“The plan is for us to go to The Vale. We'll catch The Sanctum off guard, and we'll bring them down once and for all.”
“Jude too?” he pushes. “When do we take him down for certain?”
Sadness creeps into the depths of her eyes as she sighs. “We're hoping the fall of The Sanctum will bring him out of his little den. He will be dealt with too. There are many people in this room that deserve vengeance, and I have to accept that. He’s out of control and has gone too far. I’m also aware that we want to be rid of The Sanctum, a group of people hellbent on controlling us all, but Jude wants that control for himself. That scenario sounds even worse,” she admits, and I can’t find any connection with how that must feel, and I wouldn’t want to.
There's no remorse in Kael’s eyes, though. It’s time.
Kael’s father clears his throat. “We're going to coordinate this well, use a portal to take us straight to The Vale, and take them down quickly.”
“Now, if we're all ready, let's make use of this portal, shall we?” Rikard asks, earning a cheer as anticipation fills my lungs.
It’s all going to end now, I can feel it in my bones.
I step through the portal without care, focused on ending this madness that wreaks havoc on my life, only to falter when I appear on the other side. I’m ninety-nine percent certain I’m standing in the exact spot where I first arrived for the first time with Kael.
My throat dries, despite my efforts, as I recall the fear and treachery I felt in those first moments. It isn't so vibrant anymore, but it seems to be staring back at me tenfold with the crowd of people gathered, awaiting our arrival.
So much for catching them off guard.
I feel the presence grow behind me as more people step through the portal, offering me the pleasure of enjoying the shock that transforms across the faces of Anya and Saken. The body of students behind them is just as stunned, and it’s no surprise to see Willow right beside her mother as she speaks.
“Elodie Blackwood, you are hereby sentenced to death for the death of Cordelia Wickerman.”
“My daughter is what now?” my mother blurts, slipping through the crowd to come to a stop at my side, and Anya gapes in horror, the two staring offat one another as the rest of the people continue to filter through the portal, revealing just how not alone I am. All while I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, holding back the desire to correct them on my name.
Saken snarls when he locks eyes with Rikard, and I can’t deny how much pleasure I take from the encounter. If nothing else, it’s been worth the looks on their faces.
“Do you dare bring a war to The Vale?” Saken snarls, and a whoosh of laughter comes from behind.
“No, we’re bringing an end to The Vale,” Kael’s mother insists, disdain falling heavily through the air as Anya snaps her teeth.
“How dare you show up here? You are herebyallsentenced to death,” Anya insists, Willow nodding eagerly at her mother’s side, and I try not to roll my eyes.
“Anya, darling, I’ll have you know, you hijacked us with your desire for power, and now you must pay the consequences,” my mother promises, and I proudly stand at her side. “I would offer to handle this like civilized beings, but we both know you don’t know how to conduct yourself like one of those,” she adds, her voicesoft despite the venom coursing through each word.
The adrenaline in my veins almost has me vibrating.
Anya’s cackle cuts through the air. “Nobody wants to take advice from a power leeching parasite of a mage.”
I gape in disbelief at the slurs ripping from her tongue, each one aimed at my mother.
“You've always been one to fight with your words,” Kael’s mother bites, standing at my mother’s side. “Let’s cut to the chase and see how far your skills don’t actually get you.”
It’s like a gun goes off, everyone scrambling at once, students included, and instead of setting me into motion, it floods me with a wave of guilt. They don’t know what they’re fighting for, and they’re going to pay the ultimate price.
But it seems they haven’t considered that fact because they charge regardless.
“Elodie?” Ocean breathes, rushing to my side, and it tugs me from my mind as a battle cry rings through the air.
“We move as one,” Kael grunts, and I nod, my hands fisting at my sides.
“Protect each other,” Rion adds, a snarl partinghis lips a moment later when he shifts into his wolf form, and I glance over my shoulder in search of Thorne too, only to find him standing side by side with my father. Black smoke billows from their palms, drenching the ground in their magic.
Some heed the warning, refusing to come any closer, while others race into it, unfazed, suffering the consequence of their foolishness as they fall to the ground, writhing in pain.
Refusing to cower under their protection, I head toward the chaos, Ocean and Kael at my side as Rion darts at a wolf a few steps behind the smoke.
My nostrils flare as I focus, connecting with the magic inside of me as I turn my attention to the first person in my way.
