This can’t be good.
“There’s been a breach in our wards. Someone has weaved in a curse, and I think it’s set to demolish the rest of them. The Council must be using it to help them invade. Vivian, I’m sorry to say, but your death is going to need to wait until we fix this,” Morgana says. There’s fear in her voice, and Sin immediately stands, holding me to him.
“I’ll go remove the curse and fix any damage to the wards. Where is it located?” he asks, his grip on me tightening.
“The Eastern Coast, close to where we had the emissary party. I believe someone in attendance is betraying us,” Morgana answers.
“Sit tight, kitten. This won’t take long.” Sin smiles at me reassuringly before kissing me soundly and apparating out of the room.
The moment he’s gone, I turn to ask Morgana what this means when she levels her eyes on me, looking even more afraid than before.
“That will take him at least an hour to sort out. I’ve bought you as much time as I can,” she says, and I don’t miss the slight waver in her tone.
I frown. “What are you talking about? The wards –”
“I’m the one who messed with them. It was the only thing I could think of to get him out of here long enough for you to decide. I received a message from Need this morning. She says we must return you to their care. You have just under an hour left to get to them. The handoff will be at the beach where you freed Leon. They have your friends, Vivian. Need has Conner, Isaac and Sarah. If you don’t go, she’ll kill them,” Morgana answers, gripping the table.
All the blood drains from my face.
No, this can’t be happening.
Morgana swallows, “That’s not all. Need is demanding we return you as a mortal and notes that if anything is to happen to her or Leon, she has mages stationed around your realm to kill as many mortals as possible.”
My hands shake, and my vision starts to darken at the edges.
Need has my friends. I tried so hard to keep them safe, to stay away. But Leon must have told Need about them so they’d have a bargaining chip.
“This is clearly a trap! There’s no way we’re going along with this,” Arianna yells as she stands from the table, a black mass of darkness swimming under her feet.
Magnus agrees, “Need is bluffing. She’s already under scrutiny from the other Council members about her reckless use of power.”
I focus on Morgana, who still looks stricken. “Is she capable of this? Of killing my friends or murdering countless innocent mortals?”
Morgana worked alongside Need for millennia. I trust her judgement on this.
“Yes,” she whispers. “She’s absolutely capable of it. Especially since Vivian is an uncollared Creator. She cannot risk Vivian coming into full power while in our hands.”
Knowing the decision has been made, I nod, and Morgana gives me a grim look before heading to her chair.
Rosie chimes in next, “How do we know for sure she even has Vivian’s friends. Maybe she’s lying.”
But Morgana shakes her head. “I already looked. All three were absent from their classes today. They’ve plastered their phone numbers around campus with posters looking for you, Vivian. None of the phone numbers were answered.”
My heart feels like it’s shattering at her words. My poor friends have been worried sick for me. I stayed away, thinking I would keep them safe, and in doing so, I’ve only managed to hurt them more.
I choke back a sob.
“So, what’s the plan then? How do we get back Vivian’s friends without handing her over to the Council?” Magnus asks.
Morgana and I lock eyes, and I know we’re on the same page.
“We don’t,” I answer. “That’s why she distracted Sin.”
“The only way we can save her friends is to make the trade,” Morgana continues. “You and Sin, you’re bonded now. Aren’t you?”
My heart thumps, and it’s almost painful. “Yes.”
“If he comes back before the handoff, he will murder Leon and Need before they ever lay a hand on you,” she warns. “He will start this war and end it before ever risking you. But in doing so, he will turn the other realms against us, and that will lead to the loss of millions of lives.” Her words are strained like she is fighting with herself from speaking them into existence.
