My first thought was to shapeshift into my dragon form. That was the easiest way out of chains. I reached inside myself, but then paused. I'd never tested that theory. And these were magical chains made to bind a shapeshifter. If I tried to shift, they might sever my hand.
By the time I processed this, we were gone. Agwusi traced us away, through the Aether, before I could come up with another plan. We reformed in a small white room, bare of furnishings or decor. As soon as we arrived, she slapped the other manacle on me, and Gleipnir's magic dragged me down.
I stumbled to my knees, my head spinning.
“I'm so sorry to do this to you, Vervain.” Agwusi picked me up and carried me out of the tracing room, unaffected by the chains.
The room turned out to be a shack. As she carried me across a grassy lawn and onto a porch, Agwusi spouted crazy talk about variables, broken timelines, and stabilizing forces. We entered a vibrantly decorated living room, passed through it, and entered a corridor. I tuned her out, focusing instead onhow to take her down. My magic thrummed in response to my anxiety. I still had access to it; I just couldn't shift. That didn't matter. I could overpower Agwusi in several ways. But just as I reached for my Moon Magic to adjust the water inside her, I realized I had a unique opportunity.
Agwusi thought she was in control. Granted, I couldn't move much with those chains on. I'd have to down her when she was close enough that I could reach the key for the chains. And I'd have to hope she had the key on her. If not, I'd be stuck wherever I was, and wherever it was, it was undoubtedly warded. With Agwusi's Unseen Magic covering our trail through the Aether, I couldn't count on my husbands coming for me either.
I was on my own.
It had been a while since I'd faced an enemy alone. I'd gotten used to my family and friends having my back. They still did. They just couldn't reach me. What a depressing thought. But I used to work alone, and I'd been abducted enough times to know how to use it to my advantage. There were two ways to look at this: I was a prisoner, or I'd just infiltrated the enemy's lair. Since I still had access to my magic, I chose option two.
Agwusi carried me into an airy living room with white cotton chairs and a matching couch. White stone tiles covered the floor, with colorful woven rugs over that, and the walls were pale-stained wood. Photographs of cities and landscapes hung upon them.
“What the fuck have you done?” Ty came in from the patio.
“I need to study her.” Agwusi carried me past him.
Ty followed us down another corridor. I heard a high-pitched whirring as we approached the door at the end.
“Do you mind?” she asked.
“Oh, of course not. Let me get that door for you so you can carry my sister into your fucking laboratory to be experimented on.” Ty grabbed the handle and shoved the door open.
“I'm not experimenting on her in the way you're implying.” Agwusi carried me into the room and set me on the floor.
“Vervain, I'm so sorry.” Ty crouched beside me and helped me arrange my arms so I was more comfortable. The chains only affected the wearer.
“No worries.” I grinned at him. “We've been hunting her all day. Now, I got her. Yay, me!”
He made a surprised snort and shook his head. “Your spirit is unbreakable, Vervain.”
The whirring lowered in pitch, slowed, and then became a gentle hum. Ty shot to his feet, staring from the machine to Agwusi to me.
“I knew it!” Agwusi crowed. “She's the only thing the machine can't affect. Vervain isn't a god, a human, or a faerie. She's all three. And when she fixed her future, she broke the threads of her fate. There isn't a path for her anymore. She stands outside of time and destiny. Untouchable.”
“You're saying that I did that?” I nodded at the machine since I couldn't lift my hands.
“Yes, Vervain.” She came over to me. “You're special. God's chosen warrior. His machine can not affect you. He told me that. But then, you invaded my home and removed the mirror. You were there when we came into the room, weren't you?”
I lifted my chin.
“Did you notice the machine stabilized?”
“No, it smoked and whirred . . .” I went silent as I remembered how the machine seemed to heal itself.
Agwusi chuckled. “Yes, you remember now. That was you, Vervain. It was how I knew you were still there. Somehow, you hid from me. How did you do it?”
I pressed my lips together and met her gaze.
“Interesting.” She cocked her head at me. “Keep your secrets. I don't need them. All I need is you.”
“You can't be certain I stabilized the machine.”
“Oh, but I am. Do you know how?” Agwusi smirked. “It failed when you left. That's when I was sure that you were the key.”
