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There it is, the low blow that stings every time I hear it. It’s the name I share with the woman who nearly destroyed supernaturals. My face goes hot and my eyes burn. I keep my chin up. There’s no way Charity gets to watch me crack over my own name.

I’m about to answer her when the door flies open and slams into the wall. Ezra walks in with his scent scorching, and my mouth goes dry. Oh shit.

Every line of his face is locked down. “What did you call my mate?” he asks.

Charity spins around. “Just some girl chat,” she squeaks.

Sirena comes in behind him. Claude stops in the doorway with her hand on the frame. “Ezra, stop,” she warns.

Smoke trails from Ezra’s nostrils. “Didn’t I tell you I was going to burn down your coven if I caught you messing with my mate?”

Sirena points at Charity. “Let me be your executioner.”

Charity’s friends ditch her and shove past Claude on their way out. “This one tormented your mate before you arrived,” Sirena tells Ezra.

I whirl on her. “Really, Sirena? I asked you—” I snap.

Sirena doesn’t even flinch. “My loyalty is to Stormscale. Not this witch.”

“Wish you would’ve stayed home, huh?” Claude teases.

I shoot Claude a glare. Now is not the time to be smug, but her green eyes are bright with it. I could scream.

My wolf is literally cheering this on. She wants out to give Charity what’s coming to her. It’s not helping matters. “No, let it go,” I tell Ezra.

He doesn’t take his eyes off Charity. “Let what go?”

Sirena’s gown swishes around her legs as she moves closer. “I will take care of her. Pull her into the waters, watch the life leave her body. Such an efficient execution.”

“Ezra!” I call out.

He grins at me before he answers Sirena. “That doesn’t sound too bad to me.”

Sirena takes that as a yes and goes after Charity, who backs toward the stalls. The restroom stinks of her fear.

“All right, Ezra, that’s enough,” Claude says.

Ezra cuts his eyes at his mother. “No.”

He’s scary. He’s very fucking scary. My wolf whimpers, and even Claude pulls back.

“Some things I’m not just going to turn a blind eye to,” he warns. “Aya is one. You and my father are others. You fuck with what means most to me, you gotta go.”

“All right, Ezra, point made,” I beg. “Tell her to stop.”

Charity raises her hands with magic sparking between her fingers. It crackles, and the hair on my arms stands on end. She flings a bolt of it at Sirena that would knock anyone else off their feet.

But Sirena puts her hand up. The blast ricochets right off her and throws Charity into the stall door. The metal dents behind her with a bang. She hits the floor with a cry of pain.

When Sirena moves in, I step over Charity and plant myself between them. Mother Fate, I can’t believe I’m doing this for Charity. “You have to go through me to get her,” I growl. My canines drop as my wolf surges up.

Angie storms through the doorway smelling of hot grease. “What the hell is going on?” She takes in Charity on the floor and glares at Sirena. “Is the fish woman biting again?”

Sirena keeps her focus on me. “This woman berated you unprovoked many times, yet you spare her life. It is weak of you.”

I stay put in front of Charity. My wolf doesn’t budge either.

“Ezra, tell her to stand down,” Claude says.