The building was an angular fortress, roughly hexagonal, forged of charcoal stone and dark metal. The slab-like walls were broken up by vertical slots of dark glass. The corners were sharply beveled, giving the whole thing a unique and powerful air. Crimson veins glowed along its seams and I smiled sadly, knowing it was the mark of Sylas’ magic.
I blinked as Zayn emerged from the building.
Internally, I grimaced at the spring in his step, the joyful swagger, and the brightness in his espresso eyes. He was so content, so jubilant, so free and open… and that was… it was all about to be destroyed.
Evira tensed against me, then eased from my hold and straightened as he bounded over to us.
Zayn tugged at his neon-pink jacket as he walked, a black tee beneath, and he swayed his hips in a pair of black jeans that were covered with gold and white patches.
He caught me looking and held up his hand. “Don’t worry, Vax, I didn’t wear this sexy attention-drawing outfit out on mission. They gave me this gear that’s kinda like tacticalgear and imbued with Charlie’s magic for extra protection. Apparently all newbies get to wear it. Cool, huh?”
“That is very ‘cool’,” I somehow managed to answer through the lump in my throat.
Evira brushed her hand nervously over her snowy white tank, then tugged her coat closed over it. “It’s a really inspired idea,” she also responded, almost steadily.
“Shit, guys! Tonight was awesome!” Zayn went on, clearly in one of his beloved hyperactive states. “The deep cover mission was… fuck, it was everything I’d hoped it would be, and even beyond! I really kicked ass, really did a great job. Charlie was seriously impressed. The way I used my Ifrit flame to sort shit tonight…damn.” He threw his arms up in the air. “Whoop!”
He grabbed Evira’s hand and then mine. “And then you messaged saying you’d come to pick me up after. I mean, thank you, it’s perfect! It’s been the greatest ever!” He squeezed our hands, his eyes hooding. “You’re thinking we’re gonna go all feral now, too, huh? Get really down and dirty?” He looked around. “We’re gonna need Win for that. Nobody’s got a better filthy mouth than him. So, he’s late doing some training with Sylas? It’s run long, is that it? It’s okay, we’ll get some dinner. I’ll make the truffles Win’s become a major fan of, give him a treat after a long, hard day.” His gaze darted to Evira. “I can’t wait to hear about Exalt stuff. We’ll get into it during dinner.” He looked at me. “And you’re gonna be in on the next meeting, right?”
Evira gave his hand a squeeze. “Zayn, there’s… something.”
“Something?” he asked, bouncing.
I swept my hand around us, enveloping us with my citrine magic, both casting anauditory reductionspell and erecting a glamor, so we couldn’t be heard or seen.
While Charles Petrone would be informed of Sylas’… situation shortly—Remnant had confirmed he’d see to it—that hadn’t yet been conveyed, so we couldn’t be overheard now.
I grasped Zayn’s shoulder. “Something has happened, beauty.”
He jolted at my tone.
As I’d intended.
To ease him into this.
Well, as much easing as was possible with this sort of thing.
He started scanning the area erratically. “Win? He’s not with Sylas training? Did he get hurt during it? Is he… is that what’s happened? Something to do with his wellbeing?” He looked us up and down. “You two are well. It’s not that. Unless… Evira, did something go down with the Dracoryn Realm?” He swung his head at me. “Or with your parents? Are they coming at you after all?”
Oh, no.
His exuberant state from earlier was not transferring well to this.
If he’d been in a calm, unstimulated state, it would have likely been a little more toned down.
Evira and I exchanged a wretched look.
We just had to say it.
He just… needed to know.
I tightened my grip on his shoulder, my voice rough, the words like acid as they spilled from me. “Something has happened to both Winter and Sylas.”
And then, between us, Evira and I proceeded to explain it all.
Winter being outed to the entire supernatural world.
Temperance mobilizing.
