“Then we proceed as scheduled. Worst-case scenario is that she senses another witch is present in the city, not necessarily who. It could be others from your coven looking to aid her cause to Idina. Lines are being drawn, sides are being chosen at every end of the realm. We aren’t even giving them enough of a chance to prepare for a possible attack—we leave in hours.”
“Perhaps you’re right,” she answered.
“Besides, she won’t think we would be, in your words,foolish enoughto barge into the city and start escorting people out. They would never guess that was coming. What did you say to those who received the whisper?”
“They were instructed to remain in their homes until the moon is set highest in the sky this evening,” she stated. “We are to rift walk through so I can knock the guards unconscious with magic…or kill them. Whichever you would prefer.”
I considered it for a moment. “We don’t know where their true loyalties lie. It may, at the moment, just be with survival. Let them live.”
“You are too kind sometimes, my Lia,” Jace growled.
“She has that in common with her father,” Veli stated, and I half rolled my eyes. “Let’s get some rest. We have a long night ahead of us.”
Our court and generals gathered a few miles outside of the city to transport in anyone who flees with us. This also ensured our citizens were protected in case someone undesirable managed to sneak through the portal’s rift.
Veli, Avery and I stood at its front, dressed in all black leathers, to better blend within the shadows. I smirked as my eyes roamed over my sister and the weapons strapped to her body as a precaution.
“You all know the plan. No one who rushes through the gateway is to be harmed. They will likely be frightenedand untrusting until we return. We will run through last in order to make sure that everyone who risks treason against the false queen finds sanctuary.”
“Understood,” Leon said with a nod as he stood off to the side, a small troop behind him, waiting to assist the newcomers.
Jace approached me and pressed his lips to my forehead. Mocking coos sounded from all the surrounding men, forcing a quiet scoff from him.
His eyes bore into mine, soft smiles adorning both of our faces.
“Come back to me, okay?” His voice echoed in my mind as he held my hand in his, toying with my wedding ring.
“Always,” I answered aloud, and he slowly backed away from me.
I turned to the right, where Gage was giving Avery words of encouragement. “You’re going to be great, and I will be waiting right here for you when you return.”
“Thank you,” she answered, her cheeks blushing.
“Give them hell, my little rebel princess,” he teased, before turning to stand with Jace.
I gave her a thumbs up as I winked at her. “Rebel princess!” I whisper-shouted, and she giggled.
“That’s enough, you two,” Veli hushed us. “They’re about to open the rift.”
Empri and Madalae held each other’s hand, interlocking their taloned fingers together while they simultaneously held out their opposite ones towards the fields that lay before us.
A scarlet glow cast beyond them as their magic brewed. “Odium Embulae,” their voices echoed in tandem, and the air instantly changed.
The wind picked up, sending my braided hair whipping around as the grass beneath our feet lashed out in all directions. Lightning erupted from thin air only several feet before us, forming a tiny crack in the realm. In seconds, it shattered into several more until a hole appeared—a darkened alleyway of Isla awaiting on its other side.
“We will keep this open until you’re back, but you must go. I feel the presence you spoke of when you cast the whisper. I believe there is a shield at work,” Empri’s voice sounded, as if she spoke it into our minds.
Avery looked terrified as she realized that Empri hadn’t spoken aloud. The twins each remained frozen in their stance as they held the rift open.
“We must go. Now!” Veli announced as she stalked toward the gateway that mimicked a mirage of flowing, opaque swirls.
“Is it going to hurt?” Avery asked as we stepped up to it.
“A bit of a tingle, but no pain,” she answered as she led the way and stepped through the rift.
My sister turned to me, and I gave her a gentle nod. “Stay close.”
And then we stepped through to Isla.
