“Now,” I said. “We need to get into the Main Facility before they reinforce the wards and we can’t find it anymore. We don’t have time to wait.”
“How are we getting there?” Danny asked.
“I overheard that the Main Facility is located in Arizona, northwest of Flagstaff. There’s nothing else in that part of the United States.” I gestured to the large mirror on the wall beside me. “That information should get us close enough that Charlie can portal us from here and through any mirror on the facility’s property. Arizona is several hours behind Ilamanthe, so it’s still night over there. We can use the darkness to help conceal us.”
Danny clapped his hands together. “Excellent, because I’m out of sun potion.”
“Everyone get dressed,” Charlie ordered. “We leave in two minutes.”
Charlie wasn’t fucking around. Everyone scrambled to get ready, and they were dressed quickly.
The door to our quarters opened. Eddie sauntered in with a dejected look on his face. He stopped in his tracks as all eyes turned to him.
“Looks like I missed a fun party.” He forced a chuckle. He was trying to mask what had happened in the hall, but his tone came out completely flat.
“You don’t have to pretend like everything’s fine, Eddie,” Charlie said, rather harshly. “We know my grandfather found the Main Facility.”
Eddie’s features paled. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Charlie gritted his teeth. “You can’t lie to me, Eddie. You’re my guard, and I order you to tell me the truth. You should’ve come to me the moment you found out.”
Eddie chose his words carefully. “I don’t understand how you learned of this.”
“I overheard Cassiel speaking with you in the hall,” I told him softly. “It’s okay, Eddie. You can talk about it now. We already know.”
Eddie took a step back. “I— I’m afraid I can’t, princess.”
Charlie’s voice boomed across the room. “You can, and youwill. Tell us everything you know, Eddie. That’s an order!”
“Hey!” Alistair sneered. “You can’t talk to my boyfriend like that.”
Charlie gritted his teeth. “He’s my guard, and Iownhim. I can talk to him whatever way I please.”
The whole room had gone dead quiet as we all stared at Charlie. None of us had ever seen him treat Eddie this way before. Usually, I preferred when Charlie took charge, but this was on a whole different level I didn’t like. Eddie was his guard, but he was his own person. He didn’t belong to anyone, not even Charlie.
“I’m afraid you misunderstand, sire,” Eddie said in a wavering tone. “There is very little I can say right now. What Icantell you is that as Emperor, your grandfather’s orders supersede your own untilyoubecome Emperor.”
“He’s magically bound,” I realized. “Charlie, you can’t order him to do anything Cassiel doesn’t want you to. Eddie’s magically bound to you, but more than that, he’s bound to the Majestica family, and there’s a hierarchy even he has to follow. The magic prevents him from telling you anything Cassiel ordered him not to.”
Eddie dropped his gaze. “Regardless of my orders, I do not regret keeping this from you. The Emperor doesn’t want you to go, and believe me, you should not.”
“Why not?” Charlie demanded.
Eddie twisted his hands together and opened his mouth several times, but he didn’t answer.
“WHY NOT?!” Charlie raged, taking several steps forward.
I caught Charlie by the wrist. “Charlie,stop. He can’t answer you, even if he wanted to. Emperor Cassiel ordered him not to speak of this. I think he’s said all he possibly can.”
Charlie got a disgusted look on his face. “If my grandfather has more authority over my guard than I do, how can I trust you, Eddie? What else has my grandfather told you to keep from me?”
“Nothing,” Eddie insisted. “That Icantell you, Charlie. You must believe me. And you have to trust me when I say you don’t want to go to the place you seek. You will only find?—”
Eddie gagged, like he’d said too much and he was choking on his own tongue. Cassiel’s orders prevented him from saying anything more.
“I guess we won’t know until we go there,” Charlie stated smugly. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Charlie stepped up to the mirror on the wall, and the surface began to ripple as he created a portal. Oberi shifted into husky form and stood dutifully beside him, and Rishi followed. Everyone else gathered around the mirror.
