“How do they know it works?” I blurt out.
“He hasn’t explained that bit. He thinks it is ready to, erm . . . test? Yes. Test. That’s what he said.” Skar speaks like he’s not sure, as if he’s losing the connection.
“Jinneth is calling it the ‘silverblood elixir.’”
“Too late,” Vallan grumbles. “That’s already my name for our girl.”
I slap his knuckles on the table and he frowns at me. “This is more important than a pet name, Vall.”
“Nothing is more important than your pet name.”
I let out a huff of annoyance. “It sounds like we should come and retrieve—”
“Wait,” Skartovius grunts. He bares his fangs. “Sounds. Endolf and Jinneth looking up over the mouse. Garro is turning the mouse around—hurry!”
I leap up, knocking my chair over with a clang. My stomach drops to the floor. “Skar, what’s going on?!”
“Footsteps. Boots. Loud. Running, fleeing . . . the mouse is in the corridor. Garro, let it go—you’re losing the connection! Too much stress!” he yells.
I can only imagine what both my mates feel, and I pound a fist on the table to try and snap them out of it. Last time something like this happened, I almostslappedGarroway back to us.
This time, it’s not necessary.
Garroway gasps, eyes wrenching open. Twin lines of blood trickle down his cheeks from his eyes.
I rush to them. Vallan joins me a second later and we hover over the duo.
Skartovius doubles over, removing his hand from Garroway’s head. He sucks in a deep breath, trying to compose himself, while Garro glances up at us with confusion on his face.
“Shit,” the dhampir murmurs.
I crouch in front of him, eyes level with his bleeding tears. My hands fall on his knees. He looks exhausted, and I’ve never seen bloody fucking tears before, but here we are. “Garro? Are you there? What is it, my love?”
He blinks and puts a hand to his forehead, leaning down with a groan. I give him a moment, chewing the inside of my cheek viciously, until I wince and taste blood to try and focus on something other than my worries.
Garroway looks up. Concern twists his brow. “Someone was listening to our conversation, lass,” he croaks in a tired voice. “Behind the wall of Old Endolf’s cave. I didn’t catch their face. They escaped through the ladder and hatch up to the surface.”
“Fuck.” My hope sinks, opening a pit in my belly.
“Alacine Mortis,” Vallan growls.
“One of her spies, most likely,” Garro answers.
“Inthe damned Firehold?” I hiss.
Skartovius stands over me, frowning. “It’s not surprising. The former leader of the entire Grimsons operation ended up being a spy of Alacine Mortis. She has them everywhere.”
With my pulse pounding, I rise to my feet. “We have to go retrieve Jinneth! She isn’t safe. None of them are!”
“Agreed,” Skar answers in a bleak tone. “It’s certainly time. Pray we’re not too late.”
Chapter 41
Sephania
Skar throws on his red-gold cloak over his shoulders, clasping it at the front. Vallan runs into another room to gather something. Garroway cracks his knuckles, waiting for commands. The quiet conference room is in abrupt upheaval. Biting my lip nervously, I look at Skar.
He nods and gathers himself, taking a deep breath. “One more shadow portal should do it,” he says, clearly not liking the fact he has to drain even more energy. “Will get us there fastest.”
