Xander turned cold, his movements rigid as he closed the door behind him. The office overlooked the dancefloor, the glass one-way so they could watch everyone on the floor below while they could only see a reflection of themselves. It kept it private.
“Why haven’t you reported it?” Xander asked, unable to keep the question to himself.
Kyra finally turned fully in her chair, her eyes immediately connecting to his. “Report it to who, exactly?” she snapped, anger shaping her words. “The Magicka are aware, and refuse to do anything about it. This was the only thing I could think of. Look, I have some money, I can pay something small or we can work out a payment plan.”
“And have Alice beat the shit out of me for taking your money?” Riley grunted. “How long have you been receiving these threats?”
Kyra dropped her gaze. “Six months.”
“Six months?!” Xander barked. “You’ve been receiving threats for six months and you’ve done what? Decorate the wall with them or some shit?!”
“It wasn’t serious,” Kyra added quickly. “Until tonight.”
Xander stepped forward. “What is wrong with you? You should have…”
“Xee!” Riley barked. “Enough.”
Xander sucked in a staggered breath, realising he had raised his voice. His beast bared his teeth inside his mind, and from the warning creasing Riley’s face he knew that his control was splintering.
What the fuck was wrong with me?he thought as he left, getting himself away from the situation before he shifted. He couldn’t deal with cards, or his too curious brothers so he grabbed the pack of cigarettes from his pocket and headed back outside. He hoped for once a spirit was lurking, a welcome distraction against that black witch who had been on his mind since he had first set eyes on her.
Chapter10
Xander
Xander embraced the burn, his muscles finally tiring after hours of trying. The basement gym was silent other than his own grunts, the lights off so he could work out in the peace of darkness. He couldn’t sleep, unable to settle his thoughts at night. He hoped he could run himself into exhaustion, but still he couldn’t sleep without hearing the voices of those lost in between.
He knew when Kace joined him, the fellow Guardian waiting until he had settled the heavy weight back onto the rack.
“You look like shit,” he said, folding his arms. Kace, just like the others could see well enough in the pitch black, but it felt wrong to discuss anything in the dark.
“Lights, on,” Xander grunted as he grabbed his aviators, protecting his eyes from the sudden illumination.
Kace stood, his red hair pulled from his face, dark green, brooding eyes matching the scowl that was a permanent fixture. “Titus has been getting reports from across the British Isles of missing druids.”
“What do you mean missing?”
“Like fucking vanished,” Kace replied. “You know, poof into thin air. What else do you think I fucking mean?”
Xander adjusted the weights. “Your attitude is really starting to piss me the fuck off. Why are you down here talking to me? Go speak to Riley.”
Kace clenched his jaw. “I didn’t want to bother him while he’s still dealing with his own shit. I wanted to know if you’ve heard any whispers from the spirits.”
“No, I haven’t.” Not that he had really been listening, the voices more like a frustrating background noise. “Send Sythe.” Ghosts made great spies, but Sythe was better.
“He’s working on something with Riley…”
“Then ask Axel, he may be able to get you some more information.” He had the ability to make people talk to him, to spill their secrets. They joked it was because of his pretty face, but in reality it was Axel’s easy-going personality and razor sharp intelligence.
“You mean when he isn’t high or drunk?”
Xander sighed, settling the weight back down before he stood, rolling his shoulders to release the pressure. He had his own shit to deal with, like the spirits that wouldn’t fuck off until he went crazy. “He’s supposed to have cut all that out.”
“And you believed him?” Kace chuckled. “He literally vanishes in the middle of a mission to get a fix and it’s me who’s being punished. Do you know what, fuck you all.”
“Careful,” Xander growled.
Kace stepped forward, the tattoos along his left arm and neck pulsating. “Or what?”
