Page 23

Leah

Listening to the eclectic group of women bickering amongst themselves, I was coming to realize that Maxine was, in fact, the sanest of the bunch. And that was saying something. The woman could shop until the word met its end and she prioritized the silliest of fancies.

But when I glanced around at the others; River in her extravagant robe, quietly berating anyone who got too close to her precious koi pond, Jordan and Sky squabbling over unnecessary code names, Addison, pacing back and forth while muttering to herself, and Hunter, arms folded, looking like she’d fight an army single-handed if it meant keeping Addison safe—I realized this was a unique brand of chaos.

I’d come to learn all of their names in the short time we’d spent squabbling in the living room. Dylan and Amara—the latter of whom I understood now to be deaf, were standing a little way off, removed from the chatter among the other women.

Dylan had her arm slung around the smaller woman’s waist, propping her up and staring daggers at anyone whose gaze lingered on the two of them for too long.

Me included. I dropped my eyes before Dylan could launch across the room and lop my head off, but I caught Amara’s small smile before I looked away.

I straightened up at Maxine’s side, trying to absorb the rapid-fire instructions that were suddenly being exchanged.

“Let’s get this straight.” River was speaking, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Maxine draws her family to New York, and in the meantime, we whisk Leah’s grandfather away from San Francisco on the pretense that his granddaughter is having some respiratory crisis?”

I nodded, chewing my lip. “I was asthmatic as a kid,” I explained, feeling a bit silly saying it out loud, “but I haven’t had an episode in years. Still, if you tell my grandfather it’s flaring up—something to do with the air pollution or something—he’ll come running.”

Jordan, leaning against a carved wooden pillar, gave me an approving nod.

Hunter, on the other hand, arms crossed tightly across her chest, didn’t look so convinced. “Why not just deal with the Belmontes in San Francisco? It’s their turf, sure—but we can handle it. Our coven is more than capable.”

From the other side of the room, River shot her a warning look. “If we pick a fight there, we’re basically declaring war. They’d rally other local covens, plus any allies of Maxine’s fiancé. That could paint a huge target on our backs. We can’t risk that.”

A disgruntled frown pulled at Hunter’s features. “Fine,” she grumbled, tapping a foot on the polished floor. “I just don’t like drawing enemies so close to home.”

Sky pitched in, redirecting the conversation. “Anyway, we bring the old man to New York and keep him tucked away. Meanwhile, Maxine plays the dutiful daughter who’s finally agreed to the marriage–”

“Ugh,” Maxine huffed, throwing Sky a look of mock disgust. “I feel gross just hearing you say it.”

Sky smirked, raising her palms. “Hey, I’m just clarifying. This was all your idea.”

River was still lounging around like a regal queen, waving a hand to catch our attention again. “Enough with the dramatics, all of you. We have a timeline to sort out.”

She turned to Dylan, who was still hovering near Amara. “You, Dylan, and you, Sky, plus me, we’ll head to San Francisco. We’ll handle the grandfather exodus.” River’s eyes flicked to me. “We’ll make it look urgent, medical. Definitely not a kidnapping.”

I flushed but nodded. “He’ll believe it,” I assured them, trying to keep my voice steady. “He’s always been concerned about my health.”

Jordan was nodding thoughtfully as some semblance of a plan began to take shape. “Then Hunter and I will hang back here to help Maxine.”

“I should be there,” Addison said firmly at one point, chin tilting up with quiet resolve. “I can help back you up.”

“No,” Hunter cut in, sharp tone leaving no room for argument. “Absolutely not.”

Addison’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me? Why not?”

“Uh–you’re human? You don’t have any fighting experience.” Hunter shot back a short list, voice tight. “We don’t even know how many of them will show up. The last thing I want is to send you directly into the line of fire.”

I watched Addison’s lips form a thin line and noted the set of her jaw. But there was an undercurrent of affection between them—worry, more than anything. Addison inhaled, dragging a hand through her hair.

“Hunter, I know you’re trying to protect me,” she said, voice taut. “But this is our coven, our fight, and if something goes wrong, I could–”

“–end up dead.” Hunter finished her sentence, fingers curling into fists at her sides. She took a step closer, dropping her voice so it was almost a plea. “I can’t risk that, Addison. I won’t.”

Even I felt a pang of sympathy for them, and I’d known them for all of ten minutes.

For a beat, the rest of the Leyore women paused, exchanging glances. River discreetly busied herself rearranging the trinkets on a nearby table, while Dylan and Sky whispered about flight times and infiltration details.

Jordan rubbed her temple like she had a headache forming there, and Maxine watched the two women with narrowed eyes—no doubt seeing something the rest of us didn’t.

“Hunter,” Addison said softly, “I’m not going to do something reckless. But I can’t just stand by, either.”

Hunter let out a frustrated sigh, arms dropping to her sides.

“If we took the fight to San Francisco, we could pick them off one by one,” she muttered, clearly refusing to let go of the idea of taking the fight to Maxine’s family’s territory.

“It’s better to face them on their ground than bring trouble to our city.

At least then, there wouldn’t be civilians or–”

“And start a vampire turf war in someone else’s domain?” Jordan interjected sharply from across the room. She cast Hunter a stern look. “That’s the fastest way to get the entirety of the West Coast covens breathing down our necks. You know that.”

Hunter’s lips pressed into a thin, grim line. “It’s still safer than bringing them here.”

Addison touched Hunter’s arm gently, prompting her to meet her gaze. “You’re not going to shake me on this. If we’re doing it here, so be it.” She mustered a small smile. “I promise, I’ll be careful.”

For a second, Hunter looked torn, caught between terror and acceptance.

Finally, she inhaled, shoulders sagging in reluctant surrender. “Fine,” she gritted out, glancing at the rest of the group. “Addison can be the getaway driver or something. But that’s it . No going toe-to-toe with anyone.” She redirected a stern glare at Addison. “Understood?”

Addison rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. “I’ll take what I can get,” she murmured, linking her arm through Hunter’s. “Thank you for letting me be there, at least.”

“‘Letting you’ is a strong phrase,” Hunter mumbled, but I saw the flash of relief in her eyes, that unspoken worry settling—just a fraction.

Soon, the final roles were sorted. River, Dylan, and Sky would head to San Francisco to arrange Grandpa’s “rescue” under the guise of my medical issues. Jordan and Hunter would stay behind in New York, ready to back Maxine when her family and Gregor arrived.

Addison was delegated as the “getaway driver,” Addison herself rolling her eyes dramatically at being relegated to driver status but ultimately shrugging in acceptance.

I would stay with Maxine, presumably to sell the act that I did indeed do what her family had asked of me—thus putting me directly in the line of fire if her family actually managed to sniff out the truth.

As the conversation shifted back to finalizing travel details, Addison leaned over to me with a conspiratorial grin. “Look at her,” she whispered, gesturing at Hunter with amusement. “Always so stoic, but she’s just a big softie underneath.”

I tried not to laugh too loudly, wincing when Hunter’s ears perked up in our direction.

“I can see that,” I whispered back, returning Addison’s smile. “She must really care about you.”

Addison’s cheeks warmed slightly and she covered a small giggle with her hand. I noticed then the glinting band of silver on her finger—a subtle loop that, come to think of it, matched the one on Hunter’s hand—before Addison turned away, attention snapping back to the discussion.

Maxine planted her hands on her hips. “Okay, folks, we have a plan. Let’s just… hope it works.” Her gaze flicked to me, softening slightly.

“Right,” I said, forcing a small grin. “And just so you know, my grandpa’s not the easiest man to fool, but if you get dramatic enough about my nonexistent asthma attack, he won’t hesitate.”

Jordan gave a wry laugh. “We can be dramatic. It’s kind of our specialty.”

I turned back to Maxine. She caught my questioning look and raised a brow. “Something on your mind?”

I hesitated, then let out a soft laugh, gesturing broadly at the room. “Just realizing… in some bizarre turn of events, I think you might just be the most normal person here.”

After the initial whirlwind, the group naturally fragmented. Addison tugged Hunter aside for a private chat, the two of them disappearing down an echoing corridor. Meanwhile, River linked arms with Jordan and Sky, guiding them toward a sunken seating area, discussing logistics in low voices.

I noticed Maxine step away from the cluster, her gaze flicking toward Dylan and Amara, who lingered nearby. With a nudge of curiosity, I followed.

Dylan offered a small nod as we approached, though her focus was mostly on Amara, who still looked pale and shaky—like a wave might knock her over if she weren’t leaning on Dylan’s arm. The flicker of overhead lanterns revealed a faint sheen of sweat on her brow.

“Dylan,” Maxine began quietly, glancing around to ensure no one else was eavesdropping, “you need to get Amara somewhere safe. Away from all of this.”

Amara herself waved to catch our attention and signed something furiously.

“I’m right here .” She also spoke aloud, soft but steely. “And that’s the plan. I’ll be staying with Ursula until this whole thing blows over.”

“Right, right. Sorry about that.” Maxine’s lips curved in a rueful smile. “But that’s good. The last thing we need is Gregor or my family getting any ideas about…” She trailed off, not wanting to say vulnerabilities outright.

Instead, she touched Dylan’s arm gently. “Just keep her safe, okay?”

Maxine had explained Amara’s predicament to me earlier, whispering over my shoulder when I’d noticed the sickly-looking woman. And sure, she looked like death warmed up, but there was a fire in Amara’s eyes that told me she was nowhere near as fragile as they thought she was.

Amara rolled her eyes, shifting her weight onto one hip as she studied the two of us.

Then she zeroed in on me with a wry, tired grin. “Leah, was it?” she asked, enunciating slowly. “Tell me—how the hell do you handle more than five minutes of Maxine at a time?”

I bit back a startled laugh, heat rushing to my cheeks. Beside me, Maxine made a noise of deep, theatrical mortification, throwing an arm across her forehead as though she’d been gravely insulted.

Amara’s brow arched, looking unimpressed by the display.

I shrugged, fighting a smile. “Honestly? I’ve had plenty of practice.”

A chorus of silent chuckles passed through Dylan—her shoulders shaking and the corners of her mouth quirked up in amusement.

Maxine scowled, tossing curls over her shoulder and sticking her nose in the air. “You’re all terrible.”

Once our unlikely group had fully dispersed, I followed Maxine into the small study River had pointed out. The place was tiny and just as cluttered as the rest of River’s home, and an ancient telephone sat collecting dust on the oakwood desk.

Maxine stood with her back to me, one hand braced on the desk, her shoulders hunched and tense.

She had the receiver clutched tightly in her other hand, staring down at it. I could sense her fear in the tight set of her spine, the quick rise and fall of her breath.

“Hey,” I said softly, laying a hand on her shoulder.

She turned, and I caught a glimpse of pure dread on her face before she tried—and failed—to school her features into that calm and collected mask of hers.

“Leah,” she whispered. “I—I thought I could do this, but…” Her voice faltered.

I slipped my arms around her waist, heartstrings plucking at how she trembled ever so slightly under my touch. She exhaled a shaky breath, leaning into me. For a moment, we just stood there, the koi pond’s gentle trickle the only sound breaking the silence.

My heart clenched at the realization of just how terrified she was—terrified of what she was about to do, of the fallout that might erupt from simply calling her parents after all this time.

“You’re not alone.” I pulled back to meet her eyes, laying a hand against her cheek. “This time, whatever happens, we face it together.”

“I’m just… scared.” Her eyes flicked shut, tears pearling at the corners. “And Gregor. He– he’s–”

“Forget about Gregor,” I murmured, pressing my forehead against hers. “We won’t let any of them separate us again. Never again.”

She inhaled slowly, and I captured that breath with a gentle kiss. When we drew apart, Maxine’s eyes were brighter, her posture less rigid. She squared her shoulders, the phone still in her grip.

“All right,” she whispered, casting a quick glance toward the doorway to ensure we were alone. “I can do this.”

I smiled and gave her hand a final squeeze. “You can do this.”

Maxine exhaled one final, trembling breath and dialed the number.

The soft ringing echoed in the hush of River’s house, and I pressed myself closer to her side, silently vowing that no matter who answered, no matter what lay ahead, she wasn’t going to face it alone.