"Mavis was shot. It''s bad-really bad. The doctors over there can''t do a thing." Portia''s voice was tight as she looked at Damien. "That''s why Uriah called Callie in the first ce!"


    "Callie''s done this sort of thing before, and Mavis means everything to us. There''s no way we''re letting anything happen to her."


    "As for why Uriah is so damn useless, well, I''d love to know myself."


    "He couldn''t even keep his own apprentice safe! If he were here right now, I swear I''d put him in the hospital myself," Portia practically snarled between clenched teeth.


    She was beyond furious. Mavis had always been under Uriah''s protection-ever since she was a kid, she''d trailed after him. He was supposed to look after her, always. For something this serious to happen... None of them saw iting.


    If they''d had any idea Mavis would be in danger, they never would have sent her on thatst job. It wasn''t worth the risk.


    The thing was, Mavis wasn''t some rookie either. She might not have been perfect, but she could handle herself—she wasn''t the kind to get killed easily. Back when her aim had been lousy, Callie spent weeks teaching her to shoot. Callie even made sure Mavis learned a few moves to protect herself. Plus, both of them carried emergency meds-Callie''s own concoctions-just in case things went south.


    But for Uriah to call for help now, it could only mean one thing: Mavis was hurt so badly that not even Callie''s medicine could save her.


    That thought made Portia angrier-and even more frustrated. Uriah was useless. He''d let Mavis get hurt. But at this point, there was nothing she could do except wait for them toe back.


    "Isn''t it insane for Calliope to go out there alone? Stormgard''s chaos right now. Anything could happen! She''s too gorgeous for a ce like that—someone''s bound to target her!" Damien ran his hands through his hair, agitation in on his face. "Damn it, I should''ve gone with her! She''s on her own, and if I was there, at least I could shield her from trouble!"


    Mr. Myers had sent him to keep Calliope safe, and now she was gone and he hadn''t even noticed.


    "Your pal Ss isn''t much better, you know," Portia muttered darkly, her expression clouding over.


    She snorted and, without warning,shed out with her foot, kicking Damien in the shin. "All men are the worst! You all deserve to be neutered!"


    Damien yelped, hopping back on one leg as he clutched his shin in


    ???


    disbelief. "Hey, what does their behavior have to do with me?" he protested, truly hurt. "I haven''t done anything wrong-haven''t hurt anyone, let alone a woman. I just didn''t know Calliope was headed for Stormgard. If I had, I''d have gone after her in a heartbeat."


    Portia red. “You''re no saint either!"


    "You work for Ss, don''t you? That makes you just as bad. Ss is garbage, Uriah''s no better, you''re all cut from the same rotten cloth. Birds of a feather, Damien


    Damien could only gape at her in wounded silence.


    Portia huffed, crossing her arms. “Whatever. Your precious Mr. Myers doesn''t care whether my Callie lives or dies—he''s too busy chasing after other women."


    “That''s not true!" Damien insisted. "Mr. Myers made it clear-I was supposed to keep Calliope safe!"


    "No, this is on me. I dropped the ball


    отте


    and let her. run off alone." Brow


    furrowed Damien''s mind raced as


    he tried to figure out how to catch


    up to Calliope. First step: get in touch with Mr. Myers. He had to find her fast.


    ?