Page 62 of Mayhem and Ember

We waited in the restaurant until Miles and Wendy left before returning home. Now, Ember paced in her usual spot in front of the television.

“An alliance with Boston. I can’t decide if that’s a good idea or a bad one.” She unhooked her shoulder holster and laid it on the counter next to her sword. “What do you think?”

I thought she should continue removing the articles she wore, beginning with her shirt. Sadly she didn’t ask me.

“Let’s think about the pros and cons.” Ash sat on the sofa next to Chaos, drumming her fingers on her knees. “We could use the manpower, for sure. Especially if an entire army gets through.”

“True, true.” Ember clasped her hands behind her back as she walked. “But keeping our involvement in how this all started a secret has been hard enough with our own coven. And BSM is a dark coven. We can’t trust any of them.”

I sat in a chair, watching her pace and think. Her mind was as brilliant as her body was beautiful, and though I normally enjoyed discussing battle plans, all I could think about was how to convince her she and I were fated.

“We don’t even know if what Wendy said was true.” Ash tapped a finger to her lips. “She could have been baiting us.”

“Doubtful,” Ember said. “Drunk people don’t lie.”

“I don’t get the impression Wendy is of a mind to spin such an elaborate tale,” Chaos said. “Or to remember all the details if she were tasked with delivering it.”

“No, she’s definitely not.” Ember stopped and rested her hands on her hips. “What’s our next step?”

“What does your gut tell you?” Ash asked.

Ember paused, casting her gaze upward for a moment. “Stay on course. Knowing why the fae are invading doesn’t change the fact that they are. It doesn’t change anything.”

“Right.” Ash nodded.

“We chill tonight, scry in the morning, and then we go from there.” She gave me a pointed look. “That means you have to stay inside and not cause any trouble.”

“Perhaps I should sleep in your room so you can keep an eye on me.”

“Maybe I should chain you to the bed, so I know you can’t move.” Her eyes widened as she realized her words conveyed a different meaning. Rather than backtracking on her statement, she crossed her arms and arched a brow.

I couldn’t stop the growl from rumbling in my chest.

“Ahem.” Ash eyed Ember and tilted her head toward me.

Ember held up a hand. “Don’t start.”

“I would like to hear what your sister has to say.” I rested my elbows on my knees. “We are supposed to be ‘chilling’ tonight, so let’s have a conversation about something other than the direness of our situation.”

“Okay.” She raised both hands and let them fall at her sides. “Ash insists that just because your mind magic had the opposite effect on me like his does to her, it means you and I are soulmates. Tell her how ridiculous that is.”

It wasn’t ridiculous in the slightest. I pressed the tips of my fingers together, an idea forming in my mind. “How does Chaos’s power affect you?”

She crossed her arms. “He’s never tried.”

I nodded, the corners of my mouth tugging upward. “I propose a way to lay the ridiculousness—or truth—of Ash’s hypothesis to rest.”

“I’m listening.”

I rose to my feet. “Allow me to hold Ash’s mind for a moment. Just long enough for her to feel the effect and act accordingly. Once we have our answer, I’ll release her and never use my power on her again.”

Ember drummed her fingers against her biceps. “No way. Neither one of you is going to mess with our minds.”

Ash’s face held a thoughtful expression before she raised her brows at my brother. “I’m game if you trust him. At the very least, it’ll put Ember’s mind at ease.”

“Or it will prove we are, in fact, soul mates.”

She rolled her eyes. “It won’t prove that, but okay. Fifty bucks says you can’t make Ash violent. Her magic will counter yours.”

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