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“Is it done?” Kallan asked as the group approached.
Claire nodded. “Now we wait.”
“While we wait, I’ve been thinking,” Bethany started, her golden hair had been messily thrown into a braid over her shoulder.
“Oh gods, save us,” Cody joked earning himself an elbow to the ribs.
“Anyways,” Bethany rolled her eyes, continuing as if the interruption didn’t happen. “If the Council needs all four ingredients to make the ultimate weapon work, what would happen if we figured out how to destroy one of them?”
Kallan shook his head. “The amount of power it would take to destroy even one of the ingredients would be massive. Even if we could destroy them, the practice is strictly forbidden. Ingredients like these are sacred to our cultures.”
“Even if those ingredients are being used to destroy the world?” Bethany arched an eyebrow at him.
“I can research it,” Zack said, smiling at Bethany and giving Kallan a quick glance.
“It’s not a bad idea,” Kieran agreed. “But it is a timely and costly one. We would be better served to focus on the things we can control. And right now one of the things we have the most need of are allies. Do you have anyone else in the Realm we could call upon?” Kieran must be feeling the same urgency in the air that Claire was.
Claire looked at her friends. Holly nodded. “We have several,” she answered, without looking directly at Kieran. Once they were done with this saving the Realm stuff, she was going to need to corner her empath friend and figure out where her head was at.
“I can call my pack,” Cody said, surprising them. He shrugged at their shocked faces. “I spent some time over this summer filling my father, Alpha Bryson. He’s furious at the idea that the shifters were used in the war. We lost several good packmates. He’ll answer the call.”
“My pride will as well,” Bethany said. “Not just cause we’re allied with this dumbass,” she jerked a thumb at Cody. “I also did my own recruiting. My mother, Sadara, has unfinished business with Councilmember Roland apparently.”
Claire’s heart warmed at the support from her friends. All of them risked a lot by doing that. If the Council had gotten wind of it…
“Before you do that self-sacrificing bullshit,” Bethany leveled a look at Claire. “Stop it. We’re here because we want to be.”
Claire rolled her eyes at Bethany’s bluntness but smiled gratefully at her friend. She had to trust them to know their limits and their boundaries. And they were stronger together.
“Unfortunately my coven is less than helpful,” Zack said. “But I can reach out to Andy and Helene and see who they’ve found.”
“And I’ll call Aunt and Uncle,” Holly said, referring to Desmond’s parents. “They’re definitely in.”
“Tell everyone to mobilize at the Academy,” Claire said, an inkling of an idea coming into her mind. If she was connected to the Academy, she might be able to open a portal despite the barrier’s restrictions.
“You should also reach out to the Elves,” Everett reminded her.
Claire nodded. She had been sending soft check-ins with Synora’s tree over the last week. Claire had no idea if they were going through the barrier but hopefully the magic of the Royal Tree’s connections was stronger. Only one way to find out.
A shout caught their attention. Claire turned to see a Fae warrior racing through the village. He stopped a few feet from them, out of breath. “The barrier is under attack.”
47
Claire stood stunned for a moment. The barrier was under attack? Where? Claire looked at the place she had just ripped open to send Malcolm and Desmond through. It didn’t look like it was under attack.
“Where?” Kallan barked at him, asking the question at the front of everyone’s mind.
“At the first opening,” the Fae warrior answered, still catching his breath. Claire recognized him now as one of the commanders at the table yesterday.
“There’s another opening?” Kieran asked sharply.
“No. This is different. This is dark magic. It’s disintegrating the barrier.”
“How much time do we have?” Everett asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe an hour? We are fighting it back the best we can without becoming infected ourselves. We’re outnumbered.”
Claire thought quickly, her magic flaring in her gut and sparking an idea. “No, we’re not. Kallan, organize the rest of the warriors. Kieran, take a group and evacuate the children and non-warriors to Friednar’s cottage. Bethany and Cody, call your pack and pride. Send them to the Academy now. Holly, call Desmond’s parents and Zack, call Andy and Helene. Get everyone to the Academy,now.”
