The text blurs and I barely process it before Constance sighs dramatically.
“We have been exceedingly patient,” she says, placing a hand over her chest. “That isn’t generosity.”
Porter scoffs. “Youlied.”
Lorraine only shrugs. “We waited.”
Zane steps forward, his entire body buzzing like a live wire ready to burn. “For what?” he snaps.
But their gazes shift.
Not to Porter. Or Zane.
Not even to me.
No, the women all turn toward the door that swings open, my stomach dropping as a chill fills the air, freezing the room.
Levi pushes through the door, damp hair plastered to his forehead, determination blazing despite the exhaustion in his posture. His shoulders are set, expression firm, like he’s ready to fight. Who and why, I don’t know.
But then…he sees us.
Confusion disrupts the determined set of his jaw, his brows knitting tightly as he takes in our tense formation. “Hayden? What…are you guys doing here?”
I’m at his side instantly, hand half raised…aching to touch or steady him. But I hesitate, caught between instinct and uncertainty. “We’re just addressing a family matter.” The words tumble out of my mouth before I can really stop myself. “Why don’t we go outside and let Zane and Porter handle this.”
My attempt collapses as Levi steps defiantly past me, hugging a folder to his chest. “No, Hayden, I…I can’t leave.”
He puts himself right in the Fates’ line of fire and I fight every urge to yank him away, wrapping him in my shadows, dragging him away from this mess. Not because they’ll hurt him, but because the moment he stands here, my two worlds collide. Mortal and immortal. Past and present. And the Fates? They never miss a chance to twist the threads of anyone who crosses their path.
“Excuse me,” he says, voice drained. “I need to speak to whoever pulled Stonevale’s garden funding.”
Zane, who’s never met a moment he couldn’t make worse, smirks. “Yeah…good luck with that.”
If I could banish my brother directly to the darkest depths of the underworld at this exact moment, I wouldn’t hesitate. Levi looks in his direction, momentarily distracted, but continues.
“My name is Levi Wilder. I got a call earlier about my funding…” But his voice trails off. He takes a deep breath, shoulders high. “…being abruptly revoked,” Levi finishes quietly, visibly struggling beneath his composure.
The second Levi says “funding abruptly revoked,” my shadows react before I do. The temperature in the room drops, the air charged with something volatile. What little patience I had remaining, thin and fraying, finally snaps.
“What did you do?” I say, spinning sharply toward the three beings who’ve crossed me for the last time, my voice raw and edged with fury. My shadows ripple outward, curling like smoke, feeding on the wrath under my skin.
Constance doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even blink, but Lorraine and Agnes exchange a glance.
My chest contracts painfully, shadows surging forward with barely contained menace. Straining against every ounce of control I have left. “This hasnothingto do with him.”
Agnes’s lips curve into a small, knowing smile. “Are you certain about that?”
Levi lays a hand on my back. “Hayden, what the fuck is going on?”
I don’t answer because my glare is locked on them.
“You want to toy with me for another century?” I spit through gritted teeth, rage laced within each word. Porter is at my side, a cautionary hand on my arm, but I shrug him off. “I don’t care. Ruin this mortal existence as you please. But you leavehimout ofthis,” I growl, a protective instinct crackling dangerously through my shadows.
Even Zane, reckless on his best day, issues his version of a warning. “Careful, brother.”
“We all have our roles to play, old friend,” Lorraine says. “Levi here is no exception.”
I can tell the way she says it puts Levi on edge. His eyes flick from the women sitting across from us over to Zane and Porter. Then back to me. “Wait,” he says, coming to stand between me and the counter. “You knowthem?”
