Page 101 of The Aether

With a slight shake of his head, Damian addressed Brooke. “Alex is right. This has setup written all over it.”

Her concern was evident in the side glances she threw her Red Guard, and Damian could sense her heightening unease.

“Brooke, if I may?” At her nod, he approached her. “Let me paint the setting, and you can tell me if it’s accurate. You returned to base and told Butthanger I’d bring my daughter in tomorrow for the tribunal.” She made an affirmative gesture. “However, his jowly face wobbled as he sputtered his dismay?”

Her lips twitched. “Yes.”

“Sorry, I was picturing the scene. Perhaps I went too far.”

“Not at all,” she replied. Her frown fell away as she fought a smile.

“Good. To continue. He bid you return and what? Arrest me? Try to kill me?”

“He said to use whatever force was necessary and that your magic would be reduced.”

“But it’s not.”

Her gaze traveled the expanse of her team like a high-speed train, then settled on Damian. “Clearly, since you were able to sense us so easily.”

“Clearly.” He sauntered back to where Alex now rested with his back along the jagged stone wall, purposefully studying his nail beds.

“Alex, would you like to finish how this little scene plays out?”

Castor clapped his hands like an excited three-year-old. “Oh! I’ve been waiting for my turn.”

Running a hand across his mouth, Damian hid his grin.

“Okay! So here’s what’s going to happen,” Castor said, gesturing with his hands as if he were drawing everyone closer for story time. “You all are going to attack, per your ridiculous orders. The Aether, fully juiced, is going to wipe you all out with a simple flick of his wrist.” He shot a faux exasperated glance Damian’s way. “Keeping all the fun for himself, I might add.”

“It’s expedient,” Damian quipped.

“Sure, but I never get to play.”

“Whine, whine, whine.”

Castor shrugged and faced Brooke. “What amounts to a one-minute skirmish won’t kill Damian, but it will put a target on his back when he defeats all of you. He’ll be labeled unstable, and all the deities, the Authority, and the Six will be forced to step in. They’ll attempt to entomb him.”

Brooke’s midnight-blue eyes darkened with the realization she’d been a pawn in a game far above her pay grade.

“But they won’t be able to,” Damian stated with satisfaction. “Would you care to learn why, Ms. Ellis?”

Castor grinned.

After a considering pause, she nodded.

“He’s got friends,cher.”

She spun toward the wall opening where Draven and Creed were looming. Although Masters’s stance was deceptively casual, his companion’s was not. Expression steely, Creed manipulated a ball of fire in his palm in a slow, menacing rotation.

“An Aether, a Traveler, a Guardian, and one pissed-off ex-employee of the Authority. What do you suppose your chances are, Brooke?” Alex asked pleasantly as if discussing the weather.

“You forgot the Wraith,” Creed stated succinctly.

Draven nodded. “You can’t see or feel her, but she’s here, nonetheless.”

“My suggestion is simple, Ms. Ellis.” Damian waited until she met his cool, no-nonsense gaze. “Forget this foolishness. Take your team and go home. Save their lives and your own.”

Torn, she shook her head.

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