“Creeps,” Sy muttered.
“Don’t go with them!” Bea shouted. “Don’t give them anything, no matter what!”
The Shrieker’s claw twitched toward her throat.
Sy and I moved as one, even in two bodies. Her light wrapped Bea in a shimmering shield while my dark flame lashed out, reducing the Shriekers to atomic dust in a single strike.
“You don’t fuck with us,” Sy declared, even though no enemy remained to hear.
We slid down to the train, and Bea crashed into my arms the moment Sy’s shield dissolved.
“You came back,” my mage friend sobbed, then stared wide-eyed between Sy and me. “You and Sy…you’re two people now!”
“Technically,” Sy grinned, “we’re two peas in separate pods now. Like…pod neighbors.”
Bea blinked, bewildered. I didn’t blame my best friend. Sy barely made sense most of the time.
“Let’s go,” I cut in before Sy could spew more nonsense. She couldn’t hear my silent criticism anymore, and I wasn’t sure that was a good thing.
“I need to see my sugar,” Sy announced. “I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he seesme!”
I was happy for her—she finally had the life she’d craved, and she’d be safe. But anxiety shadowed the moment. The trial wasn’t over, even if it was for us.
I glanced back toward the maze. Candidates were still trapped there. I needed to get Killian and the other heirs to stop this before more students became supernatural roadkill.
“And we have to warn the heirs about Lilith teaming up with Ruin,” I added, lips pressed thin. “We’re running out of time.”
“But how do we leave?” Bea asked. “This train only goes deeper into the Underworld. I doubt they’re sending return vortexes, not after how we derailed the trial.”
Sy and I looked at each other. The same thought crossed our minds.
Still two peas.
We no longer needed a ride out of the Underworld. Sy and I were yin and yang. I could siphon Killian’s portal power ever since mating him, and Sy now wielded the most potent creation magic there was.
Together, we were a force.
We linked hands, Bea sandwiched safely between us. Our powers hummed through the connection.
“Close your eyes,” Sy called. “Think of home. Think of the place you want to go most.”
“Shouldn’t you two do the thinking, and I’ll just tag along?” Bea suggested. “This kind of power rides on your magic and intention, right?”
“I’m thinking of where they keep the snacks,” I said, smacking my lips as my stomach groaned. “Fine—I’ll go see Killian first. He’ll be overjoyed, then take me straight to cakes.”
Our powers hummed louder, rising to a crescendo.
“Here we come, Edinburgh!” Sy shouted.
“Why thefuckEdinburgh?” I yelled back. I didnotwant this magic dumping us in a foreign country, even if Scotland was lovely. What were we supposed to do there? “Wait a fucking…”
A firestorm engulfed us as we tore through dimensions.
Shit.
Chapter
Eleven
