A rip began forming in the sky above. Harsh black lines that fit with the nightmarish sky rippling out in pulses.
The Lord Provost lifted his arms, tilting his face to the sky with a worshipful look.
With a sense of detachment, Tate took in Archie’s determined expression as he moved to protect the emperor.
A hand appeared from the rip and then a leg. Nathan stepped out of the void, the cruel lines of his face arrogant, pale gray eyes observing those on the lawn below like they were insects.
His gaze locked on Tate and the blade lodged into her chest. His lips curved. “Well, well. Isn’t this quite the sight?”
Rath’s head whipped to look up at the ancient. Murderous rage showed on his face. His lips peeled back as a ball of fire erupted from his mouth.
Nathan lifted a negligent hand. “Ai.”
The adult Ai’s eyes started to glow, and a shield erected itself in front of Nathan, stopping the fire in its tracks.
“As entertaining as a fight with you would no doubt be, I have a strict time schedule,” Nathan glanced at the Lord Provost. “Retrieve the Apportens Mortis.”
Rath hissed as he lowered his head and moved to intercept. He made it two steps before gravity suddenly pressed down on everything in the area. His muscles bulged as he fought against the sensation, unable to move forward as the Lord Provost strolled toward Tate.
Groans came from all those around them. Many went to their knees, planting hands on the ground to keep themselves from collapsing fully.
Night hugged the ground. His ears swiveled as his eyes fixed on Tate. A set expression crossed his face as he slid one paw forward and then the next, belly crawling in her direction.
Tate, hold on. I’m coming.
Stop, Tate mouthed. Lie still.
Night ignored her, his face determined as he slid forward another centimeter.
“How is the minor goddess doing this?” Thaddeus said between gritted teeth.
Nathan’s grin was affable. “A little device I picked up. It temporarily extends the domain of the minor goddess. Your former dragon slayer was so kind as to seed it throughout your palace.”
He gestured and a small rock with an opalescent sheen rose from the ground, coming to a rest on his palm. “Pretty nifty, isn’t it?”
“William, this isn’t you. Why are you doing this?” Thaddeus collapsed to his knees.
Nathan leaned forward. “Your recriminations are useless. For starters, that’s not William.”
The face of the Lord Provost rippled as if there was something fighting to get out under the skin. No wonder he’d set her instincts off. As good as he was at pretending to be the Lord Provost, there were still slight discrepancies.
Tate couldn’t move as the man wearing William’s face crouched in front of her, reaching into her jacket pocket where she’d stashed the cube earlier. His hand froze upon finding it empty, his eyes coming to hers.
Tate allowed herself the barest of smiles. Wasn’t expecting that, were you?
The man’s mouth flattened as he started patting her down.
“What’s wrong?” Nathan asked.
Finished, the man stood. “It’s not here.”
His voice was different from the Lord Provost she knew. Higher pitched and more nasally. That’s why he hadn’t had anything to add in the meeting and afterward. It would have been a dead giveaway even for the most unobservant.
Nathan’s expression darkened. “Where is it then?”
Frustration briefly flashed on the man’s face before it was buried behind a calm mask. “She had it earlier. I saw it myself. She must have passed it to someone.”
“You gave yourself away. She must have realized you weren’t the Lord Provost and stashed it somewhere,” Nathan said, unsurprised.
