The white-haired man scoffs, tugging on his companion’s arm, “let’s go, Devlen.”
Devlenprotests and tries to keep himself rooted in place. Amidst their arguing, I see the remainder of our ensemble round the corner, and give them a warning look to hang back until Eveera and I are through the portal.
I don’t need to give her any more reasons to fall apart right now; her eyes have already glazed over, her mind fully checking out.
She looks so… defeated. I’m furious that we don’t have Ezra with us. That we’re not bringing him back to Obsidian, where I candealwith him. But right now, getting her home is more important than continuing my witch hunt.
I can deal with him later.
The guard waves us on after another few pointless minutes of him scribbling, and we follow him down the expansive hallway.
“WAIT!” Our guide stops abruptly at the shout, and Max nearly collides into his back. Hissing out a breath, I turn my head to the side. I’m unsurprised to find thatDevlenand the white haired man have followed us –again.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I growl, my tone bordering on lethal.
“We should come with you.”
My eyes bulge, “excuse me?”
“Please–” he starts, but his partner interrupts to claim that “he’s against this.”
Devlen shoots him a withering look, and I huff, pushing forward. “I… cannot handle this right now.”
By the obvious boots clicking on the polished metal floors, I take it that they’ve decided to push their luck and continue following us. They’ll either give up when we reach the portal or… or I’ll let Felix and her council handle them. My only priority right now is getting through that portal and these fucking shackles off of her.
Count your seconds, Ezra. Because once I find you — that’s all you’ll have left.I curse inside my head, the creed ringing out into the void.
I am never prepared for the intense wave of vertigo that comes with portaling, no matter how many times I do it. And the less often I do it, the longer it takes me to shake it off.
My eyes drift down to her face, still frozen in the same shock-ridden expression she slipped into when we arrived at the Consulate. When I raise my gaze, I’m startled to find her portal room filled with people.
Not just Felix and Armond as I had expected, but her entire bleeding council was there – waiting for us.
“Oof!” I stumble forward, Millie crashing into my back as the rest of our band of misfits spills out of the magic. She gives me an apologetic look, and I rest my hand against Eveera’s cheek, preventing her from seeing Millicent urging ourguestfrom the room while the rest of the men find their balance.
A few eyes bulge at the two of them, but nobody has anytime to say anything, because their attention all drifts to the two stragglers standing beside Max.
I’m ready to order Armond to shove them back through the glimmering portal when a shrill voice pierces through. “Where is she?!” Marjorie demands. She bursts through the council members standing in her way, her face twisting in outrage at the lifeless queen.
THWACK!
“You’ve brought her back to me half dead.” My Wield flares involuntarily at the old woman’s outburst, but she senses it quickly, her frown deepening. “And now you threaten an old woman.”
“Nice to see you too,” I say to her, my voice gravelly.
“I didn’t say that.” She quips, flitting behind me and giving my shoulders a push.
She pushes us all the way out into the hall, the sound of our horde clamoring into the hall, bouncing off the familiar stone halls.
The deeper we walk into the belly of the court, a heady scent of smoke and fire fills my nostrils. “What is that smell?”
“You’re not the only one who’s been…experiencing a few outbursts of emotions.”
Glancing over my shoulder, Felix gives me a subtle shake of his head.I’ll inquire about it more… later.I tell myself.
We pass the entrance to the throne room, the smell of char thickest there, and the pieces start to fall together as I recallMarjorie's words. I think it’s safe to assume the other she’s referring to is Vada.
I guess later is now.I slow down, falling into step with our head of council and lean in, “what has she done?” I ask tentatively.
