Page 75 of Ramshackle
“We’ll be using Evie’s gift of mass manipulation to shrink everyone. That’ll be a lot less stress on Reid’s gift, since he’ll only be teleporting himself, Evie, and a tub full of three-inch-tall people.”
I frown at the picture of being carried around in a plastic tub coupled with the off-putting feeling of being teleported.
“Don’t worry, Rapunzel. It’ll be fine. Just make sure you’re ready to go on time. And let Raegan know when she wakes up.”
“I will,” I reply with a nod.
He smirks and turns to leave. “I’ll let you guys finish your movie, then.”
Prick.
Chapter twenty-two
Raegan
“Kell,” I whisper roughly.“Who are these people?”
Kellan tugs and pulls on the Kevlar vest he’s strapped me in until he’s satisfied. He pats it and grins. “Just some of the Guild members who wanted to help. They’re the ones whose gifts will be useful, and Aiden trusts enough to follow directions.”
I smack his hands away and twist to get a feel for the weight. “Isn’t this overkill?”
“With you?” He laughs. “We should have wrapped you in one of these from the start.” Kellan waves at the rest of the room while others don their protective gear. “Everyone’s getting it, so no complaining, beautiful. This will make a few of us more at ease to know you’re in this.”
“Everyone except you and Jack?” I nod toward my shadow, who smirks at me while leaning against a wall. As if summoned, he stalks toward us.
“Well, we both know there’s no point in me having that. It would only get in my way. And Jack’s already wearing his.” Kellan turns to look at him once he’s stopped in our space.
Jackson taps a finger to his chest to indicate his is beneath the hoodie.
Damn. I see the point of it, but it’s soheavythat I’ll be much slower in a fight.
Glancing around at the others, I catch more than a few stares before they hurriedly look away.
Dane walks up from behind and nudges my arm with his. “Don’t worry about them. They won’t bite. But as long as Jackson is near you, I doubt any of them will try and talk to you.”
Anger pulses in my chest, and I frown. “They don’t like Jack?”
Kellan and Dane laugh. “Easy, beautiful. Don’t go planning any murders on his behalf before you know the whole story.”
“They do like him,” Dane answers my question once he’s gotten over his laugh at my expense. “He saved the Guild from Thorne once he learned what he was up to, and he’s the one who brought Aiden in.”
“Then why…?”
Dane shrugs. “Just because they’re grateful for what he did doesn’t mean they’re not still scared of him.”
Jackson smirks and raises my hand in his. He kisses the edge of my matching tattoo that’s peeking out of my long sleeve. “As they should be,” he remarks coolly, his eyes locked on mine. My blood heats beneath his look, which holds me hostage until Aiden’s raised voice announces his arrival in the training room.
“Everyone, gather around for the mission plan.”
My breath catches when I see him. He reminds me of the soldiers in one of Kellan’s video games. All black, long sleeves and pants, wearing a vest and black baseball cap to shadow his already dark eyes. The stubble on his face looks darker as well,and I might not have placed him immediately if not for his voice and the iconic cross of swords strapped to his back.
What skin should be exposed between his sleeves and hands is covered in metal gauntlets, not to mention the metal around his neck and likely strapped somewhere under his clothes. His greatest weakness is the lack of metal he’s touching, so he’s making sure that won’t be an issue. The whip sword is retracted, and the diamonds that usually spread out are pressed tightly together to resemble a jagged sword on his hip.
Cibrina stands to his right, her hands tapping the air in front of her as golden light fades in.
We all move to a half-circle formation around them before Aiden begins. “This is a rescue mission. A trial one at that. We’re testing their response time, the setup of these islands, and how well our plan works to save the trapped gifted with minimal casualties. They’ll be brought to the quarantine floor that we roughly carved out last week.” He nods at someone like that instruction was meant for them.
Following his gaze, I see Reid geared up with arms crossed over his chest. Tinsley’s bouncing on her feet beside him with a grin stretched from ear to ear.
