I’m pacing the living room when Remington arrives, walking into the house as if he lives here. He closes the distance between us, his eyes dark.
“Tell me again what happened,” he demands. “Every detail.”
I rake my fingers through my hair, not surprised to find the curls tangled. “I was in the town square when this girl bumped into me. She was with a guy and they . . . they said they were like me—like us.”
His jaw hardens. “Emery—”
I cringe. “They’ll be here in half an hour.”
“Are you insane?” His gaze slices through me, icy and intense. So much so that I want to look away.
“What else was I supposed to do? We couldn’t exactly stand around in the town square and talk about magic, now could we?”
“So your first thought was to invite them to your home? Complete strangers.”
“Can you quit being an asshole for a minute, please? They knew about that spell I did. The one that destroyed the mausoleum.”
His brows knit. “That doesn’t mean they’re like us.”
“I felt their magic, Rem. I believe them.”
He opens his mouth to respond, but there’s a knock at the door accompanied by the familiar tingle of magic—they’re early.
I bite my lip. “Well, it looks like we’re about to find out if they’re on our side.”
Remington’s eyes narrow. “You drive me crazy, you know that? Always getting into trouble.”
“Says the guy who has caused most of it,” I shoot back before heading toward the door.
Remington catches my wrist and pulls me back. “Nope. You stay in here. I’ll assess the situation and figure out what we’re dealing with.”
“Who do you think you are? This is my house.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not going to argue with you, little bird.” Pointing toward the couch, he says, “Go sit. And stay.”
My face contorts into a scowl, but before I can speak, Remington scoops me up and walks over to the couch, dumping me onto the cushions. He’s gone before I can grab him, and I’m left seething. You’ll pay for that one.
Remington opens the door and steps outside, pulling it shut behind him.
I scramble off the couch and rush to the window, hiding in the curtains as I try to hear what they’re saying. I can pull apart three distinct voices, but the actual words are muffled. Damn it.
I close my eyes and focus on the sounds in an attempt to manipulate their voices so they’re loud enough for me to hear, but the moment it starts to work, there’s a break in the conversation. The front door opens.
I try to move away from the window, but my foot gets caught in the curtains and my ass ends up on the floor just as the three of them walk into the living room.
Remington is wearing the most annoying grin I’ve ever seen, while the others are smiling politely. It’s definitely forced, but I have to appreciate the fact they aren’t laughing at me.
“What did I say?” Remington directs at me.
I pull myself out of the curtains and stand, pinning him with a glare. “Oh, we’ll talk about that later. Don’t you worry.” I turn my attention to the girl. “Thank you for coming.” I extend my hand as I step toward. “I’m Emery. Sorry, I probably should have introduced myself earlier. I’m sure you can understand how unprepared I was to meet you guys.”
She shakes my hand. “Of course. It’s no problem. My name is Adeline. It’s totally crazy but really cool to meet you.”
I crack a smile. “Likewise.”
The guy offers me his hand next, and I shake it. “Matthew,” he says in greeting.
I finally look at Remington. “You satisfied they aren’t here to kill us?”
He inclines his head ever so slightly, his gaze locked on me.
“Great.” Looking back toward the newcomers, I ask, “Can I get you both something to drink? I was going to put on a pot of coffee.” It’s pretty close to dinnertime, but I could use the boost of caffeine for this conversation.
“Sure,” Matthew says, smiling. “Ads doesn’t drink caffeine, but I drink enough for both of us.”
“You don’t? Wow, I think you’re the first person my age I’ve met who doesn’t.”
She smiles shyly. “It, um, affects my abilities. The caffeine triggers my anxiety, and that mixed with the type of magic we possess—it doesn’t bode well for going undetected.”
“Of course. I understand. If you guys want to take a seat in the living room, I’ll get that coffee started.” I touch her arm. “I have some herbal tea, if you want?”
“That’d be great, thanks.”
I nod before walking into the kitchen. Once I’ve put on the kettle and started the coffee machine, I pull down four mugs and set them on the counter.
My body tenses when Remington steps into the room, ever aware of his presence. I keep my back to him, still pissed about the stunt he pulled when Adeline and Matthew arrived.
Remington walks closer, so close his body heat warms my back. “You’re mad.”
I close my eyes, clenching my jaw. “Yeah.”
“Turn around and look at me.” His lips are level with my ear, making me shiver.
“No,” I force out. If I look at him, I’m either going to slap that smirk I know he’s wearing clear off his face or kiss him. And I’m not going to risk the latter when I’m still this annoyed with him.
His hand lands on my hip, and my breathing hitches. “Inviting them here was reckless.”
I spin around before I can stop myself, glowering at him. “Are you kidding?” I hiss. “What does it even matter now? We know they’re not a threat. They’re in as much danger as we are.”
He grips the counter on either side of me, caging me in. “You got lucky it turned out this way.”
My eyes narrow at his condescending tone. “Oh yeah? What would you have done if they were a threat?”
“I would have killed them.” He doesn’t hesitate. His voice doesn’t waver.
“You—”
Remington tilts his head, his eyes searching mine. “What is it, little bird? You seem surprised.”
“You speak so easily of killing,” I whisper.
“I will protect what matters to me.”
My gaze snaps back to his, my cheeks and chest flushed and my heart hammering beneath my breast. “Oh.”
His lips curl into a grin. “You’re cute.”
I open my mouth to tell him off, but the whistle of the kettle stops me. Remington pushes off the counter, pouring two cups of coffee and carrying them into the other room, leaving me to catch my breath.
With Adeline’s tea steeped and my coffee poured, I wait for my complexion to feel somewhat normal before walking back into the living room. I sit in the chair that puts me as far away from Remington as possible. I need a clear head right now, and he’s been making that rather difficult as of late.
“So,” I say, starting the conversation we’re all here for, “you found me because of a spell I screwed up.”
Adeline takes a sip of her tea before setting the mug on the old wood coffee table separating us. “Whatever you did, it sent out a shockwave of power.”
I frown. “I destroyed a mausoleum.”
Matthew’s eyes widen. “No way.” He sounds . . . impressed?
“Emery isn’t familiar with her own strength when it comes to magic,” Remington comments.
I ignore that and instead ask, “If you felt it, who’s to say others didn’t, too?”
Adeline arches a brow. “Are you aware of other dark Wielders in the area?”
“No,” Remington says, his eyes on the mug in his hands.
She nods. “You’re the first we’ve come across in a long time.” She looks at me. “How long have you two known each other?”
“Oh, uh, not too long. It’s kind of a complicated story.”
Remington smirks from behind his mug, but says nothing.
“Perhaps one for another time,” she suggests, offering me a little grin.
I nod. “Listen, I wanted you both to come because things around here have sort of come to a head with the Elders. At least, they’re about to.”
Matthew’s eyes narrow, and he shifts closer to Adeline. “What does that mean?”
I tell them what went down with the Elders, losing my mom, and about Samuel leaning toward change.
“The Elders signed the Accords to protect both Wielders and humans. What if we can prove to them we’re only as dangerous as the others? If they can see we just want to live our lives, maybe they’ll amend the Accords and deem our existence, you know, not illegal.”
Matthew crosses his arms over his chest. “I don’t see that happening.”
“I realize how outlandish it sounds, but not all of the Elders agree with the way things are done now.”
“That doesn’t mean they’ll suddenly be cool with us,” Adeline says, glancing at Matthew. “I don’t know about this.”
I tap my thumb against the side of my mug. “It’s risky, I know. But—”
“It’s not a good idea,” Remington says, his voice firm.
“Do you have a better one?” I challenge.
“You know I do.”
“No,” I say, “your idea to destroy the Elders is suicidal.”
“Sounds about the same as yours.”
“Destroy them?” Adeline asks, her voice cracking. “How?”
“They aren’t immortal,” Remington points out.
I rake my fingers through my hair, my chest tightening with frustration. “If we want change, I don’t think we should go into this on the offense. Be prepared to defend ourselves if necessary, yes, but if we walk into it expecting a fight, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
“I don’t want to fight,” Adeline says in a quiet voice. “What about Samuel? Is he willing to stand up for us?”
I want to say yes, but I really don’t know. When it comes right down to it, will Samuel turn his back on the others to pursue the change he believes in? I’d like to think so, but we can’t hitch our lives on that.
“The Elders are coming here in a few days, so I suppose we’ll find out soon enough,” Remington says, his jaw set tight.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes; he’s really not helping. “You don’t have to stay or take part in this. I understand it’s not a small thing.”
Matthew and Adeline exchange a glance before Matthew says, “We want to help, but there’s just so much on the line. Can we think about it?”
“Of course.” I school my expression, trying not to let them see the disappointment weighing heavy on my chest.
Adeline pulls out her phone, holding it out to me. “I realize we didn’t have a chance to do this earlier. If you want to give me your number, we can keep in touch. Matt and I have a room at one of the bed and breakfasts in town.”
I save myself as a contact and hand it back. The two of them stand and head for the door, Remington and I following.
Once they’re gone, Remington exhales through his nose, snaring me in his gaze. “What am I going to do with you?”
“With me?” I jab a finger into the middle of his chest. “What am I going to do with you?”
He grins, sliding his hand up my forearm, and he pulls me in. “I have a few ideas.”
Parts of me like the sound of that way too much.
“Maybe once we survive the end of the world?” I offer in a cheeky tone.
The grin slips off his lips as he sighs, dropping his forehead to mine and closing his eyes. “I’m sorry you were dragged into this life, little bird. You deserve so much better.”
“Hey,” I say, pulling back so I can look at him, “we’re going to figure this out. I refuse to run and hide for the rest of my life. I’m eighteen years old. I want to graduate high school and go to college. Build a life for myself.”
He nods. “You’re very optimistic.”
A smile touches my lips, and I press my palm against his chest, over his heart. “This is going to work because I refuse to accept any other outcome.”
“You are incredible,” he says softly.
“And you . . . aren’t as terrible as I initially thought,” I offer with a faint grin.
He pouts. “Mean.”
I reach up and push my fingers through his hair, cupping the back of his neck as I lean into him. “You’re growing on me,” I admit in a whisper before pressing my lips against his.
Whatever comes next, at least we have this moment of shared peace before the chaos.