Page 71 of Autumn L.A.W

Sahara nodded. “Isn’t that disease inherited?”

“Yes, through the mother’s line. I think she felt guilty, even though she didn’t necessarily know I’d inherit the gene from her side.”

“So, she sent you to train as a mage?”

“Yes. From the age of fourteen. I wish she hadn’t, in some ways. The mage used me as his own personal servant or slave. ‘Do this, do that…’ He painted it as training, but I soon figured out I was enabling his laziness.”

“Oh, man. So many things make sense now.”

“Like?”

She stroked his cheek. “Like how you seem almost passive, but you’re right there to lend support as needed.”

“Yes. As needed. I don’t want to micromanage like my mother, or force anyone to do things I should do for myself, like my mentor.”

“And that’s what makes you perfect for me.”

He smiled. “And you’re capable of taking care of yourself, which makes you perfect for me.”

They kissed again. Around them, the desert rolled on unchanged.

But everything had changed.

And in the back of a rattling truck under a wide, indifferent sky, Sahara and Ezra held each other, steady and intentional, already building something that felt lasting.

CHAPTER 16

“Ah… Home, sweet home.”

Sahara felt it the moment she and Ezra crossed the threshold. The lights were steady. The walls had stopped slithering. The floorboards had released whatever tension they’d been holding since the obelisk prisoner incident.

Her L.A.W. sisters followed them into the living room and surrounded them.

She rolled her shoulders, trying to shake off the lingering pressure from worry. “Okay,” she muttered. “That’s better.”

Ezra paused a few steps behind her, hands loosely clasped, posture careful but not rigid. He looked quieter. Less braced.

“Congratulations, Ezra,” Rayna said. “It looks like the mansion’s wards have given you permission to exist.”

“Does it always react to new people?” he asked.

“Only when it’s judging you,” Lioness said cheerfully, flopping onto a nearby chair. “Or when Rayna’s mad. Or when someone tracks ancient death magic through the front door.”

Rayna pointed at her. “You’re on thin ice.”

Lioness grinned. “I thrive there.”

Joell cleared her throat. “Okay. Before anyone collapses, discovers a new cursed object, or emotionally adopts another first responder, there’s something you two should know.”

Sahara froze. “Why do you sound like that?”

“Because this is one of those moments where we all pretend we’re calm while we’re internally screaming,” Brianna said.

“That narrows it down not at all,” Sahara said. “Who’s dead?”

“No one’s dead,” Crystal said. “Which is honestly the problem.”

“Say the thing,” Sahara said flatly.