“This is bullshit,” Russ snarled and went to push past Grayson.
With unexpected speed, Grayson caught Russ’s arm and spun him around. Russ’s reaction was immediate—he roared and threw a punch as Cass nudged Sofia farther out of harm’s way. Grayson easily dodged the punch and, in a move too fast to follow, had Russ’s arm pinned between his shoulder blades.
“Not smart, man.”
Undaunted, a red-faced, hobbled Russ snarled back, “Let me go.”
“Cassie.”
Cass tore her attention from the men and turned in time to see Sofia’s eyes roll back in her ashen face as she started to collapse.
Chapter 14
Grayson
Grayson tightened his grip on Russ’s arm and hitched it higher, forcing a pained grunt from the idiot as he shifted to his toes to escape the pain. What he didn’t do was stop struggling, so Grayson turned him away from Cass and Sofia and then let him go with a shove.
Russ stumbled a few feet before catching his balance against the sofa. “Asshole!”
“Sofia!”
Cass’s cry made Grayson spin around. She held a slowly collapsing Sofia and was trying to keep them both upright. He rushed to her side as pandemonium broke out behind them.
He got his arms around Cass, bracing her so she wasn’t holding Sofia’s weight on her own. “I’ve got you.”
Cass turned her head, her eyes wide with panic, and gave him a jerky nod. They did some awkward maneuvering as he shifted around to take Sofia’s weight so Cass could kick off her heels and then sink to the floor, folding her legs to the side. Working together, they got Sofia down so Cass could cradle her head in her lap.
“What happened?” He crouched and set his fingers to Sofia’s wrist, checking her pulse. He didn’t like how pale she was or the series of tiny, unexpected muscle jerks running through her limbs. Behind them, Grayson heard Swanson tell Rhea and Elias to call 911.
“I don’t know.” Cass’s voice shook, and she focused her attention on his fingers.
“Slow but steady,” Grayson reassured her as the others joined them.
Sofia’s muscle tremors were gaining strength, and under closed lids, her eyes were darting back and forth. He shifted his hold on her hand, his fingers brushing against the emerald ring. A ripple of magic crept along his awareness, and an ugly suspicion rose.
“I think?—”
“We should move her to the couch.” Russ crouched on Sofia’s other side, worry etched on his face. He went to reach for her. “I can?—”
“Don’t touch her!” Grayson threw out an arm to keep Russ away from Sofia. “Something’s not right.”
“What?” Cass’s voice broke.
Russ drew back with a scowl. “What are you talking about?”
Grayson ignored him and reached for his magic as he warned Cass, “I think she’s hexed.”
Her mouth fell open but quickly snapped shut as she pinned Russ with a glare. “What did you do to her?”
He rocked back, offended shock wiping away the lines of worry. “Not a damn thing, you crazy lunatic!”
Grayson pinned Russ with a hard glare. “Don’t.”
Russ flicked him a worried glance, and his throat bobbed, but he kept his mouth shut.
Dismissing him, Grayson gathered Sofia into his arms and got to his feet, with Cass helping him. “I need a room.” A sense of urgency was plucking at his nerves. “Now.”
The arguing stopped, and Elias said, “Follow me.” He led Grayson down the hall to the second door to the right. He threw open the door, revealing a guest room in shades of beige and white. Worry and fear lined his face as he watched Grayson carry his youngest daughter through the door, with Cass following. “What else do you need?”
