Kallie cut off, like she’d said too much. It implied everything. I’d bet anything Scarlet was jealous of Kallie’s bond with Marcus.
“Alistair’s right,” Chancey added. “You’re better off without Scarlet. She was a bitch in the ring—”
The sound of heavy boots entered the Villain’s Den, and the room quieted within moments. The sudden shift of atmosphere was eerie. Ava stiffened from her spot on my lap, and my heart began to race. Whatever it was couldn’t be good.
Guards,Ava said in my mind.They look pissed.
“All full-blooded Elves are to come with us immediately,” a guard announced.
Reid cleared his throat from across the room. “Where are you taking us?”
“We’re not taking questions,” the guard sneered. “You can come with us the easy way, or the hard way.”
They’re taking them to the Underground!Ava panicked.
“We’re not going anywhere with you,” Reid snapped.
Before anyone else could move, an explosion sounded from the middle of the room… a battle orb.
“Hey!” Alistair cried.
Reid must’ve siphoned Alistair’s powers. I was both proud of him and a little peeved, because the second Reid reacted, the room burst into chaos. Shouts filled the area, and magic whizzed by my head. A loud crash sounded, like the TV had been knocked off the wall. Several students screamed and fled the den. Rishi hissed loudly, and Oberi growled. I felt her shift into a unicorn, standing over Ava and me to defend us.
The click of noxite guns sounded. All I could think to do was protect Ava. I grabbed my wife and shoved her to the ground, throwing myself over her to protect her from rogue magic.
“Let go of me!” Felicity shrieked.
“Samara, get down!” I heard Leif shout.
“Stay away from my boyfri—” Alistair started, but he cut off at a whizzing sound. I was certain he’d been shot by a noxite dart.
“Hey, you fuckers!” Ivy snapped.
“Ives!” Chancey cried, but it was too late. Guns went off, and I heard both of their bodies hit the floor.
“Everybody on the ground!” a guard screamed, but no one listened.
“Master!” Eddie shouted across the room. My entire form froze as I heard him call for me. He gave a few choked sounds, like he was struggling to get away from someone.
“Charlie!” Ava cried, pushing against me. “Get up! We have to move. They’re going for Eddie!”
Panic flooded through me. The second she said it, I was on my feet. I raced over to where I thought Eddie had been last. I sensed someone approaching with my magic. I gathered Air magic in my hands and blasted it outward. Anoofsounded as the guard went flying backward.
At the same time, a sharp pinch shot through my leg. Oberi gave a loud neigh as she surged to help me, and I felt her place her body between me and the guards. I reached down and yanked a noxite dart from my skin. I’d been practicing all semester with noxite, and the diluted serum barely fazed me. My magic didn’t even react to it now.
“Charlie, what do we do?” Eddie cried.
Fuck, I had to think fast. The Elves weren’t ready to make a break for it, but if we didn’t do something, the guards would take Eddie and the others to the Underground.
“We—” I started, but I hesitated too long.
“Don’t touch Felicity!” Reid screamed.
I heard the sound of feathery wings flapping, and I knew he must’ve stolen an angel’s wings. All his rage and anger must’ve made his powers stronger. But those wings were useless here in the Villain’s Den. A blast of defensive magic shook the room, and several of us were blasted into the wall.
The air knocked out of my lungs, and I sank to the ground. I rolled over— straight into a puddle of warm, sticky liquid. I reached out, and my fingers grazed an unmoving body.
I realized with horror that the spell had killed one of the Elves.
