Page 20 of Iridian

The magic that had been pressing against my chest disappeared. It no longer buzzed in my ears, either, and everyone was still looking at the guard as he whispered in Madeline’s ear.

I thought for a moment I could make a run for it. I thought for a moment I could jump to my feet and run and protect myself when they came after me, but that’s only until I remembered that I didn’t have the bracelet on me—or my father’s ring.

“What is the meaning of this, Madeline?” Natasha the Greenfire demanded when the guard stepped back and waited, his unblinking eyes on my grandmother.

My grandmother who had been looking at the floor for a moment before turning to Helen—it had beenherwho’d been chanting that spell to pull at my magic. Which made sense since she was the only Whitefire in our midst.

“Selem is here,” Madeline said, and every inch of my body rose in goose bumps.

Silence—such a long and heavy silence that could make a person believe she’d gone deaf.

Then…

“They wouldn’t,” said George in a whisper, and his voice trailed off as a strange smile spread his lips.

And I thought,no, please no, please no, please no…

“They’re here and they claim they know how to find David,” Madeline continued, and now my stomach was doing all kinds of horrible dances.

“By the Goddess,” said Nicholas and fell on the armchair with a deep sigh, almost like he was relieved. Not because of what Madeline said, but because he wouldn’t have to go through with what they’d wanted to do just now—drainme and give him my magic. My life source.Allof me.

“And…” Madeline said, and her eyes locked on mine just for a split second when she said, “They have the bracelet.”

Fuck, Taland, run!my mind shouted, while another part of me was thankful, so thankful I wanted to burst out in tears with relief.

He’d come back for me. He’d brought the bracelet—that fucking bracelet. He’d come back for me, and I honestly thought it was only him. I honestly thought he’d made it to me himself.

“Very well,” Helen said, stepping away from me, and all the others did the same. “Invite them in, I suppose. Let’s have a chat.”

Everyone was already taking their seats and filling their glasses. Madeline turned her head to the side just slightly and nodded, and the guard understood. He walked out the door, closing it behind him, leaving us alone once more.

Meanwhile, I had made a mess of my palms and my eyes were closed and air went down my throat with ease. I was breathing. I was alive.For now.

Never before had I felt more helpless than I did in those moments, not even in that alley in Night City, when the other players had been chasing me, coming to kill me. That’s why I already decided that I wasnevergoing to allow myself to be in that position again even before the door opened—this time without a knock.

The first to come in was Aurelia Mergenbach, and my heart took a long pause at the sight of her face. Behind her was none other than Radock Tivoux, and my eyes refused to blink for fear he’d disappear. Zachary followed, and behind him was Kaid, then Seth.

Behind Seth came Taland, and the room around me disappeared.

Taland was in Madeline’s mansion, in Madeline’s office.

Taland was here.

Our eyes locked. The people spoke, but I couldn’t understand a word they said, and I didn’t care to. Taland was here, and hewas standing on his own even though he looked like shit. He had a clean black shirt and a new jacket on, but his jeans were a mess and there was dirt around his neck, too, like he hadn’t had time to even shower.

He wore boots—and an expression on his face that said he wasthisclose to setting the fucking world on fire.

“That’s far enough.”

The sound of Madeline’s voice fell in the center of my mind like a big piece of rock. I was suddenly aware that Taland and I were not the only people in this room. I was suddenly aware that I had made it to my feet, too.

I’d stood up without even realizing it, and now everyone was standing, and the office had never looked sosmall.

The doors closed. The tension in the air was so thick I could feel it pressing against my skin, and Taland was there still. He hadn’t disappeared. I hadn’t imagined him—he was there and he was looking at me and he seemed calmer by the minute.

Calmer because he didn’t know what these people had been about to do to me, and I preferred it that way. Because now he was here and now the Council had access to him. Now he was here, and the Council could kill him just as they’d been about to kill me, so I needed him to remain calm. To not piss them off.

Goddess, please, don’t piss them off,my fear begged.

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