EMMA
Back at the Manor, Caden sprinted up the stairs at warp speed, leaving Sean and me huffing and puffing to keep up.
Enya and the rest of the team were already gathered in the command center, their attention locked on the hovering four-dimensional screens lining the walls. The screens displayed everything from live feeds to detailed maps of the Human World, based on the intel Enya had provided only a few hours earlier. Damn, these people worked fast.
“What the hell’s going on?” Caden demanded as he stormed into the room.
“Slava got in touch,” Enya responded calmly. “Seems they are facing a bit of an issue.”
“Does Petru need our help?” Caden pressed.
“No, of course not. It’s Petru fucking Stoyan. His Council only thought we’d want to know.”
I leaned closer to Sean. “Who’s Petru Stoyan?”
Sean lowered his voice. “Leader of Slava, the Eastern Europe Collective and the most feared one in that area. He’s rumored tohave strangled more people with his bare hands than ropes did during King Edward III’s regency.”
I blinked, the intensity of his statement sinking in. “That’s…graphic. So why wouldn’t he need our help?”
“Because Petru Stoyan is ruthless, cutthroat to the bone. All magi in Slava are trained as Offensives from the start. They only get to choose whatever path they want after their first cycle,” Sean explained.
“The Radicals are moving in on him? Serious misstep,” someone whose name I hadn’t caught yet, noted.
Caden nodded sharply. “We need to solidify our alliances for the Double-Edged War. Petru was always at the top of my list to talk to—he’s never backed down from a fight. This just speeds up the process.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now? The Double-Edged War? Officially?” I asked Sean in hushed tones.
He shrugged dismissively. “Who the hell cares about its title? It’s a fucking mess, is what it is.”
“Who’s next on the list?” Enya asked.
“Alliance, Kanata C and Sahara,” Caden replied, already turning his attention to the next task. “I’ll portal out tomorrow with Sean, ask Petru for his assistance in the war, and we’ll be back a day later. From there, we’ll need to strategize who to approach about what and when. We also need to alert people to the hazards of the tracking devices and find the damn Amplifier while we’re at it.”
I was taken aback by how candidly Caden discussed everything with his team. With James, it had always been, “You can tell this person about that but not about this, don’t mention that, only share this.” I still wasn’t Caden’s biggest fan—him saving my life notwithstanding—but I had to admit, it was refreshing to feel like everything was on the table here.
As Caden spoke, my mind began to wander. The burden of recent days was starting to catch up with me, and I struggled to stifle a yawn.
“So, everyone clear on their next steps? Meeting adjourned,” Caden said with finality. The team quickly rose to their feet, some of them casting glances at me, as sharp as daggers.
As I watched them leave, a sudden realization hit me: I’d be alone in the house with these rather hostile people while Caden and Sean were off to Slava.
Not like they were a much safer option but still, the lesser of two evils.
I hesitated for a moment, considering my options.I could ask…?
Without another thought, I hurried after Caden and Sean, only catching up with them by the time they got to a cozy room perfectly set up for studying or reading. The space was lined with walls of bookshelves, filled with a diverse collection of volumes and artifacts. In the center, two chesterfield couches invited relaxation, surrounded by soft armchairs and a warm, ambient light from standing lamps. The room exuded a welcoming, intimate atmosphere, a stark contrast to the coldness of the command center I’d left behind.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if you’d mind if I tagged along to Slava?” I asked, slightly out of breath.
Sean began to respond, “Of course n?—”
But Caden cut him off. “Actually, I would mind.”
Sean’s eyes widened.
“Even if it’s just a formality to get Petru on our side, it’s still a mission outside the safety of these borders. If we encounter any Radicals, you’d be at risk,” Caden continued dryly.
Odd. Hadn’t stopped him before.
