She knew that. She didn’t want to think about it, but she’d always known. “How long do we have?”
“I’m not sure. Not long. Elizabeth is trying to force a vision. As soon as she knows anything, we’ll need to be able to move.” His hand tightened in hers. “But, Emma, I don’t want to leave you.”
Damn. She didn’t want him to leave her either. She tried to smile. “It’ll be okay.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “Would you consider coming with me?”
A thousand reasons bubbled up inside her as to why it would be a terrible idea. They were so new. She couldn’t leave her bakery. Her business needed her. She couldn’t leave her home. Her plants needed her. She couldn’t leave her life or the safe little place she’d carved out in the world.
She let all her denials churn through her and slowly settle until they’d cleared enough to reveal the biggest of them all. She was afraid of leaving the beautiful bubble they’d created. Even Zach had taken one look at her Shadows and fled. She couldn’t bear another torturous round of rejections, especially not from Zach’s friends.
And yet… she knew they couldn’t live in a bubble forever. What if she could meet Zach’s friends, the people who were important to him, and they accepted her? What if they could help her—or she could help them?
She took in a measured breath. She didn’t hide from her fears. She faced them head-on. Was she really going to let Zach go back to face her father on his own—or should she step out into the light and start creating the future she deserved?
“I want to.” She lifted their joined hands and kissed his knuckles, returning his earlier gesture. “But I’m nervous.”
Zach frowned. “Of me?”
“No.” They were moving fast, but Gordon was dangerous, and there was no doubt they were better off staying together. “I’m a little worried about the bakery. I’ve never taken a holiday before, but honestly, it can probably survive without me for a few days. Becky will manage it perfectly.” She gripped Zach’s hand tighter. He deserved to know the truth. It was something they needed to face together. “I’m more concerned about meeting your friends.”
Zach leaned closer, looking into her eyes. “They’ll love you.”
“You don’t—”
“Yes. I do.”
God. She wished she could have his faith. And maybe she did a little, because now that it came to it, she trustedhim.
“We could go up together and Ethan could take a look at your Shadows if you want,” Zach said. “Or if you don’t want that, you can just meet everyone. Hang out for a bit.” He swallowed heavily. “I’ve thought about this a lot. I might have brought Gordon’s attention to you by coming down here. If I could, I’d keep you completely out of all of this, but I think it’s too late for that now. You’ll be safer in Wales.”
He was trying. Really trying. And she had promised him that she would try too.
She curled up against him, letting her head rest on his chest as his arm wrapped around her shoulder. His heart beat steadily under her ear. Everything was possible if they were together. “Okay,” she agreed, “I’ll speak to Becky.”
ChapterSixteen
Gordon smootheddown the sleeves of his suit, settling them neatly to reveal exactly one-quarter inch white cuffs. The shirt alone was worth several hundred pounds, so it would be a pity not to show it. And it gave him a moment. A brief distraction that allowed him to look away from the fucking idiots in front of him and not climb over the table and stab someone in the eye.
Not that he would ever climb over a table. Or stab someone in the eye, for that matter. That would be an unforgivable waste. And climbing over tables was—had been—James’s job. Fucking James. Just thinking about him ratcheted Gordon’s blood pressure up another notch.
He had spent the morning listening to the Council debate whether it was time to give up the pretense that David was in any way a genuine member and send him back to India. Several people felt he would be more dangerous if he could go back to his friends and allies and build support. The rest were certain he was more dangerous where he was.
Gordon agreed with both views. David was an idiot… but he wasn’t stupid. Any day now he would open his eyes, realize that the Council he was so faithful to was a sham, and then, well, no one knew what he would do. The man was an excellent Guardian and he had a lot of support in the Circles. He could be a problem.
What Gordon did disagree with, though, was the way they wanted to handle David. Keep him here, send him there, make him wait…. What a waste of fucking time. Shadow strip the man and remove the threat. Or, even better, sacrifice him to the greater cause. He didn’t come from one of the truly magnificent bloodlines. Not like Gordon’s ancestors, or Abigail’s, or even Elizabeth’s, but it was good enough.
Gordon leaned back and watched the ceiling, tuning out the bleating. He was sick to death of ineptitude. And Dru-vid who didn’t have the balls to do what had to be done.
Heknew exactly what he was doing and why he was doing it, and he’d never seen the point in lying to himself. Gordon knew that David would never support him, which was exactly why he’d invited him onto the Council—away from the temptation to build his own power base—and then blocked him at every opportunity.
David, Elizabeth, and Bryn. Guardian, Seer, and Healer. They could have been incredible together. A rare mixed triad. The only triad of their generation with the potential to stop him. Thank God they were too busy fighting amongst themselves, falling on their own swords, and coddling their students to achieve anything.
Brayden tapped the gavel he loved so much and called the meeting to order. Gordon slowly lowered his eyes from the ceiling and settled them on the man who had the audacity to think he was in control.
“So, we’re agreed,” Brayden insisted. “It’s better to wait. We don’t want to risk showing our hand too early. David is no real risk so long as we keep him busy here in London.”
“Yes,” Diedre said firmly. “We’ve kept him away from the Knowledge while we’ve cleared out anything of interest. I’ll let him back in now and he can spend the next three years in the library and not find anything.”
