“We need to hurry,” Emma added. “I feel….” She wrinkled her nose. “You need to get down there.”
Fuck. This was really happening.
“Ready?” Kay asked.
James wasn’t ready. He wasn’t ready to let Riley go, and he definitely wasn’t ready to watch her battle Gordon. But trying to keep her safe by hiding her away had been a disaster. Now he had to show her—and keep showing her—that he believed in her. She was strong and brave, and he trusted her to take care of herself. He forced himself to step back and give her space, although he let his Shadows linger, intertwined with hers.
“Ready,” he said as everyone nodded their agreement.
Kay turned her fingers to form a gleaming Shadow key, twisted it in the lock, and with a decisive shove, she opened the door.
The sudden flood of noise and air was shocking after the malignant stillness of Gordon’s sacred grove.
In the distance, there was a rumble that sounded like raised voices. The sound was strangely reassuring despite the reminder of how close they were to the Councilors who would gladly sacrifice them all.
Kay led the way, and they ran down a narrow staircase to another, far smaller door. She shoved another key into the new lock and twisted it open quietly.
The rumble of noise resolved into distinct voices shouting angrily as they filed out into a plush corridor. Was that David? It was difficult to tell with the echoing marble distorting the sound.
Emma and Zach immediately peeled away, following Riley’s quickly whispered directions, and the rest of them ran down the corridor to a wide marble staircase.
James had to watch his footing on the shining marble, his attention split between speed, spooling out his Shadows, and watching Riley.
What if this was the last time he ever saw her? He finally had her back. Their Shadows had merged. They stood on the cusp of having a real future together. But instead of reveling in each other, they were running straight toward danger.
Their battered Circle was now all that stood against the combined might of the Council. The people they’d been taught to obey—and fear—all their lives.
What if they couldn’t achieve the impossible? What if they lost?
They reached the ground just as Gordon threw back his head and laughed, the sound loud and mocking. “So, you’re finally a triad,” Gordon said with a sneer. His cold gaze traveled over David, Bryn, and Elizabeth where they stood, loosely arrayed at the front door.
Diedre, the other remaining Council Guardian, stood beside Gordon, while the other five council members stood in a cluster near the middle of the floor, green and red-hued Shadows spilling from their hands. Unlike Gordon in his pristine suit, they looked like they had tumbled from bed. Their clothes were in disarray, their hair was unbrushed, and several were wearing pajamas.
“You should know better, Liz,” Gordon mused. “David only wants you here to boost his Shadows. He’ll take what he wants, then he’ll drop you again. Just like before.” His lip twitched. “Remind me, how long did he leave you alone? A struggling single mother with a son who blamed her for everything they’d lost, then having to start again and raise the next generation too. And he never even visited once.” Gordon tutted in mock sympathy. “But now he suddenly wants you? And you actually believe him?”
Elizabeth didn’t move—or respond—but David’s expression grew even more stony. “We are not here to discuss my mistakes,” he snapped.
Gordon narrowed his eyes. “Then what are you here for? Waking up the Council in the middle of the night. Breaking into my home. Desecrating my sacred grove.” His voice lowered to a snarl. “It’s as if youwantto be Shadow stripped.” He glanced at Brayden. “How are we getting on with excommunicating the entire London Circle?”
Brayden dragged a hand through his hair. “We’ve already sent an e-mail to all the Custodians. They all know that anyone found supporting David’s Circle will be penalized severely. I’ve arranged for you to talk to them in person in the morning to explain in detail and clarify that the London Circle is to be punished for offenses against the Order.”
Fucking hell. Offenses against the Order. Gordon really was going to strip them.
“I’ve set up the call for nine o’clock,” Brayden continued, “before your midday meeting with the Prime Minister.”
Tomorrow. Shit. James cast a glance toward Riley. No wonder her parents were predicting danger and devastation.
Gordon straightened his cuffs, one and then the other. “Excellent. Then we can tell them the threat is contained.” He smiled slowly, but his eyes were icy. “We can share the good news that these terrorists, these insults to our sacred Order, Dru-vid who would threaten our entire existence, are already in custody.” He chuckled dryly. “And I didn’t even have to use my final blood Shadow to do it—they came straight to me.”
“We are threateningyou,” Bryn said, his usually warm expression as hard as granite. “And you arenotthe Order.”
“I’m the Archdderwydd,” Gordon answered.
“No,” Elizabeth replied coldly. “You’re not. And you never will be. The only threat to the Order isyouand those wretched worms you call a Council. You can all—”
“Careful, Elizabeth,” Gordon chided. “You don’t want me to make an example of you so early in the morning, do you?”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, Kay started forward. Her daggers were already sharp and lethal in her hands as she strode toward Gordon, ready to protect her grandmother.
