“As have I,” I add, taking the moment to enjoy us all being superior to Cosmo Drakeward. “I have access to two guns. Anyone else?”
Cosmo nods. “Yeah, I can get weapons before then. How many?”
“Get what you can. Nothing will go to waste. Now, as for Ludo, we’ll use the repulsion spell Gimble taught. Ludo will ride in the trunk of the Rover, and the guards will not want to open it or inspect it in any way.”
“But going through the wards will set off an alert,” Duncan says. “There’s no way around that.”
“There is.” I nod my head towards Theo. “Our girl can take down the wards for a few minutes as the first car passes through.” Duncan’s mouth drops open and he mouths the word ‘wow’.
“So that is the outline of our plan. We’ll meet again the night before we leave. During that time, get prepared. There are far too many unknowns on this mission, so things are far more likely to go wrong than right, but one thing is imperative. You obey my orders completely. Out there, my word is the law. If you can't handle that, stay behind."
The room goes silent, until Theo speaks. “You’re the only one of us with any kind of tactical experience. Of course we will follow your lead. There’s no question.”
I scan the expressions of the rest but don’t see any disagreement. “OK, we have six days to drill theOcculta Apparentiauntil you can cast it in your sleep, and Theo, I want you to try to spreadyour Lumina into the rest of us as much as possible. But make sure you don’t run down your own supply, alright?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good, now we need to split. Get out of here and make yourselves seen around campus. We can’t have attention drawn by going missing too frequently.”
As everyone pushes back their chairs to stand, I move towards Theo. “Do you want me to get you into the sickbay on the way back.”
Her face goes through an array of emotions, then settles on relief. “Yes, yes please.”
???
I lead her through the service corridor. Theo is buzzing. I can feel it coming off her in waves—a vibrant frequency that’s different from her usual glow. It’s denser, more grounded.
I knew immediately that she and Ludo had been intimate, and that’s a good thing. Ludo’s earth has anchored her light, and the result is a raw power that almost makes my own skin prickle.
I tell the healer on duty to take a break. “It’s my responsibility to check on him.”
He eagerly agrees—it has to be mind-numbingly dull to sit all day in a room with a comatose patient—I then slip Theo into the single ward.
She goes straight to Wes, her hands find his, and the air in the room suddenly tastes like a coming thunderstorm.
“I’m here,” she whispers.
Usually, when she tries to connect, it’s like watching someone throw pebbles at a fortified wall. But today is different.
Theo’s eyes roll back, her grip on his hands tightening until her knuckles are white.
I don’t know what’s happening, but I trust in her power. I trust in her.
Suddenly, I’m pulled into her mind. She links me into her connection with Wes as she plunges through the dark. It’s cold.
—Wes—Her mental voice is muffled, like she’s speaking from the bottom of a deep well.
—Wes, I’m here. Where are you?—
Pain and worry radiate around the gloom. I’m a spectator to her search.
—Please, Wes—
Lumina glows, lighting the liminal space, bringing warmth.
And then.
—Theo?—
