against Variant-run institutions and businesses have turned violent as tensions between human picketers and frustrated Variant business owners begin to boil over. In Los Angeles, a large group of protesters outside a Variant abilities training studio started breaking windows, and a fight broke out when the business owner—a Variant with a water ability—attempted to disperse the crowd by dousing them with water. Similar incidents have occurred in other cities the world over, with some of the worst violence seen in Moscow, where a riot erupted. The widespread violence resulted in several deaths and many injuries with . . .”
I hardly registered Ethan’s protestations about me having fed myself. I waved him off, my full focus on the TV.
Variant Valor were getting louder and more brazen in their discriminatory rhetoric, and more and more Variants were no longer ashamed to say they subscribed to the organization’s extremist views. Some had even set up local branches and held meetings. We’d been invited to more than one in Bradford Hills. Tyler and the administration at the Institute were doing all they could to shut it down, but there wasn’t much they could do about people meeting off campus.
The Human Empowerment Network had taken on a life of its own. Melior Group investigations had all but confirmed that the HEN had been started by Variant Valor and Davis Damari himself to create more fear and unrest, making it easier to push the boundaries of what was acceptable in terms of controversial legislation and risky experiments and business ventures. Davis had no qualms about breaking the law when it came to his demented science experiments. He had enough power and influence to build an underground facility in Thailand without anyone knowing or questioning it.
“It’s going to turn into World War III at this rate.” I groaned and rubbed my forehead as images of the riots in Russia flicked across the screen.
Josh used his ability to press the power button on the remote. “Hey, look at me.” He turned me in his arms, and I looked into his kind green eyes. “The news always makes it seem worse than it is. They’re fearmongers. That’s exactly what Davis wants—more fear—but it doesn’t change the facts. There’s a whole private security firm, hundreds of highly trained operatives, working against him. All you have to worry about today is focusing on your lectures and your chemistry lab. OK?” He raised his eyebrows.
I nodded and went to get ready for school, but the heavy feeling of dread still sat in the pit of my stomach. I focused instead on the weight of the books I stuffed into my bag and the hint of Josh’s cologne as I slipped on his Bradford Hills Institute hoodie.
When I’d grabbed everything I needed, I went back downstairs, sitting on the bottom step to put my boots on. They were a cute black pair of ankle boots that went great with my skinny jeans.
“Has Tyler left already?” Lucian came out of the west wing corridor dressed in a suit and tie, a briefcase on his knees. “I thought we were heading in together.”
He looked around and I followed his gaze. Plaster dust covered the marble floor of the foyer, and various piles of building material and tools littered one side of the wide space. Lucian had to navigate slowly around some timber to join me at the staircase, and I frowned at the offending wood. I would have to have a chat with the contractors about being mindful of their client.
“He said something about having an important meeting and ran out about half an hour ago.” I shrugged.
“Oh. Must’ve come up last minute.” Lucian shrugged too, not at all put out by the fact that his adopted nephew and righthand man had left him behind.
Boots thudded down the stairs. I turned to see Alec jogging down, dressed in his Melior Group blacks but not armed. His ink was snaking out of the sleeves of the tight long-sleeved T-shirt and crawling up his neck. I wanted to tear the fabric away to see them fully, move my hands down his defined, scarred chest and undo his belt . . .
“You’re going in with me and my team, Uncle Luce.” Alec’s deep voice drew me out of my lascivious thoughts, and I was glad I couldn’t blush. “Gabe had to rush in.”
“Ready when you are.” Lucian smiled and started to wheel himself over to the garage door. “Have a good day, Evie.”