Pyromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 1)

“He didn’t do anything.”

“We need to question him.”

“If this is about the fires, he doesn’t know more than I do. Ask me what you want to know.”

“If he were innocent, he wouldn’t have run. Where is he?”

Clelia stared at Maya. No matter what they did to her, she’d never betray Erwan. He loved and protected her when everyone else cast her out.

Maya’s expression tightened. Before Clelia could anticipate the move, Maya pulled back an arm and backhanded Clelia. The blow sent her head sideways and made her ears ring. A metallic taste filled her mouth. The ring had caught her mouth and split her lip.

Grabbing Clelia’s arm, Maya shook her. “I asked you a question.”

“Maya,” Lann said from the counter, “gently.”

The backdoor opened and sunlight spilled inside, blinding Clelia for a moment before she made out Joss’s tall figure in the frame.

He stood very still, taking in the scene, and then he stepped inside and slammed the door so hard it rattled in the frame. “Let her go, Maya.”

Maya’s lips parted. A frown marred her face. “I’m questioning a suspect.”

He closed the distance and stopped in front of them. His voice was soft, but the underlying threat didn’t need volume to carry through. “I won’t tell you again.”

Maya loosened her fingers.

“If you ever lay a hand on her again, I’ll cut it off,” he said.

Maya’s eyes widened. A green fire raged in their depths. Aggression tainted the air. Clelia didn’t dare move. Her stomach tightened in response to the power wrestling playing off. Lann, on the other hand, sipped his tea with an indifferent expression, watching the action as if it was a boring spectacle.

Finally, Maya relented. Shoulders slumping with an exhale of breath, she stepped away with narrowed eyes.

Turning his attention to Clelia, Joss traced the seam of her lips with a thumb. “Why is she bleeding?”

“My ring caught her lip,” Maya said.

“What was your ring doing in her face?” he asked, not looking away from Clelia’s lip that was pulsing with a rhythmic ache.

“It’s not the first time we’ve used firmer methods to extract information. What’s your problem?”

“This is Joss’s territory,” Lann said.

“So, what?” Maya asked. “Now you’re suddenly territorial, Joss? Maybe you should go around and piss on every tree.”

Joss’s body went rigid. His voice turned quieter, sounding more menacing than Clelia had ever heard. “Back off, Maya, or find yourself another team.”

“I don’t see—”

“I said, back off.” Joss flexed his fingers. “I’m the team leader. You’ll show me the respect I deserve. Is that clear?”

After a tense beat, Maya lifted her hands. “I’m off.”

“I asked you a question,” Joss said, his eyes searching Clelia’s face as if he’d directed the question at her.

“Fine. We’re clear, but I think Lann and I deserve an explanation. What’s going on?”

Only then did he turn to Maya. “You have no idea how close you came to detention.”

“I think I should make us all some tea,” Lann said.

“Fuck the tea,” Maya said. “I need something stronger.”

Lann lifted his hand. “Hold on.” He touched the mic in his ear. “Grab your comms. There’s info coming in.”

Joss and Maya reached for their earpieces.

Lann listened for a moment before addressing Joss. “It’s Cain. He’s flying in.”

The silver color of Joss’s eyes simmered. “He’s what?”

“He wants us to keep her until he gets here.”

Maya looked at Joss. “This shit must be bigger than we think.” Her gaze shifted to Clelia. “If the boss is coming in, her old man is screwed.”

“Quiet,” Joss said, giving Maya a hard look.

“I don’t like the feel of this,” Maya said.

Lann leaned against the counter. “Why would Cain—”

The mug in his hand exploded. Lann froze with a stunned expression. When the window behind him shattered, her kidnappers jumped into action.

Lann ducked behind the island counter and grabbed an automatic rifle from an open duffle bag on the floor. Lifting the weapon to his shoulder, he aimed it at the window while peering through the telescope. Maya dived, rolled, and withdrew the two pistols from the holsters on her hips. She was aiming them at the door and window even before she’d landed on her feet behind stainless steel storage shelves. Joss dove through the air and tackled Clelia with the chair to the floor. He softened the fall with his arms behind her back and one hand bracing her head, but she hit the tiles with a thump as the chair fell one way and they rolled the other. Joss’s weight on top of her knocked out her breath. Pain exploded in her back and stars popped behind her eyes. Not giving her time to recover, he stretched out over her like a shield.

“What the fuck?” Maya hissed.

“Lann?” Joss said, his breath hot in Clelia’s neck.

Lann’s answer came from behind them. “I’m fine. Got the back window and hallway covered.”

Joss lifted his head to look at her, his face tight. “Are you hurt?”