“Agreed,” Theo says, “but the question is how? We can’t just put their images out there on a missing child registry.”
Max rubs his bristly jaw. “What about that rebel network, Unbound or whatever they call themselves. Surely, they’d help?”
The Bevans exchange a worried glance.
“Only the gangs would have information about freedom groups in the area,” Gareth says. “But knowing who to approach isdangerous. Asking questions to the wrong person is a surefire way to end up dead.”
“You don’t have any idea who we could speak to?” Alexis asks. “No one?”
This time the aunt speaks up. “The only person I’d trust to ask is my son, and that is impossible.” She blinks, eyes filling with tears. “Tally is locked away at Quo Reformare; visits are not allowed.”
“There must be a way.” Willow leans forward on the table. “Taliesin isn’t someone who abides by rules. Haven’t you found some way to sneak in a message?”
The Bevans exchange another speaking look, then Opal nods. “We can’t talk to him, but every morning, if there’s been no trouble, he’s allowed outside to the yard.”
Gareth grimaces. “When she says yard, she means a concrete box surrounded by razor wire. But if he’s at the top of the stone bleachers, by using binoculars, we can see him. We take the car every few days at dawn and travel up the crag to try and spot him.”
“But there’s no way to get closer?” Willow asks.
Gareth lets out a bitter laugh. “It’s a black hole, Willow. They’ve got dampening fields that kill a spark at the fence line and no-fly wards for miles. There’s no mail, no visits, and definitely no internet.”
“I’m just grateful for a glimpse of him,” Opal sighs. “And that he gets to have a few minutes on his own.”
“On his own?” Feniks asks. “What do you mean?”
The aunt looks almost sheepish. “There are gangs in there, and Tally, well, he’s the leader of one of them. Each gang leader is allotted a little private exercise time in the yard. Not that does you any good,” she sighs. “Communicating with Tally is impossible.”
The room goes quiet, the heavy weight of the "impossible" settling over everyone.
But my mind is ticking.
“Maybe not,” I say, finally pushing off the wall.
Aunt Opal turns to look at me, her eyes narrowing as she takes in the cut of my jacket. “Andwhoare you exactly? You’ve got the look of Elite about you.”
“This is Cosmo,” Theo says quickly, stepping forward to bridge the gap. “He’s… he’s one of us. We wouldn’t have escaped with the kids without him.”
Uncle Gareth’s eyes travel to the gold watch on my wrist then back to my face. “Cosmo…who?” he says slowly.
I meet his gaze. “Drakeward.”
His face pales, then flushes a dark, angry red. “Drakeward?”
He swivels to Willow, then Alexis. “You brought aDrakewardinto my house?”
Opal’s hand goes back to the shotgun leaning against the counter. “A Conclave snake? Willow, have you lost your mind? Their familybuiltthe system that took Taliesin! They bankrupted this town. Get out. Get him out of my house.”
“Wait, Aunty, wait. I’ll be the first to admit Cosmo is a real jerk, a douche of the highest order, but he’s not like them. He wants to help, he’s trying to be better.”
Color me fucking surprised to be defended by Theo’s little pal.
Opal looks at me with revulsion.
I don’t flinch.
I’ve earned the hate; I’ve lived my whole life on the pedestal they want to kick down. “The wards at the Quo Reformare,” I say, cutting through the snarls. “They’ll be attuned to human and witch signatures, just like at Validus Vale. Dono already proved that wards don’t react to our shifted forms.”
I look at Alexis for support. “I can fly straight through the wards, over the walls, and meet with Taliesin—in my dragon form.”
