Page 60 of The Never List
But they’ve stepped up their ambitions to outright attacking innocent citizens in any one of our given cities. Plus, the weapons they carry prove they’re nowhere near rebellious youths and lean closer to an organization set on creating unrest in our territories.
“Those weapons they have… It’s either new magic or new materials,” Jax says. “I wonder where they’re getting them.”
“The threat across the seas your father keeps speaking of?” Pierce asks.
“Maybe,” Jax answers. “Erithmore’s hatred for us runs deep, and the kings have sent countless of Lumathyst’s people over there on Never List missions. Who is to say one of those missions didn’t end up joining forces with the locals?”
“It’s a possibility out of hundreds.” Pierce sets his drink down on a little table next to him. “We need to pinpoint their motive. Then we’ll better understand their origins. Figure out where they’re getting their power.”
“Baydel is always concerned about demis,” Jax says. “Do you think that could be the source?”
“Could be…” Pierce shakes his head. “But it’s unlikely. So many demis have been thrown in prisons for crimes less than these. There aren’t enough of them left to create an uprising again.”
“There could be some in hiding,” Jax counters.
“True,” Pierce says. “But the consequences rather outweigh the benefit of anonymity. Being a publicly known demi is hard enough. The penalties for hiding such an existence?”
Jax nods. “So, we’re leaning toward deciding that their strength and show of power has to be enhancements, then.”
“Most likely,” Pierce agrees, and Axl and I nod. “Again, we’re back to ultimate goals. When we figure that out, the rest will likely be revealed.”
“For now, it seems they want to provoke us or kill us,” Axl says without a hint of fear in his tone. He’s fearless to a fault, sometimes taking on more than he can possibly carry. “Are we overthinking this? Could it simply be a group of Ashlanders?” he asks. “Thanks to our fathers’ suppression of that territory, every single one of them has a reason to hate us.”
“I wondered that, too,” I say. “The Ashlanders have always been a problem—”
The door swings open, letting light from the hallway pool into the room.
“Sorry,” Rylee says quickly, backing out of the doorway. “I didn’t realize this was a Legend meeting—”
“No, stay,” I say, beckoning her to my side with an outstretched arm.
She scans the room, eyes grazing over Pierce, Axl, and finally Jax. Something charged happens as their eyes meet, something I think every single one of us can feel. But in a blink, it’s gone, replaced by Rylee tipping her chin up and walking toward me. She drops to my side, settling in effortlessly beneath my arm.
“You all look well,” she says after we’re silent for too long.
Axl smirks at her. “We heard you were worried about us.”
Rylee looks up at me. “Traitor,” she teases, playfully smacking my chest.
I capture her hand there, bringing it to my mouth. “Apologies,” I say, dragging my lips over the underside of her wrist. I relish the chill bumps that appear at my touch. “I told you I have no secrets from them.”
“What were you talking about before I interrupted?” she asks, slightly breathless from my touch. I drop her wrist but keep hold of her hand.
“Faders, Ashlanders, kings… You know, everyone who might want us dead,” Axl says, deadpan, and I clench my eyes shut while searching for patience.
She straightens under my arm. “Why would the Ashlanders want you dead?”
“Ah, so you don’t have any argument with our own fathers wanting us dead?” Jax quickly counters, and she turns her head, focusing on him.
“I don’t pretend to assume why the kings are the way they are, but I can imagine that they like their thrones, their power, maybe even enough to view you all as a threat.” She shrugs. “But then again, maybe I’ve read too many royal fantasy novels.”
I bite back a laugh, shaking my head. That’s my Rylee.
“Clever deduction,” Pierce commends her. “And the Ashlanders could want us dead for multiple reasons: the withholding of noble titles from its people, the scrutinization of the remaining demis who are secluded there, the lack ofresources. The list goes on.”
“Are you the ones who put all these restrictions into place?” Rylee asks, carefully casual.
“No,” Axl answers, a crease forming between his eyebrows. “The kings did that long before we came into play.”
