Page 95 of Incoronate
“A noble sentiment,” replied Dominic, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “Though I suspect a mass evacuation would alert the Council much faster than we would like. Rather defeats the purpose of subtlety.”
“Agreed. Which is why we need another option,” I said, taking a sip of the drink, the burn centering me as it slid down my throat. “We can’t get everyone out without tipping off the Order about the rip in the barrier, but we can stage some kind of emergency. Maybe an armed suspect on the loose. Something that would make people shelter in place and keep them out of the crossfire.”
“And how exactly do you plan to do that, angel?” asked Dominic, one of his brows lifting over the rim of his glass.
I hesitated, my gaze flicking to him before dropping to my glass. “I thought maybe…you could use compulsion. Make people believe there’s a threat.”
Dominic’s laugh came out low and rumbly. “As flattering as it is that you think so highly of my abilities, even I can’t compel an entire town, angel. The sheer number of people required to sell such a deception would be impossible for one Revenant to manage. Perhaps a dozen of us working in concert, but alone?” He shook his head. “It would burn me out before I made it through a single neighborhood.”
My jaw tightened. Of course it wouldn’t be that simple.
“Then I’ll ask the Roderick sisters to help,” I said, starting to pace again as I tried to piece the plan together in my mind. “They have resources I don’t have. The kind of powerful, dark magic I don’t know how to wield. Between their abilitiesand whatever twisted spells they keep in their arsenal, I’m sure they can pull off the mass compulsion or stage whatever emergency we need.”
“What makes you think they’ll help us?” asked Trace, skepticism threading through his voice as he leaned back against the couch. “Last time we saw them, they were pretty clear about where they stood.”
“Because we still have the same goal,” I said evenly, stopping mid-stride to face him. “They want the Order gone just as much as I do. And frankly, I don’t care how they do it just as long as it gets done.”
Neither one of them could deny that we were finding ourselves on the same side as the sisters these days. Probably more often than either of us was willing to admit out loud. But it didn’t change the facts. We may not have always seen eye to eye on everything, but at this point, our shared enemy took precedence above all else.
“And what about the others?” asked Dominic, his fingers drumming a slow rhythm against the arm of his chair. “Descendants won’t be susceptible to the Rodericks’ magic the way humans will be. They will remain vulnerable.”
“That’s why I want them evacuated,” I said, the resolve solidifying my voice as I set my empty glass down on the coffee table. “Ben. Morgan. Caleb. Carly too.” I paused, then added, “Maybe Jackie…if she’ll listen this time.”
It hadn’t gone well when I’d asked her earlier to leave with Tessa. She’d refused outright, insisting she’d spent too long running from the Order and wasn’t backing down again. But maybe she could be convinced after having time to think it over. Or at least that’s what I was hoping for. Because yes, having people on my side would help. But they were also liabilities. Collateral damage waiting to happen. Leverage the Order could use against me that I couldn’t afford to give them.
And she wasn’t the only one who fit that bill.
I drew in a breath and let it out slowly. Both of them were still watching me, their gazes rolling over me as if it was their job to weigh me, but I didn’t look away or let my resolve waver.
“I’m guessing I won’t be able to convince either of you to evacuate with the others?”
“You’re joking right?” snapped Trace, his expression hardening on a dime.
Dominic’s mirthless laugh cut through the room like a blade scraping against glass. “Do not insult me by pretending you believe I would abandon you at any point in your life, least of all now,” he said, rising from his chair in one fluid movement. Something dangerous and wholly committed glittered at the edge of his onyx eyes. “There is not a chance in Hades of that happening, and certainly not when things are finally getting interesting.”
“I just feel like it would be safer for both of you,” I said, hating how thin the argument sounded even as I made it. “And frankly for me too, knowing you were out of their crosshairs. I can move faster if I’m not worried about—”
“Come on, Jem. You know we can’t do that no matter how you try to justify it,” said Trace, his blue eyes taking me apart and putting me back together in the same breath. “We couldn’t walk away from you any more than you could walk away from us.”
Well, shit.
I couldn’t really arguethat.
Truthfully, I knew they were going to say no even before I opened my mouth. Spell or no spell, neither of them would ever leave my side, and definitely not willingly. But I had to try. I had to at least give them the option to walk away guilt-free before everything went to hell and it was too late to turn back.
“May we move on now?” asked Dominic, as though he were already bored with the conversation.
I nodded reluctantly, making my peace with it as best I could. “Fine, but you can’t blame me for trying.”
“Can’t I?” countered Dominic, his voice deceptively smooth.
I swallowed hard, feeling heat creep into my cheeks under the drag of his disapproval. “Right. I guess you can.”
“Alright, so what’s the plan once you get everyone sheltered in place?” asked Trace, worry darkening his expression as he stood and moved closer. “After the barrier comes down, then what?”
“And it had better be more strategic than marching to Temple and throwing yourself on a pyre,” added Dominic, a warning threading through his tone. “I prefer not to watch you immolate yourself in a grand but ultimately futile gesture of defiance.”
“Noted. No pyres or gestures of defiance,” I said dryly, though the corner of my mouth twitched despite everything.
