“Alex tried to take over my mind after Horax put a collar on me.” I stepped forward, willing everyone here to understand that none of this was Xan’s fault.
“I was there,” Brit added. “I watched Horax do it.”
“And that’s why the Architect put a second collar on your neck?” Teivel asked too easily.
Gasps and curse words fell out of mouths. Teivel felt everything. He knew. I couldn’t stop touching the two collars under all my sweaters.
Xan stepped forward. “Yes. It is. Quinn’s powerful. She blew out the first collar, which gave Alex unrestricted access to her mind. He was using that connection to force her into his reality. The new collar keeps him out.” Xan scowled darkly at Teivel. “It keeps all of us out, Teivel, especially men who forced their tethers on her before she even got to my family.”
“He what?” The only woman standing among the sea of studded leather snapped.
Teivel put his hands up. “I found her wandering in the forest and protected her. Like the Architect said, she was dying. It was my only option.”
Xan clenched his fist and started shaking.
A few people nodded while others grimaced.
My heart thumped in my chest. Cayden pulled me close and kissed the side of my head. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Is that a Lawson holding her close?” The tall-willowy Grierson demanded.
Cayden didn’t let go of me.
Rage flashed in the tall-willowy Grierson’s eyes. “I do not believe you would turn down an invitation to join my family, of which your best friend is a part, for this.” She gestured to the men around me. “I call foul play. All of it. If she’s of sound mind, she will pass our tests.”
“Tests administered by a man loyal to the same body snatcher who tethered her against her will?” Xan pressed.
The tall-willowy Grierson held her head up high and refused to back down.
“Who are your suitors, sweet-cakes?” The woman who’d snapped,“He what?”pushed out of the sea of tan hair and studded leather. Age carved her face, but nothing dulled the edge of her stance. Tight pants hugged still-powerful legs, vanishing into chunky leather high-tops bristling with rings and metal. Knives climbed her thighs in a neat row, and her wool sweater bulged with enough hidden steel to match any of the men.
I shuffled uncomfortably. “I, um, technically don’t have any?”
I didn’t mean for it to come out as a question, but it was too late now.
A few jaws dropped. Two women among the Abernathys I hadn’t noticed peeked out from behind the men and furrowed their eyebrows.
“I’ll not stand for this.” The only female Westwater took two more steps forward. “Brit, is that you I see in the back?”
“Aye, Ravana,” Brit stepped to Rowan’s side. “I’m here.”
“I don’t know right from wrong in this mess, but your friend’s being pushed around in a man’s game.” Ravana took another step toward the Architect. “This is why contracts exist. To prevent men from take’n and take’n. How much have you taken from Quinn already?” Ravana’s lips flattened into a line. “I’mputting Quinn under my protection, not the Westwaters, but mine.”
“She should come with us,” the McDonalds immediately stated.
“Fat fucking chance,” the willowy Grierson countered. “And she will not disappear behind Abernathy walls either.” She put a hand on her hip. “I actually cannot fault your claim, Ravana.” The woman’s sharp features almost took on a hawk-like quality as she studied Teivel. “Your sudden interest in the families is not altruistic, Teivel. The McDonalds are morons for letting you use them.”
Several McDonalds grunted. One spat. “Watch your tongue, Witch.”
The tension in the room doubled. Hands moved to weapons, and magic crackled.
“Or what?” The tall-willowy Grierson looked at her nails.
This had to be Everly’s mom; Deirdre, I think, was her name. I could suddenly see where Everly’s spirit and poise came from. The McDonalds took one step forward. A few men grunted, and balls of blood-red magic flared to life in Deirdre’s hands.
Ravana’s pissed-off yelp cut through all of it. She shook her head, and her eyes glowed a rich oat. Suddenly, she stood directly in front of me, with Ezra stumbling forward as if she’d pushed him from behind. I hadn’t seen her take a single step.
“Do you want to come with me, kid?” she asked.
