“No,” I say again.
More sure this time. More sure than I have ever been of anything in my entire life.
“No.” The third and final time feels like a charm.
Magic explodes out of me in a great glittering arc as I cast a binding net over everyone in the room. Their shrieks of shock and outrage are like music to my ears. Quickly, I ignite the sigils carved into the wall of my study and tether the net to their power.
Fighting seven other mages at once would be ludicrous if I wasn’t in my own home, in my own study. Even so, I’m not going to be able to hold them for long.
I run as fast as I can to Colby’s room and fling the door open with a force that startles Colby into jumping out of bed. I stride up to him, fumbling with the keys as I go. When I reach him, it takes an excruciatingly long time to get my hand to coordinate and get the key in the lock and turned. Finally, the collar falls away.
Colby is staring up at me with his big brown eyes.
“Run!” I plead. “Run and run and never look back. Change your name and never contact any Old Blood ever again. Trust no one.”
His eyes grow even wider and his face drains of all color.
I growl in frustration, grab his arm and march him out of the room. I drag him down the hallway, to the nearest exit. I can feel my net disintegrating in the study under the force of seven mages working together. My pace increases. I’m not even sure if Colby’s feet are touching the ground.
Somehow I get him outside. The gravel of the driveway crunches under me as I take Colby to the wooded area to the side of the house.
“Flee!” I urge him, giving him a shove towards the woods.
He stumbles and turns to face me.
“Please Colby!” I beg. “There is no time! Run! Run and live!”
His face is a mixture of shock, horror and confusion. But he nods and finally, finally he runs. I watch him go for a brief moment, then I turn and stride back to the house and my foes. I don’t expect to survive this battle, but that’s fine. I’m not the one that needs to.
As long as Colby lives, that is all that matters.
Chapter twenty-nine
Colby
I’mtrippingovereverystick, root and slight incline in these blasted woods. My knees and palms are covered in mud and I’m not getting very far.
Harry’s terrified face haunts me, urging me on. What the hell is going on? I have no idea. But I know my life is at stake, that much is clear and that knowledge is keeping my feet moving.
Suddenly, a green portal opens up before me and I tumble through it with a shriek, and find myself in what looks like Hathbury House. Hathbury’s study maybe? Eban, Bastion, Garrington and Hathbury are all grinning at me.
“You escaped! Well done, darling!” beams Eban.
I must have staggered past the wards protecting Stourleat House, enabling my friends to open a portal and grab me. I fall to my knees. I’m breathing like a steam train. My mind is spinning. My friends care enough to spend the vast amount of power it takes to open a portal. It should be flattering, but my husband’s words are ringing in my ears.
Trust no one. Harry said. Have no contact with Old Blood. Change your name. Live.
I stare at the people surrounding me. I feel safe, but am I? Can I trust them? I have zero clue what is going on. What do I do? Can I really just leave Harry? And Jem and the staff, to whatever the hell is going on?
I don’t think I’m the only one who is in danger, because that doesn’t make any sense. Besides, the last look in Harry’s eyes had looked far too much like farewell.
I whimper. I can’t leave Harry to his fate, I can’t. But can I get these people to help me? Or at least send me back?
“Please” I rasp out. “Please help them!”
I watch as the faces around me fill with concern and alarm. This wasn’t what they were expecting when they sensed me stagger outside Harry’s wards. It’s a little reassuring. It seems like they aren’t part of whatever is going on.
“What happened?” asks Eban.
