Page 21 of Fallen
Amand steps up on my other side, resting his hand on my shoulder. “Good. He should be. After this, he’s done.”
I nod, but my stomach twists. Silas’s betrayal hurts more than I want to admit. He was my first love, the guy who made me feel alive before all this shit happened, leaving me to pick up the pieces. Now he’s tied to a bomb that could kill half the city, and I’m the idiot who let him back into my life. I shove the guilt down, focusing on the task. “Let’s move.”
Gerald’s with us, his Chameleon scent blending with mine as he signals for Essence PI’s backup to surround the building. I still don’t trust the fucker but that’s an issue for another time.Lily’s back at the community center, working to disarm the bomb with the stolen unicorn horn, while Jace’s team has Elias cuffed at headquarters. This is our shot to end Silas’s game, but I’m not naive enough to think it’ll be easy.
The door creaks as I push it open, my magic fading me into the shadows. The warehouse is a maze of crates and rusted machinery, the air thick with dust and Silas’s scent. I follow it, Rowan and Amand close behind, my mates ready to shift if things go south. My nose leads us to a back room, where Silas is hunched over a table, a burner phone in his hand. He’s muttering into the earpiece, and I catch the faint metallic tang of unicorn magic—Elias’s influence, bleeding through their twin bond.
I step into the light, my magic snapping me visible. “Silas, game’s over.”
He spins toward me, the panic in his eyes making an appearance before he masks it with that charming smile I used to fall for. “Lev,” he says, his voice smooth despite the tremor. “I knew you’d find me. You’re too smart for your own good.”
“Flattery won’t help you,” I snap, stepping closer. “You planted the bomb, didn’t you? To frame Elias, to get rid of him and play the hero. What was the plan, Silas? Win me back with a fucking explosion?”
He laughs and raises his hands. “You’ve got it wrong, Lev. I was trying to stop Elias. He’s the killer, not me.”
I shake my head, my magic flaring as I sift through his scent. “Bullshit. Your blood’s the anchor for the bomb. You set it up, hoping Elias would take the fall. You’re the worst ex ever, Silas. A bomb? Really? Try flowers next time.”
Gerald steps forward, taking over the moment, “You’re done, Silas. Tell us how to disarm it, or you’re going down with your brother.”
Silas’s smile falters, and he backs up, his hands shaking. “You don’t understand. Elias was going to ruin everything. I had to stop him, had to make him pay. The bomb was insurance—if he didn’t back off, I’d take him out and save the city. I’d be the hero, Lev. For you.”
I stare at him, my heart twisting. “For me? You used me, Silas. You told Elias about me, got him obsessed, and now you’re playing savior? You’re pathetic.”
His face crumples, and for a moment, I see the guy I loved in college—charming, flawed, human. But it’s gone as fast as it came, replaced by desperation. He lunges for the phone, probably to trigger the bomb, but I’m faster. My magic flares, fading me into the shadows, and I tackle him, pinning him to the floor. He struggles but Gerald’s there, his own Chameleon magic blending with mine as we cuff him with enchanted restraints.
“You’re done,” I say, my voice shaking with anger. “You don’t get to hurt anyone else.”
Silas glares up at me, his eyes burning. “You’ll regret this, Lev. You think you’re safe with them? They’ll die for you, and you’ll be alone again.”
Rowan’s growl vibrates through the bond, and he steps forward. “Keep talking, asshole. See how fast I rip you apart.”
My phone buzzes, and I check it—Lily’s text:Bomb disarmed. Horn worked. Get Silas to HQ.Relief floods me, but it’s tinged with guilt. Silas’s betrayal cuts deep, a reminder that I let him in, let him manipulate me. If I’d been smarter, none of this would’ve happened. I also just hate how easy this all is. There’s no fucking way this is over like that.
We head to Essence PI, Silas cuffed in the back of an SUV, his silence deafening. The command center is quieter now, the bomb threat is neutralized, but Elias’ shifters are still a problem, its remnants scattered across the city. I’m exhausted, my bodyaching, but the weight of Silas’s words lingers.You’ll be alone again.I know he’s wrong, but the fear is there.
I twist around to stare at the car Silas is in, Gerald and his other employees making sure to keep Silas contained. We now have more problems than we started with. Shifters to track down and a boss to investigate. At least I have my mates, right?
Amand strings an arm around my side and tugs me against him, Rowan meeting my gaze through the rearview mirror. “We’re not going anywhere, Lev. Alright? And we’ll figure all this out. For now, let’s just be happy that we stopped the bomb. Yeah?”
I nod, tilting my head up for a kiss that Amand gladly gives. I might not be able to save everyone but knowing that Silas and Elias are no longer on the street provides me some solace. “Great, when we get home, can we fuck?”
There’s a bout of silence and then laughter as Rowan makes a sharp left turn. “Yeah, we can debrief everyone later.”
Chapter 19
LEVIATHAN
Three weeks after the unicorn case, I feel like I’ve finally found my place. Especially since Gerald gave me an officeandallowed me to use paper. He calls it barbaric with all of the stacks littered around my space but I call it home.
He even let me bring in my coffee pot which is absolutely falling apart. My magic keeps it running, my mates sitting on just the other side of the glass wall, both of them looking up every so often into my space. Granted, they spend more time sprawled across the couch I requested in here rather than at their manicured desks like everyone else.
Am I the favorite child? Probably.
Am I going to milk the fuck out of it? Why yes, yes I am.
The general hum of typing and beeps from all the gadgets suddenly goes quiet, my entire body on alert. I head toward the entrance of my office and peek my head out, confused as everyone is doing the same. And then in the next second,they scurry back into their private spaces, only Gerald slowly approaching my office.
I swallow nervously as I meet the culprit of the disturbance. A woman strides in through the hallway, her hair a writhing mass of snakes that hiss softly, their eyes glinting like jewels. She’s tall, draped in a flowing black dress that shimmers with subtle magic, her piercing gaze directly focused on me. And when her eyes meet mine, I feel the full brunt of her aura, a shudder running down my spine.
