for them. You’ll be dead.”
Domino’s sneer was a defense mechanism. “What do you think you’ll do? I’m protected by the Mages’ Guild. They will claim vengeance for my death.”
Sebastian laughed. “The Mages’ Guild would surely go after Jacinta Ironheart, this is true, but we both know they won’t dare come after me. Which is why I will spare her the hardship and kill you myself.”
A peal of thunder rolled through the sky, temporarily drowning out a few remaining gun blasts. It was almost over. Sebastian had to hurry this up.
“What do you want?” Domino straightened up. “Money? Meetings with my connections to get back into the magical elite? Done. If you want the halfwit mage, have her. She’s nothing. I was simply curious.”
“I have all the money I could ever want, actually. And no, I don’t need your paltry connections. I need a body. My plans won’t work without one. You’ll do nicely. Your ugly mug doesn’t matter much, because I’ll give you a new one. Mine, if you must know. Well, not mine exactly, but the one I’ve been wearing.” He let himself grin. “Around the shifters, she never worried about its expressionlessness. That was a stroke of luck.”
Fear crept into Kinsella’s eyes and his brow lowered. “You’re nothing. Momar owns the magical world now, not you. He pushed you aside. You’re lucky he didn’t kill you.”
“He certainly tried.” Sebastian took a step forward. “There is a difference between stepping back from the magical world…and being pushed aside. I wanted to see about some predictions made by my late sister. My situation these past years was entirely voluntary, and entirely temporary. Soon I will reemerge. Hopefully I will do it with the only female gargoyle in existence, and the most powerful shifter alive. Soon I will take Momar’s nightmares directly to him, and watch him dance.”
Thirty-Four
Silence descended around us. Movement slowed and then stopped, my team looking around for anyone still standing. None of our enemies were—those who hadn’t fallen had fled.
Sucking in deep breaths, I changed back into my human form. “Check our people,” I called out. “Make sure no one is too badly hurt. Call me if someone needs healing.” I looked around the ground for my clothes, trying to stand straight and tall like the nakedness wasn’t bothering me.
Shifters started moving immediately, some changing into human form and others staying furry. Cyra changed into human as well, her clothes magically still on. Totally unfair. She didn’t check on our side, though—she checked on theirs. If she found someone moving around, she fixed the glitch.
“No, no, let them—”
“It has to be done,” Kingsley said, also naked and giving me plenty of space. It shocked me mute, and I stared really hard at his face so I didn’t give in to curiosity and accidentally check if he was blessed with size like his brother. “You have to send a message that you will not tolerate attacks.”
Other shifters changed, Austin being one of them, and he immediately started looking after his people. He glanced my way but didn’t say anything. He was leaving the call up to me.
I bit my lip as Cyra moved on to someone else. She pointed, and Hollace swooped down to blast the man with electricity. They were dividing up the gore for sport, it seemed like. For fun.
My stomach turned. My jaw hurt from clenching my teeth.
Sebastian limped out from around the side of the banquet hall, holding his side. The sight of his wounds tore at me.
“No.” I continued to stare at Kingsley. I saw the spark of violence in his eyes, the evidence that he was not used to having his authority challenged.
But he had no authority here.
“No,” I repeated. I threw bands around Cyra to keep her from cracking a wounded woman’s neck. She struggled, trying to burn through my magic. I wouldn’t allow it. “I can’t do this. We will not continue to assassinate the wounded. That is not what I stand for. They will be given a chance to reform.” I raised my voice and backed it by magic. “If you are still alive, you will remain so. I’ll do everything I can to make sure of that. But if you ever come back here, intending to do me or mine harm, I’ll kill you myself. Is that clear?”
I didn’t wait for them to respond. I assumed they wouldn’t. Nor did I need Kingsley’s curt nod. I would not compromise my own principles because things were done differently in