The cambion sneered.
“Are there demons in Wandstown right now?” Dad asked.
Murmurs ran through the crowd.
The cambion didn’t answer, merely smirked and crossed her arms over her chest, the gesture awkward in the net of black magic.
A few seconds later, Eva piped up. “No demons in Wandstown. There’s some sort of ritual ceremony happening at the school tonight. A celebration that requires every demons’ presence. So they’re all there, preparing for a party, but these two idiots decided to sneak away.”
“Okay, then maybe we can get in without notice,” I reasoned, unable to hide my tone of shock at Eva’s, or perhaps Efraim’s, ability to read the demon’s mind. That could be very useful.
“Not bloody likely,” the cambion said, earning my attention once more. “We’re going to smash you. We—”
My dad, apparently done with his questioning, allowed the ball of magic to ignite the demon.
Her screams rang through the woods for only a moment before quieting. Then her body fell limp.
“That’s all we need to know,” Dad said. “Let’s move.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-EIGHT
We had to work quickly to gather those who were waiting for us in Wandstown. Thankfully, Diana and Headmistress Wake knew just who to ask to coordinate things.
Miss Iris, the owner of Potions and Pastries, a sweet little café in the heart of town, led the charge. Less than an hour later, her business was packed with fae warriors and others preparing for battle. Most from this realm where dressed in casual dark clothes that didn’t hinder movement, or black athletic attire and tennis shoes, myself included. The fae warriors wore lightweight metal and leather armor. When juxtaposed with the floral curtains, bright little nosegays on the tables, and dainty French country decor of the café, we looked very out of place.
Since fitting eight hundred people into Potions and Pastries was out of the question, a spell had been placed on the surrounding businesses. It was like one big video call, where the speaker in the designated speaking area would be amplified to the other businesses.
Magic is so cool, I thought, sitting at the edge of the staging area Miss Iris had created.
“We have to approach from the woods,” Headmistress Wake addressed the room and all those beyond it.
“Should we drive up the road to be a little closer? Then we can enter the woods at that point?” Howley asked. “I’ve never been here, but I heard the academy is a few miles away.”
The headmistress shook her head. “No driving. For those of you who are not familiar with the academy, there’s one road that bypasses the main gates. The gate itself is enchanted. Only those of witch blood who know the password, or those who have already been approved, may enter. Clearly, the demons either have insider knowledge from the PIA, or they’ve bypassed my precautions. Either way, I believe that the front gate is off-limits. We need to be stealthier.”
“Also, the road has been teeming with demons these past few weeks,” Miss Iris added. “They haven’t come into towntoooften, though when they do, they always wreak havoc.”
“None of us have had the guts to stand up to them,” an elderly Wandstown resident piped up. He wouldn’t be fighting, but he still wanted in on the action. “Not with the royals so nearby.”
I cocked my head. “I wonder why they simply haven’t demolished the town?”
“That approach would make sense.” Eva chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Particularly if they’re trying to lure us in.”
“I suspect that’s the point. They don’t need to lure us in,” Headmistress Wake offered. “Theyknowwe’ll come. Maybe they don’t suspect us tonight. Or tomorrow. Maybe not even next week. But they know thatsomeday,we will show up to take back the school. And if they believe that, they’d do well to always be prepared.”
Goosebumps pebbled my arms. “So if they know we’re coming, and they want us to show up, what’s the point of attempting to sneak up on them?”
A hush fell over the room. I hadn’t wanted to bring everybody down, but if the demons were already expecting us, the road would be faster.
Headmistress Wake’s chocolate brown eyes took me in, seemingly understanding what was going through my mind. “Miss Dane, I know the best way to enter my academy. I understand that you have a key role in this war, but I need you to trust me on this one.”
My lips pressed together, and a moment later, I nodded. “Okay. Where should we go?”
Once again, I was riding astride a massive white wolf. This time, I didn’t fear falling off of Dasha’s back as she sprinted through the forest. In fact, I kind of enjoyed it.
Was it because death was so close? Or at least, the threat of it? We would be arriving at Spellcasters with a contingent of eight hundred people, give or take a handful. No one was foolish enough to think that we would all make it out alive.
I banished the thought, gripped Dasha’s fur tightly, and closed my eyes.
