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Fin threw his arms up. “I’ve been hiding us from a Sierra regiment.” He ran his hands through his hair, exasperated.
“None of that matters now,” Ada cut in. “They had a device. It created the most potent nulling field I have ever felt.”
My eyebrows rose. “Anartificialnulling field?” I looked at Fin. “Have you encountered such a thing before?”
Fin shook his head. “Not in person, but I’ve heard of people selling them in the Shadow District before.” Fin took a steadying breath, focusing on Callon. “Please tell me you at least saw how many slavers there are, so we know what we’re up against. So we can get Liam back.”
Callon took a step back, raising his hands in placation. “We can do you one better,” he said, his expression serious for once. “We followed their tracks until we caught up with them.”
Ada nodded. “And I think I figured out how the nulling field generator works.”
33
Fin
The four of us followed two sets of wagon tracks through the forest, using Tick’s senses and Sid’s aerial view whenever there was confusion in the path so we could keep up. Time was against us because the slavers were a solid two hours ahead.
Del and Ada’s footsteps crunched loudly behind Callon and me. I would’ve been worried about the tracks we were leaving in our haste, but I was too focused on finding Liam. On not berating myself for leaving camp when I knew there were dangers, because there werealwaysdangers.
I hooked my thumbs in my pack straps and tried to concentrate. To be strong for Del. She was unhinged on the inside and far too quiet. I knew she was trying to rein herself in as best she could.
So, I stayed vigilant, keeping my senses open for as long as I could.
I kept looking toward the sky, hoping to find Nyx up there, like maybe she might be looking for us. But only Sid flew ahead, in and out of sight, through the towering trees. We assumed Nyx was keeping close to Liam since I couldn’t sense her mind either, shrouded by the nulling field.
Eventually, the wagon path led us out of the dense forest and onto an old concrete road that weaved its way out of the trees. A paved road meant we were headed toward an old town, likely overgrown and left in ruins. Still, I knew it would be some place in the open, where the forest could no longer protect us, and without the cover of trees, there would be fewer places to hide.
“If this device really does null via an electromagnetic field,” Callon wondered aloud. “We’re—”
“It does,” Ada said. “Itmust.”
“Well,” Callon continued, “it couldn’t possibly be selective enough to tell the difference between who the prisoners are and the slavers, so everyone should be nulled, right?”
“If they have such an intricate contraption,” Del started, and I could hear the fear in her voice as the wheels turned, “couldn’t they also have blockers or something so the device doesn’t affect them?” I’d thought about that too and hoped the slavers weren’tthatsmart.
“I doubt it,” Ada said. “Or they would’ve known we were following them earlier. There were a dozen slavers, probably some mercs too, which means someone’s Ability would’ve sensed us.”
We all looked at each other and seemed to visibly relax, but only minutely. If Ada was right, that was one less thing we had to worry about.
“At least we have the element of surprise,” Callon said, his voice ragged as we continued along the road, sticking to the thick foliage that grew up around it to stay out of sight.
“Assuming this even works,” I muttered.
“The mylar blanket will blocksomeof the electromagnetic waves,” Ada said, her voice labored and words rushed. “But we won’t know how wellit will work until we’ve actually covered the device.”
Ada was adamant that smashing the device could cause a devastating explosion, so all we could do was hope the mylar blanket I pulled from my emergency pack would block the effect of it well enough.
I looked over my shoulder at her, and her eyes locked with mine. “Access to our Abilities could be spotty,” she added. “We must both be ready to null them.”
“Understood,” I said with a nod and glanced at Callon. “While I’m covering the contraption, you’re going to look for those goddamn gas grenades—and some gas masks. Because whether it’s now or later, I have a feeling we’re going to need them.”
Callon agreed, grinning at the thought of a new toy to play with.
“Don’t you have to figure out where it is first?” Del asked. “The device—it could be anywhere.”
“They must keep it in one of the wagons,” Ada explained, holding up her skirt as she stepped over a log in the path. “Before I lost access to my gifts, I could feel it—the source of the nulling field.”
I glanced at Callon. “How close could you get?”
