Finally, the wizard stops and opens another invisible door, motioning us onward with his walking stick. “Welcome to the inner ring of the Sanctuary. Do mind your step on the bridge.”
We all stare at the lush green landscape. It looks like someone took a slice of some peaceful English countryside and plopped it down in the middle of nowhere. Old windmills turn lazily under the twilight sky, a creek babbles under the stone bridge we’re about to cross, and past that are several thatched cottage-style houses gathered together in clusters with lit windows casting a slight warm glow. Other old buildings dot the area. A thick forest sprawls in the distance next to what appears to be an old farm.
Two guys dressed in dark clothing wait just past the bridge, watching us with deep frowns. One is scrawny with dark hair, while the other has curly blond hair and an overbite.
When Overbite spots Silas, he scowls deeply. It's pretty clear that he knows the blood fae and hates him.
Relatable.
We walk through the magical doorway, except Crypt slams into an invisible barrier. He's walking ahead of Maven, and I can't help laughing at his irritated expression.
“Sucks to be a siphon,” I grin.
“Ah, right,” the wizard muses. “One must invite him in.”
“Don't!” the dark-haired caster says quickly, eyeing Crypt. “I’ve heard of him—we all have. That is the fucking Nightmare Prince. He’ll infiltrate our minds if we’re not careful.”
The Garnet Wizard stares down the acolyte. “Then be careful. You know the first rule of my Sanctuary.”
“Let the idiots die,” Silas supplies.
“Precisely. Anyone who fails to arm a dreamcatcher and lets this subconscious leech into their minds deserves whatever madness he bestows upon them. You may enter, Mr. DeLune.”
Crypt flicks the butt of his dead cigarette into the nearby creek, smirking at the outraged reaction that earns from the two casters. He steps through the magical doorway, but when Maven walks in last, Overbite gets pissy.
“Her too?”
“Got a problem with my mate?” I demand.
He rolls his eyes. “Mate?How primitive you shifters are. Of course, I take issue with her—not only is she obviously thethingthat the Legacy Council is hunting down, but she is also ashe.Females are not permitted within the Sanctuary except in extreme situations.”
I gawk at the absolute stupidity of the words that just left his ugly face before turning to Silas.
“So you grew up in a hidden compound of nerdy, sexist virgins who call womenfemales?Talk about fucking primitive.”
Silas shrugs as if he agrees, but now the two casters are really pissed off. The dark-haired one turns back to the Garnet Wizard.
“Sir, we've all heard the rumors of thetelum.You cannot possibly mean to allowthatto take shelter here?” he says, gesturing at Maven with disgust.
Did he just call my mate a ‘that?’My dragon snarls, ready to rip his throat out.
Maven doesn’t react to any of this. She’s busy surveying our surroundings like she's charting a map of potential future exits. The Garnet Wizard adjusts his walking stick as he regards his acolyte. I swear he's slowly growing wrinkles by the minute.
“Alas, your cynicism and prejudice blind you, Ross. Use your rare gift on her, and you will see what I have already determined. Go on.”
The idiot, Ross, grumbles but turns back to Maven. I almost shit myself when a third eye appears smack in the middle of his forehead, blinking open with a glowing blue pupil. Everett jumps, too, swearing about how damn creepy it is.
Meanwhile, the acolyte becomes incredibly pale, as if he sees Maven in an entirely new light. His third eye vanishes, and he drops to his knees.
“By the heavens,” he whispers. “I—I had no idea. Please, forgive me, for I swear that if I had known?—”
The wizard interrupts, whispering a string of words before a red rune appears on the acolyte’s throat. Ross grimaces.
“There. That shall keep this game silent for my own amusement,” the wizard smiles.
Wait…what the hell is he talking about? Is it the fact that Maven is a revenant? Did this guy get a glimpse into her past and see how noble she really is, or was this something else?
I’m so fucking confused.
