“What the hell?” Her brow furrows.
Footsteps echo down both corridors, closing in fast. My eyes dart between the approaching threats, counting heartbeats, assessing movements.
“Five from the east wing, eight from the west,” I say, keeping my voice low. “And they’re not being subtle about it.”
“Thanks for the headcount. Now what?” Kara’s hands spark defensively.
I scan our surroundings – ornate wallpaper, hardwood floors, a massive painting of some long-dead noble. “The floor above has a shadow point that we can use to get out of here. I can get us there, but the wards will tear us apart unless we can punch through them.”
“And let me guess – you need me for that?” She eyes me warily.
“Look, I know you’d rather kiss a troll, but yes. Your power, combined with my knowledge of the shadow points, is our best shot.” The footsteps grow louder. “Your choice – trust me for thirty seconds or explain yourself to Lucien’s welcoming committee.”
She lets out a frustrated breath. “Fine. What do we do?”
I step behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. She stiffens but doesn’t pull away. “Channel your magic through me. I’ll guide it to the weak point in their wards.”
Her power floods through me, raw and electric. My skin tingles where we touch. I direct her magic upward, weaving it through the mansion’s defenses until I find the flaw I’m looking for. The wards shatter with a sound like breaking glass.
I feel her sharp intake of breath, her back pressing against my chest. For a moment, time seems to stop – there’s just her warmth against me, her magic mingling with mine, creating something unexpected and powerful.
Then reality crashes back as voices shout from both directions. “Now!” I tighten my grip around her waist and pull us both into the shadows.
I materialize with Kara in the darkness of the estate grounds. The mansion behind us blazes with light and activity, figures rushing past windows as Lucien’s men search.
“Well, that was fun.” Kara steps away from me, smoothing her clothes. “Though I could have done without the dramatic rescue.”
“You mean the rescue that kept you from being crushed to death?” I scan the grounds, tracking movement patterns. “A simple ‘thank you’ would suffice.”
She crosses her arms. “I already said thank you. Once was enough. What more do you want? Me to lick your boots?”
Charming.
“And here I thought near-death experiences made people more gracious.” I keep my voice low. “Running in alone was reckless. You could have—”
“I know, I know.” She waves off my lecture. “But we don’t have time for the ‘you were stupid’ speech right now.”
She’s right about that much. I watch another group of guards sweep past with flashlights.
Something is bothering me. “This whole setup feels wrong. That trap was meant to kill, but it was also meant to be found.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lucien’s too smart for this. Hewantedsomeone to attempt a rescue.” I turn to face her. “Think about it – if we go to Arabella claiming he’s behind the abductions, he can point to tonight as evidence that we’re jumping at shadows. Making rash accusations that drive us to break into his property.”
Kara’s eyes narrow as she processes this. “So the whole thing was theater? To make us look unstable and unreliable?”
“Exactly. And we played right into it.”
She narrows her eyes on me. “Or this is just your way of telling me how stupid I am again.”
“For fuck’s sake, Kara. We’ve already decided there’s no time for that now.”
The sound of voices drifts from around the corner of the mansion. I grab Kara’s arm and pull her behind a large oak tree before she can protest. She opens her mouth, probably to berate me again, but I press a finger to her lips. They’re soft. Plump. And for a moment, I’m distracted.
“The witch fell for it, just like he said she would.” A deep voice carries through the darkness. “Though that vampire showing up wasn’t part of the plan.”
“Doesn’t matter,” another voice replies. “Lord Marlowe said someone would try to play hero. Said that trap would make them look desperate and reckless when we bring this to the Council.”
