Page 114 of Our Radiant Embers

“I’d say that being underestimated has served us well,” Nan Jean put in, a reflection of the view she’d put forward earlier. “I don’t see how we benefit from everyone sitting up and taking note.”

She was the grandmother I only wished I’d had—sharp and fiercely protective, warm and subtly funny. But in this case, her biography might skew her perception.

“They already are,” I told her gently. “Ever since the Aqua Reclaimer. Co-leading the Green Horizon Initiative was the final nail in the coffin of any chance you might have had at obscurity.”

Nan Jean’s mouth pulled tight. “Which is why I, for one, voted against it.”

”And the rest of us in favour,” Liam’s mum said. “For better or worse, it’s our path now.”

I tightened my fingers around Liam’s. “It is. And sooner or later, someone will find an excuse to test you. I’d rather it be later.” I’d rather it be never—the Morgans weren’t fighters. “A combination of technomancy and at least one Sun-ranking mage will act as a deterrent.”

This kitchen, with its big wooden table and the dated cabinets, had never felt big to me. Right now, as everyone quietly digested my words and I waited for a reaction, it felt massive.

Liam broke the still life. “How do I explain that I haven’t been quite so forthcoming before? About my powers.”

“Oh, you’ve always been powerful.” I made it an easy, confident claim and raised my hand, palm up. “It’s just that you didn’t have the best training, nothing like what I’ve had, so your control was lacking. But working on the Initiative forced you to step it up—and so you did.”

“You think people will buy that?” he asked.

“They will if I’m the one spreading the word,” I told him.

“You’d do that?”

“Of course.” I was aware that the rest of Liam’s family was watching us, but I didn’t quite dare look at them. My focus remained on Liam. “You’ll need allies. It’s not the Wild West anymore, but there are still plenty of loopholes.” The last time my family had clashed with the Ashtons came to mind. “If you have strong allies, it should lessen the temptation.”

“George,” Laurie said. “Obviously.”

“The Sands’ are well-respected,” I said, “and would be obvious allies. So, yes. But they’re not exactly top-ranking.”

Liam studied me before he smiled, a hint sadly. “I doubt you’ll convince your father and aunt to side with us, Adam.”

“Let me try, at least.” It would be a hard sell given their traditional leanings that abhorred any change to the established order—which saw us at the top, of course.

“One paltry Sun is so far beneath their notice it might as well be…” Liam trailed off, and Laurie jumped in to finish.

“Part of a mole’s home story.”

”What even is your brain,” Jack muttered, a respectful statement rather than a question.

“Yes.” A grin shone in Liam’s eyes. “That.”

“First off,” I told him, “this family isn’t just one Sun, namely you. Technomancy gives you an edge, especially because no one understands it. More importantly, no one’s managed to replicate it.”

“You probably could, at this point. You kind of get how it works, don’t you?” Liam’s voice was calm. I was about to deny it except—yeah, maybe. Not immediately, but if I brushed up on my understanding of technology, learned about electric currents and relied on my increased awareness of my own magic…Probably.

“I haven’t shared it with anyone. Certainly not with my family.” It came out low and serious, and only once it was out did I realise what it said about my loyalties. I let my gaze skim over everyone gathered around the table—Jack’s sweetness that he tried to hide, the always-present impish glint in Laurie’s eyes, Nan Jean’s birdlike stature that concealed her iron will, and the steady warmth of Liam’s parents.

Liam.

God, I liked them all so much. Could I help protect them?

I’d bloody well try.

* * *

In the end, the family voted largely for what I’d proposed. I abstained, not meant to have a stake in the outcome, yet I found myself breathing easier at the idea of them taking things more seriously. A concerted effort to reach out to potential allies to firmly establish themselves in the top tier of our magical community was overdue.

The lorry arrived to pick up the waste recycling unit. Before Liam and I followed in separate cars, I faked a toilet break to sneak a note under Liam’s pillow. Sentimental? Maybe. But it was so much easier to be brave on paper. It was also something tangible, a visible trace that proved I trusted him to guard our secret.

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