by S. T. Bende
“Seriously,” I whispered back.
“And that is how you dismantle a clearing column.” Maja patted my shoulder. “About time. Think you can do that again tomorrow? For real, this time?”
My heart hammered. “You want to try the rescue tomorrow?”
“I’ve wanted to do it for months, but I haven’t been able to do it on my own. Apparently, it takes two dark faeries to create enough power to pull this off.” Maja shrugged. “We’ll make a remote attempt in the morning. If it’s unsuccessful, we’ll reevaluate our strategy.”
“What happens if we’re successful?” I asked cautiously. “Won’t there be physical restraints holding everyone in the camp, too?”
“Of course there will be.” Maja rolled her eyes. “But älva are fighters. They’ll be able to overpower any guards. It’s the columns we haven’t been able to break through. My mom and I weren’t strong enough—not even when we tried together. But you’re next level fierce with this energy, Aura—maybe because you’re a dark faerie with noble blood?”
“And a Key,” Viggo said.
Maja shrugged. “Either way, the two of us we should be able to manage it.”
Viggo moved closer. “It’s probably more than just guards holding them. You’ve scanned the area—what exactly do you know about their environment?”
Maja crossed her arms. “During the day they’re held in an open-aired unit—a vast space enclosed by containment columns. The columns arch into a dome, forming a complete casing so they can’t escape. Guards circle the perimeter, armed with weapons ranging from swords—which, obviously, could be overtaken—to stunners, which pose more of a problem. And of course, there are longer-range weapons stationed at each corner of the compound.”
“Compound?” I asked.
“The whole camp is surrounded by an enormous stone wall,” Maja said. “It may be a castle.”
“Jeez.” How had something this big been operating without my being aware of it?
“The easiest time to make our move will be during the morning transfer—when the älva are being moved from their bunks to the work unit. If we’re fast, we’ll only need to break the columns encasing the castle itself. If not, we’ll have the second set to deal with.”
“What happens after you and Aura break the columns?” Viggo asked. “Do you have any way to fill your sister in on what’s happening?”
“No,” Maja said. “But unlike light elves, who remain abysmally thick-headed, älva evolved to be highly intuitive. Emilie will sense the shift in energy. Once it’s reached a certain level, she’ll know to take off.”
“I hope so,” I said cautiously. “But why count on that when you have additional resources that could ensure this mission’s success?”
Maja frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about getting help.” I pointed to the communicator on my wrist. “It’s time to bring in the troops.”
Chapter 14
“THE TROOPS?” MAJA’S BROW rose.
“Let me bring my aunt in on this,” I said. “She’s my Protektor, so she’s got access to some of our realm’s best warriors.”
“They’re on our side,” Viggo interjected as Maja opened her mouth. “Signy wouldn’t call on anyone who wasn’t.”
Maja stared at me, as if sizing up my own trustworthiness. “Okay,” she finally said. “Call her.”
I tapped Signy’s sequence into my comm. We’d spoken briefly the day before, so she knew where I was and what I was doing. But I doubted she’d be thrilled that we’d spontaneously decided to orchestrate a jailbreak . . . or that I’d need her to work through the night to organize the extraction team we required to make it happen.
Though she’d do anything to get our senators back.
“Aura?” Signy’s hologram appeared above my communicator. Her forehead was etched with frown lines, and she wore the gaunt face of someone who’d been awake for days. “Did something happen?”
“No. I’m still fine,” I reassured her. “I’m here with Viggo and Maja, and we’ve got a big ask for you.”
“Anything. How can I help?” Signy’s fingers worried the handle of a mug in front of her.
“Remember how I told you about Maja’s sister, and the rest of the älva being held near the capital?”
“Yes.” Signy’s brows formed a V. “Constance’s failure to disclose that to us is something we’ll be dealing with at our next session.”
“I’m counting on it,” I said. “But hopefully we’ll be doing it from a better place. We’re going to try to free them soon.”
“How soon? Are you on your way home?” Signy asked.
“No. Maja figured out a way to lift the blockers holding the älva prisoners. It’s something we can do remotely, but . . .”
“But we’re going to need a team on the ground to make sure there aren’t any additional barriers in our way,” Viggo jumped in. “Maja thinks the prisoners can overpower guards, but we aren’t sure if there are any weapons in place.”
“And you need to knock out anything an älva can’t disable,” Signy deduced. “I can make that happen. How soon do you need us in place?”
I glanced at Viggo. “Can you secure the site by dawn?”
“As in, tomorrow at dawn?” Signy’s brows shot to her forehead. “Do you even know where they’re being held?”
“Not exactly,” I hemmed. “Maja says they’re in a structure that looks like a castle, about a hundred miles south of the palace.”
“Constance has a summer residence near that location,” Signy said. “It backs up to a mountain range. Could that be it?”
“Maja?” I turned to Viggo’s cousin. She’d closed her eyes, and was either meditating or sleeping. “Um, Maja?”
“Is there a lake on the western edge of that castle?” Maja didn’t open her eyes.
“Yes.” Surprise colored Signy’s voice. “How did you—”
“I’m looking at it. That’s the one.” Maja’s eyes flew open. “The mountains hide a series of tunnels that lead to a cavern big enough to hold them all. They can evacuate to there—I’ll cloak the entrance so the guards can’t find them. Once it’s safe to relocate, we can bring them home.”
Viggo leaned in to study the hologram. “What do you think, Professor Bergen? Can you get a team in place by morning?”
“It’ll be tight,” Signy said. “But it’s not impossible. Larkin’s unit just returned from an off-realm mission. They should be able to assist.”
Viggo nodded. “That’d be great.”
“Why now?” Signy asked. “Wouldn’t it be more prudent to wait a few days? Make sure everything’s airtight?”
“Um . . .” I glanced at the raven-haired girl by my side. Maja played with her cuticles, her lips turned down in a frown.
“Because my sister is being held there.” Maja’s voice wavered. It was the first time I’d heard so much as a hint of vulnerability from the steel-willed faerie.
“Oh, sweet girl.” Signy’s warmth emanated through the comm. “I’m so sorry to hear it.”
“Thank you,” Maja said quietly.
“Maja’s been working on a way to free her sister—and the others—for months. Our teaming up is a huge breakthrough, and she wants to move before the opportunity disappears.” In other words, before someone caught on to what we were doing . . . or I came to my senses about the risks of dabbling with dark energy and reneged on our arrangement.
Shudder.
Viggo squeezed my hand.
“Besides,” he added, “we believe the senators may be being held in a similar setup. If we can break though this one, we’ll be better equipped to handle our next extraction.”
“Say no more.” Signy raised her hand. “Viggo, send me any additional mission details as soon as you can. I’ll go speak to Larkin now, and secure her unit’s availability.”
“Thanks, Signy.” I smiled at the hologram. “I can always count on you.”
“Forever,” she said.
“But stay safe, all right? Viggo, if anything happens to Aura—”
“I’ve got her back,” he assured her. “And Maja’s, too.”
The faerie looked over with a start.
“We’re cousins.” Viggo shrugged. “I may not be able to do the whole dark energy thing, but I’m not too bad with a sword.”
“Dark energy thing?” Signy’s voice cracked. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Uh, I’ll fill you in at home,” I said hastily. “Gotta go prep. Bye!”
“Aura,” Signy warned.
“I’ll be safe, I promise.”
“You’d better be. All three of you.” Signy shook her head as she logged off.
When her hologram disappeared, I turned to Maja. “We’re all set. Though I will need as much information as you can get me. Signy’s good, but she’s not a mind reader. Well, not a full one at any rate.”
“Here.” Maja tapped something into her communicator. “That extractor drawing I was working on? It’s part of a larger schematic of the location my sister’s being held. I’ve just sent it to you, along with a second image that outlines the optimal removal strategy. You can share them with your aunt.”
I glanced at my wrist. Sure enough, my comm lit with the incoming message. Viggo’s did the same.
“I’ll send it to Professor Bergen,” he offered. “And I’ll update Elin and Finna so they know what’s going on.”
He set to work typing, while I addressed Maja. “We’ll do everything we can to help your sister,” I promised. “And the rest of your people, too.”
“Thanks,” Maja said quietly. She looked over at me, and it was there again—that flicker of vulnerability. She opened her mouth as though she were going to say something more, but quickly snapped it shut. The next moment, she’d pushed herself to her feet, and crossed her arms. “Your satchel. What’s in it?”
I fingered the small bag I’d hung from my belt loop. “They’re crystals,” I muttered.
“You’re carrying Jande’s crystals?” Viggo’s lips quirked.
“I had no idea what we were walking into, and he said they’d protect me.” I raised my chin defiantly. “Don’t judge me.”
“I’m not judging anyone.” Viggo raised his palms.
“You have aventurine in there.” Maja stared at the satchel. “And amethyst. And . . . is that labradorite?”
“I have no idea.” I untied the satchel and held it out. “You can look.”
“I am looking.” Maja’s eyes met mine, her expression reflecting her low opinion of my intellect.
“Right. You can read the stones’ signatures through the bag. Well, take it anyway.” I thrust it at her. “I don’t know what half of these are.”
Maya palmed the satchel. Her thin fingers parsed through its contents until she withdrew a translucent, purple stone. “Why aren’t you using this?”
“I had it on my belt loop,” I said defensively.
“This.” She raised the stone. “This is what you need to help channel your energy.”
“The purple one is . . . uh . . .”
“This purple one is labradorite. It comes in several colors, but this particular stone is extremely pure. And extremely powerful. Whoever gave it to you clearly knows their stuff.”
“Yeah, Jande’s top of his class.” I squinted at the crystal. “So, what does it do? And more importantly, how does it keep me from losing it with all of that . . . stuff going on inside of me?”
“Labradorite is a protection stone. Not only does it deflect unwanted energies, but it helps you manage the energy you are working with. It heightens intuition, calms your mind, and most importantly, it helps transform you into the being you’re meant to become.”
“That little rock does all that?” Viggo blinked.
“It’s a crystal,” Maja said dully. “And yes. It does.”
Oh.
“You need to be wearing this. Not on your belt loop,” Maja added when I opened my mouth to object. “I’m not always going to be here to guide you, and you need an external device to help until you’ve mastered your abilities. I assume neither of you are skilled metalworkers?”
I glanced at Viggo. “Uh, no. Definitely not. Wait. Why? Are you?”
Maja didn’t answer. “I’m taking this, and turning it into a necklace. It should be touching your skin at all times when we work. Got it?”
“Sure. Yeah. Uh, thanks?”
Maja shoved the satchel back at me. I took it, and tied it around my belt loop again.
“So, now I guess we should, um . . .”
“I’m going to bed,” Maja said abruptly. “I’ll come to your quarters at six a.m.”
“Okay.” What else could I say?
Maja turned on one heel and stalked toward the caves. “Be ready!” she called over her shoulder.
“We will,” I promised.
“Goodnight,” Viggo yelled after her. He shook his head as he walked to my side. “Who knew about the crystals?”
“Certainly not me. Don’t tell Jande—if his head gets any bigger, it might explode.”
Viggo chuckled. “Maja’s something else, huh?
“Yeah.” I reached to retie my ponytail. “But I would be too, if Elin was taken away. That’s terrible about her sister.”
“It is,” Viggo agreed. “And tomorrow we’ll do something about it. But you could drive yourself crazy worrying about all of these things that are beyond your control.”
“I know. But it’s hard.” I shook my head. “And it’s scary, letting that dark stuff inside. I’m afraid it’ll take over and just . . .”
A shudder wracked my spine, and Viggo slipped his arms around me.
“Hey,” he whispered. “You’re the strongest Verge I know. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”
“You can’t say that for sure.” I laid my cheek against his chest, drinking in his familiar blend of cedar and calm. “What if I’m not strong enough to keep it from overpowering me? Signy never taught me how to manage darkness—only how to keep that kind of stuff out.”
Viggo’s thumb traced slow circles on my lower back. “Do you want to quit?”
“I can’t leave Maja’s sister in that camp. Or any of the other älva.” I looped my hands around Viggo’s waist. “Besides, she’ll only help us find our senators if we help her free her sister.”
“Yeah.” Viggo sighed. “She’s got us in a bad spot.”
“Tell me about it,” I muttered.
Viggo leaned back. He placed two fingers under my chin and pressed lightly, until I looked at him. “If you’re truly uncomfortable, say the word and I’ll fly us out of here. We’ll find another way to free everyone.”
“I’ll be okay,” I said. “I’ll probably be better for it—having additional powers to tap into. It’s just . . .”
“I get it,” Viggo said softly. “What can I do?”
“Distract me. Make me forget about that awful energy and angry bees and your mean old cousin.”
“Mmm.” The pressure on my chin increased as Viggo brought my face to his. He pressed his lips against mine, leaving me lightheaded. “That help?”
“It’s a start . . .”
I stood on tiptoe and kissed Viggo again. His hands framed my hips, tugging me against him as he ran his tongue along my bottom lip. All coherent thoughts fled my mind, and I slipped my fingers though his wavy strands, giving myself fully to the moment. Kissing Viggo, no matter where or when, was the single best distraction I could have asked for.
Or it would have been, if he hadn’t pushed me away.
In Frigga’s name, why?
“Everything okay?” I struggled to catch my breath.
“Everything’s great.” He glanced at the sky, now dotted with thousands of tiny points of light. “But if I remember correctly, you’ve given up a night of dancing to help our realm. Isn’t the Solstice Dance happening right now?”
“Is it?” Viggo’s kiss was still clouding my mind. “It’s fine. I’m not that
into dancing, anyway.”
“Well, I am.” Viggo placed my hand on his hip. He laced his fingers through the other, and brought it to his chest. “Humor me.”
“Seriously, I’m not that great at—whoa.”
I held tight to Viggo’s hand as he dipped me over the grass. His eyes twinkled, and he swept me back in a slow arc.
“Where did you learn to dance?” I asked.
“There wasn’t a lot to do on Svartalfheim. And apparently, my parents had a life before we got transferred there.” He stepped lightly to one side, pulling me along with him. I stared at his feet moving in a small triangle, and struggled to keep up. “Just follow me.”
“Easier said than done. Ouch!”
Viggo caught me as I stumbled on what must have been a root. Or a hidden snake hole, if Alfheim had those.
Oh, gods, were there snakes in this meadow?
“You’re trying to lead.” Viggo increased the pressure on my lower spine, gently guiding me into place. “Relax.”
“You relax,” I muttered. But I eased the tension in my spine, and did my best to follow Viggo’s footwork. It was hardly a thing of beauty, but at least I didn’t trip on any more snake holes.
Seriously, are there snakes out here?
“So, I take it you didn’t have any dances on Midgard.” Viggo moved us closer to the tree.
“We had them,” I said. “I didn’t go.”
“Why not?”
“In case you couldn’t tell, dancing’s really not my thing,” I said. “Besides, Britney was head of the dance committee. I generally avoided being anywhere she was.”
“How’s she doing? I haven’t seen her since the incident with Dragen.”
“Better, apparently.” I shuffled through Viggo’s triangle-step. “Signy says her injuries should have healed enough that she can return to school next term.”
“That’s good, I guess. I hope her personality heals, too.”
I nudged him with my fist. “You’re terrible.”
“I’ve heard worse.” His chest rumbled against mine. “Huh. Would you look at that.”
I glanced up, and followed his sightline. Across the meadow, tiny green flames flickered from the grass.
“My gods, is it on fire?” I whipped my head around, looking for something to extinguish the impending blaze.