Jamison’s father pulls against his restraints as he shakes his head. “He already knows. My guess is he’s waiting to see who will win Nolan’s crown.”
“That will be too late for him and us,” Hawthorne interjects. “We can’t predict the winner. Maybe an ally, maybe not. Nor can we afford for the two groups to join forces. We must take out Bennett before the vampires choose their next leader.”
“I agree,” Jamison assures him. He’s quiet for a minute as he thinks through the options. “I have an idea, but I’ll need to run it by Mathias first and see if it’s feasible.” He turns to his father. “Do you have somewhere you can hide until this is all over?”
A relieved smile blooms on his father’s face. “I do. Does that mean you’re letting me go?”
“It means you better find a rock to hide under until I can take care of Bennett,” Jamison shoots back. He pulls his phone from his pocket and shows it to his father. “I taped this entire conversation. Your actions are reprehensible and unworthy of a de Vere. And your days of leading the council are over. But don’t worry, you aren’t the only one we’re going to remove from office.”
“You’ll never get away with it,” his father spits, fury coating his voice.
Power fills the room. The walls bulge and the windows crack. His father flinches.
“For the longest time, I’ve hidden my power from you, worried you might feel threatened, but no more.” Jamison’svoice is calm and strong, the underlying anger gone as if he’s made peace with their relationship. “Any trouble from you, and I’ll bind your powers for the rest of your life. I’m leading this family now.”
His father gulps and looks to Hawthorne for help, but he simply turns back to the window. Blue eyes, so similar to Jamison’s, drift to me, and I watch as his hope dies when he sees the disgust on my face.
“Everything I did was to protect you and our lineage. You don’t understand. Bennett’s only focus is more power,” he says, pleading his case.
Jamison taps the silver on his father’s wrists, then places a finger on his forehead. “The cuffs will release you in an hour. Oh, and I added a geas that will prevent you from repeating this conversation to anyone.” He ignores his sputtering and turns to grasp my hand. “Let’s go home.”
It’s my turn to be shocked. He called it home.
21
JAMISON
Gatlin joins us when we hit the pavement in the alley. As usual, he scans us from head to toe, making sure we’re in perfect health. His gaze lingers longer on Phaedra, their golden depths flaring with intense emotion. He raises an eyebrow when he notices our hands linked together.
“How much did you hear?” I ask him, silently conveying the shift in my feelings toward Phaedra.
He nods in approval. “All of it. I’m in agreement.” He turns his head and scowls at Phaedra. “What the hell were you thinking? Offering yourself as bait to lure a powerful and deranged mage?”
She lifts a shoulder. “It’s no different from Mathias infiltrating the vampire compound and putting himself at risk.”
“Mathias can hold his own against them,” I remind her. When she looks skeptical, I laugh. “I promise you. He’s one of the most lethal individuals I know and an apex predator. Don’t let his geeky side fool you.”
Her dark brows draw together as if she’s trying to picture him in that light. “You know him better than I do.” There’s a note of sadness in her voice, but I know they have to work things out between them, so I don’t remark on it.
We find a spot a few blocks off Gran Via that’s devoid of both cameras and people where I can create a portal back home. A minute later, we step out. Again, I experience no ill effects from the jump across the pond. Frowning, I count backward to the last time I experienced them and realize there are only two variables that could be the reason.
Hawthorne turns toward me and crosses his arms over his chest. “Where the hell did that power boost come from? And why aren’t you exhibiting the usual portal effects?”
I should have known his analytical mind would pick up on it faster than me. Or the others. “I’m not sure. The only two factors I can think of are full access to my powers at all times and the blood Mathias gave me after the explosion.”
“You think removing the curse from your ring helped?” Phaedra asks with a smile.
I squeeze the hand I’m still holding. “Maybe, but I’m not sure. I’ve taken it off before and didn’t feel this level of power. It could be the fact that the curse was removed.” I look back at Hawthorne. “But it’s odd. My power has more punch to it. I’m able to weave more complex spells and wield large amounts of power without flagging. I first noticed it when Lady Catherine was using that spell against me. It should have weakened me more than it did. Instead, I was able to resist it longer. And my power returned to its full strength within days, not weeks.”
“I’d like to draw your blood and run some tests,” Hawthorne says, his voice rising with excitement, but it dims when I shake my head.
“No tests,” I state firmly. “The last thing we need is for this to get out.”
Gatlin strides ahead and opens the front door. “I’m going to fix dinner.”
Hawthorne mutters something about stubborn mages and researching weapons, then disappears into Phaedra’s study. She moves to go after him, but I tug her back to me.
“Is there somewhere we can talk?” I ask her, suddenly feeling nervous.
