Magic Kingdom (Dragon Born Alexandria Book 3) by Ella Summers Page B

Logan said, then knocked him over the head.
    Alex looked down at the five humans on the barn floor. “We’re going to have a hell of a time explaining this to the Magic Council. We weren’t supposed to touch them.”
    Logan arched an eyebrow at her.
    “Yes, it’s ridiculous, I know.”
    “Like most mandates that come from the Magic Council.”
    She sighed. “Yes.”
    “Why are we helping them, Alex?”
    “To defeat the Convictionites.”
    “We could do that ourselves.”
    “We tried that already. And look how marvelously it turned out.”
    He watched her closely, his eyes speaking the words his lips did not. She didn’t say it either. He wanted them to just pack up and disappear. Alex knew it grated on his nerves to take orders from the Council who would kill her if they found out what she was, but what choice did they have? They needed to work together—not just she and Logan and the Magic Council, but all supernaturals and all humans too. If they didn’t, the world would burn beneath the flames of hate and war.
    “Come here,” Logan said with a tortured smile, wrapping his arms around her. His lips brushed softly against hers. A flare of bottled frustration popped through their bond.
    “You don’t need to worry about me,” she told him.
    “But I do. Alex, I see where this path will lead, and it isn’t pretty. The Magic Council is not a council of heroes. Even now, even not knowing what you are, they are using you. To them, you are an expendable weapon they can throw at their Convictionite problem.”
    “Not all of them are like that.”
    “No, but most of them are exactly like that. I have killed for them. I’ve seen enough of their organization to know exactly what kind of people they are.”
    “If we can find the good people among them,” she said. “Maybe we can win some allies. Maybe we can change things.”
    “Change the world?”
    “Yes,” she said stubbornly. “It’s about time someone did.”
    A soft laugh hummed in his chest. He pulled her in closer, folding his arms around her in a tight embrace. “This is why I love you.”
    “Not for my wicked wit?”
    “You play the tough mercenary, but inside you’re all soft. You see the best in people, even jaded assassins.” He squeezed her to him.
    “Logan,” she protested. “I’m getting garlic all over you.”
    He glanced down at her garlic-scented jacket. “I’m afraid it’s already too late for that, love. So we might as well enjoy this.”
    She dropped her head to his chest. He was right. Who knew when they’d be hurled into the next catastrophe. Sometimes, you just had to take a moment to be happy—before it was over.
    “Alex, I—”
    Something hard hit her, slamming her to the ground as the walls of the barn exploded.

CHAPTER SIX
    Melting Magic

    ALEX CRAWLED OUT from the pile of debris that had been a perfectly nice barn just a few minutes ago. A shifting mass of wood splinters spread across the muddy field like a tattered blanket, simmering with plumes of dark smoke. The thick, lingering tang of explosives burned her nose. Whoever had blown up the barn was not pulling any punches. If Logan hadn’t shielded her, she probably wouldn’t have survived. He stood beside her, glaring down at the debris.
    “It’s a good thing you’re as resilient as a vampire,” she told him with a smile.
    He inhaled deeply. “They used explosives to take down the barn.”
    “How many?”
    “Not many. It doesn’t take much to bring down an old wooden barn.”
    “They tried to kill us,” she said.
    The glare in his eyes burned hotter. “Yes.”
    “And we’re not allowed to kill them back.” She kicked a pile of debris.
    “The people who cornered us inside are dead, crushed by the falling barn.”
    “They were just puppets, distractions to keep us inside while someone else brought down the barn.” She turned, staring across the empty expanse of sleeping farm fields. There was no one around. “That someone is long gone. They