“I feel reasonably certain that they underestimated the strength and nature of storms. They expected an easy out, if not in skill, then by overwhelming them. What’s left behind is going to be an eye-opener for them.”
I flinched as if those words had been an attack.
“Don’t feel bad about it, Hadley.” The use of my name made me open my eyes. Only when he spoke again did I see who was talking, though I didn’t know who it was exactly. “Believe me when I say that we will always act first to save those we love and be damned with the consequences and what they might reveal about us.”
His words were meant as a comfort. I knew that. And there was no doubt in my mind that he meant them. “I can’t help but feel storms will now have a bright red target over their heads because of what I just demonstrated.”
“Regardless of how you left the mountainside, that you weren’t being dragged back and they failed their kidnapping mission, was going to put a target on your heads, baby girl. With any luck, that episode will be followed by another stretch of radio silence from them while they regroup and think.”
“Maybe it’s not such a good idea to let them do that.” I shifted my attention to look at the next man talking. “Look at what they came out with after a year of being left to their own devices. I shudder to think what they’re going to do next.”
“While you’re not wrong, I’m not sure what you think we should be doing.”
The man shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t have a suggestion or even the inkling of an idea. But I just feel like this is going to keep happening.” He looked at Kohara. “We were lucky this time. By the skin of our fucking teeth. We might not be so fortunate next time.”
His words hung heavy in the air as we all looked around the room. He wasn’t wrong. This might be the last time we see one of these faces. And what are we going to do to stop them?
Bronte
My heart has beenin my throat since they attacked us. I don’t know that I’ve ever been so stressed in my goddamn life. Tem was still laying across my lap and I could feel every time he felt pain. His breath would catch. His heart would beat faster. And if it lasted long enough, he’d sweat.
I had thought that with Kohara dying, he’d be suffering the most right now. And while he was still sore, he said his entire body felt like it was bruised on the inside; Tem was in worse shape.
Our speculation concerning Silence never lulled, but I stopped paying attention a while ago. Instead, I was concentrating on how I could make Tem more comfortable.
“We need to take a break for a bit,” Saar said as he crossed the room. He crouched down in front of me, leaning in to kiss my lips. “You’re taking good care of him,” he murmured.
While I appreciated the praise, my mind was too fucked with worry and fear to really take pleasure from it. Saar dropped his hand to Tem’s head. Sighing, he looked over his shoulder.
He didn’t need to speak. Veri, one of five witches of House Taika, joined us. She smiled at me before resting her hand on Tem’s skin. Her smile turned into a frown. “Kell?”
Akello pulled himself to his feet, disentangling from Jasper. He joined us, his hands resting over Veri’s. Because neither of them were going to speak about what they were feeling, I studied their faces. Veri just continued to frown, but Akello’s brows pulled together as he closed his eyes.
Panic rose in me as I tried not to grip Tem too roughly. He was hurting enough, but I kept feeling like he was going to slip away. Right through my hands like water in a sieve.
His lips were parted as he breathed heavily. I could almost feel his pain through his stiff and tense muscles as he gripped my hand tightly. His eyes closed and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
“Y’all have a big soaker tub in this hellhole?” Akello asked, raising his eyes to Saar’s.
Saar smirked. “Only thirty or so.”
I rolled my eyes. We didn’t havethatmany. At least, I didn’t think we did. It’s not like I ever counted how many bathtubs we have.
Akello stood, resting his hand on Veri’s head for a minute. He glanced at Lazer, their alchemist, and the two of them followed Saar into his bedroom.
“Is he okay?” I asked quietly, unable to help myself.
Veri gave me a gentle smile. It made my stomach flip with dread. “Tem will be fine, love. Nephilim can heal wounds, but they can’t suck out magic.”
“Then there is some still there?” Kohara asked.
Veri nodded. “It’s subtle, but I think that’s likely the point. Not to worry, though. We’ll take care of it.”
Tempest smiled, though he didn’t open his eyes. His whispered ‘thanks’ sounded weak. Much weaker than when he’d woken up joking.
I worried my lip as my shaking fingers trailed featherlight over his skin. He had to be okay. He had to. My despair mixed with anger, though. While I was terrified, every single minute that passed, a pit of resentment grew. Why did people think this was okay? What idiot decided that they had the right to determine who lived and died? Who thought it was morally and ethically okay to steal people, lock them up, and experiment on them like they weren’t actual living beings?!
Though I shifted my focus from my fear for Tem, I watched as Saar helped him up and through the lobby door, where he disappeared.
