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Knox’s expression did not change. “No.”

I stepped right into his personal space because apparently my self-preservation instincts had packed up and moved to Florida. “Yes.”

His eyes flashed. “Maisie…”

“Does my Magic confuse the Hellmark?”

Bernie answered before he could. “Yes.”

Knox’s glare shifted to her. “Bernadette.”

She crossed her arms. “Do not use my full name like I am one of your suspects. She asked a factual question.”

I pointed at Bernie. “Thank you, terrifying smart lady.”

Bernie inclined her head. “You’re welcome, reckless glitter weapon.”

“I prefer tactical sparkly weapon, but I’ll allow it.”

Knox made a sound that was not quite a growl and not quite a prayer for patience.

I looked back up at him. “If my Magic confuses the Hellmark, and the Hellmark is learning Guy’s Wards, then you need me close enough to scramble the signal while you get away from the nexus.”

“No.”

“We choose, remember?”

That shut him up. Not nicely. Not peacefully. But quickly.

The words hit him exactly where I aimed them. I could see it in the sudden tension around his eyes. In the way his jaw clenched, then stopped, and most assuredly in the way Sully’s emerald light flared behind his whiskey-colored gaze, then softened.

I didn’t say anything else. I didn’t need to.

Knox had handed me those words when he told me Fate did not get to own us. He had meant them when they protected him from the word Mate. Now I was handing them right back because they protected me, too.

And maybe that was the first real thing between us.

Not Fate. Not Magic. Choice.

Guy exhaled through his nose. “I hate that she’s right.”

“Get in line,” Knox muttered.

My heart did a stupid little kick. I ignored it.

“Fine,” Guy said. “We move fast. Bernie and I stay here and keep Carrick on the spell. Knox and Maisie go to the watch cabin. If the Hellmark reacts again, you call through the landline here at the house.”

I blinked. “The house has a landline?”

Guy gave me a look. “A Magical landline.”

“Good. For a second, I thought Arrhythmia had better landline service than Valentine.”

Bernie’s mouth twitched.

Knox, rude creature, did not laugh.

Guy disappeared inside and came back with a leather satchel that looked older than my great-grandmother’s grudges. He shoved it at Knox. “Ward keys. Iron salt. Bloodstone flare. Two binding knives. Emergency beacon.”