She said the incantation, focusing over Grayson, Xander, and me. I felt Soleil roar in my head and I knew she was angry, but I tried to quiet her down because it’s hard to think with that kind of noise in your head.
I looked at Camilla again, this time saying, “Camille, you keep on looking through the bookshelves and bag anything that looks valuable. Grayson, stay with her.”
“On it.” She didn’t even look away from the shelves to answer me, just kept at her task.
“What are you going to do?” Grayson asked us.
“We’re going to get a closer look,” I said, breathing in and out deeply.
I began walking out the door but Matias stopped me, pushing me behind him. He went out first followed by me and then Xan. We took quiet steps through the hall until we came to the living room.
“Emelia, it’s rude to keep company waiting, darling,” the annoying man said.
Matias peeked around the corner finding cover in front of the kitchen island. We all ran for it and ducked down, sitting with our backs against the wood. Xan was closest to the door so he took it upon himself to peek through the open door. He brought his head back and cussed under his breath.
“It’s Michael fucking Ironshot,” he harshly whispered. “He seems to be alone, but I know for a fact that’s never the case.”
“Come on, Emelia. I just want to have a talk with my step daughter. I think it’s time we’ve met, don’t you, my dear?” Michael called out. “I have someone here who is dying to see you again!”
After he emphasized the word, dying, a man screamed in agony from beside him.
“No! Ahhh! No! Don’t come out here! Ahhhhhh!”
“Devlin!” I yelled and shot up from my hiding position and ran out the front door. Xander tried to reach for me. I was too fast for his hands, but not too fast for Matias. He caught me on the porch before I could fall into Ironshot’s clutches.
“Emelia! So lovely to finally meet you! My! You are a beauty, just like your mother!”
The man who I knew was Michael Ironshot was smiling from ear to ear as if he were truly glad to meet me. Devlin was floating in midair, his hands bound behind his back and he was bent in an unnatural angle with his head thrown back.
“Run!” he ground out through gritted teeth. He was in serious pain and the man with the shit-eating grin was the one causing it.
“Not this time, Dev,” I told my uncle.
“Isn’t that sweet? Ahhh and look! You have friends! Why don’t you introduce them?”
Xander was standing on my right, slightly in front of me and Matias on my left as we stood on the porch. Ironshot leaned forward and squinted his eyes.
“Nevermind, Emelia,” he told me. It was strange, the way he was talking was like we were having a real, true conversation. “I know that man right there.” He pointed to Xan. “Good to see you, Xander! Do your parents know where you’ve been?
Xander’s response was to growl, low and menacingly.
Ironshot smiled even brighter as his eyes slid past me to Matias. “You, I don’t know. Should I?”
The corner of Matias’ mouth turned up in a dangerous grin and I knew he was plotting how many ways he could decapitate the asshole in front of us.
The caster lightly laughed and then brought his eyes back to me. “Come now, Emelia. Let’s talk as civilized people do and I’ll let your two friends go, along with your uncle. I’m only here for you. What do you say?”
“I say you’re completely full of shit,” I shot back. “You have no intention of letting any of us go, so cut the crap and tell me exactly what you want from me.”
His smile changed from friendly to dark and dangerous. “You’re right, of course. So astute, just like your mother. You haven’t asked about her. Don’t you want to know how she’s doing?”
“Not particularly, no. Now let Dev go, and I won’t have to kill you where you stand.”
Ironshot threw his head back and laughed. “Kill me? My dear, you are a hoot!”
With his words, men began walking out from the woods behind him, Ronan among them. My heart rate picked up and I took a step toward him, but Xan’s hand shot out, stopping me from making a mistake.
Ronan looked afraid for a second, but when he saw I was held back he returned to his neutral facial expression.
“Ronan, my boy!” Ironshot called out when he saw my caster mate. He motioned for him to come to him and Ronan didn’t hesitate. “Emelia, you remember Ronan, don’t you?”
“Not really, no. Should I?” I asked.
“Oh come on! You know your own fated mate, don’t you?”
“Eh, mates come and go, right?” I tried my best to seem unaffected but I was afraid I was overdoing it, just a little bit.
“Lass, please come with us,” Ronan said. “I promise, I’ll take care of you. Your friends too. Please, Millie, be smart about this.”
The words were coming out of his mouth, but his eyes were telling me something different. His eyes were telling me to run and run fast, but how could I? Not without my uncle, and not without him.
“Come now, Emelia. Listen to your mate. I promise no harm will come to any of you.”
I tilted my head to the side and narrowed my eyes at the interloper in front of me, tired of the game he was playing. “You see, Michael, the fact you’re torturing my uncle, your mate’s brother, tells me something different. It tells me you’re a sick, twisted little man who enjoys pulling the wings off of insects and smothering puppies in your spare time. So please, for the love of all things holy, cut the bullshit! Let him go and we’ll leave and never bother you again.”
“Your mere existence bothers me!” he screamed, finally dropping the facade. “You are an abomination!”
“An abomination who
