman—”
“You’re done!” Salvatore lunges at Cole again with magic thrumming around his fists.
He smashes into the professor’s conjured barrier—but with enough force this time that Cole stumbles backward, sending the stool clattering toward the wall.
Byron steps forward too. The hissed flickering of the overhead light echoes the fury etched on his face.
Cole raises his hands as if to ward them off. More energy wavers off him, and the bonds around me slacken—but only slightly. They still restrain my limbs when I yank at them. His expression tightens with concentration.
Salvatore batters Cole’s shield again, and Byron lashes out with a strike that sizzles when it lands. A dissonant quiver of ephemera shakes the air.
“Hold on.” Asher steps toward his brother, his voice quiet but taut, his own hands extended in what looks more like a plea than an attempt at defense. “None of this is okay. We can’t attack each other.”
“This might be exactly what she wants,” Cole says grimly. “Taking the heat off her to put it on us all over again.”
My heart wrenches. “I don’t want any of this! Just stop.”
Cole doesn’t even bother to look at me as he braces himself for Salvatore’s and Byron’s next blows.
When Salvatore rams his whole shoulder toward the professor with another crackle of ephemera, Asher’s jaw clenches too. More energy quivers through the room as he must toss in his efforts to protect his brother.
Byron aims a precise jab at the area near Cole’s head, and I feel the layers of ephemera shudder. They’re going to crack soon.
And then what’s going to happen? How far will Cole take this fight?
How violently will Salvatore and Byron defend me?
The image flashes behind my eyes of Asher lying bloody in a parking lot, of Salvatore sagging limp in the river.
I’ve tried so hard to keep them away from the worst parts of my existence…
Salvatore heaves a wallop of pure magic at Cole, and the resulting reverberation knocks one of the chairs right over. Cole’s back hits the wall. He winces and stiffens with more determination.
Byron pushes forward with a swing of his fists. Asher propels more magic between them.
My pulse thuds against my skull. My mantra hums through my head—I have all I need, I have all I need—but it barely penetrates my rising panic.
Keeping my secrets isn’t protecting my matches anymore. It might hurt them more than I’m afraid telling them would.
If the things I’ve hidden have brought us to this point… maybe Cole is right, if highly misguided in his approach.
I wanted to give Byron a real choice. Don’t they all deserve to know who they’re actually dealing with?
The imagined voices of my other versions of these men waver through my spinning thoughts.
“Trust them,” Byron would say. “Give me the chance to show you just how deep my dedication goes.”
Salvatore would scoff. “Do you really think a little extra murder and mayhem would put me off, mia amata?”
And Cole… All I can picture is his penetrating gaze, piercing my soul. “I always did the best I could by you, Elodie. Is it too much to ask for the same in return?”
The Byron in front of me hurls his body against the brothers’ shield, and Asher jerks back with a pained gasp.
My whole body goes rigid, guilt digging claws right through my gut.
The words burst from my mouth. “All right! I’ll tell you. Just—just stop.”