A gasp rippled among the Councilors. Shadow stripping was extreme. Shadow stripping so many Dru-vid was unheard of. But not one of them argued or disagreed. Finally, they were starting to understand that he was their master now.
“But what about your plans for Samhain?” Diedre asked tentatively. “If we punish Dru-vid for revealing the order, how will we explain—”
Gordon grunted. “This is perfect. We have been outed by rogue Dru-vid. They are responsible for putting us in a position where we have no other option but to control how the truth is revealed. I am merely doing what a leader should. Fixing the problem.”
The Councilors nodded slowly, their relief tangible in the dim light. “But what about Blayne?” Maeve asked, her eyes flicking to the shattered mess in the corner. “How can we trust that he will do what’s needed?”
“It won’t be a problem,” Gordon stated. “I have a plan.”
ChapterThirty-Two
Emma stretchedand rubbed her eyes. She’d been passed out for most of their journey back to Wales, sleeping in the front passenger seat while Zach drove.
After the confrontation with Gordon, Ethan sped them back to the Highgate Circle House where they quickly updated David and agreed that they had to regroup. They needed their full Circle together, protecting each other. And they needed to get the hell out of London.
The Guardians had rushed through their rooms, grabbing anything they couldn’t bear to lose. Within twenty minutes, they were back on the road. Ethan, Kay, David, and Riley were traveling together in one car. They would fetch Elizabeth and then take her on to Bryn’s small cottage where they would all meet.
Emma and Zach followed closely behind. They had locked up the Circle House, set the alarms, and hit the road. And she’d been asleep before they crossed the M25.
She had been exhausted. A sleepless night, grief, terror, and then profound relief had left her utterly drained. Being with Zach, surrounded by his Shadows and the soothing hum of the car moving down the motorway had lulled her to sleep, and she’d only woken when they crossed the Severn Bridge into Wales.
She pulled out a bottle of water and took a sip. She was sleepy but she felt settled, happy even, for the first time in days. There would be repercussions for what they’d done. They’d revealed themselves in public and the Council had seen it all. But for now, she didn’t want to think about it. She wanted this moment with Zach.
He turned to smile at her and she grinned back. “How are you feeling?” she asked him. “Do you need a break?”
Zach rested his hand on her thigh and their Shadows flowed together, moving in a slow combined wave. “No, thanks. I’m good. We’re nearly there.”
“You should’ve woken me earlier. I could have driven for a while.”
He gave her a stern look that was slightly ruined by the softness in his eyes. “I’m still trying to recover from watching you step off the side of a building. And I wanted some time to think.”
She rested her hand on top of his, threading their fingers together, reveling in the sensation of touching him. He had come for her. Supported her. Trusted her. It meant everything.
“What were you thinking about?” she asked.
Zach’s hand tightened on her thigh. “I wondered—” He stopped, cleared his throat uncertainly, and then tried again. “I wondered what your plan is for when all of this is over.”
Hell. She didn’t have a plan. She’d handed everything in the bakery over to Becky, not really expecting to see it again. And, more than that, she couldn’t imagine going back without Zach.
Zach’s jaw jumped nervously, and she touched her locket with her free hand, just for a second. “I’m not sure… I’d like to know what you’re planning too.”
He glanced at her before turning his eyes back to the road. “I guess you could say that I’ve handed in my resignation today.”
Emma snorted, and Zach chuckled before admitting, “I’m going to need to find a new job when this is all over.”
“What kind of position are you looking for?” Emma asked quietly.
The side of his mouth twitched but he answered seriously. “I like all kinds of positions.”
Damn, she loved it when he was playful. “Do you now?”
“I’m good with my hands,” Zach continued. “I can think of multiple creative uses for chocolate, and I’m good with a whip... so I was thinking of applying in a bakery, maybe.”
Emma laughed. “We don’t use whips in the bakery.”
“How do you whip cream, then?” he asked.
“With a whisk.”
