“What happened, Xee?” Riley called as he entered into the foyer, his eyes settling on the broken door. “Where’s Kyra?”
“She wanted to go back.”
“What do you mean back? Back where? What about those threats?” Alice asked, sparks brightening her fingertips. They matched the blue green of her fractured eyes, her magic erratic as she slowly learned to control her powers. Xander thought she was weak when he had first met her, not understanding Riley’s interest in pursuing her. But Alice had proven herself more than once, even sacrificing herself to help one of his brothers.
Kyra, on the other hand, was nothing but a destructive storm that looked to tear them apart.
“You can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped. Kace said her place was clean, and there was no trace of anyone but her on that roof garden.” He turned towards the stairs, wanting to go to his room, to be alone in the dark. He kept up the rent for the other place out of convenience and privacy. But this was his true home, surrounded by his brothers.
“Who has she gone back to?” Alice asked, stopping him as he took a step. “Xee it’s important, she might be in more trouble than she would admit.”
“She’s a black witch, she’s made lying a fucking art.”
“Watch your tone,” Riley snarled.
Xander rubbed his face. “Look, how am I supposed to know? You’re her friend Alice, you try and scrape that information from her because she’s not telling me shit.” He slipped past her, ignoring the audience that was growing from the hall.
“Xee, wait!” Riley called after him.
Xander paused on the stairs, not bothering to look back over his shoulder. “Is that an order,Sire?” he snarled. He had used the word on purpose, his anger at Kyra’s blatant stupidity enough to break him. They weren’t shifters, but they still had a similar enough hierarchy when it came to their beasts. Riley had always been the alpha, the leader, but he hated enforcing it.
Riley swore, and something thudded behind him. “Everyone out of here, now!” Grunts and curses, and even Alice protested until Riley growled another demand. Xander felt Riley beside him a second later.
“She makes you angry, I get it more than you understand, but you’re supposed to be the most stable of the guys. I need you to chill the fuck out before you force them to shift.”
Xander was rigid, his breathing barely controlled. “I don’t know why she gets this reaction from me.”
Riley’s bark of laughter surprised him enough that he turned, and saw his friend grinning. “You have no idea.”
Xander closed his eyes, soothing the rage from his beast. “She’s in some deep shit and won’t let me help. She won’t even give me the details.”
“That’s strong females for you, always thinking they know best.” Riley’s smile disappeared as he sighed. “Do you know where she went?”
“I couldn’t seem to let her go, so I followed her until she got into a chauffeured black car. After that,” he growled, “I have no idea.”
* * *
KYRA
Kyra made herself small beside Bane, silent.
“You didn’t stay at your place last night?” he asked quietly, brow raised as he turned in his seat. “Or the previous night. Is there a reason?”
“I stayed in a hotel,” she lied, hoping he couldn’t sense her increased heartbeat.
Bane only nodded. “I’ve made Frederick aware the stress of those threats have caused you. He was displeased to find out you had left without letting us know, you know you must update me of extended disappearances.” He let out a sigh. “Don’t worry, I’ll calm him down.”
She knew he expected a thanks, so she forced a smile before turning towards the window. The road blurred, the car rumbling beneath her as they headed outside of the city limits. Bane had been outside when she had returned home, stern as he opened the car door and gestured inside.
“We going to the coven?” she asked, trying to keep the conversation light and off what she was doing the day before. “Has Dirk been in contact?”
Bane only stared, head tilted as he appraised the slightly yellowing marks on her throat, and then the edge of her bandages on her shoulder. “What hotel did you stay at?”
“The one around the corner,” she replied quickly, slanting her eyes back to him. “I wasn’t aware I couldn’t stay at a hotel?” She kept her voice soft, but there was steel behind the forced calm.
Bane smirked. “We’re headed straight to the bastion. He has requested your attendance at all meetings. I came by to pick you up last night, but clearly you weren’t available.” His gaze flicked to the bandages once more before turning to his own window.
It took everything in her to keep that smile in place.The three head witches of The Magicka were required to stay within the castle, with Frederick living within the bastion and the two others possessing a tower each. What exactly did Frederick have planned if he was willing to invite a Daemon so close to the grounds of The Magicka?
