Nix nodded, just a gentle dip of his chin. “This is your head start.” Without another word he disappeared back towards the kitchen.
Rae gripped the gun hard enough to hurt, heart hammering against her ribs.
“Titus, you there?” she asked, hearing no feedback from her earpiece. “Fuck.”
Vivian’s quarters were empty, taking her seconds to throw another ball, and smearing the blood along the runes. Each time she brushed her hand against one, it burned, the blood bubbling before the enchantment darkened to black. She had no idea if that was good, or bad.
“I don’t know who it is,” Killian said, voice drifting, from the office. “But they’re shutting down all your security protocols. Everything’s locked out.”
Rae kept herself tight against the wall, making out Vivian pacing through the gap in the door.
“Figure it out!” she snarled. “We’re clearly being attacked, and you’re supposed to be able to…”
A hand across her mouth, yanking her back. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Rae Rae?”
Rae kept herself calm, allowing Bastion to remove the gun from her grip. He spun her until her back hit the wall, his mismatched eyes frowning down at her, one brown, the other blue. It was the only thing that distinguished them as twins, with Killian having both brown.
She waited for him to release her mouth, dropping her eyes before she accidentally challenged his wolf.
“Vivian’s been unsanctioned by the Syndicate,” she said quietly, hoping Killian couldn’t pick up her words from the other room. “She’s corrupt, selling me out to the highest bidder.”
“Explain,” he demanded.
“Nathan came after me, trying to kill me for my necklace, and Vivian knew. She approved it.”
“Impossible.” Bastion stepped back, but still held onto her gun. “The Guildmaster is bound to protect those under their contract.”
“Tell that to Nathan.” Rae slowly slipped her hand behind her back. “Oh right, you can’t, because he’s dead.”
“This is –”
Rae pulled out her knife, holding it directly above his heart.
“Fuck,” Bastion hissed. “I forgot you’re into knives, Rae Rae.”
“It’s silver,” she said, his skin burning red from just a single touch even through the fabric of his t-shirt. There was a slight pressure against her brain, but nothing like there was supposed to be. The little blood bombs were working.
“So you came prepared.” His eyes narrowed, his upper lip twisting into a snarl.
“This isn’t about you.” She eased up on the pressure, allowing him to swallow. “Bas, you need to trust me.” Against all of her instincts, she stepped away.
Bastion touched his chest, his fingers coming away red. “You’re breaking the ward.”
She pulled out the last bomb.
His eyes dipped to her hand, and she tossed it before he could stop her, the ball crashing against the office door to explode it off its hinges. Blood splattered against her side, the impact stinging her exposed skin. Bastion crashed into her seconds later, dragging her against him and marching her forward. She flipped her knife, hiding it beneath her sleeve.
Rae grinned at Vivian’s expression, Killian frowning from where he sat behind her desk. “Miss me, Viv?”
The door had slid across her pristine floor, leaving a bloody smear.
“What have you done?” she hissed, pink flames dancing around her fingertips.
“I’m here to give you a message from the Syndicate,” Rae said, grunting against Bastion’s grip on her upper arm.
Vivian’s face paled. “Remove her Bas, she’s broken the rules.”
Killian flicked his eyes between everyone. “Someone want to tell me what the fuck’s going on?”
