“I don’t need to think about anything,” Graysen snarled.
“Just wait a darn second,” A.J. told him. “If you kill these men, it could be considered magically-motivated murder. You won’t be able to avoid being executed for that, and then I’ll lose my job as campaign manager.”
“Graysen Galder.” I spoke sharply enough to get his attention.
Gray turned to me, his eyes still burning with fury.
“They’re not worth it,” I told him. “Please. I can’t lose you.”
Gray let out a shuddering breath. I could see how much self-control it was taking for him not to tear the men to pieces. He gave me a curt nod.
His dad seemed to shrink as Gray turned back to him.
Yutika took off her shawl and tucked it around me as I continued to shiver. Bri blew on her fists and transformed back to regular skin. Then, she wrapped her arms around me.
“This should go without saying,” Graysen told his father. “But if you or any of your hired dogs ever come near my fiancé again, nothing will stop me from ending every one of you.”
“I was doing what I thought best for this city and for you,” Joseph said. “As long as she’s unMarked, your life will be at risk. I’m trying to keep you safe.”
Gray’s laugh was harsh and terrible. “What you’ve done is unforgivable. And the only reason I’m talking to you instead of killing you is because of her.” He pointed at me.
“I’m your father,” Joseph choked.
“Yeah,” Gray spat, that one word full of resentment. “And Kaira’s my world.” He stalked closer. His voice was so low I almost didn’t hear when he said, “She’s your goddamn future daughter-in-law. You should have protected her…not—” Gray thrust his hand at the tray that held nothing except the empty alcohol packets.
“Graysen, you have to know,” Joseph began.
Gray didn’t give him a chance to finish.
“I know that you and me…we’re done. Permanently.”
He turned without waiting for his dad’s response.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Bri and Yutika helped me off the couch.
“Oh jeez, Kaira,” Yutika said, looking down at my feet.
I hadn’t even noticed before, but they were covered with blood from little cuts and scratches all over them. I felt nothing.
Gray lifted me into his arms and headed for the door. My head was too heavy to hold up, so I let it fall against his chest.
“You’re so not invited to the wedding,” Yutika told Joseph, shooting him a glare that rivaled Gray’s.
“If you assholes ever kidnap one of my people again,” Smith told the four men, “I’ll drain your bank accounts and leave your digital footprints across all sorts of unsolved crimes. In Russia.”
A.J. kept the knife hovering in front of Allistair’s eye as the group of us headed for the door. Even Sir Zachary let out a low growl over his shoulder as he trotted behind A.J.
Michael’s hand was on the doorknob when Joseph’s voice cut through the tense silence.
“She’ll leave you, you know.” His words were laced with bitterness. “You can’t rely on her, but you can put your trust in the Alliance.”
I felt Gray’s muscles tense. He gently lowered me to the ground. He waited until Bri wrapped an arm around me to keep my weight off my battered feet before he turned on his dad.
“I don’t know what happened between you and my mom,” Gray said. “But I do know you both put your jobs above your family. Kaira and I have nothing in common with the two of you.”
He looked at me so I could see the certainty in his eyes. Then, he turned back to Joseph.
Gray’s father stood motionless and slightly hunched over. He looked like he’d been gut-punched.
“I’m going to do what I can for our city,” Gray told his dad. “But my love and loyalty belong to my family.”
Those words thawed the knot of ice that had formed in my chest. Bri gave me a squeeze and whispered, “Your fiancé’s a keeper.”
“Son, wait,” Joseph said.
In just those two words, I heard years’ worth of pain and regret that almost made me feel sorry for him.
“Don’t call me that,” Gray said in a flat voice. He backed away from his father until he was surrounded by the rest of the Seven. “This is my family.”
A.J. elbowed him in the ribs and said, “Atta boy, Graysen.”
Gray put his arm around my waist. Our friends surrounded us as we walked out of the house. None of us looked back.
CHAPTER 48
Sir Zachary curled up on my lap as Michael drove us back to Older Smith’s house. My friends were busy cursing Joseph Galder with such vigor that it oddly calmed me.
“I don’t understand,” Gray said. His hair hid his expression as he bent to examine the slash mark on my forearm, but I could hear the guilt in his voice. “Why would he have done that?”
I swallowed. “I think I may have…instigated.”
Gray’s attention snapped up. “What?”
I released a shuddering breath. And then I told him everything, from my disastrous visit to Joseph’s house, to the phone call I got just before the cops picked me up.
“I’m so sorry,” I told him when I’d finished.
“Sorry?” Gray asked, incredulous. “What are you sorry for? My dad was the one who almost….”
“I wanted to fix what I’d broken between the two of you,” I said.
Gray let out a bitter laugh. “My dad was the one who broke our relationship, not you.” He shook his head. “I meant what I said. I’ll never forget what he did to you.”
In spite of my fury over what had almost happened, I didn’t want Gray to lose the only parent he’d ever had in his life.
Still, I could sense there was no point in trying to change Gray’s mind. At least for now.
I pulled my left arm into the long sleeve of Gray’s jacket so he wouldn’t be able to see the dried blood covering my forearm. “The reason I went behind your back on this was because I was hoping your dad would come to you. I thought—” I laughed without humor. “I thought I’d convince him to have a relationship with you, regardless of his feelings about me.”
“Kai.” Gray looked at me in wonderment. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
I felt my lips twitch into a smile at that. “I think I might have an inkling.” I wiggled my finger so my diamond ring caught the light and shimmered over the limo’s interior.
“So romantic,” Bri sighed.
“It’s been a night,” A.J. said, leaning back against the seat and taking a swig of champagne right out of the bottle. “Papa needs a vacation.”
“Not gonna happen any time soon, Mr. Campaign Manager,” Smith told him.
“Meanie.” A.J. stuck out his tongue.
“What happened with Subject 6?” I asked, as the rest of the night’s events came crashing back.
The others exchanged a look.
“We lost him,” Bri said in a gentle voice. “As soon as Smith figured out you were in trouble, we gave up the chase.”
My shoulders slumped.
“It’s alright,” Gray said. “We’ll find another way to get him.”
Even though my deal with Pruwist was obviously done, we still had questions that only Subject 6 could answer. And Pruwist’s betrayal made it that much more imperative that Gray and I win the election.
✽✽✽
I must have dozed off. The next time I opened my eyes, Gray was carrying me into the house. A.J., as expected, was bemoaning the state of my dress.
“This is why you cannot have nice things,” he chastised me.
Older Smith met us in the living room just as Gray was settling me on the couch. It was four in the morning, but he was still fully dressed.
“You know,” Older Smith said, holding his lantern over my feet to inspect the damage. “Shoes aren’t just for aesthetic purposes.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied.
I sucked in a breath as shards of glass began wiggling themselves out of my feet, even though Older Smith wasn’t even touching me.
By the time I’d showered and changed into comfy clothes, the Hansley clan was awake. My friends and I convened in the living room while Ma, Grandma Tashi, and Cora started breakfast. It wasn’t long before delicious smells were wafting in from the kitchen.
I curled up on the couch with my bandaged feet tucked under me and my head on Gray’s lap. Smith projected his laptop screen onto the wall, so we could watch the address Pruwist delivered in the wake of our most recent catastrophe.
“Good morning, Magics and Naturals of Boston,” Pruwist said, leaning over the oak desk in his study.
“We’re going to need to get one of those super serious offices for you when you win the election,” A.J. informed us. “And you’re going to need bookshelves. Lots of bookshelves.”
“We don’t even have a house anymore,” Smith pointed out.
Pruwist continued, “I’m sorry to report that the Super Magic suspected of perpetuating five recent murders is still at large. I’m here to assure all of you that I won’t rest until he’s apprehended.”
“Boo!” A.J. shouted.
Yutika threw a crumpled paper at Pruwist’s image on the wall.
Pruwist adjusted his tie as he smiled into the camera. “I do not wish to make this about the election, but—”
“But you will,” Graysen muttered.
“—but I can’t help but notice that my opponents aren’t here right now. While we all have good reason to fear for our lives, Boston needs a fearless leader.”
I snorted in disgust.
Pruwist sipped from a glass of water before continuing. “The Super Magic murderer is hunting me, and yet, I stand before you as a humble servant of this magnificent city.”
“Seriously?!” Bri demanded. “Your house is surrounded by fifty cops!”
I was pretty sure the only reason my friends were keeping their criticisms to a dull roar was because Grandma Tashi had joined us.
“There’s something else you need to see,” Smith said.
The image on the wall switched to an NBC News report. The anchor furrowed her brow in concern as she said, “Please be aware that the following images, captured by renowned Slaughters photographer Rebecca Greenthorn, may not be suitable for some audiences.”
Graysen jerked up from where he’d been leaning against the armrest.
“You didn’t know she was in Boston, did you?” I asked quietly.
I barely glanced at the images on the wall, which showed the Super Mags looting stores and using their magic against anyone who got in their way.
Gray shook his head.
“Wait a second,” Yutika said, squinting at us. “Don’t tell me you know Rebecca Greenthorn. As in the Rebecca Greenthorn.”
I looked down at the floor.
“Um.” Gray scratched the back of his neck. “She’s kind of my mom. I mean, she is my mom.”
Yutika’s jaw hit the floor.
“What’s it to you?” Smith asked her.
“What’s it to me?” she squeaked. “Rebecca Greenthorn is one of my idols. She’s amazing. Have you ever seen that photo she got of the Moscow Slaughters?”
“Everyone knows about that photo,” Bri said.
Yutika smacked Gray’s arm. “Why are you just telling us this?”
“I’ve only met her once,” Gray replied. “My family isn’t very close, in case you missed that memo.”
“Nope, we got that loud and clear tonight,” A.J. said.
A little shudder went through me at the memory of what was already feeling like a bad dream.
“Oh.” Yutika gave Graysen a bashful grin. “Right, then. I guess as of this minute, I’m no longer Rebecca Greenthorn’s biggest fan.”
“Anyway,” I said, because I could sense Gray’s discomfort. “What’s the point of all of this?”
“If you’ll all shut up for two seconds, you’ll see,” Smith grumbled.
We turned our attention back to the news clip on the wall, which was still playing.
“The situation is escalating,” the NBC anchor said into the camera. She paused, frowned, and pressed her fingers to her ear. “Folks, we’re getting word that one of our reporters on the ground is with Valencia Stark, leader of the UnAllied. Becky, to you.”
The camera shifted to reveal Valencia. I clenched my fists at the sight of her.
Before the reporter could speak, Valencia grabbed the microphone out of her hand.
“Sup-ah Mags,” she said, her voice coming out breathy and a little garbled from how close she was to the mike. “I want to invite all of you to join with the UnAllied. We’re all living in a world that’s stacked against Mags. We’ll help you take your revenge on the monst-ahs who hurt you. Join with me, and togeth-ah, we’ll destroy the Nats who are trying to take away our magic.
“Down with the Nats. Down with the Alliance!”
“Ho-ly crap,” Bri said as soon as the image went dark. “If the Super Mags join her, she’ll be unstoppable.”
“Those Super Mags are just kids,” I said, furious.
“Kids with nowhere to go and no one to protect them,” Michael said. “And she’s offering them a sense of belonging.”
“So did we,” Yutika pointed out. “They turned us down.”
Uncertainty filled me. Maybe if I’d tried harder to convince them to come with us, we would have saved the entire city from this looming disaster.
“Yeah, but we weren’t going to let them destroy Boston,” Bri pointed out. “Valencia will.”
“We’ve got to stop the Wicked Witch of the West once and for all,” A.J. declared.
“How are we supposed to do that?” Smith asked. “Pruwist hasn’t done shit about her, and the Enforcers have only managed to arrest a handful of them. And if the Super Mags are on her side….”
I didn’t even want to think about that. Valencia would use the Super Mags’ anger about their imprisonment to turn them into killers. She would hone every violent tendency they had until they were nothing but mindless weapons.
“The Super Mags aren’t on her side yet,” I reminded him, trying to stave off my own growing unease.
“Don’t forget about Pruwist slandering your good names and implying you’re cowards,” A.J. said. “As your publicist, I can’t allow that kind of talk to go unpunished.”
“I thought you were our campaign manager,” Gray said.
“Who says I can’t be both?” A.J. challenged.
I shook my head. Compared to everything else, my reputation was the least of my worries.
“Kaira.” Smith glanced up from his screen.
The look on his face made my stomach plummet.
“The Alliance’s legal team just put together a court summons for you. I’m not sure where they’re planning to send it since your current residence is unknown, but you’re going to have to appear in court for breaking the second high law.”
My throat went dry.
“When?” Graysen demanded.
Smith’s gaze darted everywhere around the room except on me. “The day after tomorrow.”
Gray turned to me. “Time for us to go on a permanent vacation?”
The determination in his eyes warmed me to my core. I knew then that he’d throw away his future in Boston for my sake and never look back.
I glanced around at my friends, who were staring at me in expectation of whatever I might say. Boston was their home. Smith, Bri, and Yutika’s families were here.
My family was here. After what Ma and Grandma had gone through to get all of us to Boston, I knew they’d never leave.
“No,” I said into the silence that had fallen. “This city is our home.” I looked at Gray. “We’re not going to run.”
“There’s no way we can fight the second high law as unelected citizens,” Gray said. “Our best chance was to win the election, but even if that happens, it’ll come a month
too late.”
“And don’t forget about the fact that Valencia has a price on your heads,” Yutika reminded us. “That’s going to make campaigning a tad more dangerous.”
“We have too many enemies and not enough time,” Bri groaned. “I just wish there was some way to get all of them together in one room.”
“Ooh,” A.J. said. “We could host an enemy party. Everyone will come, and Bri will kick their honey buns.”
“An enemy party?” Michael raised an eyebrow. “How exactly do you plan on doing that?”
“It was a joke, chuckles.” A.J. rolled his eyes.
“Actually,” Gray held up a finger, “that’s not a bad idea.”
“You’re serious?” I gaped at him.
“Not exactly about the party,” he replied. “But if we could somehow have an event big enough to capture the entire city’s attention, all our enemies would be bound to show up.”
“It’d have to be something pretty spectacular,” Yutika said. “Everyone’s terrified to leave their houses. They won’t come out to someplace where all the bad guys are going to show unless it’s totally worth it.”
Everyone went silent while we thought about what kind of an event might tick off those boxes.
All at once, the solution presented itself to me. I laughed.
“How about the first Mag-Nat wedding in history?”
Everyone stared at me.
“Kai,” Gray choked. “We can’t use our wedding as bad guy bait.”
“Think about it,” I insisted. “Being married is the important part. The wedding is just a bonus.”
The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea.
“It would certainly make for a short engagement,” Yutika said, grinning.
“Ohmygosh.” A.J. fanned his face. “We’d have to deal with flowers, food, linens—”
“Seriously?” Smith scoffed. “We’re going to have the UnAllied and Subject 6 in one place, and you’re worried about linens?”
“They’re very important,” A.J. huffed. He tilted his head in thought. “Sir Zachary will be the ring-bearer, of course. I never liked those gendered groomsmen-bridesmaid parties, so we’ll all just be up there together like the big happy family we are.”
“A.J., take a breath,” Bri said, but he was on too much of a roll to pay attention to her.
Mags & Nats 3-Book Box Set Page 64
