Ryu ignored him to focus on the sentinels as they pushed their way through the wall, inch by inch.
Tate backed away, dragging Dewdrop with her.
“The sentinels should only come to this side when there is an attempted prison break. Usually someone needs to die before they return to the other side.” On bare feet, Tyne strode to his bone throne, yanking out a thin, long white sword.
“Is that made from bone?” Dewdrop demanded.
Tyne grinned but didn’t answer.
Out of the corner of her eye, Tate saw Christopher stand and move toward the door. She reached for him only to have him slip through her hands as easily as smoke. A mirage impossible to contain.
“Christopher,” Tate warned in a low voice. “Whatever you’re thinking—don’t. Stay. I can protect you.”
She eyed the distance between him and the sentinels. Could she grab him and retreat to safety in time? The sentinels were almost through the wall, just the backs of their feet and body still contained in its depths. It could delay them—then again, did she want to take that chance?
In the end, she stayed where she was, choosing caution over recklessness.
Christopher’s expression gentled as he glanced at her. “I’m afraid such things are out of even your hands.”
With that, he took the last two steps that would put him in reach of the sentinels. Tate’s body tensed. Christopher wasn’t what she’d call a friend, but she didn’t want to see him killed in front of her either.
To her surprise, the sentinels didn’t react. It was as if Christopher was a ghost they couldn’t perceive. A blind spot that allowed him to slip away with ease.
“How is that possible?” Dewdrop asked.
The man Tate had first noticed in the corner rose when Christopher touched the door. It swung open as he hurried across the floor, the light showing his face for the first time.
“Peter,” Tate hissed.
He didn’t spare a glance at her as he reached striking distance of the sentinels. This time Tate was less surprised when they let him pass. Of course, Peter was probably the reason Christopher could escape. He’d done something—Tate didn’t know what—but it allowed them to bypass a defense system nobody had ever escaped from.
“Christopher, I promise whatever he told you he’s not on your side,” Tate said in a last-ditch attempt to stop him.
Christopher gave her a sad smile. “Unfortunately, the same could be said for you.”
Tate remained motionless as Christopher and Peter disappeared beyond the door being guarded by the sentinels.
“What now?” Dewdrop asked.
“We survive—and when we get the chance, we hunt Christopher down,” Ryu snarled.
Rath opened his mouth, fire spewing forth. The first sentinel burst from the wall, spear extended. Ryu dodged to the side as the second statue planted a foot. The floor cracked beneath him as the air seemed to cry.
Danger!
Tate was already moving, dragging Dewdrop with her as she dove to the side. Wind rushed past her along with the sound of stone breaking.
Tate and Dewdrop turned and stared in disbelief as the sentinel extricated itself from the wall they’d been standing in front of seconds before. Fast. Dangerously so.
Tate scrambled to her feet, Dewdrop doing the same beside her as the sentinel slowly turned to face them.
Switch!
“No time,” Tate snapped back as the sentinel’s eyes started glowing.
She pushed Dewdrop away from her as lightning singed the air where they’d just been. Tate hit the ground and rolled, finding her feet instantly.
“Tate!”
