Alexander finally realized how much danger he was in. “No, no I had no idea. We had no idea, I swear, Avery, listen to me–”
“Haven’t I done enough for you?” Avery said. He began to pace again, not seeming to notice that I was slowly inching away from whatever the fuck this was with Aiden in tow. “I gave you your affinity back after your Key stole it from you. I promised you North America. I gaveyou the position at the WAA. And it wasn’t enough? You wanted my daughter as well? I never would have promised her to you if I’d known.”
“I– I had no idea. None. She doesn’t even resemble you. I didn’t know–” Alexander stuttered.
“She doesn’t resemble me?” Avery’s voice cracked through the air, his anger turning into something closer to fury. Then he shouted, “Look at her!”
I flinched from his shout, and both men finally looked at me. If Avery had noticed I’d moved about five feet in the last few minutes, he didn’t show it. Instead, he looked at me with more concern, wondering why I was flinching, no doubt. I was almost pissed enough to tell him.
“Avery, Richard doesn’t know.” Alexander turned back to the Crusader after giving me a long look. “Please. Don’t punish him, too.”
Holy shit. I pulled Aiden further, closer to the door.
“You’ve been a good friend, Alex, so I’ll let you decide. Would you like me to deal with you, or my Ward?”
Alex was trembling, he looked right at me, saw how I was slowly making my way toward the door. My eyes locked with his, pleading for him to let me get out of here. I had no reason to believe he actually cared about his son, but it was worth a shot.
Rafe needs me,I said to him.Rafe is in the dungeons right now, and there’s a fire. He’s trapped.
Alex’s eyes flared, and then he clenched his jaw.
“There’s a fire in the dungeon?” Alex whispered harshly, training his dark gaze on the Crusader.
Avery shrugged.
“My son is down there!” Alex shouted, making me flinch.
Avery very slowly shrugged again.
“You…” Alex’s face turned bright red. “Your Ward is a spoiled brat,” he spat. “And your Tempest is adisaster. You’ll never control her. She’ll only lead you to your deaths.”
I didn’t understand any of that, except that Avery apparently liked nicknaming people. I pulled Aiden further as Avery scoffed.
“How dare you–”
“No,” Alex cried. “No. I’m done. You’ve taken everything from me. My Key, my son, my reputation. I have nothing left!”
Rafe, I don’t know where I am,I called out to him.
Only terror came back to me. I cringed.
Wyatt,I tried.
Skye, stay away. I’m getting us out.
I don’t know where I am. Crusader is here. He knows who I am.
Wyatt didn’t reply, and as I reached the door, Alex and Avery began shouting at one another. I pulled the door with my affinity, then pulled Aiden through.
I flicked my wrist, bending the ornate metal doorknobs until they twisted together, effectively locking the door. I pulled Aiden along as I scrambled down the hall, still not knowing where the fuck I was. I could probably get us back to the ballroom, but I still needed to find a way down to Rafe and Wyatt.
I was in a fucking snake pit. I didn’t know who to trust.
I rounded a corner I recognized, where Aiden had smashed the electrical box that locked the doors. I swung around another corner, and–
There was no way.
No fucking way at all.
