"I'm sorry, Lexie," Nicole said.
"There has to be an explanation for this," I said, pushing myself to stand even though every piece of me protested it. With the help of Marie and Nicole, I hobbled over to where Gavon was talking with the members of his council. He looked…devastated.
"…women have testified that James was the one who took them," he said. "There were traces of his magic on all the locks around Master Cyrus' house."
This couldn't be happening. My brain refused to believe this was happening. Cyrus had been lying about it; this was some elaborate ploy to nail both of us, or to…
My doubts died when I finally looked at James. There was no remorse on his face, only anger.
My knees buckled under me, and I was grateful for my sisters' arms.
"Guildmaster McKinnon," wheezed an old man with a long beard. "Let the boy speak on his behalf."
With a sigh, Gavon waved his hand and the gag around James' mouth disappeared. He straightened his shoulders and spoke clearly. "I am guilty of the charges against me."
The air left my lungs.
"I took the potion-maker and the healer so Carrigan would think that they had been taken by Master Cyrus." He spoke evenly, staring at Gavon without emotion. Just matter-of-fact. "After sparring with her for several months, I was sure she would be able to kill him."
"But why, James?" Gavon asked.
Gone was the boy I'd sparred with. Fallen in love with. All that remained was a cold shell. "Cyrus has a history of devious behavior that suits him instead of the Guild. I wanted him taken care of."
"And so you took it upon yourself to endanger our Guild by inviting the wrath of Clan Carrigan upon us?" Gavon displayed no affection in my direction, but for the first time, I noticed him holding back. Showing real emotion while saying something different. He really was a master of deception.
"She is out of the clan—"
"She is the Clan Carrigan I'm worried about," Gavon responded. "I don't have to remind you that Warriors are in short supply around here. By all accounts, she could kill half our village before any of us could stop her."
I would've argued with Gavon that that was impossible with my current injuries, but my brain was too focused on James. He had to be lying, right? This had to be some thinly veiled code I was missing, but unlike when Cyrus and Gavon had spoken before, Gavon seemed oblivious to whatever James was trying to tell him.
Other than the words coming out of his mouth.
"Guildmaster, might I remind you that the woman in question stands not ten feet from us?" wheezed the old man.
Gavon's attention turned to my sisters and me, and I could've sworn a sparkle appeared in his eye. "Unless you plan to launch an attack on us where we stand, please feel free to vacate our world."
"C'mon," Marie said, grabbing both Nicole and I and enveloping us in her white healing magic.
Twenty-Seven
I slumped onto the couch, feeling every bruise and ache as acutely as the pain in my heart. I'd thought I'd been idiotic before, but now…now I wanted to die.
How could I have been so stupid? How could sweet words and the promise of true love have taken me so far from my sanity? I was smarter than this. I was so much smarter than this.
"Lexie…" Marie started. "We're okay. He didn't hurt us."
He couldn't, not under the edict. I wasn't sure how he'd managed to get around that particular note, but perhaps if he wasn't out to harm them, he could've simply taken them. In the end, it didn't matter. He'd played me, and there was nobody to blame but myself.
"I knew you'd come for us," Nicole said. "Lexie, you were incredible out there. I've never seen you look so…so…"
"Fierce," Marie finished for her. "Girl, those sparring sessions have been paying off."
I closed my eyes, gently batting away the painful memories that popped up. "Did you erect a new barrier around the apartment?"
"Yes, I did," Marie said quietly. "Dad said it was a good idea, even with the edict."
"But I'm sure he must've come into the house before she put it up," Nicole said.
All I could do was shake my head, resulting in a loud sigh from Marie.
"You slept with him, didn't you?"
Closing my eyes, I nodded. The twin groans were barely audible. I cracked open an eye to survey the damage. Marie was shaking her head, and Nicole's mouth was pressed into a firm line. Apparently, Marie had gotten her up to speed on my feelings for James.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, tears gathering in my eyes. "I should've known better. I did know better. But Gavon…and it didn't seem like…" I buried my head into my hands. I didn't really know what to say or even what to think. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't even look at my sisters.
The couch dipped beside me as an arm draped over my shoulders. "I think I've got it, Marie," Nicole said.
"You sure? I could talk about my dumbass decisions with men over the past few years."
"Then we'd be here for hours."
"Bitch," Marie said, but there was no fire in it. "Lexie, I'm here if you want to talk."
"Could you…stay?" I said, lifting my head. "I don't want Cyrus…"
"I doubt Cyrus is going to be moving any time soon," Marie said. "You beat the shit out of him."
"But James—"
"Dad will take care of James," Marie said, and Nicole stiffened beside me. "Just like he came to get us. Besides, you aren't the only one who knows how to put together a barrier spell." She smiled at me. "Come visit this weekend, okay?"
I nodded and she was gone in a puff of white and I missed her instantly. Somehow, dismantling the web of lies was easier with her in the room.
"I'm sorry," I whispered to the silent room. "For everything. For what I said. For lying. For getting you…" I sniffed. "I'm just sorry."
"I'm sorry, too," Nicole replied, brushing the hair off my face. "I shouldn't have lied, and I shouldn't have…I shouldn't have acted like I didn't want you to go to Georgetown. I want you to go, Lexie."
"I won't go," I said, sniffing back my tears. "I don't deserve to, not after what I've done."
"You deserve to go precisely for what you've done. You've punished yourself for two years for Jeanie's death. It's enough."
I screwed up my face and released a sob. The long hours, the work, cleaning dog stalls and working with mean parents. I'd said it was for Georgetown, but it was really my punishment. I had been responsible for Jeanie's death, the same way I was responsible for letting another monster into my life. In some sick ironic twist, I'd been drawn to James because he was an escape from the self-punishment.
"Ssh," Nicole cooed as I laid my head in her lap. "You don't need to punish yourself anymore. Jeanie would want you to go to Georgetown. I want you to go. You have to live your life sometime, Lexie. You may be a Warrior, but you aren't the adult here. Not yet anyway."
"But I have to protect you guys—"
"No, you don't," Nicole said softly. "That's not your job."
"Then whose is it? Nicole, you couldn't do anything against Cyrus…no offense," I added quickly before she could overreact.
"Fine," she said with a resolute shake of her head. "But that doesn't mean whatever the problems are, we can't work them out together. You should've told me about James sooner." She closed her eyes as I winced. "That's the boy you've been telling me about. The one who burned you. The one who…" She sighed. "Crafty bitch."
"I thought if I told you, you'd just flip out, and you already had enough to worry about. Besides, I had a handle on him."
"So I hear," Nicole said with a smirk.
My face grew bright red, and I fought between embarrassment and despair. "Don't start."
"I will wait until you're recovered from your heartbreak to give you the proper amount of shit for your horrible romantic decision-making."
I wanted to smile, but the reminder of what James had done drew me lower. "I fought so hard not to like him. But he was really good at lying to me."
"Now do
you see why I didn't want Gavon around?" Nicole said, taking my hand. "I didn't want to see you get hurt again."
"Gavon and James aren't the same person. Gavon genuinely cares about us—"
"Does he?"
"When I told him that Cyrus…James, I guess, had taken you, he sprang into action. He's been giving you money and honoring your wishes to stay out of my life, and…" Well, if we were being honest… "And also he bailed me out of jail a few months ago."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"James and I happened upon a magical library, but apparently, we were trespassing. Gavon got tipped off and got both of us out with a warning." I picked at my hands. "He was really…disappointed in me. Gave me a lecture about Georgetown and my future and…well…" A warning that James was not to be trusted. That he was a bad influence. If only I'd listened instead of falling deeper in love with him.
"Lexie, I swear…" Nicole mumbled into her hands. "You got really lucky."
"I know," I said. "Trust me, I refused any magical mischief after that. I mean…" I swallowed. "Besides the obvious lapse in judgement. But James… Nicole, I swear to you, it was like he really cared about me. He helped me find Marie…" I closed my eyes in a wince. "Yeah, brilliant job, Lexie. Led him right to her."
"And I'm sorry I made you feel like you had to use magic to find her," Nicole said. "I'm just…I'm sorry. Can we start over? Before you run off to college halfway across the country?"
I half-smiled. "I'm only a transport spell away."
Nicole shook her head. "It's not the same, Lexie. I've looked after you for seventeen years. What am I supposed to do now that you're gone?"
I stared at her like I was seeing her for the first time. I'd been too wrapped up in trying to get away from her that I'd never stopped long enough to wonder why Nicole was so clingy.
"I'm not gone yet," I said, softly.
"I just want things to go back to the way they used to be," Nicole said. "When you and I were on the same side. Ever since Jeanie died, you've been pulling away."
"You've been pulling away, too," I said with a frown. "I want to be honest, but I don't want you to overreact every time I mention Gavon. Or magic."
"I'll work on it, but it's going to take some time." Nicole sighed, then smiled. "How about this: First thing in the morning, you and I can go to this stupid bank Gavon's got and withdraw the money so you can pay for Georgetown."
I smiled. "Really?"
"How much do you need?"
"Twenty-five thousand."
Nicole exhaled loudly. "Per year?"
"Um…per semester?"
"Good night," Nicole wheezed. "Well, if it's what you want, I'll figure out a way to—"
Someone rapped on the door.
I froze and grabbed Nicole's arm. Cyrus wasn't known to knock, but I wasn't taking any chances. Not anymore. "Nicole, I'm going to send you to Marie's. I want you to find Gavon and bring him here as quickly as possible. I can hold him off for a bit—"
"Lexie, I don't—"
"Trust me," I said, steeling myself. "I can handle him."
I gathered magic in my hand and readied myself. Then, inhaling, I swung open the door and fired.
"Whoa!"
The man standing at the door was definitely not Cyrus, and definitely not magical. The oil stains on his blue jumpsuit were clue enough, but the patch on his shirt told me he was a mechanic from the car shop Nicole had been fighting with. I lowered my hand and scanned his face—he was younger than I'd thought, though the wide-eyed terror made him look more innocent than he probably was.
"What…the hell…was that…?" he asked.
"Uh…firecracker?" I squeaked, quickly squashing the magic in my hand.
"Y-you!" Nicole appeared at my shoulder, although she looked much angrier than me or the mechanic. "You have a lot of nerve showing up here."
"I know, and I'm sorry," he stammered. "Look, I have a confession. I've been messing with your car."
Nicole took a step back and blinked. "You—"
"I thought you were really pretty, but I just never got the courage to say anything. So I drove your car back here to ask you if…well…to give you your money back."
He handed her an oil-stained check along with her keys, which Nicole took lightly. She stared at the check then the mechanic, and then back again. "Uh…if you drove my car here, how are you going to get back to your shop?"
"I…uh…" He scratched the back of his head. "I suppose I'll just walk."
"Nicole could drive you home," I offered, smiling as she gave me a frightened look. But I saw the surprise, and a bit of curiosity in her eyes, too. "Go on."
"But he…"
"I mean, it can't hurt to have a conversation with the guy," I said with a shrug. "I think I need to go for a walk anyway."
Nicole shook her head like she'd much rather I stayed, but I figured any guy who was willing to sabotage a car to be able to talk to my sister deserved some privacy.
I walked alone down the street, lost in my own thoughts. There were so many conflicting emotions. Relief that my sisters were safe, but morbid embarrassment that I'd been so completely blindsided. I'd been so careful, so sure of myself. I had overthought everything and still, I'd missed all the warning signs. It just made no sense to me, and yet again, I found myself questioning my own sanity. How could I have felt so strongly about something, only to have it blow up in my face again?
I glanced up at where my ambling had brought me and couldn't believe my eyes. I'd ended up in the park in my old neighborhood, the one where I'd first met Gavon. I hadn't been back here since before Jeanie had died, and seeing the old swing set brought forth a bittersweet nostalgia.
"Rough day?"
I pursed my lips. "When are you going to stop sneaking up on me?"
Gavon walked up beside me. "I announced my presence as magicals do. Perhaps you're the one not paying attention."
"Are you lecturing me again?" James once mentioned how tired he was of Gavon's lectures.
"More like checking up on you." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him give me the once over. "You should get Marie to heal you again. Or Nicole should brew more healing potions."
"I can brew my own potions, thank you."
We stood in silence for a moment, and as grateful as I was for Gavon finding my sisters, I couldn't be happy to see him.
"You should have let me kill him."
Gavon put his hands behind his back and stared into the darkness. "I should have killed him seventeen years ago. Please, place the burden where it is due."
"Well, you screwed up and can't, so you should've let me do it."
"Have you killed anyone before?" He finally turned to me, his piercing brown eyes making me uncomfortable. "Have you ever ended a life? It is no laughing matter, and not something you should take lightly."
He'd had this same conversation with James, and James had looked so haunted. Was that conversation a lie, too? "He deserves to die."
"But not by your hand."
"Well can you get on with it?" I snapped. "I'm tired of having to deal with him every few years." But the unspoken truth hung between us. James was the one who'd betrayed me this time. Cyrus might have pushed him, but…he'd confessed to the crime.
"I don't think you'll have to worry about him, or the Guild," Gavon said. "You terrified them, you know. Everyone knew you would have obliterated Cyrus had I not intervened. And you were still standing after. They would be foolish to try again."
"They were foolish already."
"James was foolish," he replied softly, and the bitterness was unmistakable. "I don't know…I have no idea what he was thinking. Or whether he was working with Cyrus, or on his own or…"
"So you had no idea."
"None. In fact, I was under the assumption the two of you were getting along well. He did not roll his eyes in disgust when I asked about you these past few weeks." The ghost of a smile lit his face, but it was tinged by sadness. "I only suppose that was a ruse for my benefit s
o I wouldn't suspect."
Something ached in the bottom of my chest as loss came roaring over me. This was different than when Jeanie had died. For her, I'd felt gratitude, familial love, and the loss had been one of a limb. A constant presence in my life. But with James, it was like losing a piece of my soul. My love for him was built on what I'd thought was a rock-solid foundation of friendship. I hadn't just lost my boyfriend, I'd lost my best friend. My only friend.
"James will no longer be a problem, but the rest of the Guild…I would prefer to have a more permanent solution." He procured a piece of parchment.
"What's that?" I said, trying not to look interested.
"A distance pact between your clan and my guild," Gavon said.
"M-my clan?" I said, blinking at him. "But you know I'm not—"
"You and your sisters," Gavon clarified. "Now I thought I'd leave it up to you to decide the distance. Does five miles sound like enough?"
"I don't understand," I said.
"We're signing a distance pact," Gavon said, looking up at me. "I assume you remember what a pact is? I'm afraid that my compendium on the subject seemed to have walked away earlier in the year."
I swallowed nervously and was reminded, painfully, of James. "You can have the book back."
"Oh, I don't need it." Gavon smiled. "I have too many books anyway."
"This pact, once I sign it…everyone in your Guild will be kept a minimum of five miles away from me and my family?" I asked.
Gavon nodded, transforming the parchment into a golden vortex. He procured a small knife out of thin air and pricked his index finger, a small drop of blood falling into the center.
I watched it glow and procured my own knife, looking at the vortex for a moment.
"Everyone in your Guild?" I asked, looking up at him with wide eyes.
He nodded.
"Forever?"
He nodded again, smiling slightly.
I clenched my jaw and pricked my finger, watching the blood ooze out. Closing my eyes, I reached out my finger, letting the blood drop. This was the last moment I might ever see Gavon, but I couldn't look at him. Couldn't bear to know that I'd permanently severed any relationship with the man who—
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