Page 90 of The Brotherhood

Seer’s gaze shot to Beth in astonishment. The guilt on her face aimed at the table said she was still as oblivious as ever. “It wasn’t… it wasn’t like that,” she said quietly.

Colton shrugged. “Pretty damn sure it wasexactlylike that.”

The tension in the room twisted as shoulders shifted with exchanged glances.

“Because you’re a blasphemer,” Zahir muttered under his breath.

“Here we go,” Colton drawled. “Our mind magician graduated to high priest of know it all.”

“All of you wanted the truth.” All eyes swung to Sinrik who bore the barest hint of a smirk as he leveled his gaze on Colten. “She gave it to you.”

Colton met his stare with a cocky challenge. “What do you know,Loverboy.”

“Uh-oh,” Cherie barely said.

Sinrik looked ready to fully inform the man’s face. “I know your kingdom wasn’t able to handle it, Titan of Talk.”

The water under the bridge came to an immediate boil, putting the kind of energy in the room the Marsh Kings were very familiar with.

“What is done, is done,” Nexus declared with a firm, final authority. “And we are here to learn whatever it is the universe needs to teach us regarding it.”

“If youcanlearn it,” Sinrik muttered, a last jab they decided to ignore.

“Which brings me to introduce one of our top students,” Nidev hurried, gluing down the temporary band-aid Nexus had just placed over the ugly wound. He turned slightly. “Maggie.”

The sudden attention brought Maggie to a flurry of fidgeting as she nodded at nobody then eyed Spook.

“Maggie possesses a rare ability.” Nidev glanced at the Pillars. “Through touch, she can see things others cannot. Memories, patterns, truths hidden beneath the surface. With your permission, she will touch each of you and see what her gift shows her.”

Nidev turned and beckoned her to come.

She stood quickly then ducked toward Spook. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” she whispered loudly.

“Baby, it’s fine,” he whispered back, urging her toward Nidev with his hands.

“But we agreed I wouldn’t—”

“This is different,” he pled, his desperation making Seer bite his grin.

She nodded and turned, then hurried back and kissed his cheek before making her way to Nidev.

“Damn, bruh,” Hurricane chuckled quietly as she went. “You got that leashtight.”

Snickers erupted and not just on the Marsh King’s side. The bat bite had taught the Creole Kings all about the obsession Spook suffered with. Seer had news for them all. It wasn’t anewsymptom.

The brief comedy relief faded when Maggie stood next to Nidev. “She will not ask you to speak.” Nidev said. “She only needs to touch you.”

“Their hand,” she hurried, glancing back at Spook.

Cherie buried her mouth in Seer’s arm. “That poor man.”

“Yes,” Nidev acknowledged. “And once she does, she will translate what she sees onto paper.”

Maggie’s brow furrowed slightly as she turned toward the table. “Where’s the paper and pen? I have to have it ready.”

One of the Creole Kings lifted them in silent answer.

She nodded, sliding up the sleeves on her red sweater, shifting from foot to foot.Lord, still her,Seer prayed at seeing her fear.

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