“I know that. But if you get it, maybe you can look into the past and find a way to untangle my magic or whatever it is you need to do instead of … instead of experimenting onme.”
His intrigue piqued. “And why would you want to help me kill you and drain your power for ourlord?”
Shit,busted.
“Because if I’m going to die anyway, I’d like a glimpse at my mother one last time. In her prime, in the old days.” Truth and lie were blurring here. Hopefully it was somewhat true, because he would tell if itwasn’t.
“What’s The Eye?” Steven asked, clearly annoyed to be out of theloop.
The sorcerer looked at the druid with mild disdain. It was clear they only worked together when they had to. “Only one of the most valuable magical artifacts to everexist.”
Now it was Steven’s turn to look annoyed. “Will it help us get her magic for Lord Ardan?” he growled at thesorcerer.
The truth witch seemed to weigh the question in his mind. “Yes, I think it could. I could go back to a time when something similar to this has been done and learn thetechnique.”
Oh God. Someone had this done before? That poorsoul.
Steven mercifully lowered the glowing sharp torture stick. “Let’s get it,” hedeclared.
When the truth witch stepped closer, the spell over my frozen limbs broke. My dragon had calmed somewhat, so I was able to retain my human form. I sagged backward against the wall, taking deep lungfuls ofair.
“Where is it?” heasked.
Here’s where I had to hope he would continue to take the bait. “Well, it’s with a sorcerer named Hensel. Last seen in Fresno,California.”
Steven groaned. “She doesn’t even haveit!”
But the truth witch wasn’t swayed. Greed shone in his gaze. “I know of Hensel. He runs the black market. We can find himeasily.”
Steven looked at me with mistrust. “We’ll be back,” he told me, and reached for the sorcerer’s arm. Within a blink they were gone, poofed out ofexistence.
Holyhell.
I slid down the wall into a sitting position. Now that the adrenaline had run its course, a crushing exhaustion came over me. But no way could I sleep with my life on theline.
‘They’re gone. I’ve bought some time, but I don’t know howmuch.’
I waited for a reply fromLogan.
‘Logan?’
I waited again but there was only silence. The last of my strength fled then, as tears began to fall down my cheek in warm rivulets. I slowly curled into a ball and peered out the bars at the stairway, praying they wouldn’t returnsoon.
My eyelids were getting heavy—I’d been awake almost twenty-four hours—but snapped open when I heard Logan’s voice inside myhead.
‘Sloane!’heroared.
I sat up, dry-mouthed, stomach rumbling and alert.‘I’m here!’The sky was darkening as the sun began to set. I was running out oftime.
‘Oh thank God. I did a glimpsing spell on the plane to try to find you, and it knocked meout.’
What! That didn’t soundgood.
‘Isaac’s friend is inbound to free you.”he rambled on, before I could ask further.“When she gets there, you’re going to need to shift and fly away with her. She’ll bring you to us. We’re about toland.’
I scrambled upright. ‘W-wait, what? She’s going to waltz into Ardan’s lair to free me just likethat?’
Silence. ‘She’s …small.’
