Prue frowned, then lifted one finger. “Hold on.” Sheglanced at the door, half expecting to see Atlas leering in the doorway, listening to their entire conversation.
But the door was still shut.
Prue drew closer to Mona and whispered, “There’s only five of them. If you can think of a rune that can dismantle their wards for long enough for us to send fire into the sky, then I can come up with a distraction that will draw the Titans’ attention. They won’t notice the wards coming down.”
Mona’s eyes grew wide. “Prue, you can’t be serious.”
Prue nodded slowly. “Can you do it?”
Mona’s face paled. That same far-off look appeared on her face. After a moment, she muttered, “Yes. There’s one rune powerful enough to do it—the spell-breaker rune. But it’ll drain me.”
“Shit. Can you still send the fire signal?”
Mona’s hesitation was answer enough.
“Dammit.” Prue sank to the edge of the nearest cot and rested her head in her hands. They were so close to coming up with a plausible plan.
“I can do it… if you give me some ofyourblood,” said Mona.
Prue’s head snapped up, her eyebrows lifting. “Really?”
“I think so. If I have your blood available, I can cast the rune spell as if it’s coming from you. You can distract them. Then I’ll use my own blood for the fire rune.”
“How much blood do you need?”
“For the spell-breaker?” Mona hesitated. “A full cup.”
Prue’s stomach flipped. “An entirecupof my blood? Mona, how the hell are we supposed to manage that?” Shespread her hands, gesturing to the bare room around them. No sharp objects. No containers for collecting blood.
This plan was doomed from the start.
All Prue could think of was the many things that could go wrong. Mona not getting enough blood, or passing out from exhaustion after the first rune. Prue’s diversion going wrong, or the Titans discovering what she was up to. The fire signal not alerting the fire witches.
It was Mona’s turn to take her sister’s hands. Prue didn’t realize she was trembling until Mona held her.
“Prue.” Mona’s voice was firm. “Do you trust me?”
Prue nodded, finding comfort in her sister’s confidence. Mona was often ruled by fear, but right now, she was perfectly calm.
“Then trust that this will work. We just have to time everything perfectly.”
Prue chuckled nervously. “Easy, right?”
“We can do this. Are you with me?”
“Of course.” She had complete faith in her sister. Mona was the smartest woman she knew.
If anyone could come up with a way to accomplish this, it was her.
Mona smiled, and the sight loosened something in Prue’s chest. “Good. Then, let’s start planning.”
BROTHERS
CYRUS
Cyrus had certainly madehis fair share of reckless decisions. Hell, he had even given up a piece of his own soul to save Prue’s life.
If anyone could understand the need for a dangerous and impromptu solution, it was him.
