“And he has the dark essence,” I answer. “I can see it.”
Donovan's fingers link with mine, and I lean into his body.
“But can he actually shift into a snake?” Max asks his cousin. “Because, fuck me, that French kid is a full magical Alchemist. What happens to the markets when gold can just be created?”
I tune them out.
I don’t care that a freshman can turn into Sir Hiss; what I care about is the children. Where are these experiments happening?
Where are they keeping the children?
Across the room, Willow meets my eye. Even through the crowds and the noise, I can hear her panicked thoughts. —This is bad—I hate the Conclave—Naomi’s parents are in the Conclave—
I hold her gaze and mentally tell her to get her shit together. —Bloomhower’s don’t back down from a battle—
She gives me a weak smile, but then my view of her is lost again in the press of the bodies.
“At least we know what their plans are now,” I murmur. Maximus and Donovan get even closer to me. I’m truly sandwiched. Sadly, Alexis is being towed off by another member of staff.
—Keep her safe. I’ll get back to you all as soon as I can—he broadcasts to the three of us.
—Don’t worry, cousin. Sparkles is not leaving our side—
I squeeze both their hands. “What now? I don’t care about the Conclave becoming the new government; I care about what they are doing with the dark essence and the kids.”
Donovan sighs. “I hate to say it, but I think I’m going to have to go speak to my folks. They are obviously in the know. Maybe I can find where they’re working and we can go burn it down.”
Before either Maximus or I can disagree, Donovan slips away from us.
“Shit. I love that broseph, but he’s no subtle mastermind,” Max says, scratching his stubbly chin. “Think you can brain-zap Cosmo? He can keep an eye out for our erratic Hart twin.”
“Good idea.” —Cosmo?—
There’s a pause before he replies. —Kinda busy. Chatting with my father right now—
—Donovan has gone off to confront his parents. Can you…—
—Fuck. I’m on it—
I turn to look for Donovan again when a sudden, sickening explosion rips through the music.
Maximus shoves me to the floor, his body covering mine like a shield.
“What the?” I wheeze, all the air knocked from my chest. Screams and shouts ring in my ears.
“Move, Sparkles. Crawl under the table.”
Glass shatters somewhere nearby, and a shower of broken shards smashes onto the marble floor next to us. I don’t pause but get on my hands and knees, shuffling as fast as I can until both Max and I are safely under a heavy banquet table, hidden by a thick white tablecloth.
Another loud bang, and from my low position, I can see a swirl of smoke creeping across the floor.
“Max!” I clutch at him and point. “Is that fire?”
“No, princess. I’d smell it. I think that was a flash-bang. I’m going to have a look, stay here, keep your head down.”
As he lifts the edge of white damask, I throw a mental shout-out, an urgent flare across the neural link to the rest of the guys.
—ALEXIS?—DONOVAN?—WILLOW?—COS?—Are you all OK?—
