by Linsey Hall
I’d have laughed, except the heavy magic that surrounded this place made me uneasy. Something in it felt almost familiar, but not in a good way.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s figure out what’s going on and how we can destroy this place.”
“How do we destroy a place like this?” Ana asked.
“No idea,” I said.
“We’ll find a way,” Cade said.
We hurried toward the long row of buildings that surrounded the harbor. They were completely intact, and I wondered what was inside.
Our footsteps were silent as we made our way past the warehouses. By the time we reached one of the main streets, my mind was buzzing. The magic here was really weird. So familiar.
Nope—I didn’t like it.
“Pretty empty,” Ana murmured.
I nodded, unable to hear or see any signs of life.
“It’s not fully inhabited,” Cade said. “Places like this rarely are. It’s a shadow of the other city because it’s easiest for the magic to build the stronghold waypoint after a model of something. But it’s not a working city.”
“There are people here, though.” I caught sight of a light shining from a building that was down one of the cross streets.
I took one last look to make sure the street was clear, then hurried across and headed down a narrower alley. Cade and Ana followed, Mayhem bringing up the rear.
Magic pulled at me, strong and fierce. “We need to find where that magic is coming from.”
“Agreed,” Cade said.
We hurried through the darkened corridor, careful to keep our footfalls silent. The sense of the strange magic grew stronger as we neared it, welcoming me and warning me away at the same time.
A moment later, we heard footsteps.
Shit.
The last thing we needed was guards on our tail. Especially if they had godly powers. Stealth was our best friend at this point.
I ducked into the nearest door, realizing at the last minute that there was someone inside.
The man looked up from the table at which he sat, his mouth dropping open. He wasn’t old—maybe in his forties—and he was built like a bear.
Before he could shout, I lunged for him, knocking him off his chair. We collided in a tangle of limbs on the ground, and I scrambled to hold my hands over his mouth.
Mayhem flew through the room, sniffing the books and scrolls that lined the wall. This guy was probably some sort of historian or accountant. Those people usually knew all kinds of good stuff.
Maybe this would work in our favor, after all.
Cade and Ana joined me, their eyes wide. The man thrashed beneath me, and I struggled to keep a grip on his mouth so he couldn’t shout. Cade hurried to my side and grabbed him, hauling him upright so he could slap a hand over his mouth.
The man reached up and smacked his fist against a silver charm around his neck. Magic flared briefly.
“Crap, I think he’s sounded an alarm,” I said.
Ana leaned out of the doorway. A second later, she groaned. “Yep. Twenty guys headed our way. And that woman is with them. The freakin’scary one you fought in the Fae realm.”
Chapter Twelve
My magic was too depleted to fight twenty. Especially if the oil-slicked woman was with them. She was just too powerful. Cade and Ana looked pretty beat too. And we were on their home turf. If we were going to win this, we needed the element of surprise.
And we’d just lost it.
My gaze shot to Cade.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said.
“Can you carry him?” I asked.
Cade nodded.
I tore off the bottom of my shirt and tied it around the man’s mouth, gagging him. “I’ll conceal our escape with illusion, and we’ll run for the hippokampoi. Hopefully he can take us all.”
“Good plan,” Cade said. “Let’s go.”
“Grab what you can,” I told Ana as I snatched up some books and scrolls. The more info we could bring back, the better.
She filled her arms, and we went to the door. I called upon my magic, imagining us becoming invisible. Cade and Ana disappeared, along with our hostage, and we sprinted out of the room.
Our pursuers were still about thirty yards off, thank fates.
We kept our footfalls silent as we sprinted toward the harbor.
Please let Cade and Ana be with me.
When we arrived at the harbor, the hippokampoi was waiting. The guards weren’t following, so I dropped the illusion, grateful to see a winded Cade and Ana with me. Mayhem floated at their side.
“Can you take us all?” I asked the hippokampoi.
He gave us a doubtful look, then sidled up to the edge of the quay. We climbed onto his back, the hostage still draped over Cade’s shoulder, and the hippokampoi oofed.
“Let’s go,” I whispered.
The hippokampoi took off toward the portal, and I turned around, my heart in my throat. Fortunately, there was no one there.
Thank fates for small favors.
The portal light flashed gold, and we appeared on the other side. Fast as we could, we clambered off the hippokampoi and sprinted through the portal to Edinburgh.
The ether sucked us in and spat us out in an alley. The chill of an Edinburgh evening greeted us, along with a drizzle of rain.
Four Protectorate guards stood there, monitoring the portal. Their faces relaxed when they saw us.
“Thank fates,” Ana murmured. “It worked.”
“Seriously.” I turned to Cade and the guards. “You’re sure they can’t follow?”
“Hedy blocked it from anyone who means us or the Protectorate harm. We should be good.”
“We’ll watch it,” the burliest guard said. He looked like some type of shifter, and his magic smelled like it, too.
“Thanks.” I grinned, then looked at Cade and Ana. “Let’s go.”
We hurried toward the other portal, the one that went back to the Protectorate castle. Out on the street, a few people gave us strange looks, but no one bothered us.
We stepped through the portal that was tucked into an alcove near the Whisky and Warlock. The ether sucked us in and spat us out in the woods.
“So glad to be back,” Ana said.
“I hear you.” We followed the path out of the forest, and Mayhem stuck close to my side.
The moon barely peeked out from behind the clouds, shrouding us in gloom. The castle windows gleamed with welcoming light.
The man in Cade’s arms thrashed, but Cade kept his grip tight. “Settle down. You’re not going anywhere,” Cade said.
As we neared the castle, Mayhem began barking, setting up the alarm.
Ruckus and Chaos raced out the main castle door and toward us, barking like mad. A moment later, Jude hurried out after them.
“Let’s go.” Cade forced the prisoner to walk alongside him.
The man grumbled, but cooperated. Smart guy, since he was totally outnumbered.
Mayhem flew behind him and gave him a little blast of fire on the butt.
“Come on, Mayhem.” I shook my finger at her. “Good behavior with the prisoner.”
She yipped, then flew away, headed toward the castle, and most likely, another ham.
Jude hurried up, her starry eyes bright in the darkness. “Well? Success? I heard that your portal worked.”
“It did,” I said. “We made it to the stronghold in the ether and hopefully got some good info.”
Her gaze fell to the scrolls in my arm, then flicked to the prisoner. “We can only hope. I’m going to get Hedy so that she can test the prisoner for tracking charms. Then we’ll see what he has to say.”
“Torture?” Ana’s voice wavered.
My stomach pitched.
“No, no.” Jude shook her head. “Truth serum. A rare brand that actually works, courtesy of Hedy.”
The man began to thrash, trying to pull away from Cade’s grip.
Ah, now that was what frightened him. Revealing sec
rets.
Which meant he had some.
“Calm down,” Cade said.
“Pig bastards,” the man spat, then he jerked his arm so fiercely that I heard an audible pop come from his shoulder.
I winced.
The man shrieked.
Cade heaved a sigh, then bopped him on the head with his fist. The man crumpled, unconscious.
“That’s one way to go about it,” Jude said.
“Safest way,” Cade said. “For us and him.”
Jude nodded, then hurried off toward Hedy’s tower, her bathrobe flying in the wind behind her.
Cade bent down and swooped up the man as if he were Fabio and this was the cover of an old romance novel. “Let’s head to the dungeon.”
We trudged toward the castle, our steps growing slightly slower with every meter. My wings ached, and the rest of me was starting to feel the strain of our adventure.
As we crossed through the main entry foyer, Hans burst out of a hallway, his chef’s hat askew and a tray loaded with sandwiches in his arms.
“Mayhem said you were back! You must be hungry.”
Cade glanced pointedly at the prisoner he still carried and kept walking. “Thanks, Hans. We will be up in a little while.”
“No matter!” Hans said. “I will follow you to the dungeon!”
I grinned, and Hans hurried across the hall. True to his word, he followed us down the hall, sandwich platter in hand.
Hans was always dedicated to feeding people, but this was over the top. Maybe he could sense when people were extra hungry? Or perhaps when they were up against something big?
Because my stomach was growling at the sight of his tray. I didn’t know what the sandwiches were, but I didn’t care. PB&J, ham and cheese—whatever. I’d eat it.
Cade led us down to the bottom level of the castle, even lower than the armory. It was cool and dark down here, but not totally dank and terrible. As soon as we entered, sconces burst to life on the walls.
We were in a central room that had a table and chairs. Cells surrounded it, their heavy wooden doors looking ominous.
“This place is creepy,” Ana said.
Hans set his tray on the table. “Don’t worry. We don’t hold prisoners long. Just for questioning, then they go to the Order of the Magica for trial.”
“That’s a bit better, at least.” I walked toward the sandwiches and chose a PB&J.
Cade put the unconscious man in a cell, then joined us. “As soon as Hedy and Jude arrive, we’ll interrogate him. We shouldn’t keep him here longer than necessary.”
Hans nodded, though I wasn’t sure if he even heard Cade’s words, because he gestured to the sandwiches wildly. “Eat! Eat!”
Cade grinned and took a thick ham sandwich. “Thank you, Hans.”
Hans nodded, his gaze turning to me. “You have much ahead of you, from what I hear.”
Uh-oh. Had I been right? “Is your newfound interest in shoving food on me because you’re worried about me?”
Hans made a face. “Of course not! I am a chef! I like to feed people!”
“Hmmm.” I bit into the sandwich, which was, in fairness, the best PB&J I’d ever had. “Well, thank you.”
“Do you like it? I used three jams! The combination is what makes it superb.” He kissed his fingertips.
“It is wonderful,” I said.
He nodded, satisfied. “Drink your juice. Then interrogate the man and get him out of here.”
I saluted.
Cade grinned.
Ana waved.
And Hans hurried up the stairs, straightening his chef’s hat as he went. Jude and Hedy arrived just a second later. Caro, Ali, and Haris trailed in after them, all of them dressed in PJs. Ali and Haris wore the footie kind—Ali was a dinosaur and Haris was a turtle.
I stifled a laugh at the sight of the deadly Djinn.
Haris raised a brow at me.
I pressed my lips together.
“Cleary you’re up against something big, Bree,” Jude said. “Hans has a nose for it.”
“That’s what I thought might be happening.” He was like a skinny mother hen in a chef’s hat.
Caro came to join me, squeezing my hand.
“Where is he?” Hedy’s voice was all business, though her silver bathrobe was not. The many pockets bulged, however, so she was clearly armed for duty.
Cade swallowed the last of his sandwich, then started toward the cell. “This way.”
Hedy hurried after him, digging into her pocket.
Ana and I took our sandwiches with us as we moved closer to the cell door and watched as Hedy hovered her hands over the man, who was prone on the cot within. He snored as she let her magical stone work, trying to detect any dangerous charms that might be clinging to him.
After a while, she stood, the silver inspecting stone gleaming from her hand. “He’s clean, from what I can tell. But I’d get rid of that charm around his neck just to be safe.”
Cade reached down and yanked the necklace off the man.
Caro stepped up and took it. “I’ll take it to Emily. She can transport it away from here.”
She hurried out of the room, and Hedy turned to us. “Want me to wake him?”
“Aye,” Cade said.
Hedy returned to the room and pulled two little vials from her pocket. She uncorked the blue one.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Truth potion,” Hedy said. “A rare formula that I developed. It actually works. Prevents any clever phrasing that might lead us astray.”
“Oh, nice.” Not all truth serums could be trusted.
“Yes. And it’s best to administer it while the suspect is asleep. That way, there’s no nasty struggling.” She tilted the vial over the man’s open mouth. He sputtered but swallowed, then kept snoring.
“He looks so normal,” I muttered. Just a dude—average height, brown hair, plain face. Nothing particularly evil about him.
It made him creepier, actually.
“And next, the smelling salts.” Hedy uncorked a small silver vial and held it under the man’s nose. He snored, inhaled a big whiff of the stuff, then jerked upright coughing and waving a hand in front of his face.
Then his gaze landed on us, and his eyes widened. He scrambled back on the cot. “Don’t hurt me!”
“We’re not going to hurt you.” Cade walked forward, towering over the man.
He cringed backward, paling. “Then what are you going to do?”
“Question you, then turn you over to the Order of the Magica.”
It didn’t seem possible, but the man paled even more. “That might be worse.”
“Then you shouldn’t have sided with an organization full of kidnappers and murderers.” Cade crossed his arms over his chest. “This could have all been avoided.”
The man spat at him, his face twisted with rage. Cade sidestepped, his unnatural speed helping him avoid the man’s spit.
Jude looked at me. “You will question him. It’s a normal part of Protectorate procedure, and you should get the practice.”
I nodded, then stepped up to join Cade. “Tell us about the Rebel Gods stronghold at Kart-hadasht. What magic keeps it in place?”
“I don’t—” The man coughed, his brow wrinkling. “I don’t know what—” He coughed again.
“You can’t lie or prevaricate,” Hedy said. “The words just won’t come out. So tell us the truth.”
“Something makes that realm exist in the middle of nowhere,” I said. “It’s neither human realm, nor god, but in between. So tell us what keeps it going? Is it the weird magic we felt there? How did the Rebel Gods create it?”
The man snapped his lips shut, his dark eyes flashing at us. I glanced at Hedy.
“Wait for it.” She winked. “He’ll talk.”
I turned back to the man, whose cheeks had blown up like Ratatoskr’s when he’d filled them with magical acorns.
“Come on, dude. Spill.” I waved my hand in an encouraging mot
ion.
“The magic that powers the stronghold is stored in the middle of town.” The words rushed out of him, and his cheeks deflated. “It’s powerful magic that the Rebel Gods stole from a powerful being. It fuels the place and keeps it…existing.”
“Okay. So we have to destroy the magic,” I said. “And that will destroy the town.”
He scoffed. “You can’t destroy the magic. Not magic like that.”
He was right. Almost no one could destroy magic. It just wasn’t possible. “What is the magic stored in?”
“A flame in the temple. So if you’re thinking of stealing it, think again. You can’t. It’s part of the stronghold itself, and you can’t steal fire.”
Damn. That could be a problem. Unless we could find someone to transfer the magic…
“What spells keep the stronghold active?” I asked.
“None. Not anymore. Not since they put the magic into the stone that fuels the place and keeps it going.”
All right. Then we’d definitely have to get the magic out of that flame.
“What’s your role?” I asked. “Why were you in a room full of books and scrolls?”
His cheeks puffed up again as he tried to hold his words back. I tapped my foot, willing to wait. It wouldn’t be long, anyway.
Finally, they spewed out of him. “Fine! I’m the accounts manager. I oversee our finances.”
So we’d stolen their accountant. “Why do the Rebel Gods need money?”
“They don’t. Not for themselves. But to keep their operations running, they need cash.”
“And what are those operations?”
“All sorts, all over the world. People in desperate situations are more prone to believing in higher powers. Like the Rebel Gods. So they create desperate situations.”
“And reap belief from those people,” I said. “They just want fame?”
“Fame isn’t just fame, to a god. It’s power. It makes them stronger. It keeps them alive.”
Hmmm. Okay, fair. Fighting for your life was a solid motivation. “Tell me more about these desperate situations.”
I glanced at Jude, who nodded. This was the info the Protectorate really wanted. With it, they could go in and help these people.
The man’s cheeks poofed up again, but finally, he spoke. “There are operations all over the world. Sweatshops in Asia, mining in Africa, slave trade in South America.”