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“Let him go,” Dove says. Sawyer stares at her, as if trying to fathom who put her in charge.
For a moment no one speaks or moves. Cade watches Dove intently and I wish I knew what was going on in his head. It surprises the hell out of me when he nods at his brother.
“Do it,” Cade commands after a moment.
Dove’s expression softens at the trust he places in her, but the tension ramps up between us as Sawyer hesitates. I can imagine what he’s thinking. He doesn't want to lose our only leverage, but we killed two of their guys. We need to compromise somehow.
Sawyer scowls and unlatches his hand from Ayden, who glares at him before walking over to his coven. I ready myself in case they decide to attack, but no one moves.
Ayden steps up to the guy in charge, and their eyes lock for a moment before he turns back to us.
“My name’s Callum. My coven and I have been following you for a while now, hearing rumors about the strength of your females. I’m hoping those were not exaggerated.”
“And what would you do with that strength?” Hester demands.
Callum turns his attention toward Hester, his eyes narrowing for a moment before I scent the burning smell of his power.
“Your magic is different.”
“Magic is magic,” Hester counters.
“We both know that is not true.”
What does that mean?
Dove glances at me, and I can see she’s just as perplexed. Why is Hester’s magic different, and in what way?
“You didn’t drag your ass all the way out here to talk about power differences,” Apryle says from Hester’s side. “Get to the point.”
“The Order has a disdain for our kind, and yet they collect hybrids, keeping them locked away in their white rooms.” His expression is almost conspiratorial as he continues. “Don’t you think it’s ironic that the very beings they have worked so hard to destroy over the years are now the ones they want to use to build their army?”
“Why are they breeding an army?” Sawyer demands. “For what purpose?”
“I don’t know, but I sure as fuck intend to find out.”
“Male tau are corrupted abominations,” Hester says. “Why the hell should we trust anything you say?”
“Do I seem corrupted by magic?” His hands raise at his sides in challenge. “I’ve spent years honing my gift, learning to control every aspect of the power that beats inside me.”
“Others haven’t.”
“No, but they’ve never been taught how to wield their power either. Witches are born into covens; they are shown from their first manifestation how to use their magic. Without guidance, some can be driven to insanity. That’s just one of many things my group—my coven—wants to put a stop to. I believe all hybrids should have the same opportunity to flourish as our witch cousins.” His eyes slide in Dove’s direction, and I stiffen, disliking his attention on my girl. “The mind is a fragile thing, and sometimes the magic we possess can be more dangerous than we expect. It takes discipline and practice to use it safely. Your coven is powerful, but I feel how uncontrolled you all are. I can help with that.”
“Pass,” Halle mutters. “We’re doing fine on our own.”
The smile that clings to his lips isn’t comforting. If anything, it's a little sarcastic. “I can see that. It must feel peaceful hiding out in the mountains, relying on wards to keep out your enemies, but as you can see, they’re not that effective. Ayden, who has only a few years of training, could take you all out.”
“Did you come here to point out our failings?” Halle asks.
“No, I came here because we are all fighting a losing battle. I hoped that we could work together, but your hostility makes that improbable.”
“Everyone is just scared,” Dove says in her sweet, soft voice. When she steps toward them, I grip her arm, holding her back. No way in hell am I letting her get closer. “We have lived in fear for so long. Do you blame us for not trusting you at first sight?”
Dove’s words seem to calm him a little, and he now addresses her in a softer tone. “Perhaps we are to blame for our approach, but there can be no more killing of our people, understood?”
No one agrees or disagrees, and silence hangs in the air. “They took my sister,” Beck says, and the pain in his eyes isn’t something that can be feigned. “She was eighteen years old when she was snatched.”
“My cousin and I were running,” another guy offers. “We’re both tau, but when we didn’t shift on our first moon ceremony, our pack lost its shit. We made it a week before hunters caught us.” He breaks off, his face contorting as he struggles to control his emotions. “They dragged her out of the motel room we’d rented for the night. I was getting food for us, and when I got back, she was gone. I can’t even think about what they might be doing to her, because if I do, I will lose my mind.”
