Black blood spewed through the night air in small droplets as the two of them began to fall. A moment later, acrackripped through the air, and Drystan was gone. The dying pixie fell to the battle below.
Wings flapped overhead as the second pixie gained on us, and Kellan’s hand appeared on my shoulder to steady himself. His blade hissed through the air above us, and a quick cry shrieked overhead. He shoved his momentum to the side, Tiberius lurching his body in the same direction to keep him on his back. Bile rose as hot liquid poured down my back, and Kellan shoved the pixie off his curved blade.
A blast of brilliant white light lit up the ground from behind us, and my stomach lurched as we flew away from the battle. I knew the strategy was sound—and I was happy to play my part as the bait—but leaving my friends and fellow Bellators to a fight I could help win left me sick. Guilt stabbed at my chest as we snuck away to Pyracantha, the twisting prison black vines and thorns sprawling open below us.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
LYVIA
The most powerful magical bond recorded in existence is known as the Weave.
– Bonded Magic, 18thlevel, Living Library.
Lyvia – Pyracantha, Lotrennia
Drystan waited for us at the prison entrance as Tiberius pounded through the mossy growth. Dark lines of blood cut across Drystan’s jaw and neck. He wiped the sweat from his brow before adjusting his cracked spectacles.
“Thanks for the backup,” I signed.
Kellan sheathed his blade before hopping off Tiberius and offering me a hand. I took it, savoring the glimpsing moment of comfort his touch gave me.
“Anytime,” Drystan replied, nodding to the two of us.
“The others will be here soon,” he continued. “The pixies are almost under control. And now that the Living Library is in fulldefense mode, it should just be a matter of time before the city is back in our control.”
“Any sign of Ganmira and Renova?” Kellan asked, his brows angled down as he casually wiped the black pixie blood from his strong arms. He flicked his hand to the side, spattering the nearby rock.
Drystan’s face tightened as he shook his head.
“They must be watching.” I nodded. “Waiting. Letting the attack weaken us. What’s the plan?”
Drystan turned and led us to the small clearing directly in front of the entrance to Pyracantha, where he knelt in the grass. He lifted a thick rope, and my eyes cut to the slight movement that rippled throughout the clearing.
“A trap?” Kellan asked, following the line of movement and kneeling across the clearing. “Arubellinetrap,” he corrected, pulling up a rope lined with thin, white stones. “How much did you need to use for this?” he asked, his brows narrowing.
Drystan straightened, his lips pursing as he signed, “More than we are comfortable sparing.”
I shook my head, pride bursting at the genius of my friend.
“But you’re right,” I agreed. “We don’t know what form they’ll take, how big they’ll be. And we already know they’re more powerful than we could have ever imagined. If we can contain them in this, it’ll be worth it.”
Drystan stood and looked at Tiberius. “Containoneof them,” he corrected. “Tiberius will stay outside, while you lure one inside. I don’t think we can contain both in this trap, so Lyvia, you’ll go into one of the cells. You’ll need to coordinate the timing of your power—use the Transcindiel with a big enough surge of power to draw their attention and let them see you’re not together.”
My brows drew together as I nodded.
“And do you have a trap lined up inside the prison?” I asked.
Drys shook his head.
“No, but we have a few spare rubelline cuffs,” he replied, pulling the white cuff from his pocket and handing it to Kellan.
The pirate lord ran his thumb over the top of it as he examined it. A strange sensation washed over me, like the reluctant flooding of fond memories as he looked at it.
“We’ll need to be quick. And hidden,” Drystan said, pulling a second out.
“The cells inside are small,” I replied. “There isn’t much space to hide.”
Drys nodded and then smirked. “Kellan and I will be in the neighboring cell, and when we hear her arrive, we’ll shift directly to her, slap the cuffs on, and you can take her out.”
