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I rolled my eyes. “Even if I couldn’t feel your high levels of anxiety through our bond, I can recognize when you both go all stony-faced. I’ve known you several years now. So spill it.”
Whateveritwas.
Shea spilled it without any more dramatic pauses. “Miriam Rosen received a tip from someone high-placed among her father’s Spellbinders that claims this goes way beyond a simple rogue group of enemies trying to start a new War of Succession.”
I pursed my lips. “Something all four of us already suspected.”
None of them denied that. Shea pressed onward, “Her informant claimed that the person who ordered these assassinations was Muriel Sheridan.”
The only names that could have shocked me more in that moment would have been those of my parents. For all of mymanydifferences with my grandmother, Kayleigh had always been her golden child. The perfectly obedient granddaughter who always put Muriel in impeccably good light. Something that was of utmost importance to our grandmother. Beyond that, she valued family and loyalty above all other things. Well, except for power.
Finn’s expression soured when Shea spoke my grandmother’s name, but he watched me absorb the information silently.
I kept my voice neutral when finally responding. “As much as I’ve always resented my grandmother and her highhanded ways, not to mention her questionable tactics, I find that claim extremely hard to believe.” I rushed to continue when I saw Finn’s scowl grow even darker. “I know firsthand how ruthless Muriel Sheridan can be, but she genuinelyloves—” I swallowed back a lump of grief. “—I mean genuinelylovedKayleigh. More than she loves my mother andfarmore than she could ever love me.”
All three of them started to open their mouths with angry looks, but I raised a hand. “I’m not saying that because I feel sorry for myself or want pity. It’s mere fact. Grandmother values power and control first, but family and loyalty come a close second. Kayleigh represented all four of those things to Grandmother. She was powerful, she worked tirelessly to further the Circle’s control over St. Louis as its Beacon, and she was certainly Grandmother’s most loyal family member. Sometimes to the detriment of our sisterly relationship.”
There was a moment of silence as they pondered my words. Shea was the one to break it first. “Even if we take your words at face value—and I’m not questioning their validity—you said it yourself. Muriel Sheridan values power and control first, and those others second. What if someone or something put her power and control over the Circle at risk? Do you really think she wouldn’t sacrifice anything—or anyone—to maintain that?”
My palms grew slick with sweat as my thoughts naturally went where he intended. To an event that had nearly driven an impenetrable wedge between Grandmother and my favorite aunt: The fact my Grandmother alreadyhadsacrificed someone she loved above all others to gain her seat of power in Boston decades ago.
My Grandfather Patrick.
SHEA
My hand dropped from Ava’s shoulder. By her swiftly drawn breath and deeply furrowed brows, I knew she was at least considering the possibility of my words. Which was really all I asked from anyone. I’d known this would be a painful thing for her to hear, even given the tumultuous nature of her relationship with Muriel Sheridan. She may have often called her “Dragon Lady” the way the rest of us did, but that was still her grandmother.
Connor released his own hold on Ava’s shoulder and turned his gaze my way. “Let’s say for argument’s sake that Murieldidorder this assassination. Why now? What could she possibly stand to gain from it? Even if someonewerethreatening her power base in Boston.”
Ava let out another gasp, and all our eyes zeroed in on her.
Finn appeared to draw Ava even closer before asking the next logical question. “Is there something she wants even more than power and control?”
Ava bit her lip, an action that would have distracted me under other circumstances, and the color evaporated from her face. “She’s obsessed with leaving a lasting legacy of magic. With me carrying on in her footsteps.”
I shifted my weight uneasily. “I don’t understand. It’s true that you’re every bit as powerful a Radiant as your grandmother. But so was Kayleigh.”
If possible, Ava’s skin grew even paler. “Yes but...Grandmother thinks that I may have inherited herothermagical ability.”
Connor and Finn frowned in confusion, but awareness tingled along my skin. My brothers had never paid as much attention to politics—or magical history—as I had.
“Oh holy hell,” I breathed.
Ava’s gaze locked on mine, and her body stiffened. She clearly expected me to lash out at her much the way my middle brother had on New Year’s Day. Which was why I deliberately stepped closer to her and returned my hand to her shoulder. An act that had her lips trembling and tears welling in those violet eyes I found so captivating.
A sudden check of my smartwatch had me letting out a quick curse before regrouping. “We’ll have to discuss this more later. I told the detectives we needed to confirm with you first, and if you agreed, we’d allow them to conduct an investigation of their own alongside ours. With ours of course taking precedence.”
She took in a few steadying breaths, managing to fight back those tears when I failed to reject her as expected. Her temporary confusion was replaced by renewed determination. “Then I recommend we wrap this up as quickly as possible. We need to get those who are injured to the actual infirmary ASAP. And I won’t feel settled until we get the girls back where they belong.”
Finn frowned. “Here at the Manor?”
“No. Back withus, where I know they’ll be safe.”
Something I was much less likely to question now that she’d revealed—okay, more like hinted—the reason why her grandmother wassodetermined to bring her eldest granddaughter to heel.
“Damn right,” Finn growled at the same time Connor said, “Hell yes.”
My lips twitched, but we’d have time to indulge in humor later.Afterthe girls were safely back at our sides.
