Page 113 of Our Radiant Embers

You could have heard a pin drop.

Liam’s dad glanced at me, then back at his son. “You trust him?” he asked, not unkindly.

“I do,” Liam said, simple yet firm.

Warmth flushed my cheeks. I bent my head to hide my reaction and fumbled for Liam’s hand under the table. He laced our fingers for a tight squeeze, as though I was the one who needed reassurance when I was meant to be here for him.

“Well.” Nan Jean’s bright, crisp voice rang clear in the quiet space. “Who’d have guessed it when he first waltzed into this kitchen in all his mighty glory, hmm?”

“Not me, that’s for sure.” Liam’s smile faded far too soon. “But that’s not the point right now. It’s…We think we know who Nan’s father was.”

The kitchen went silent once more.

I wound a warm tendril of my magic around Liam’s wrist to anchor him. It earned me a bright, fleeting look before he turned back to his family and started talking. While he outlined what we’d found, attributing most of the credit to me, I took in the reactions around the table. Nan Jean seemed unsurprised if noticeably tense while Liam’s mum held herself very straight, his father frowning. Jack, on the other hand, appeared downright excited, shifting in his seat. Next to him, Laurie listened with a thoughtful expression, keen concentration in the tilt of her head.

“Everything we learned suggests they’re unpleasant,” Liam finished quietly, with a glance at Jack. “We don’t want to show up on their radar. I think that’s something we can all agree on, right?”

“I don’t see how they’d find us.” Jack leaned forward, blue eyes bright. “They don’t even know we exist. The way I see it, this is the best fucking thing I’ve heard all year. Hey, maybe I will go Sun next!”

“Unlikely,” Laurie said dryly. “Seeing as you’re miles removed from the brightest bulb in the chandelier.”

I bit down on a smile and could tell that Liam did the same. Before Jack had a chance to raise the stakes, Liam’s mum interfered with a pointed, “Not the time for comedy, kids.”

To my surprise, everyone sobered immediately. Much more used to lighthearted banter over meals, this was the first time I’d witnessed the Morgans come together in a serious discussion. In theory, I’d known they could do it—hell, their excellent Green Horizon Initiative proposal was tangible proof, and thank God for that. But seeing them actually settle in for a proper debate was a different matter. It was nothing like the status reports I knew from my family. Instead, everyone was asked for their opinion in turn and given a chance to speak without interruption.

Nan Jean, unsurprisingly, cautioned against anything that might draw attention. Liam’s dad, quiet and solid, preferred to showcase their new powers, while Laurie wanted to protect the status quo. “Things are good right now, no need to rock the boat.” Liam erred on the side of caution, clearly wary about the Duvals and never one who enjoyed it when all eyes were on him. Even Jack, dripping enthusiasm earlier, offered a far more restrained view now.

His mum agreed that they wanted to steer clear of anything that could be picked up in Paris, sure—but that was quite unlikely. Also, if there was a chance to learn more about the workings of the Duval family’s magic, how it intersected with ley lines, that could be useful.

“Adam?” Liam’s mum asked then. “Your turn.”

“My turn?” I glanced around the table. “But I’m not…My opinion doesn’t exactly count.”

“And why not?” Liam asked. The question was edged with sharpness that didn’t seem to be directed at me.

“Because I’m not a member of this family. I don’t get a say.”

“But you have an opinion, don’t you?” Nan Jean fixed me with a clear look that couldn’t be further from the scatter-brained front she’d presented when we first met. “And you are the one who supplied us with this uncomfortable truth. So let’s hear your take on it.”

Under the table, Liam’s fingers squeezed mine. When I glanced at him, he was watching me warmly but with the same air of expectation as everyone else.

“I really don’t think…” I trailed off, unsure.

“For the sake of curiosity…” Laurie’s voice regained a slightly teasing note. “Given how much time you’ve been spending here lately, do you still remember the way to Harrington Manor?”

Before I settled on how to respond, Liam turned to face me. “Listen, Adam—even if it wasn’t for…you know, this?” He brought our laced hands up onto the table for everyone to see. “Your help in the last few weeks has been invaluable. You’ve earned your place here.”

“You have,” his mum said calmly.

“Plus,” Jack added, “you actually know something about the power games at the top. Tell us how to handle this, oh wise one.”

Oh.

“This isn’t exactly your standard playbook situation, is it?” I wasn’t sure why I felt a little choked up. “But, yes. I think Liam is right—the Duvals seem unpleasant, and you’d do well to stay away. There’s very little interaction between our two communities, though. Meaning I don’t think you should make yourself appear weaker than you are.”

“That’s what I said!” Jack sounded triumphant.

I shot him a smile before I turned to Liam. “Pick one of your elements and stick with only that—water would be the obvious choice. And then get some rumours started about how you are in fact much more powerful than you let on in the past. Actually, I can help spread those rumours. There’s no reason it should create a buzz outside our London bubble.”

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