“Absolutely not. There has to be another way.”
“There isn’t.”
“Findone.”
Heat flared through Felix. He clenched his fists at his sides, struggling to leash his temper.
Then August said, “I can’t help you,” firing the words out like bullets.
The impact shattered Felix’s composure.
“That’s not true, and you know it!” he snapped, his voice a sharp crack in the otherwise silent pub. “Youcanhelp, you just don’twantto. There’s a damned difference, August.”
The response earned him a scowl, but Felix didn’t care. He kept going, too angry to keep his formality in place.
“I know you don’t give a shite about wielders, think you’re all high and mighty, which is fucking hilarious, all things considered. But people are missing. Decent people. So stop actin’ the coward and help me.”
A flush of anger darkened August’s features. “No.”
“Auggie,” Lottie started, watching warily from the booth. “Why don’t you want to help?”
“I do,” August said. He settled his face before turning to her. “But I can’t.”
She studied his expression for a long moment, then offered a gentle smile. “I understand. It’s alright. We’ll handle it.”
The response sent a visible ripple through August, tensing his shoulders and hardening his jaw.
“No,” he said. “I need you to go home.”
“I want to help.”
“I’m not asking, Lottie. Go home!”
Felix was surprised at the harshness in his tone, but Lottie seemed unaffected. She slid out of the booth and headed for the door.
“Ready when you are,” she told Felix.
August’s gaze knifed toward him—a clear warning. He was desperate to keep his sister out of this, and Felix was more than willing to use that as leverage.
He turned and strode to the door, ignoring the low, clenched way August said his name. Then he yanked it open and turned back, one eyebrow raised in question.
Your move, he thought.What’s it gonna be?
August’s expression was venomous. “Fine. I’ll help.” His eyes went to Lottie. “Butonlyif you go home.”
“Why don’t you want me involved?” she asked.
He didn’t answer, but his eyebrows lifted in the centre, softening his face into a silent plea.
She hesitated, then to Felix, asked, “Is this dangerous? Can you guarantee he’ll be safe?”
With August there, they had an escape. Even if they were caught, they could get away without anyone getting hurt. It was a foolproof plan.
Felix gave a dutiful nod. “You have my word that I won’t let anything happen to him.”
Lottie either found the answer acceptable, or she realized she didn’t have a choice. “Fine, I won’t go with you, but I’m not going home. Not until we have proof to show Mother.”
She propped her boot on a chair and hoisted her skirt to her knees, and after a moment of struggling with something, she pulled a sheathed dagger from beneath.
