Page 165 of Scarlet Wars
My jaw dropped. My chest squeezed so hard it hurt. He seriously thought I’d created a nationwide bubble, responsible for the death of three children? Was he insane?
“James…” My voice broke on his name. “YouknowI didn’t do this.”
He shook his head once, tension tightening the sharp lines of his jaw. “I know you didn’t mean to. But…” He hesitated, his attention flicking toward Caden. “Unless…” His countenance hardened instantly. “Unless you bonded with someone else? Someone who did?”
In a single, fluid motion, James’s Skindo shot back out, its blades now raised at Caden’s throat.
Who simplysnorted. “You think Emma and I formed the True Bond? AndIcreated the bubble?” He tilted his head, his mouth curling into a dangerous smile. “Is delusion part of your general meal plan, or do you inhale it with some herbs on occasion?”
James stilled for a beat, before his grip on the five blades went rigid, knuckles blanching. “It would explain alotif you did,” he said darkly.
Caden took one step toward him, shielding me, his posture lethal. “If I had created this bubble,” he spoke softly, though it was anything but safe, “you’d already be dead.”
James shifted his weight, the blades lifting a fraction, his shoulders tensing as if bracing for impact, but he didn’t lower them.
Caden turned his head slightly toward the Chief. “You are going to lower that Corona,” he said evenly, his tone slicing through the tension like a blade, “and make sure it’s no longer directed at Ms. Thompson.”
The High Chief tipped his chin down, as his grip tightened around the Corona. “And if I don’t?”
Caden’s icy smile was a promise of violence. “You’ll face the consequences.”
The Chief all but snorted. “And how exactly do you plan to enforce that threat? You’re on the wrong side of the border, Mr. Colt. One magical move, and you’ll be incinerated.”
Caden’s mouth curved a little more. “You sure about that?”
“Only one of you can wield magic over there,” the Chief retorted with quiet menace. “And I have four cycles of training on her.”
Caden then looked at me, his eyes lighting up with pride as he spoke. “She just took out an entire army with the wave of her hand.”
“Ahumanarmy, Mr. Colt. Pretty sureweare a bit more powerful than them.”
With those words, fourteen figures materialized behind the High Chief, their forms resolving out of nothingness with soundless precision. Each of them held a circular weapon at their side, metal etched with sigils that pulsed faintly, as if the magic inside was barely contained.
Their black hoods shadowed their faces, but I could feel their focus lock onto us all at once, like predators scenting blood.
We were now facing the United Chiefs—the fifteen best Offensives the magi world had ever produced—and their combined presence choked the air like smoke in a sealed room, pressing down on my chest until it felt like the world itself was bracing for impact.
James exhaled slowly, taking in the growing threat.. “Colt, it’s time to stand down,” he urged, worry clear in his expression.
Caden’s eyes never left mine. “My money’s still on her.”
My throat bobbed. Damn,thatdid something to me.
Caden’s fingers brushed over my hand, briefly. His voice dropped to a low murmur only I could hear.“Grab your Nexus. Now.”
My head snapped toward him. He couldn’t translate, but I could. And here, in the Human World, my translation would be both untraceable and invisible. And even without any bond, I knew exactly what he needed.
My fingers drifted behind me as I translated the device directly into my palm.
The Chief caught the motion, his gaze flicking toward Caden like he’d just missed something.
“What did you just do?” he asked sharply.
Caden gave a lazy shrug. “Nothing you should be too worried about. Not with all that power you people wield.”
“Mister Colt, we are your superiors. Now, considering your former ‘accomplishments,’ we are willing to overlook your loyalty to Ms. Thompson, but youwillstand down.”
Caden didn’t blink. Didn’t twitch. His stance remained loose, almost lazy, like none of this was worth even half his attention.
