He didn’t know what to do. They couldn’t interrupt a memory passage not??—
“We can’t sever the connection, Nina.” Sawyer held her friend’s hand in her own. “We have to wait until whatever memory it’s passing is done.”
“We don’t have time for that,” Nina cried, stepping forward. Cas grabbed her shoulder, which she quickly shook off.
“If we sever it now, she dies, Nina. Wait.” Sawyer pulled her back further, easing her all the way behind them.
Cas knew she was right. Severing an active memory passage was a death sentence for the captive.
“Oh, you all look absolutely petrified,” the Mind Slayer laughed. “I’ll make her death quick after this.”
Noises arose behind them, surely from the students and other castle dwellers evacuating. Cas heard the distant rumble of metal, signaling the kingsmen were on their way.
“Who do you work for?” Sawyer’s face was raw, calculating fury as she stepped toward the creature. “The answer will either doom you or save your miserable life.”
“You Yarrows are so demanding,” the creature purred. Its limbs twitched. “I’m only showing her what she wanted to know.”
“Who do you work for?” Sawyer repeated, face stoic and unreadable.
“Why are you talking to it!” Nina said through sobs. “Burn it!”
“I can’t. Not until I know who sent it.”
Nina was practically on the floor begging as Cas pulled her against him. She was absolutely freezing.
“Tell me, Sawyerlyn. Is it true Morna is your captive?” The Mind Slayer’s eyes shone as its grin spread. “All to warn you of something you won’t figure out anyway. She’s the worst of Mavka’s followers.”
Smoke curled around Sawyer’s shoulders. “You ally with Lorkin.”
“And you Ninanette?” The creature’s eyes shifted to Nina.
“How are you taking the news? It’s not too late to come to thewinning side.”
“I hope you suffer wherever you come from,” Nina seethed.
Cas watched Sol. Whatever bickering his Court was having with the thing, he didn’t care. All he cared about was the woman before him. With every heartbeat, his blood called to her, muting all other sounds and feelings and thoughts. All he could see was Sol.
Sol.
Sol.
So, at the exact moment her eyes fluttered closed and she slumped against the thing, Cas launched at her.
He kicked the Mind Slayer’s arm away with a swift, potent motion, ripping its claws from her chest. Pulling her against him, he willed his Shadows to spread below them as they tumbled toward the ground. He managed to twist her on top of him mid-fall, and a ripple of pain radiated from his entire body as he collided against the pavilion.
“Sol,” he panted softly. “Sol, can you hear me?”
Cas didn’t wait to see what his Court did as a Ward erupted around them.
Fifty Three
IN COLD BLOOD
COMING OUT OF THE MIND SLAYER’Smental prison was aggravatingly disorienting.
The first thing that returned was Sol’s sense of touch. She felt the cold, tiled ground beneath her, pressing on every aching part of her body. Next was her sense of smell. She could scent the lilies and the soft afterthought of rosewood and sage. The distinct odor of death was also thick in the air, prompting her eyes to pry open.
A headache bloomed at her temples.
