Across from him, Cassia wasn’t as composed. Her lower lip trembled. “What are you talking about? What spell did you try to do?”
Deckard cleared his throat and roughly sliced his knife through a large piece of chicken. “It doesn’t matter now. It was a terrible accident and…”
“That’s what you’re calling it now?” Cade growled, his voice low and harsh.
As a flicker of rage began to brew on Deckard’s face, darkness consumed them.
Chapter twenty-three
Bridget reflexively reached for Nylah’s hand. The moment small fingers met hers, she relaxed a bit, despite the harrowing blackness surrounding her. Silence pressed in from all sides. The usual low hum of palace life had vanished, replaced by something far more unsettling.
“What the hell is this?” Deckard’s voice cut through the dark.
Bridget heard Cade scoff nearby. “The power went out.”
A knife slammed hard against the table.
“Iunderstandthe electricity is off,” Deckard snapped. “I want to knowwhy.”
At the head of the table, two glowing eyes flickered to life. Deckard muttered something under his breath as a faint shimmer of blue lit his face. Magic, no doubt, as he whispered a message to someone across the palace. At least the light emanating from his face allowed Bridget to vaguely see the profile of her sister’s contemplative one.
“Maybe eating in a windowless room wasn’t such a good idea,” Nylah said. “Too bad I left my lighter in my room.”
Bridget balked. “Who gave you a lighter?”
It had to be Archer. Asking for forgiveness and not permission was his specialty. Just like the time he’d let Nylah drink a Red Bull after dinner.
A shriek penetrated Bridget’s ears. Goosebumps erupted over skin as it echoed throughout the palace, reaching their location in faint, haunting waves. Her chest twisted. The noise was familiar and tensed her muscles. A prick shot through her forehead.
Is it just me, or did that sound like the Wraith?Cade asked.
It’s not just you.
She felt his grimace.I was hoping I was wrong. It shouldn’t be possible. Not with the protection spell.
“What was that?” Cassia asked, her voice a nervous whisper.
A frustrated hum reverberated from Deckard’s chest. “Whatever it is, it will be dead soon enough.”
I think we need to stop doubting Quinn and what she can do with the Bloodstone. She must have found a loophole, Bridget told Cade.
Before he could respond, Deckard shoved back his velvet chair with a scrape of wood against stone. At the same time, the dining room doors burst open. Torchlight from the hall spilled in, finally illuminating the room in flickering orange. A guard dressed in black stepped inside, gave a curt bow, then snapped to attention.
“It seems to be only the palace affected by the blackout. One of the lieutenants found the solar powered generator in the east wing blown to bits. The rest of the city still has power. We should move you to a more secure location while we work on fixing the issue.”
“You want me to hide in my own palace?” Deckard sneered. The dagger at his hip shimmered as he yanked it from its sheath, its edge catching the firelight. “I don’t think so. If that beast from the wall has made it inside, then I want to deal with it myself.”
Cade stood, matching his father’s glare. “You didn’t fight the Wraith at the wall.Idid. You’re going to need more than a rune. Fire was the only thing that seemed to deter it until the protection spell returned.”
Deckard scoffed. “This dagger can still cut off a head. I’ve never seen anything survive that, not even a Shaman.” He turned to the guard and snapped his fingers. “We’ll take the east side. My son will take the west. Let’s see which one of us gets to it first.”
Another unearthly wail rippled through the walls. It was closer this time. Everyone stilled. Bridget’s heart thundered. Still connected to Cade, she sensed his annoyed trepidation. A hint of plan echoed down the bond. Another windowless room. A tunnel. A fireball by Stellan. Power began to glow under his skin.
Stellan and Marin are going to meet us on the first floor.
Before Bridget could argue, his presence disappeared with a sharp pop. Blood dripped down her nose. She felt Nylah’s gaze burning a hole through her skin as she quickly wiped it away with the sleeve of her dress.
“Can you not do that while she’s wearing my dress?” Cassia snarled to Cade. “That blood will be impossible to get off.”
