Layla’s aura flashed with colors that didn’t belong, and though her face remained hidden, her voice was sure and strong. “I like that idea.”
Chapter 4
Quin stared at the top of Layla’s head, the haunted haze around her squeezing his heavy heart. “What's on your mind, love?”
“Lots of things, Quin.”
“I know,” he whispered, nuzzling her hair. “Would you like to tell me what you're scheming on?”
“I'm not scheming on anything. I'm just trying to figure out how to stay alive, and I think testing my magic is a good place to start.”
He knew there was more to it than that, and so did everyone else. He looked at their worried faces and could tell they felt as helpless as him. “So we're going home?” he asked, looking back down.
“Yep,” she answered, “as long as it’s okay with the coven. If not, we’ll find a place nearby.”
“We'll stay in the community, not outside of it.”
“Then it's settled.”
“It's not settled.”
She pulled her face from his neck and found his stare. “What do you mean?”
“What do you intend to do about Agro?”
Layla opened her mouth, but didn't answer, because she didn't know what to say. What she wanted to do was let the bastard come so she could tell him to go to hell, but a response like that would get her family killed, so of course it was out of the question.
“Layla.”
“I don't know, Quin.”
“You're not facing him. I can't let you do that.”
She twisted and pulled herself up, bringing her face closer to his. “How much sense does it make for me to run and hide while others stay and face him? I don't have to be helpless anymore, Quin, and it's unfair for other people to protect me. Do you think our family wanted to face them? No, but they did.”
“This is different.”
“You're right. It is different, but no matter how the victims vary, this is about me, so it's something I should be dealing with. Not everyone except me.”
He took a measured breath while laying his palm on her heart. “It is about you, and that's exactly why you're not facing him. He may be hurting our loved ones, but he's not stealing them, or cursing them, or killing them. Those are the things he’d do to you, and those are far worse than torture spells.”
“He hasn't done any of those things to our family yet, but it’s going to happen. Caitrin told us Agro had to refrain from slaughtering the entire coven the second time he blew through. Then he slaughtered his own soldiers when he dropped in to find the community empty. If he sits on his hands while rebuilding his army, his patience will be spent by his next visit.”
Quin's jaw flexed as he breathed through his nose. “And what do you plan to do about it?”
Hating his tension, Layla snuggled closer and ran her fingers along the curves of his face. “I don't know, but we need to figure it out. I don't want to hide like a helpless victim while others die for me. I followed your rules and ran from him while everyone else stayed, and I did it because I was helpless to do anything else. I'm still helpless, but I don't have to be, and I need to learn how not to be. Until that point, I don't know what I'm going to do.”
“And after that point?”
“I'm going to let him find me.”
“And do what?”
“That depends on him I guess.”
“Are you thinking about trying to kill him?”
She carefully considered this then shrugged. “If that’s what it takes to protect myself and the people I love, yes, I’ll do my best to kill him.” She paused then nodded. “I think I’d have a decent chance.”
Quin's face paled as his aura darkened. “If you learn more about your magic, I have no doubt you could defeat Agro, but he doesn't travel alone, and it's always the others who keep his skin intact. You wouldn't be facing Agro, you’d be facing his army.”
“Well that's something we'll have to consider, isn't it?”
Quin closed his eyes, keeping one hand on her heart and one in her hair, and he stayed that way for a long time, his shadowed aura flowing slowly… sadly. “I can't,” he breathed, finding her stare. “We'll die. Do you understand that? We'll both die whether we take Agro with us or not.”
Layla watched his eyes… his soul, and she could see how torn it was. His pain made her nauseated, and she was tempted to say Okay, let's hide. Just you and me. Forever. But it wasn't right, it wasn't fair, and it wasn't what they wanted, what they deserved. “You really don't think we have a chance, Quin? Not one glimmer of hope?”
“We don't have the power to take on a ruthless army, Layla.”