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I pulled my arms out to the sides. Fireballs appeared at my fingertips, and I threw them toward Ezra, but he had powered up the leaves on the ground in front of him to create a wall for protection. The fireball slammed into it and torched the leaves instead. Ezra slammed his hand into the dirt, sending a wave of soil toward me, ready to encase me in an earthen tomb.

I held up a hand for everything to stop. Ezra scrunched up his face before releasing the power. He obviously didn’t want it to end while he had the upper hand on us. After the earth settled, he walked to Leah to help her out of the hole.

“Okay, I think this was the most fun we have had in a while,” Leah said as she gripped Ezra’s hand. “We need to do this more often, Caleb.”

Simon brushed off the twigs and leaves sticking to his sweater. “The sparring is fun and all, but there’s nothing like using our powers,” Simon added.

“I know, Simon. But it’s the same shit I’ve been telling Mercy since she went through her Awakening,” I said. “There may be a situation where our powers are taken from us like they were with Mercy when she was held captive in the lair. By all of us improving our fighting skills with our hands, not magic, it may be the only thing that can save us.”

“Yeah, we get it, but this was much more fun.” Ezra beamed. “Admit it.”

I looked up at the sky, and gray clouds were forming overhead. “Shit. A storm is supposed to roll in today. We can keep practicing or head out.”

“Let’s keep training,” Leah answered for everyone.

Simon and Ezra both agreed.

We trained for another hour, but we headed back when the storm became too fierce. With Ezra’s power, he controlled the elements of the earth, which also meant he could control the weather. Still, we vowed to let nature take its course and only use our magic if it was necessary or when we were training.

CHAPTER 20

Mercy

IT WAS EARLY, and I mean early. I eyed the clock as I neared Lily’s home, which read eight in the morning.

On a Saturday.

I had barely fallen asleep around two in the morning, and the coffee had stirred me awake.

Why the hell do people do this?

I walked in and found Lily in the kitchen, cooking our breakfast. Bradley sat at the table and smiled at me the moment we locked eyes. Joel was watching the morning news in the living room, but I didn’t see Derek anywhere.

“Where’s Derek?” I asked as I joined him on the couch.

Joel turned to face me. “I bought a ticket for him last night to fly back to New York early this morning.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Everything okay?”

He nodded. “Mercy, this shit that’s going on with Maurice and the killings; we both realized our place is here, where we can protect you. Well, me. I won’t put Derek in the crossfire. But he could at least head back home, meet with our real estate agent, and find us a place closer to you two.”

“Wait, are you moving here permanently?” I asked, my voice rising.

Joel smiled and turned off the TV, directing his attention back to me. “We are. We’re going to list our home in two weeks,” he said. “Derek’s going to get the house ready for showings this weekend.”

I beamed, “Joel, that’s amazing news!” I looked over at Lily in the kitchen. “Is that why everyone is meeting here? To tell me that?”

He shook his head. “No, the news is something Lily wants to share with us. I still don’t even know.”

“Breakfast is ready, guys,” Lily called from the kitchen.

Lily had made pancakes with chocolate and fruit toppings, and I didn’t waste a minute before diving in, forking the edge of my pancake, not adding any toppings yet.

“Alright, Lily, what’s the big news you wanted to share?” I asked, my mouth stuffed.

She looked at Bradley, who flashed a massive grin, then held out her hand. A shiny diamond ring almost blinded me. The buttery pancake turned to a bland paste on my tongue, and I swallowed hard.

I looked over, and Joel looked just as surprised as I was.

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