Aaron cringes. “I zapped her hand.”
“And he threw fireballs at her,” I add.
Aaron turns to me and I shrug. He should have known I wasn’t going to cover for him on that one. My tail flicks behind me and I give him my most innocent face.
“Well, damn. Yes, I lost control.” He runs a hand over his face. “I thought I was going to lose Mara.”
Kade laughs. “Well, that doesn’t absolve you from the law. When this is over, you’re mopping the sheriff’s station floors for a month.”
Aaron groans. “Damn.”
My tail sways behind me and I bite my lip to keep from laughing. The most powerful warlock on the island, sentenced to mopping floors. My lion purrs because she finds it hilarious.
Kade holds her hand up. “Shall we make it two months?”
Aaron rolls his eyes. “Fine.”
He opens a portal, the blue-gold light splitting the air beside us, and looks back at Kade. “Thank you. For helping me.”
Kade shrugs. “Whatever. I’m always here if you need me.”
Leah leans into Kade and Kade wraps her arms around her. I watch them—Kade’s chin on Leah’s head, eyes closed—and my lion rumbles low inside me. They almost lost each other. And they’re still here, still holding on.
Aaron steps through the portal and pulls me with him. It closes behind us and the smoke and burnt timber smell drops away, replaced by warm cedar and old paper. The corridor outside the Conjuring Hall is quiet.
“Well,” Aaron says. “Let’s go talk to my mother. I need to figure out how to fix this.”
His hand tightens around mine and I squeeze back.
“What will happen if Eric gets ahold of dark magic again?” I ask.
Aaron goes quiet. “I don’t know. But I promise you, it’s not good if he does. He’s been playing the long game.”
My breath catches. Tiana said the same thing in the classroom.
Aaron grabs my hand and walks me toward the doors of the Conjuring Hall. My lion presses against me and I let her settlethere, warm and watchful, because I’m already making plans of my own.
When we find Eric, I’m going to personally rip him apart for hurting my mate and for being a terrible father. He put his hands on Aaron. That’s all I need to know.
My lion sways in approval. She and I are in complete agreement on this one.
24
Aaron
My mother is pacing the lower floor of the Conjuring Hall when Mara and I walk in, muttering something in frustration under her breath.
Amir stands near the center of the room with his hands clasped behind his back, tracking my mother’s movement. Jacob is beside him, his arms folded. Tiana is standing near the far wall with Kiara and Samara, and Damon is leaned against the pillar closest to the stairs. Seth is next to Jacob, quiet, holding himself stiff.
“How the hell didn’t I see this coming?” My mother stops mid-stride and throws her hands up. “Goddamn Eric using my son to get out of the Glen.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Angie...” Amir starts.
She whips around and glares at him. “Oh please. You of all people with your stupid judgment.”
“I was not judging, Angie.”
She cuts him off before he finishes. “I have a bone to pick with you.”
