Atlas wraps his arms around me, pulling me onto his lap and kissing my temple. “Are you okay?”
“I-I think so. I feel okay.”
“You’re bleeding.” He touches a spot above my eyebrow. “Does it hurt?”
I shake my head. “No.”
Atlas helps me to my feet, and we hobble over to what used to be the front of the house. It’s now a gaping hole. Madam and the others manage to stand, everyone slightly dazed by the force of the magic that just happened.
I extend my arm, smiling when I feel the cool night air around me. “It’s gone. We broke it.”
Madam nods. “We did. Whoever did this, your sister, she’s a force to be reckoned with.”
“I wish I knew how. When I last saw her, she had nothing. Barely a flicker of magic in her. I assumed somehow, she wasmissed. She had no gifts.” I glance at Atlas. “It’s why I let her live.”
“Clearly she learned how to harness Delaport magic. Be careful with her. I felt the rage within it.”
“Me too.” I don’t know what to say. How do you thank strangers who put themselves at risk to help someone they don’t even know?
“You say thank you,” Atlas whispers, so softly I’m sure I’m the only one who heard it.
Oh yeah. He can hear me, feel me. There’s no hiding from my mate.
“Thank you. All of you. I’m eternally grateful for your help.”
Madam smiles mysteriously. “Remember you said that. I will.” She winks, then she turns and waves. “I need to rest.”
She departs, leaving the rest of the ragtag group of supernaturals still standing in the yard. But before she makes it to the edge of the property, a dark mist fills the air, and a shiver moves down my spine. It’s Delaport magic. I can feel it like it’s running through my own veins.
Rhiannon appears in the center of the mist, no longer an awkward teen, but a beautiful full-grown woman. Her wild black hair mirrors my own except for the white streak framing the left side of her face. She’s still young, and her resemblance to our mother is eerie.
Her eyes glow blue, as do the tattoos on her skin, making it undeniable that she’s my sister. She studies me as she walks slowly toward me, the other supes standing in awe of her. Even Madam recoils when she passes.
“Hello, Ignatius,” Rhiannon says. “Surprised to see me?”
“No, but I imagine you’re surprised I’m no longer in a cell.”
“On the contrary. I wondered why it took you so long.” Her eyes take in the crumbling building that used to be our home.“Rune,” she says, an air of disdain in her tone. “Clever, but you forget, the Delaport connection never fades.”
I squeeze my eyes closed as she tries to prod my mind.
“You felt me,” she continues. “A thousand times or more, but your arrogance wouldn’t let you see what was right in front of you. Helpful, really. It gave me all the time I needed to plot my revenge. Now it’s time to pay for your sins, big brother.”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“Oh, but you should be. I’ve got the power of our ancestors behind me, and it’s time for one final war. Two siblings battling for dominance. At the end of it, only one of us will remain, and I promise you, it will be me.”
I feel more than see Atlas behind me, his energy pouring off of him. The supes out front haven’t budged either. She might have ancestral rage and magic on her side, but maybe I have enough on my side too.
“It’s nothing to me to destroy one more Delaport, little sis.”
A smile spreads across her lips. “Oh good. I was hoping you’d fight me. It’s no fun otherwise.”
“Care to tell me why this is happening?” As if I don’t know, but I want to hear her say it.
“I’ll tell you when my dagger is at your throat. In fact, my words will be the last you ever hear. I can’t wait.” She pulls a blade from the waistband of her black bodysuit.
Setting my shoulders, I stand as straight as possible. I don’t want to kill her, but I certainly will if it’s a choice between her and me. I have Atlas to consider too. Instead of feeling like a burden, that knowledge sends another wave of strength through me.
