Page 105 of Roaring Flames

I stop breathing.

Stop thinking.

Fear holds me immobile.

“I fucking knew it,” Emery murmurs.

Ethan shushes him.

“This happens from time to time.” Dyson releases a heavy sigh. “Children will get lost in the system or raised by relatives who don’t know about magic. Then, when they develop their gifts, they’re confused and frightened. Is that what happened to you, Bart?”

“Stop calling him Bart,” Izzy interjects, her voice tight with anger. “His name is Ansel.”

Dyson grins like the cat that got the cream. I don’t like the smile he offers Izzy. Not one bit.

“Ansel.” He tilts his head to the side, reluctantly pulling his gaze off of Izzy to study me. “I think Bart suits you better.”

“Illy.” I keep my voice low so only she and the twins can hear. “I don’t know what’s going on, but you should leave.”

“And let you face these fuckers alone?” Unlike me, Izzy doesn’t bother to lower her voice. “Fuck that.”

“Why don’t you run off with your little pet doggies?” the dark-haired woman says, sneering.

I think they said her name was Michelle.

Izzy’s smile is all teeth. “Why don’t I punch you in the face and give you a matching black eye?”

Michelle gasps and spins towards Dyson. “Did you hear her? That fucking bitch?—”

“Enough, sister.” Dyson lifts a hand in the air, stopping her mid-rant. He returns his gaze to Izzy, his eyes sparking with curiosity and something…more. Something I really, really don’t like. “We’re having a civilized conversation here.”

“But—”

“And if you can’t be civilized, then you can go wait in the car,” he continues.

“Or you can take a running leap off a cliff,” Izzy mutters. “Either works.”

Michelle throws Izzy a glare so full of loathing and hatred that I feel my own stomach curdle in fear.

“Ansel.” Dyson extends a hand towards me. “You need to come with us. The Trinity will?—”

Izzy stealthily moves to stand in front of me, the twins still on either side of her.

“Not going to happen,” she says fiercely.

Dyson’s grin ratchets up a dozen notches. “Is that so?”

Terror knots my heart, but the last thing I want is for Izzy to get herself hurt trying to protect me.

“Illy, it’s fine,” I whisper.

She doesn’t spare me a glance. “No, it’s not.” Then, louder, she adds, “We’re going home now, okay? And you’re not stopping us.”

Dyson gestures us forward with more contempt than courtesy. “By all means, go on right ahead.”

“Dyson!” Michelle stomps her foot, but Dyson ignores his sister, keeping his gaze trained on us.

“We’re not the bad guys here,” he continues, his lips curling. “If Ansel doesn’t want to meet with the Trinity, then that’s his choice.”

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