The shudder steadily dancing up my spine gained momentum when I realized our enemies were nearly close enough to spit on. Only a gothic-looking old church stood between us and the barrier. The fully intact building was a bastion of urbancraftsmanship and vegetation nullification in a city of overgrown ruins. Not a single crack marred the cement parking lot, and even the stained-glass windows were unbroken.
The alpha was already off his bike and marching toward the building when I dismounted. He disappeared around the side as Rust leaned against his bike and folded his arms, signaling that we’d be here for a while.
Mackiel parked beside me as I joined Rust. “What is this place?”
“Didn’t you see the sign?”
I had, but it seemed impossible. “Teleportation isn’t real.”
Rust quirked a bemused smile in my direction. “Isn’t it?”
“Where’s the alpha?” Mack asked as he stepped up beside us, shaking rainwater out of his hair. Our waterproof jackets only covered our torsos and arms. The rain had slowed to a drizzle now, but the damage was done, and we were soaked through.
“He’ll be back in a moment,” Rust replied. “We’ll wait here ’till he’s done.”
“Then what?” I asked, keeping one eye on the side of the building where Dad had disappeared. “Where are we going next?”
“We’ll be teleporting, of course.”
“Teleporting?” Mack and I echoed in unison, and I was relieved to hear that he sounded confused, too.
Rust nodded. “Yep.”
“As in magically moving from one place to another? That kind of teleporting?” I asked.
“Far as I know, that’s the only kind.”
I hated being kept in the dark. My only consolation was that Mack looked equally clueless. “And where are we teleporting to?” I asked.
“The alpha will tell you when he wants you to know.”
I narrowed my eyes at the old codger. “Doyouknow where we’re going?”
“That’s inconsequential, pup.”
“Have you teleported before?” Mack asked, changing tactics.
“Sure have.”
Mack nodded, as if reassuring himself. “It’s safe then?”
Rust shrugged. “Safe enough.”
A flash of movement drew my attention to the enormous stone statue in front of the church, and I instinctively reached for my daggers. “Did that thing just… move?”
Rust caught my wrists before my hands landed on the hilts. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Steel will only piss it off.”
I relaxed my hands without taking my eyes off the statue. “What the hell is it?”
“A stone golem. A protector created to ensure everyone follows the rules of neutral territory and plays nicely at the portal station. Keep your hands off your weapons, don’t start shit, and you’ll be fine.”
My gaze shifted back to Rust. “We’re really teleporting?”
He chuckled. “Sure are. It’s the only way to travel anymore.”
“Why?”
He pointed at the shimmery blue barrier on the other side of the church. “When the Peace Council fractured the world into magical and non-magical territories, the old methods of transportation became unreliable.” He eyed me. “As you learned the other night, magic wreaks havoc on technology.”
