AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We could go back?” Bryce said quietly as he glanced over his shoulder up the stairwell from where they had just come down.
“And out through the mezzanine floor,” Tegan’s voice was barely a whisper.
Salem snapped his head around to her, and she nodded in acknowledgement. He glanced at Bryce, and the Commander was breathing heavily, but he too nodded.
“Ready?” Salem asked as he faced forward.
“Ready,” all three said at once.
“Then go.” They turned as one and ran up the stairs. The angry roar from the Drakhyn below was deafening, and if anything, it spurred the Sentinels on. “No matter what, keep running!” Salem ordered as they pounded down the corridor before turning and running up another flight of stairs. At the mezzanine floor, Tegan picked up a chair and threw it with all her might against the floor to ceiling window.
“Jump!” she called as she ran to the broken window and threw herself out of the window. Tucking her legs into her body, she prepared to land on the soft snow below her. The impact took her breath, but she was on her feet and was helping her Commander to his feet and then checking Sloane and Salem. They began to run to the fence line. “Let’s hope the Sentinels are watching!” Tegan called as she heard the thumps in the snow behind her, indicating the Drakhyn were following.
Lowering her head, Tegan ran harder to the gate of the Headquarters, praying to all the Ancients that the Sentinels in the woods were ready for the horde she was leading to them.
Cord sat impatiently, waiting for the healers to finish. His hand loosely clasped Michael’s wrist. The two Pure Castors were hurrying around collecting potions and powders, their words indecipherable, but Cord could feel the power in the air. He kept looking between Michael and Prime Castor Chernov.
Lucas had answered his call, but Michael had faded so fast Cord had desperately tied him to his own life. “What were you thinking?” Lucas demanded again, his voice low. “This is the darkest spell. As he fades,youfade.”
Cord smiled tightly. “Which is why the two Pures are doing their best to save him.”
“We need Prime Castor Rorik,” Lucas said in frustration. “Or Castor Jameis.”
“We donotneed Jameis,” Cord snarled as he stood.
“Do not let him go!” Lucas cried out.
“Did I hear someone call for me?” Jameis strolled into the room, his hands already pushing up his sleeves. “By the shade, what did youdo?” Jameis glared at Cord as he hurried to Michael.
“Ididn’t do anything, I am keeping him alive,” Cord snapped.
“How?” Jameis already had his hands running over the young Akrhyn. “So much blood loss,” he muttered to himself. “Has”—he levelled another scathing look at Cord—“has his throat beensliced?”
“Yes,” Cord answered curtly as he kept a firm grip on Michael.
“Why are you holding him?” Jameis asked slowly. Understanding dawned on him. “No. You wouldn’t.” He shook his head in denial as he looked to the Dark Castor. “Prime Chernov, tell me he didn’t. Evenhewould not do this.”
“He did,” Lucas confirmed grimly.
“Why are you so reckless?” Jameis growled as he hastily made his way to a cabinet in the back of the room.
“Would you prefer I let him die?” Cord suddenly asked tiredly.
“Are you waning?” Lucas crossed the room to the Castor. “You cannot tire, Cord, you’re all that’s keeping him here.”
“I know.” Cord sat heavily back down. “I can feel my brother calling for me. Little tiger is pulling me.” He shifted in his seat. “They need me.”
“Principal Elder Holt needs you more,” Jameis retorted angrily. “This is his Heir.”
Cord said nothing in response, but his look was dark. “You need to go,” Cord told Lucas. “I don’t care if you get involved in fighting, but they need me. I have to stay here until this fool fixes Michael, so you need to go in my stead.”
Lucas shook his head. “You know I cannot. I cannot be seen to interfere.”
“You are not neutral in this, Lucas!” Cord growled angrily, his voice rising. “Youneedto go.”
Lucas muttered something indecipherable before he portalled out of the room.
“Do not let go,” Jameis reminded Cord as he quickly mixed a solution in a glass beaker. “Hold on with everything you have. I am losing him.”
