Skonk grinned. “I think it kind of was.”
Lady Limora’s curls shifted in the breeze as she moved gracefully down another step. Vivian, Mara, and Opal lingered behind her.
“The Priestess expects fear,” Lady Limora said softly. “She expects whispers and hesitation and hidden paths beneath the trees and canopies.” Her lips curved slightly. “She won’t expect an airborne magical uprising.”
“I hope that’s true,” I said, letting out a deep breath.
“That’s because airborne magical uprisings are objectively bad ideas,” Caleb muttered.
Stella smiled brightly. “And yet historically memorable.”
Bella came down the Academy steps with several fox shifters behind her. Their eyes reflected gold beneath the lantern light, sharp and alert as they surveyed the grounds.
“You know,” Bella mused, “I actually like this.”
Caleb looked horrified. “Of course you do.”
“She’s trying to manipulate us into moving quietly and separately,” Bella continued. “That gives her control of the playing field. But this?” She gestured toward the gathered crowd. “This changes the energy entirely.”
Ardetia stepped slowly onto the front steps behind us, pale hair gleaming beneath the moonlight. She was also equipped with a broomstick.
I touched the pendant at my throat unconsciously and felt a pull to Celeste, wherever she might be.
“She doesn’t get to call the shots anymore,” I said quietly.
The Academy rumbled beneath my boots in agreement.
My broomstick floated down the steps toward me from where I’d left it near my bookshelves, gliding through the air with unsettling eagerness. Several of the newer midlife witches gasped.
“I suppose the Academy must approve of our plans.” I attempted a smile.
“Oh, that’s deeply dramatic,” Stella whispered approvingly.
My broom stopped directly beside me, hovering patiently as if it had already made up its mind.
Caleb stared at it for a long moment before dragging a hand down his face. “I cannot believe I’m about to say this.”
“That’s usually how the best moments begin,” Stella informed him.
“If we do this,” Caleb continued, ignoring her, “then we do it with structure.” He pointed toward the gathered shifters. “Foxesand wolves flank the sides from the ground. Orcs stay near the rear perimeter and hold the ridge if things go bad. We need some sort of element of surprise.”
Caleb stepped down from the front stairs and lifted two fingers toward the gathered shifters waiting near the courtyard gates. The wolves immediately straightened, their attention locking onto him with practiced ease.
Bella moved to several fox shifters, who slipped silently from the shadows near the hedges.
Moonlight caught along Caleb’s jaw as he surveyed the grounds.
“We are stronger, united. We will prevail.” Caleb hollered as my dad nodded in agreement.
One of the orcs near the fountain gave a deep nod and slammed a fist lightly against his chestplate in agreement.
The sound echoed across the courtyard.
Beside me, Bella rolled her shoulders once, and for a brief second, I saw the outline of her fox shimmer beneath her skin like fire moving under paper.
“We’ll stay fast,” she said. “No direct engagement unless absolutely necessary. If shadow creatures break from the compound, we herd them away from the witches in the sky.”
“Preferably without dying,” Twobble added.
