“Gran!” I cry out at the familiar figure. She’s just as I’d seen her in the vision, hunched with exhaustion, her usually pristine white pantsuit torn and streaked with dirt. Her hair hangs round her face limply, and there’s a dark bruise on her cheek. But her eyes shine as she sees us, the emerald fire there still alive and burning. Beside her, Seraphina maintains her regal bearing, although she’s clearly been beaten.
“Kara! Georgia!” Gran gasps our names out. The pair swivel their heads to face us, seated on the floor, bound together back to back. Gran and Seraphina are surrounded by floating orbs of dark energy. They appear unharmed, but their hands are wrapped with shadow chains.
“Oh, Gran, thank God!” I rush forward, battling my way through the wards around them. They’re no match for my angry determination, and within moments, Mom and I have worked their bonds free.
I know that time is not on our side, but I can’t help myself; I lean in and wrap my arms around my grandmother, holding her close.
“You’re okay. You’re okay!” I inhale her scent, which is still warm and sweet despite what she’s been through.
“Yes, I am, darling,” she says against my cheek. Mom is helping Seraphina to her feet. Our High Priestess rubs her wrists and stretches stiff limbs.
“We’d better get going, love,” Mom says.
I reach for Gran’s hand, ready to lead her out, but she shakes her head sharply.
“Let’s get you out of here,” I say. I can feel the others drawing closer, but I know Lucien’s men are closing in, too.
“Wait,” she stops me. “We can’t leave yet. Poppy—”
“Are you kidding me? We need to get out of here now!” The defenses are still activating around us, the walls themselves seeming to pulse with malevolent energy.
“You don’t understand,” Gran insists. “We can’t leave her.”
Mom steps up beside me, her magic ready. “Evelyn, please. This place is becoming unstable.”
“No.” Gran’s voice is firm despite her bonds. “I won’t leave without her. You have no idea what’s really at stake.”
The floor trembles beneath us as more security measures activate. We’re running out of time, but Gran’s expression tells me she won’t budge on this.
And then it happens…I feel him before I see him – a creeping malevolent presence that makes my skin prickle. The darkness around us deepens, shadows writhing along the walls.The temperature plummets, my breath forming clouds in the suddenly frigid air.
“He’s coming,” I whisper, my voice tight with fear. The defenses we fought through were nothing compared to this overwhelming power rolling toward us. It feels old, impossibly old, and twisted by unthinkable evil.
Mom grabs Gran’s arm. “Evelyn, we have to go. Now.”
But Gran still won’t move, her eyes fixed on something we can’t see. “Poppy,” she insists again.
Footsteps echo through the gallery, measured and unhurried. He knows he has us trapped. The sound of expensive shoes on marble grows closer, accompanied by the lighter steps of his guards.
My magic feels pathetically weak in comparison to the force approaching us. I know without a doubt that we’re no match for him. I’ve never felt anything like this – it’s like standing at the edge of an abyss, knowing you’re about to fall.
My heart thunders. We’re trapped, outmatched, and out of options. Even if the others managed to find us, they’d never be able to go up against Marlowe. None of us can. Mia already died at his hand once. And if he has others with him…
This is it. We’re done.
23
Chapter 23
Marcus
TheMeridian’sglassandsteel exterior blurs past as I shadow-travel through the night. Kara’s presence pulses in my mind like a beacon, drawing me inexorably toward her. Our bond burns brighter with each passing second – thank fuck she’s not blocking me out anymore.
She’s found Evelyn, but something’s wrong. The fear threading through her thoughts sets my teeth on edge.
“You’re not just some witch rushing into danger. You have honor. I respect that.”
My own words echo mockingly as I phase through another wall. I should have told her everything. Should have made her understand that this isn’t just about some mystical blood match.
