“I know.You’re serious about quitting, though?”
“Yeah.I’m done.I don’t want to be there.Not without Jax.And not without you.Our team is gone.”
Her words stilled Connor.“You think I’ll quit?”
“Won’t you?”She gestured to the commotion from where Alison was being hauled away.
It was a fair question, with everything that had happened.He should have expected it, at least from the people who knew him best.Alison’s betrayal would be hard to overcome.And that was without any of the other things weighing him down.
“Zevat.You’re both leaving me?”Ryan asked, bracketing his other side and slinging an arm over his shoulder.
“Ryan—”
“Oh, you and I will have words, Connor—I’ve seen my mother’s odd research interests of late.You have some serious explaining to do.But you too, Tals?”
“Guess you’ll have to train a whole new team on how to tolerate your snarky mouth,” she said unapologetically.
“Ry, you knew?”
“Yeah, Con, I knew,” his partner groused.“No thanks to you.Blew up about it when I pieced it together.You owe my mother a new vase.”
“Whoa,” Thalia said, waving her hand between them to break their eye contact.“What is he talking about, Connor?”
“Isn’t it obvious?He’s ditching us for the keeper of the mountain.”
“Guardian,” Connor corrected, even though Ryan was likely mis-stating it on purpose.“And keep your voice down.I haven’t decided yet.”
The words resonated as a lie as soon as they left his lips.He’d meant his vow to Alison—he would spend the rest of his life protecting magic.The only questions was exactly how long that life would be.
“Tals?You want to second me?Because that is a load of—”
Connor elbowed him in the ribs, but he felt himself smiling at the typical banter from his teammates.Not something he expected after all that had happened.
“You can’t walk into a death match with a literal force of nature and leave your kid to wait by herself.The death rate is damn high, Connor.”
“What are you saying?”he asked.
“That you are an idiot,” Ryan articulated very slowly and clearly.“Tals, back me up on this.”
The hint of a smile touched her lips as she looked between them.
“Are you telling me not to go?”Connor asked.
“I’m telling you that when you finally make up your mind, I’m coming with you,” Ryan said.“Someone has to bring Opal home if you get your sorry ass killed by an ancient pile of dirt.Don’t tell it I said that though.Have you read the history my mom pulled for you?Scary stuff.”
His heart swelled at Ryan’s words, even as his nerves sparked with flickers of doubt.Was it too selfish of him to challenge Hannelore given the repercussions for the people he loved?Or was the potential sacrifice worth it if he succeeded?The endless debate had been haunting him since he’d met with Charmaine.
An inkling of unease wound through him at how closely his thoughts followed the flow of conversation he’d had with Alison.His mother had made a choice.That the refugee program and the very children she’d created it for were worth the cost of her life.He would be making the same decision.
His mind had some complex thoughts to settle, but his heart was leagues away.At his favorite lookout point on his mountain in Eldridge, his mate by his side.
Chapter 33
SPRING
Ravensmere Forest, Realm of Calderre
ThoughConnor’sjourneyhadbegun only a few months before with the viper attack it seemed like ages had passed.Yet, he had a few important things to do before he left for Eldridge.Conversations to have.
