Page 35

Thirty-Five

“Evan wants us to think tomorrow night’s spell will take place at the altar in the Canyon Lands.

” Robin rested his forearms against the back of the chair at the head of the cellar tasting table, next to where Atlas sat, as far away from Mary and Icarus at the other end as possible.

The warlock might understand why Mary had killed his older brother, but he wasn’t ready to forgive her yet. Robin couldn’t blame him.

“Where’s it going down for real?” Jason asked from Atlas’s other side.

“La Purisima.”

Icarus dropped the sweater he was panic crocheting, the metal hooks clattering to the table, his forehead following suit as he thunked it against the weathered wood. “Fuck me.”

“Home sweet home,” Atlas singsonged, and Robin bit the inside of his cheek, fighting a grin. It was a cheap shot, but Atlas’s haughty poking at Icarus felt like the most normal thing in the world right then.

“But LP is full of humans,” Paris said, dampening the admittedly ill-timed humor. The medium was no doubt already contemplating the cleanup work, assuming they survived. He, Mac, and Liam would be busy for days.

“Like picking sacrifices off a tree,” Adam correctly assessed.

“It’s risky,” Abigail said. “The humans could turn on them.”

“Or on us,” Robin added.

“What happens when you don’t show up with Pati and Pax?” Jenn asked from Robin’s other side.

“We’ll call Evan and tell him I killed them.” Robin took the stack of printouts Atlas handed him and tossed them onto the table. Photos of a staged massacre. “I’ll tell Evan what he thinks he already knows. That I’m a traitor.”

“Why would Evan believe you?” Adam asked.

“Because Deborah betrayed him already,” Atlas said. “She was supposed to be his mate, and she chose David and you over him.”

A wide-eyed Adam propped his elbows on the table and held his head in his hands. Robin felt for his friend. Been there, done that, got the head spinning. Icarus coasted a hand over his shoulder while Mac picked up the interrogation.

“He’ll have a backup plan,” the raven said to Atlas. “It won’t be as powerful as Pati and Pax would’ve been, but he’ll be ready.”

“Good thing we have the last barrier between him and Chaos.”

Gazes drifted toward Mary until Robin straightened. “Not her, me.”

Icarus whipped his head up, ginger brows racing north. “You?”

“Evan wants Chaos. I’m ready to take them both. Like my mother did. Like Deborah and I were supposed to do together.”

Multiple gasps of “What?” echoed around the table, except from the green-haired pixie at the other end.

“I thought it was me and Evan,” Atlas explained.

“That we were supposed to hold Nature and Chaos together, with Robin and Deborah as our anchors, but Evan’s unanchored and only interested in Chaos.

If he succeeded in bringing Chaos through, I was going to channel them both into me and balance the ends, with Robin as my anchor, but it was never me.

” He glanced up at Robin, the confidence in his gaze making Robin stand that much taller. “I’m the anchor, he’s the vessel.”

Questions erupted.

“What’s that mean?” from Jason.

“What’s he have to do?” from Paris.

“Will he make it?” from Jenn, her voice rough as she turned in her chair toward Atlas. “I can’t lose any more family.”

“He’ll make it,” Atlas said, reaching across the chair between them and covering her hand. “If I have anything to say about it.”

“The phoenixes are ready,” Mary said. “The other warlocks and witches too.”

All the work Atlas had been doing with her when he wasn’t with him the past two weeks. “You’re ready to let it go?” Robin asked her.

Mary’s hazel gaze slid to Atlas. “As he’s told me multiple times, I was only a vessel.”

But she was family to the man beside her. “Will she survive it?” Icarus pressed.

“Will you kill me if she doesn’t?” Atlas bit back, and Robin clenched his jaw. He could give Atlas the prior dig, but this one was a push too far, especially when emotions were raw and life as they knew it was on the line.

He prepared to step in, to defuse the situation, but Mary beat him to it. “It’s my choice, Icarus. I’m ready to be the old lady who complains about her little brother and his rowdy friends. I’m ready to live my life.” She shifted her gaze to him. “Are you ready to give up yours?”

“I’m not giving up anything,” Robin said. “I’m taking responsibility.” He split a glance between Jenn and Adam. “I’m doing for her what I should have done ten years ago. I’m here now. And I’ll stay here until Pax is ready.”

“You’ll be a target,” Mac said. “Even if you kill Evan, someone will always come for you.”

“They’ll have to go through me first.” Atlas threaded their fingers together, and Robin couldn’t help but smile. All the times he’d done the same to keep Atlas from snapping away, from running, and now Atlas was tying them together. No more running. “Can he count on all of you?”

Adam rose first, walking the length of the table to where Robin stood and throwing his arms around him. “She would be so proud of you. I’m here for you, whatever you need.”

Paris shot out of his chair next and practically launched himself at Robin. “Thank you for giving him a chance,” he whispered, and Robin grinned through the wet in his eyes. “I’m with you.”

Mac was next, a hug as calm as his husband’s had been enthusiastic. “I and the rest of the flock are behind you.”

One by one, the others followed, a hug and a pledge, until only Jenn was left.

When his cousin moved to lower her head in deference, Robin gently clasped her shoulder, stopping her short.

“Don’t,” he said. “You are the pack leader, and a damn good one. Better than I ever would’ve been.

” He lowered his head to her instead, but only for a moment before Jenn yanked him into a crushing hug.

“Your pack will be there for you,” his leader said. “Always.”