Page 133 of Solar Shadows

Riley batted my hand a way. “Certainly not a family trait.”

I clutched at my heart. “How you mock me, little brother. It’s not my fault my voice is an acquired taste.”

“Is that what you call it?” he said, knocking back the rest of his drink.

“Poor Isaac,” Dean joined in, his eyes moving to the door. “Jake?”

The witchcop arrived in clothes similar to Dean’s, holding his phone so tightly his knuckles were pure white.

This wasn’t good news.

“I’ve got something to show you,” he said.

He popped the phone on the table, propping it against Riley’s empty glass.

Tony’s face was paused on the screen. I stiffened, my fist a hair’s breadth away from going through the device.

“What the fuck is he doing now?” I questioned.

The prick stood before a white background, two shimmer witches flanking him. All of them were dressed in white, freshly groomed and ready to be filmed.

“This was from a livestream ten minutes go,” Jake clarified. “Ollie’s on his way. Erin and the Brambles have already seen it.”

Dread pooled in my belly like the thickest of oils.

Shit.

“Ready?” Jake asked once Ollie joined us.

He slid a reassuring arm around my waist.

Thank Hecate he was here.

“Ready,” I answered.

He clicked play, and Tony began to waffle.

“My dear friend Liam, begged Isaac Aurora to help him. The Sun assaulted him instead, as you will see now.” An image of the man I’d punched outside Blood House appeared on the screen. He was lying in a hospital bed in a terrible state, his teeth all broken, face a mess.

Was that supposed to make me feel bad? Because it didn’t. Fuck him. If it wasn’t for the crystal shades showing up, this Liam would’ve been trying to kill me or whatever.

Still, it didn’t stop my insides squirming.

The screen returned to Tony’s face. “This is only the beginning. We know what happened the last time the Aurora witches darkened our doorways. It will be more of the same, maybe worse now that they’re attacking the public. We live in the aftermath of The Sun’s slaughter of Blood House, of the riot he caused at the mansion. I know, I loved him once, barely surviving. And I admit I tried to kill him. But he lives and I’m here to make my case to you, the public.”

He smiled, pausing, making my soul ache.

I’ll fucking kill you…

“Luckily, a change is coming. A change only I can bring. Who can you trust when the High Covenconspires in the shadows with these sacred witches? You may as well let the shadow witches take over.”

The two witches on either side of him shook their heads.

“Things don’t have to get that bad. I’m here to tell you to shift your trust to me. I can take us in a new direction, one filled with hope. Sometimes you must burn the old to give birth to the new. And I’ll lead the charge.”

A number flashed on the screen.

“Call this number,” he said. “Call this number to change. Call this number and arrangements will be made for you to join the Gilbert Coven.”