Page 36 of Enchanted Shadows
“Time for some fun?” Miles asked me quietly, already in motion.
I gave him a nod. But before we could get there, a thick cord of turquoise magic formed around each of the men’s four necks, squeezing just enough to make them breathe hard and stall.
Novak and one of the others tried to use their Enchantment to protect themselves, firing at the women, assuming Wren’s magic was responsible. But the green was lighter, bluer. Molly’s. Molly, who had been becoming stronger with her Enchantment, if the speed and quick thinking were any indication.
Vivian easily tossed their attempts back at them with her own power, a lull in the action for only a moment as everyone sized one another up.
Until Fern dipped her fingers into her drink and fired the alcohol into Novak’s eyes. He immediately cried out. His eyes had to burn like hell itself.
I bit back a laugh. It was singlehandedly one of the funniest damn things I had ever seen.
Vivian used her magic to wrap around the other two, sliding them together.
Without us, the women had effectively handled things. I had told them they could stand up for themselves, and that they did.
Miles flanked me as I stepped between Bram and where Zara still stood. I noted Zara had placed herself between him and Wren,ready to protect her. Ready to land some damn punches, it seemed.
Someone had gotten Bram a rag, which he now held to his nose. He had just stepped toward Zara when I slid between them, my back brushing against Zara’s front.
“Bram,” I began. “Long time, no see. Since the time you yourself flunked out of yoursecondattempt at training.”
He cursed at me, but it wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before.
I grinned. “How about you pick on someone your own size.” I made a show of turning to leave and then stopping. “Oh, that’s right. You tried, but you couldn’t hang.”
Wren snorted a laugh before putting a hand over her mouth.
I continued, “I was standing here ready to intervene, but the women you were trying to make a spectacle of instead made a spectacle of you. I didn’t even have to help. How about that?”
“This isn’t over!” Bram screamed from around the bloody rag.
“This party is,” I yelled to all the people staring, the music now stopped.
I used my magic to wrap firmly around Molly’s and pull him toward me. “Speak to my sister like that again, speak to any of these women like that again, and you and I can spend some time together in the mountain. Which I would enjoy.Thoroughly.”
“You wouldn’t. You know who my grandparents are. Peace in Wylan is hanging on by a thread.”
“I don’t give a damn who your grandparents are or aren’t. The king who sits on the Wylan throne does not appreciate men who threaten women. Oppression is never acceptable, Bram. No matter what level of the kingdom you currently find yourself in.” I smacked him on the cheek, a friendly slap. “So I repeat myself. Pick on someone your own size. This is your one and only warning.”
To Miles I added, “Get them out of here.”
“You got it, Boss.”
I waited until the women were all out. Molly let her hold on the others fall, so did Viv. But I kept mine on Bram. He had all of my attention. He was glaring at me with as much hatred as I felt for him.
“Stay away from Wren.”
“Get out of my house,” he rasped against my magic. “None of you were invited in the first place!”
I gave him a laugh. “It’s notyourhouse, silly. It’s your grandparents’.Youhaven’t earned or worked for it, Bram. That’s the problem.” I cocked my head. “The only reason I am not taking you to the mountain right here and right now is because I know they came here of their own will, uninvited. But I am sending Team One in to make sure everyone is gone from here within the hour. Tick tock.”
With that, I spun on my heel and headed out. It wasn’t until I heard the door shut behind me that I dropped my magic from Bram.
As I neared the others, Miles was apparently giving the women a scolding. “Do you not understand all Raikes has done for Wylan? How hard he’s fought for the world we live in?” He pinned a look at Wren. “A world in which he doesn’t have to stand there and watch you get groped by the dead king. And you made him look a fool tonight by walking into a loyalist party. For what? Confirmation that your ex is a sleaze?”
“I had to know!” She batted at a tear. “I had to know. I didn’t think he was like the rest of his family. I didn’t intend to make Owen look bad.”
“Well, you did,” he snapped.
