Midnight Truth (Shifter Island #4) - Leia Stone Page 0,69

shed where the three other high mages who’d tried to kill me were waiting outside.

Well, well. This had a 99.7% chance of being extremely uncomfortable.

None of the high mages were heirs anymore. We were all high masters of our element, and we’d each just lost our father or grandfather. There was a somber weight in the air, but this group seemed to be encased in a cloud of gloom. They sat against the shed’s wall with their heads hung low.

I looked at Rage and tipped my head to the trees. ‘Give me some time with them.’

He nodded. ‘Julian is inside the shed, awaiting questioning for his involvement.’

‘Thanks.’ I took a deep breath and crossed the distance to the group.

“Your fathers were heroes.” Might as well start off with an olive branch. “They saved everyone.”

Jane raised her chin, her black hair framing her face. She swallowed hard, and her eyes glistened with tears. “So was your grandfather.”

The other two boys chimed in with their condolences as well. The seconds dragged on until we reached Awkwardville.

“Look, I know we’ve had our differences.” Like when you tried to freaking kill me yesterday. I kept the latter part to myself as someone needed to take the high road. “But … we’re the High Mage Council now, and, I figure, we—” I pointed in a circle to include each of us—“can choose to do things differently than our predecessors.” My announcement was greeted with silence, so I stated the obvious. “We probably don’t want to start the next thousand years or so with a feud.”

One by one, I saw understanding dawn on each of their faces. Yep, that’s right. We were going to live and reign for a long-ass time together.

“Sorry about … the attack yesterday,” the girl with black hair said. “Not that it makes it okay, but Julian put us up to it. I think … I think it was his father’s doing.”

Shocker.

“Anyway, I’m Jane, high master of air.” She knew I knew her name, but she reached out her hand like she was hoping for a fresh start, a new first impression.

After a deep breath, I shook it. After all, this was what our people needed—even if part of me still wanted to punch her. “Well met, Jane. I’m Nai.”

“Carson.” The brunette dude kicked off the shed and shook my hand. “Earth.”

“I’m Xavier,” the final dude grumbled. His handshake was brief and clammy, and his thin body trembled. He forced a swallow, and his red-rimmed eyes filled with fresh tears. “Fire,” he croaked.

Yeah. He wasn’t handling Snade’s death well, but right now wasn’t the time to tell Xavier that his father was a douche.

“So, we need to question Julian about his involvement in the attack and see if he knows anything that can help us make a plan to get the Island back. Do you guys want to come in, or would you rather go find a tent and get some rest?” I glanced at the door and frowned. “I’m going in with the alpha king, but each of you is on the High Mage Council now, so we should all be on the same page.”

Jane’s expression turned vicious. “I’m going in with you. If he knew about the attack beforehand, I’ll kill him.”

Well, it was good to see her loyalty was flexible.

“Me too. I’m going in with you,” Carson said.

Xavier shook his head and waved dismissively at the door. “I’ll pass. I trust Jane and Carson to find out what Julian knows. I don’t even want to see his face right now. I need some time alone.”

I could respect that too.

“We’ll come get you when we start to make a plan to get our home back. Okay?” I offered Xavier a tight smile.

He shrugged and then walked away.

I turned and scanned the trees to see Rage leaning against one, watching us. I beckoned him over, and after terse introductions, we stepped over to the front of the shed.

‘Got my back?’ I asked Rage with my hand on the door handle of the shed.

He grinned, eyes going yellow. ‘Always.’

I pulled the door open, and light flooded into the windowless space. Justice stood from where he’d been sitting in front of the door as a guard and faced us. Behind him, in the center of the small shed, was Julian, hands tied behind his back with a towel around his mouth, gagging him.

“Watch the door for us?” Rage asked his brother.

Justice nodded once and then slipped outside, allowing Jane and Xavier in before