Allegiance (Causal Enchantment #3)(65)
Max’s brothers stood like sentries around the room, equidistant apart and appearing disinterested, though I knew they were far from it. Viggo sat in an armchair next to the fire, amusement on his face and poker in hand, a favorite position of his, I was beginning to learn. He caught me studying him and he smirked. I briefly pictured driving the hot poker through his eye, but I knew I’d have to get in line behind Lilly.
All in all, it was a regular supernatural circus.
I found Caden leaning against a window, watching the scene unfold, a crooked smile on his face. When he saw me, he nodded his chin, gesturing me over. Though I wanted to skip across the room, I moved slowly to check for Bishop. Thankfully, he was nowhere in sight.
“How are you feeling?” Caden lifted my chin with a finger to get a better look at my jaw. “The swelling’s gone down.”
Just his touch had me beaming like an idiot, only to wince in pain a second later. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Suddenly, the room quieted. I turned to find everyone staring at me, as if they had just noticed my entrance.
“The turmoil inside her is unnerving,” Lilly said, with a curious flash in her blue irises. Beside her, Mage nodded in agreement.
My skin prickled, knowing the entire room was now trying to break through my magical shell to see what kind of mess existed underneath. I couldn’t help but thank the Tribe’s magic for shielding me from the scrutiny. I’d never have been able to hide all these deadly secrets without it.
“It’s more than that, though.” Sofie frowned. “Do you sense it?” When no one answered, she looked to Mage, asking in a more insistent voice. “Do you? Do you feel that strange … pull around her?”
Panic rolled inside of me. “Pull? Magic? What does that mean? Sofie?”
Sofie didn’t answer, her full attention on Mage who studied me. I averted my gaze to Caden, to the ground, to the tree, to anything that would make me feel like I wasn’t standing naked on a stage.
Mage finally answered, shaking her head. “I don’t, but … that doesn’t mean you don’t. It could have something to do with your magic.”
I looked back at Sofie in time to see the fear sweep across her face. “I don’t know. It’s likely nothing …”
“I haven’t gone deaf, you know! And your reaction is not ‘nothing,’ Sofie. Stop talking about me like I’m not here, and tell me what you’re thinking, damn it!” I said. “I’m sick of you guys sweeping these Tribal magic consequences under the rug! Tell me if I’m going to turn into a hideous monster! Tell me if I’m going to kill everyone I love with a touch!” I was shouting now and I didn’t care. “I’m tired of waiting! I’m tired of wondering! I’m—”
“I don’t know, Evangeline!” Sofie shouted back, her voice cracking. She didn’t sound angry. No, she was weary and afraid and … drained. The room fell silent, its occupants watching the two of us teeter on the edges of our own nervous breakdowns. I felt a hand slip over mine, close over it, clasp it tightly.
“Your touch can’t kill me yet,” Caden offered soothingly. When I couldn’t return his smile, he pulled me to his chest, his one hand sliding up under my hair to cup my neck.
“Bishop…” I whispered.
He smiled softly. “I’ll watch for him.” That’s all the reassurance I needed. I burrowed my face into the ridges of Caden’s chest and inhaled his heavenly scent wishing everything else in the world away but this moment.
“See? I told you … rage!” Amelie said. “She went all crazy on the guy at the store before too. Pulled a knife on him. I was sure—”
I spun around to throw fiery daggers at Amelie, my cheeks blazing. Of all times to expose my earlier psychotic behavior, this was not that time. Amelie immediately clamped her mouth shut, having the decency to look away.
“Continue, please … Kait,” Mortimer spoke then. He sounded unimpressed that my entrance had thrown such a wrench into their conversation.
“They’ve infiltrated the army, the government, the police …” Kait went on. “We believe their army is in the tens of thousands. We have yet to locate their main stations. I don’t know how many of them I’ve coerced to talk. We get bits and pieces of info but nothing terribly useful. We know they operate in sleeper cells. We’ve found a larger presence in certain areas—Rome, Israel, England …” Veronique had mentioned England. “They’re so tightly connected, their reach so close to deadly force. We can’t just storm them, Mortimer. Attacking one contingent is setting a chain reaction that you want to avoid.”
“And it would trigger that chain reaction, without a doubt,” Mage interjected.
“Well, that scene today didn’t help matters,” Mortimer scoffed, adding, “seeing a child rip seven full grown men out of a van and snap their necks has people asking questions.”
“Bishop and I went out to compel the reporters and witnesses. We confiscated their phones as well. Everything we could think of. It’s hard in a viral world,” Mage acknowledged. “Someone’s personal pictures or video will surface in the next few days.”
“What else would you suggest I do?” Lilly asked with indignation. “Had I not acted quickly, I assure you that you’d never have seen her again.” I felt Caden’s fists tighten their grip on my sweater.