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“So it didn’t work?”
“She’s consumed too many souls.” Thalia’s tone broke. “It’s old magic, painful to break. It would require me going out and doing the same.”
Aziel’s harsh tone interrupted them. “Then do it. Go and eat souls. Whatever it takes to break that spell.”
Raiden growled softly. “Then we’re no better than her. No one is eating any souls.”
“She’s awake.” Thalia’s soft tone swept toward me. How did she know?
I blinked twice and sat upright.
Raiden’s worry lines softened. “We need to go after her now, while we know where she is.”
“I heard. Her cloaking spell can’t be broken.” My stomach twisted. “We have no choice then. I can pretend to have the keys. Maybe lure her away from the others?”
The three looked at each other, then back at me. “Sure,” Thalia said a little too sweetly. “We’ll do that.”
I stared at the mansion from the edge of the forest and swallowed thickly. If Freya knew the gods were out, she’d kill Naomi and my coven. I only hoped Maddox managed to stay in the vaults and out of her way.
Aziel rubbed his hands together. “We should go headfirst.”
Thalia rolled her eyes. “That’s always your response, and everyone always ends up dead.” She reached her hand out, touching something I couldn’t see. “There are many dead here. I see some in the windows.” She gazed up. The mansion was tiny from where we were standing, but Raiden did say they all had better eyesight than me. “Their pale faces are watching out.”
I knew the place was old, but damn. I wouldn’t be able to shake that mental image for a while. I imagined the windows and shuddered. “Let’s not add to them,” I said softly. “If Freya knows you’re out of your prison realms, she’ll kill them, then flee. It will be pointless.”
Aziel shook his head. “I vote we charge in before she can get away.”
My stomach lurched. “No.”
Raiden grabbed my hand and unexpectedly squeezed it. “No one is dying today.” He paused. “No mortals anyway.”
Aziel growled lowly. “Are we repeating the same story, brother? Putting a mortal before your family?”
Raiden shot him a hardened look. “Don’t go there.”
Thalia stepped in between them. “I agree with Raiden. We will abstain from as many tragedies as possible. I do not wish to send more souls to Mother or Father if we can refrain from it. We are not beasts, Aziel.”
Raiden nodded. “We need a plan. I will go in there. She already knows I’m out. She’ll hesitate, but she’s strong right now. While I distract her, Thalia, you can come through the back entrance. Hopefully, she won’t hear you. You’re the quietest of us. You can slip between shadows.”
Thalia ran a long finger along her smiling lips. “You know I can, brother.”
“Once Thalia is in.” He gave his brother a look. “Once the witches are safe, then I will call for you and we will kill her. It will take all of us, with her having consumed souls. I could have had her the other night. She was weak. She’d just fed, and she’s always weak right after killing and eating, but then she got away and I couldn’t trace her.” He balled a fist. “She’s had time to digest. She would have taken more souls before this. She’ll be stronger than ever now.”
Aziel did not look pleased.
I cleared my throat. “Where do I come in?”
Raiden sighed. “You don’t, doll. I need you out here. Safe.”
Aziel shrugged. “You’re a liability, sorry. You’ll just slow us down.” He lowered his voice. “You already are.”
Raiden’s jaw clenched. “What was that?”
“You heard.”
Oh, gods.
Raiden turned to face him. “She helped get you out of that prison realm.”
