his tone. I could tell that he genuinely felt bad for his omission , as epic as it was.
“No .” Mason left my side and joined his friend, placing his hand on Devlin’s arm. “But I feel I need to.”
Devlin’s look was incredulous. “You’re kidding, right?” He glanced over at me and I nodded.
“I’m not apologizing for my anger and reaction. But what happened out there in the garden was, maybe, a little extreme. I understand why you kept it to yourself. We’re alike, you and me. We love hard and protect just as fiercely. If I’d been in your position, I would’ve done the same. But, like I told Darcy, the idea that Julian was out there all this time and I was completely clueless . . . that can’t happen anymore. You’re not the only one who cares for her. You’re not the only one entrusted with her safety. I think it’s obvious that everyone in this room would give their lives for her, so we need to all be on the same page. Is there anything else you’ve withheld?”
“I’ve told you everything,” Devlin quietly replied.
“I did want to say thank you, as well,” Mason squeezed Devlin’s shoulder. “Don’t think it’s escaped my attention that it is because of you that Darcy’s enjoyed a normal upbringing. You kept her happy and healthy. You honored your sister and the oath you made. I can’t imagine how difficult it’s been to make the decisions you have . . . but I do understand the love and devotion behind it.”
“It’s the least I could do.”
“I totally meant what I said, we’re good. And, to answer your question, no, you’re not going to have to keep saying sorry. The past is the past and what concerns me now is from this moment on. You mentioned that with Darcy’s powers unbound, she’s like a beacon for this guy?”
“Yeah, her witch nature comes from Julian and my sister; so it makes it easier for him to track. It doesn’t give a specific location, but enough energy for him to have a good idea where to find her. Vivien and I have kept that unique signature hidden Darcy’s entire life. It’s another reason why we’ve tried to always keep her close to the nexus. We believed it would also help silence any residual leakage from the spell, and we were right. There have been a few close calls over the years, but for the most part, Darcy’s been relatively protected.”
“Until now.”
“Yes. Until now.”
“Are you sure he’s even alive?” Daniel interrupted, asking something I had wondered as well. “I mean, this was a long time ago. How do you know he isn’t dead and we’re simply jumping at shadows?” He was leaning against Mason’s desk with his arms folded across his chest. I walked over to join him and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
Mason glanced at Devlin , who shook his head. “He’s alive. Trust me. I haven’t seen him since that night, but there’s plenty of evidence he’s still out there, lurking and waiting.”
“Like what?” I asked, curious ly. It would’ve been simpler if Julian were dead.
“I have people looking for him and whenever I’m out on assignment for Zane, I also make my own inquiries. Rumors and reports filter back to me every now and then of a powerful warlock, of ritualistic sacrifices people have uncovered, and . . .” Devlin’s voice dropped away and he looked painfully uncomfortable.
“Tell us, we can handle it.”
“There have been other women he’s corrupted.” My mind instantly went to the images he’d invoked of Elynor when he’d found her. “There has been evidence of more children. Seems he was trying to recreate what he had with my sister in the hopes of finding a way around the spell.”
I wanted to vomit. The thought of that monster torturing and abusing more people because he was obsessed with immortality wrenched at my insides. He was beyond evil and he was coming for me. Fear blasted through me, causing Mason to walk away from the window and pull me into his strong embrace.
“I
“No .” Mason left my side and joined his friend, placing his hand on Devlin’s arm. “But I feel I need to.”
Devlin’s look was incredulous. “You’re kidding, right?” He glanced over at me and I nodded.
“I’m not apologizing for my anger and reaction. But what happened out there in the garden was, maybe, a little extreme. I understand why you kept it to yourself. We’re alike, you and me. We love hard and protect just as fiercely. If I’d been in your position, I would’ve done the same. But, like I told Darcy, the idea that Julian was out there all this time and I was completely clueless . . . that can’t happen anymore. You’re not the only one who cares for her. You’re not the only one entrusted with her safety. I think it’s obvious that everyone in this room would give their lives for her, so we need to all be on the same page. Is there anything else you’ve withheld?”
“I’ve told you everything,” Devlin quietly replied.
“I did want to say thank you, as well,” Mason squeezed Devlin’s shoulder. “Don’t think it’s escaped my attention that it is because of you that Darcy’s enjoyed a normal upbringing. You kept her happy and healthy. You honored your sister and the oath you made. I can’t imagine how difficult it’s been to make the decisions you have . . . but I do understand the love and devotion behind it.”
“It’s the least I could do.”
“I totally meant what I said, we’re good. And, to answer your question, no, you’re not going to have to keep saying sorry. The past is the past and what concerns me now is from this moment on. You mentioned that with Darcy’s powers unbound, she’s like a beacon for this guy?”
“Yeah, her witch nature comes from Julian and my sister; so it makes it easier for him to track. It doesn’t give a specific location, but enough energy for him to have a good idea where to find her. Vivien and I have kept that unique signature hidden Darcy’s entire life. It’s another reason why we’ve tried to always keep her close to the nexus. We believed it would also help silence any residual leakage from the spell, and we were right. There have been a few close calls over the years, but for the most part, Darcy’s been relatively protected.”
“Until now.”
“Yes. Until now.”
“Are you sure he’s even alive?” Daniel interrupted, asking something I had wondered as well. “I mean, this was a long time ago. How do you know he isn’t dead and we’re simply jumping at shadows?” He was leaning against Mason’s desk with his arms folded across his chest. I walked over to join him and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
Mason glanced at Devlin , who shook his head. “He’s alive. Trust me. I haven’t seen him since that night, but there’s plenty of evidence he’s still out there, lurking and waiting.”
“Like what?” I asked, curious ly. It would’ve been simpler if Julian were dead.
“I have people looking for him and whenever I’m out on assignment for Zane, I also make my own inquiries. Rumors and reports filter back to me every now and then of a powerful warlock, of ritualistic sacrifices people have uncovered, and . . .” Devlin’s voice dropped away and he looked painfully uncomfortable.
“Tell us, we can handle it.”
“There have been other women he’s corrupted.” My mind instantly went to the images he’d invoked of Elynor when he’d found her. “There has been evidence of more children. Seems he was trying to recreate what he had with my sister in the hopes of finding a way around the spell.”
I wanted to vomit. The thought of that monster torturing and abusing more people because he was obsessed with immortality wrenched at my insides. He was beyond evil and he was coming for me. Fear blasted through me, causing Mason to walk away from the window and pull me into his strong embrace.
“I
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