Damn it.It sounds like the same sort of thing that happened at the Ryker plant. Something just… overtook her. And then it was gone, leaving her with no memory of the incident.
“It’s… nothing.” I force another smile. “Just more shadow mage trickery.”
“Draegan, you’re starting to freak me out.”
“We’ll talk tomorrow—I promise. Right now, I just need to get you home.”
“What about the—”
“Now what in the flaming, fucking,bleedingarseholes happened here?” a familiar voice demands.
Jude.
Relieved and more than grateful for the presence of one of our own, I turn to see him and Augustine land in the street before us, wings fluttering as they tuck them in close and take in the scene.
The moment they notice Westlyn in my arms, they’re both on us, Augustine stroking her hair, Jude damn near vibrating with sudden rage.
“Explain,” Jude demands.
“There was an accident,” Westlyn says. “Sort of.”
“Are you hurt?” he asks her, his voice softening.
“No. Just completely freaked out.”
“You’ve never been in an accident,” he says to me. “Not once since the bloody automobile was invented. We couldn’t reach you for hours. What thehellis going on?”
“Wasn’t an accident,” I say, fighting to keep my voice even. “Shadow mages. Eloise tried to take Westlyn.”
Jude’s eyes widen. “But shedidn’ttake her, because you killed her. Right?” He grips the tip of my wing. “Tell me you gutted that worthless cunt, or—”
“We were outnumbered. I took down four mages, but she escaped, and—Jude! Where the fuck are you going?”
He’s already turning toward the woods, the crazy bastard.
“She can’t have gone far,” he says.
“Eloise is long gone by now,” I say. “Shadow magic—they can basically teleport.”
“Fuck.” He shoves a hand through his dark hair, and for the first time tonight, I notice the dried blood on his hands.
Lovely.
“I thought you were helping Rook with research tonight,” I say, more exhausted than angry at this point.
“Wewerehelping him with research,” Jude says. “Had to do a couple of in-person interviews.”
Fucking Jude.
I don’t even want to know. Not now. I’ve got too much to worry about with Westlyn at the moment.
“Is Rook with you?” I ask.
“He’s back at the manor,” Augustine says. “Apparently something went down with the Codex.”
“Codex?” Westlyn’s eyes widen. “What happened?”
“Whatever it is,” I say, glaring at Augustine, “I’m sure Rook will fill us in later.” Then, nodding toward the forest where I left the slaughtered mages, “You two… Deal with the bodies and search the other car—see if there’s anything useful.”
