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Manny sighed, and Sera began pacing again, her boots tapping against the wood floor.
Her boots.
“Sera.” Killian’s head snapped up to her. “You’re wearing her boots.”
Sera’s lips parted, a gasp of hope escaping from her lips. It was half of the equation—but it wasn’t enough.
Every memory from the past four-and-twenty hours flooded him as he grasped at the possibility. Elyse tying her silvery hair back to keep it off her neck. Elyse’s red-rimmed eyes as she confessed about Lazarus. Elyse plunging her knife into the walker’s eye.
“She has my jacket,” Sera whispered. She sounded as if she were in disbelief at her own revelation. But it was true. Sera had given Elyse her jacket after they escaped the walker.
Killian grabbed Sera by the shoulder as excitement poured through him. “Can we do this?”
She blinked a few times as her lips curled into a hopeful smile. “I think so,” she said softly. “I need a few more things—they should all be at my apartment.”
Killian was already grabbing his short sword from the table and strapping it around his hips.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Jaime asked, darkness in his voice.
Killian froze, his eyes shifting toward Jaime. But it was Manny who answered first.
“You don’t get it, mate,” he said, quiet but indignant. He stood and took a menacing step toward Jaime. “We’re going, with or without you. And if you promise to behave, we’ll let you tag along.”
Killian placed a hand on Manny’s shoulder, a silent order to step down. “I made a mistake,” he said as he looked toward Jaime, letting some of his pain ring through. “A dire one. Now it’s time for me to make it right. I’d appreciate all the help I can get.”
He extended his hand toward Jaime, who stared at it with contempt.
“Fine,” Jaime answered. He turned away without shaking Killian’s hand.
Killian couldn’t be bothered to care about Jaime’s insult. He whirled toward Sera and Manny, giving them a confident grin. “Let’s go get our girl.”
Chapter 51
- Killian -
The sun was high, casting few shadows for Killian and the others to hide in. They gathered in an alley not far from the Bastards’ hideout. Manny had been right; the mercenaries ran their operation out of an old, abandoned apartment building.
They’d taken turns scurrying past the building, pretending to be passersby on errands, and gathering whatever information they could. Killian’s heart pounded violently as he eyed the building. Elyse was in there, going through gods knew what. It had taken all his strength to keep himself from kicking down the front door. But he could sense the wards that surrounded the building. He was starting to get a feel for these things.
Back in the alley, Jaime confirmed his thoughts. “There’s definitely wards, and they’re strong,” he said as he pulled the hood of his cloak further over his face.
Normally, wearing a cloak in such heat would draw unwanted attention. But the few people who meandered through the area seemed just as eager to keep their identities hidden beneath cloaks as Killian and the others did. Still, he could feel sweat dripping down the center of his back. He moved his hand to the hilt of his sword, gathering strength from the cool metal.
“Nothing Elyse can’t handle, I’m sure,” he said, willing truth into his words. He took a deep breath, and hoped beyond hope that this plan would work.
“Are you sure you want to do this yourself?” Manny asked Sera, his expression earnest. “You don’t know what you’re getting into. Let one of us do it instead.”
Sera gave him a small, reassuring smile, though her bobbing throat betrayed her fear. “I’m certain,” she said. “Besides, I’m the only one who can do it.”
Manny nodded. Anxiety still marred his face, but he wouldn’t question Sera’s decision further.
“And you’re sure the wards won’t interfere?” Killian asked her.
“Yes,” she said confidently. “The spell is rooted in clairvoyance, which can’t be contained by physical magic like wards. We’re essentially going to be interacting with each other on a metaphysical level.”
Killian’s brows furrowed. “Clairvoyance? I didn’t think Elyse was predisposed to clairvoyant magic.”
Sera raised an eyebrow at him. “Who told you that?”
