“No.”
Nothing in that room could turn the tide tonight.
I pulled away from Erick, leaving the mage to study my back. The pain in my wrist eased. As I walked, I cast every rune I knew for stealth and speed. My gaze locked on the lone enforcer above the portcullis. When his attention was turned, I slipped out.
Chapter 39
Ezra
IwatchedErick’sretreatingform as Cayden vanished into the dark. The ripple of his passing broke the night’s calm. Small scuffs on the cobblestones betrayed the tension in his stride.
My lover said he’d been acting funny. He was right.
The runes he’d activated on his legs made him unnaturally fast. I almost lost him, but the sound of someone grunting in pain came from one of our new gates, just down from the Esplanade. I rushed to find one of my officers unconscious on the ground and the other in a headlock.
Cayden’s magic was not fast. If he didn’t take my officer down with force, this would be the end of his adventure, whatever his goal was.
‘Send two officers to Market Gate,’I relayed. ‘Cayden’s on the run.’
‘He must have a lead on Quinn,’my lover said. ‘Do not lose him.’
My muscles primed to move—run or fight, I wasn’t sure—but I kept still.
My officer dropped, and Cayden bent down, making sure both of them lived. He took a final look toward the castle before trotting down, no longer bothering with stealth.
Again, I followed. A simple aerodynamic chariot with a team of four sleek thoroughbreds waited. The driver ran his hands over the runes carved along the side, and they glowed a dark green. I reached for the scant shadows and stepped, just as the driver snapped the reins and clucked.
Heedless of stealth, I dove for the back where large rubber wheels kept the chaise off the ground. I hauled myself toward the axle. My feet dangled, and I pulled them up, only to lose my grip with my left hand. A grunt escaped before I could stop it, echoing against the wooden underside.
I froze, waiting to be discovered, but the horses sped up. With one arm and the abs Quinn loved, I hauled myself up and hooked my feet into the framework.
The carriage bounced on the bumpy road. The thick cobblestones leading to The Green gave way to the broken asphalt streets of central Edinburgh. Westwater’s border blurred my view before we turned. Arms aching, I jammed my sword between the axle and frame and slipped it into my sword belt to stay in place.
‘Do you have eyes on Cayden?’My lover asked through our connection.
‘Yes.’I didn’t elaborate.‘We turned northeast out of town. His ride is well off. Their magic is dark green, and the cart uses runes.’
A chill ran down my back, the same one I’m sure ran down my lover’s. What if this road led him home, and her into danger?
‘I’ll head out now,’Xan said.
I didn’t disagree.
Post chaises were smalland intended to carry one man, a few packages, and scrawls, which weighed nothing. With three, the cart ran slowly. Any second, they’d realize something was wrong. I had to stay ready.
I switched arms in the sling created by my sword and bumped my feet against the frame to keep them from going numb. The world passed us by. I switched arms three more times before my TB buzzed. Once, twice, three times, before just turning into a vibrating rock against my leg.
‘What’s happening?’I demanded.
It took Xan too long to respond.
‘I can’t get to you; our home is under attack.’Pain filled my lover’s mind voice.‘Stay on Cayden.’
I grunted.
Our forces were bled thin after The Mile. I’d followed Cayden out, leaving the castle exposed, and Xan inside. We were the most vulnerable we’d ever been since we took our home.
If I’d been waiting to strike, I’d hit now. My grip tightened until the wood groaned. All I could do was hold on and pray.
