Page 23 of Curses & Keys (Curses & Gods #1)
JAMISON
I know she’s gone the moment she crosses the protective shield I set up around the hangar. Designed to keep our enemies at bay, my magic does nothing to stop her from leaving. Furious she put herself at risk again, I flick a glance at Mathias, who immediately moves to follow her.
He’s stopped before he can get ten feet.
“She had something to take care of,” Maverick informs us with a smile on his smug face. I look from his glowing red eyes to the faint black vapor surrounding us.
Blood boiling, my magic responds by swelling and pressing against his defenses. Sweat beads on his face. I flash a grim smile. He didn’t expect this kind of power from me, but he should have. After all, mages pass their magic to their heirs, and the de Veres have been wielding it for centuries.
Charlie comes running out of the plane, eyes darting wildly from side to side, his own magic sparking. He takes a defensive stance next to Maverick, who responds with a wink.
“It’s fine. They’re upset because Phaedra left,” he explains in an amused voice.
Gritting my teeth, I spit out. “I’m not upset. I’m bloody pissed. Humans attacked her at home earlier tonight. Now, because of you, she’s in danger again. Whether you like it or not, we’re leaving. Remove the barrier.”
Hawthorne and Gatlin move in closer.
Maverick’s brows crash together. “She failed to mention that bit of juicy news. Still, Phaedra’s been around a hell of a long time. She’ll be fine. And if she needs any assistance, Charlie’s bike is practically a weapon with all the spells he’s put on it.”
Curses spew from Charlie’s mouth, and Maverick winces as he turns to face him. “I was going to tell you. I swear.”
Charlie glares at him, then stalks off. “Clearly, you’ve got this under control.”
Maverick sighs and looks at the clock. “She should be at her destination by now.” The barely visible wall around us dissipates.
“Let’s go,” I order the team, heading toward the SUV. “She couldn’t have gone too far.”
“Some unsolicited advice I’m sure you’ll ignore,” Maverick calls out behind me. “She’s been on her own for longer than you’ve been alive. Don’t demand her trust; earn it.”
The black Maserati next to us roars to life and flies out of the hangar with Charlie at the wheel. He flips Maverick the bird as the car shoots into the night.
“Fuck!” Maverick roars behind us.
If I weren’t so pissed off myself, I’d smile. “Mathias, can you track her?” I get into the passenger seat.
After sliding in the back next to Hawthorne, he fiddles with his phone for a second, then shakes his head. “No, she turned off her phone.”
Gatlin slides into the driver’s seat. “Where to?”
“Your place,” I tell him, thoughts swirling. “She won’t go back to the condo. Can you check the cameras in her office and the gym?”
Mathias looks down at his phone. “I’ve gotten no alerts from her office.” He taps and slides his finger across the phone. “She’s not at the gym. Or her friend Cara’s.”
I hadn’t realized Mathias had bugged Cara’s place. Damn, he’s thorough. “We’ve missed something.” My phone rings, and I see her name. “It’s her.”
Hawthorne reaches around and takes my phone. “You’re too angry to be civil.” He hands it to Mathias. “Talk to her.”
When I hear him give her Gatlin’s address, I realize she’s coming back to us, and it’s as if a switch flips inside me. I swing from fury to relief, then back to fury. Magic sparks between my hands. Silence reigns in the vehicle, but their concern is obvious.
Besides Gatlin’s surliness, the rest of us are not prone to emotional outbursts.
It’s why we work so well together. Coolheaded logic rules our group.
But ever since I saw her on that roof with bullets flying, I’ve been on edge, filled with the need to wage war against our enemies.
Knowing she willingly left our protection pushes me to the precipice.
What did Maverick say? Earn her trust. I don’t expect Phaedra to trust us. Or to inform me of her every move. Hell, I’ve been half expecting her to bolt all night. So why am I so furious?
I take a deep breath and think about it.
Because I don’t allow anyone to threaten my team.
They mean everything to me. A bond that supersedes anything else.
Somehow…she’s slid under my armor, become one of us.
Her role undefined but there, nonetheless.
The thought startles me, and some of my anger settles.
We get back to Gatlin’s place, and I hop out of the vehicle. “I’m going to wait for her out here.”
Gatlin grunts in disagreement but slams the door and leaves. Mathias follows him without saying a word.
Hawthorne stops beside me. “Try to remember she’s not a member of our team and someone you can order around.
If you do, she’ll leave. For good. Phaedra’s independent, and as Maverick pointed out, she’s been around a long time.
Be honest with her.” He opens his mouth to say something else but closes it after a second.
I’ve noticed him watching her, trying to figure her out.
Most of the time, he avoids women, except when necessary.
Yet, he seeks her out. When she talks, he listens.
Intently. None of us trusts anyone outside of our circle, but the fact that he just spoke up on her behalf is a huge indication of which way he’s leaning.
He tilts his head to the side and gives me one last warning, then leaves me standing there alone.
Hawthorne is wrong. I don’t want to order her like she’s a member of the team. I want her to join us. Willingly. On mutual terms. But he’s right too. She has to make that decision for herself.