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Lia scoffed, joining us along with Markus. “Or it’ll be the other way around. It’s not as if we’re just any ordinary help.”
Ryder grimaced. “You’re right about that.”
I pulled Grayson toward the door, moving past Ryder. “Let’s go, then.”
We walked as a group of five toward the center of town. A first for me since arriving. As we continued, everything looked the same. More rundown buildings, more graffiti, broken glass in the streets, and scorch marks from past fires or spells being thrown at structures.
I knew then that, once the people of the House accepted me, the first thing I wanted to do was clean up the chaos—literally. The streets shouldn’t have cracks in them, and the buildings should all be livable by at least basic standards.
A distaste for my sperm donor gathered inside me. I’d never met the man, and I’d been devastated about that for many years, but not any longer.
From the sounds of it, I wouldn’t have ever wanted to be influenced by Mathis’s selfishness or tyranny. Though I did still wonder about my mother.
Was she still alive? Why hadn’t she kept me with her? Did she still live here in Fire and Fluorite? So many questions, and there wasn’t a single place I could think to start looking for answers without going back to the coven.
Going back was something I didn’t want to do. It seemed stupid, considering all the changes I’d gone through, but after waiting twenty-eight years to escape that place…going back seemed more daunting than fighting for the Alpha Supreme position.
Maybe I could conquer those fears once this was all over. Not only for myself, but for my mother. I didn’t want to believe that she’d hidden me for any other reason than to protect me.
Though, there was nothing that I could do about those thoughts at the moment. I pushed them to the dark corners of my mind to worry about another day and focused on the streets again.
More people were out this time. I wasn’t sure if that was because of the section we were in or because it was nighttime or maybe a combination of both.
There seemed to be some sort of club or bar up ahead where most people were gathered. “Which faction are we in?” I asked Ryder quietly.
“None,” he answered. “The center of town is open to all who want to come. That’s why I came here first. The people who haven’t chosen a side between the three factions deserve to know who you are as well.”
Ryder really was a good leader and shifter. He wasn’t an alpha by any means, but he was smart, and that went a long way. I could see why he’d chosen to start his faction, but I was also certain that if we hadn’t shown up, he might not have been leading for as long as it would have taken to make things right within Fire and Fluorite.
A group of young guys came stumbling out of the bar. One of them was shouting and laughing but barely staying upright.
We paused, and I watched them intently, curious why anyone would choose to indulge in something so heavily that it hindered their ability to keep themselves alive.
The intoxicated blond pointed at us, his hand unable to stay still as he leaned against one of his friends. “Yo, Ryder. How goes it, man? Did you bring me and my boys some presents?”
His brows waggled, and I nearly vomited in my mouth.
Grayson’s chest rumbled, but Markus grabbed his arm. “Let Kinsley handle this,” he whispered.
The blond held a hand over his eyes. “Is that you, Markus? What the fuck is your pathetic ass doing here?”
The three guys behind him snickered, then Ryder nodded his head at me. It was showtime.
I sauntered forward, pretending to be facetious. “He’s here showing me around,” I said softly.
His light-green eyes trailed over my body that was thankfully clothed in flexible jeans, a T-shirt, and combat boots. Perfect fighting attire while also trying to blend in.
“Well, sweetheart,” he drawled, “I could show you a much better time.”
I was within reaching distance of the guy and was tempted to just punch him in the balls like he deserved, but instead, I reached up, acting as if I was about to gently stroke the side of his face before I changed directions and tightly grabbed the back of his neck.
Using his inebriation against him, I jerked him forward, letting my knee meet his face before I bent down and spoke sternly in his ear. “Don’t ever fucking call me ‘sweetheart’ again.”
I threw him onto the dirty road and backed up as the shifter began to throw up. “Pathetic,” I said, then I glanced at his friends. “Does anyone else want to show me a good time?”
They shook their heads, then abandoned the dumbass now lying in his own bodily fluids.
I moved to rejoin Grayson’s side since I knew he wouldn’t be too happy, but when I was only half-turned, a voice called out.
