Page 33 of Deadly Reckoning (Broken Ashes #7)

“Did you get what you wanted?” Ransom asks me.

I grin as I glance over at him, “Yeah, I think so. I decided I need to make some calm the fuck down stuff.”

“Interesting name you have for it,” he chuckles as we head toward the counter.

I freeze, “Shit, I left my card at home.”

“I’ve got it,” Ransom says.

“Are you sure?” I ask. I don’t particularly like accepting things like this.

He glances over at me and then leans in, kissing me softly, “I’m sure. Don’t worry about it. If you really want to, you can pay me back another time. I will accept payment in kisses.”

I nod, smiling, and feeling better about it as I reply, “Deal. Kisses, I can definitely do.”

The whole time that we’re ringing up our stuff, the cashier keeps opening his mouth like he’s going to say something and then closing it again like he’s thought better of it. He also won’t look at either of us for longer than a couple of seconds.

It’s really weird, and I share a raised eyebrow look with Ransom.

At least it’s not just me who thinks this is weird.

“Thank you,” I say with a smile as he hands over the bag of our stuff.

The guy’s eyes widen, and he spins on his heel and heads through a curtain into the back.

“So strange,” I mutter.

Ransom nods, “Yeah, come on. Let’s get out of here.”

When we get back outside, the guys are all still talking like they were, and I don’t feel the same feeling that I did when we went in.

That doesn't mean that we aren’t still being watched, or that I can relax.

“Did you get what you needed to?” River asks Ransom.

Ransom grins, “Yep. Hopefully, it’s going to solve the issues that I’ve been having with making the wards for us work. I’m not really going to know until we get back to the house, and I can test it.”

I frown, “Nope.”

His eyebrows dip in confusion, “Huh?”

“No more work today. You’ve done enough. You’re going to enjoy the day, we’re going to go and see Sully, then we’re going to hang out, and you’re in my bed tonight, so I know that you’re resting and not working,” I say.

I have a brief moment of panic when I realize that I just told him that he’s sleeping in my bed, and he may not want to.

“Well, there’s an invitation that I will never refuse,” he grins. “You have yourself a deal.”

I grin, my worries melting away.

“Lucky bastard,” Reed teases with a grin.

“Join us,” Ransom says with a smile.

Reed glances at me to make sure it's okay, and I nod. Smiling, he looks back at Ransom, “That’s it, you offered, no take-backs now.”

Ransom chuckles while the others grin. I have to admit that moments like this always settle any niggles I have that jealousy or unease or something is going to cause problems between the guys.

As we walk through the town to Neera’s coffee shop, I realize that we’re not being stared at.

Seeming to follow my thought process, before I can ask out loud, Coen speaks.

“I thought that we would get a lot more attention than we’re getting since we were in the Choosing,” Coen says as he looks around.

“I was just thinking the same thing,” I reply.

“You’re right. I would have thought that someone would have said something. I don’t expect to be treated like celebrities or anything as ridiculous, but I did think that we would be recognized,” Reed agrees.

Raiden shrugs and then grins, “Finally, I fucking know the answer to something. It’s a spell. A really fucking powerful one.”

“What do you mean?” Griff asks.

“You watched the last Choosing, right?” Raiden asks, and we all nod. It was a few years ago. “Who won? What do they look like? Who were the other teams involved? Were there more than two teams? Can you tell me anything about it?”

Griff opens his mouth to reply and then snaps it closed when he realizes that he can’t answer.

“I have no idea,” he replies.

“Exactly. The memory fades for the majority of people. I have no idea how it works because obviously, the teams are highly sought after. So some people must remember, but for the majority of people who watched the Choosing, the memory fades,” Raiden explains.

“Were we told that? Because I have absolutely no recollection of that,” Coen asks.

Raiden shakes his head, “No, we weren’t.

I found it in my research while I was looking for something else.

It’s another reason why we have the warrior mark so that people can identify us.

Obviously, from what Ed said, some people have been able to replicate it, or at least try to. The best person to ask would be Ty.”

“Or Kyrous,” I mutter, a ping of sadness I don’t understand hitting me.

“We can ask Ty next time we speak to him if we remember,” Ransom suggests.

“I’ll remember,” I say. “I want to know why or how some people remember, and who is chosen to remember. Does the Blue Fucker remember? He knew at one point because he set up the ambush at the compound, but has he now forgotten, or is he one of the exceptions to the rule?”

“All really good questions that we need answers to,” Evander agrees as he pulls out his phone and starts typing.

“Are you texting him?” Reed asks.

Van nods, “Yeah. I figured it was probably easier and ensures that we don’t forget if the next time we speak to him, it’s about something catastrophic.”

“Which it most likely will be,” Griff points out.

“A bit bleak,” Doc comments.

“But true,” River adds.