“War confiscated a portal crystal when he captured Crane, and when we used it, it led us here. How did you get here?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder.
“My wand led me here. Where is War?”
“He’s around, and you need to leave before you fuck up the plan,” he said.
“I’m not going anywhere and you can’t make me. If War tells me to leave, I’ll leave. But my soul isn’t connected to yours, so you don’t get to order me around,” I shot back.
“Aight, whatever. My clan brothers better not get an ounce of punishment because of you. Hope you’re brave enough to take their place if War flies off the handle,” he muttered.
A door creaked open. I slipped back, peeking around the corner just in time to see Crane stride into the temple on a black winged unicorn, his presence almost made my heart stop.
“Grim, what’s happening? I thought I killed him. I watched his body burn,” I whispered.
“That’s War in disguise to find Hoax and take back the staff,” Grim replied.
“Enough of this! We’re wasting time on these worthless creatures. Send them back to the village. A breeder isn’t capable of going to war against Hex13!” Crane barked, his voice echoing off the stone walls.
“He sounds just like him,” I murmured to Grim.
“The spell is temporary, so we don’t have time to waste,” he responded.
“How long does he have?”
“Two hours top, and we arrived here just thirty minutes ago so not much longer. If Hoax finds out we’re here, he’s going to go hiding again. War wants him gone asap, and you’re going to distract him, Eboenia. We’re on a secret mission, and if anyone hurts you, it’ll blow his cover because he’ll react,” Grim whispered.
“No due respect, Lieutenant, but Clover—our fairy warrior—fought battles,” a warrior called out.
A spear materialized in Crane’s hand. He hurled it with a flick of his wrist, driving it through the warrior’s eye and pinning him to the wall.
“Don’t mention that name in my presence again! Breeders are supposed to be on their backs, not in battle gear, so get them the hell out of here!” Crane roared.
“I want to be turned on, but the thought of kissing Crane is sickening,” I muttered to Grim.
“I’m not one of your friends. I don’t want to hear that. Talk about something else—like you getting the hell on,” Grim gritted, jaw clenched.
“I’m staying to train! I want to defeat Eboenia since she sided with Hex13 and killed my son. You can send the others back, I’ll stay!” Lune spoke out.
“That bitch! I can’t believe I called her my sister,” I told Grim.
“She’s an enemy now, so don’t hesitate when it comes to a point where you’ll have to defeat her. I ain’t gonna lie though, she’s a straight ten. Don’t tell my crystal ball I said that,” Grim chuckled, and I rolled my eyes at him.
Crane slid off the unicorn, he walked over to Lune to look her into her eyes to read her thoughts.
“You’re too weak to train. Head back to the village with the others,” Crane told her.
“I can’t do that. I saw them take Sin, and we don’t know if he’s alive. I need to do this for him too. Did you see him when they captured you? How did you escape?” Lune asked Crane.
“My father’s spirit showed me the way, but Sin wasn’t in the torture chamber with me. You will not be in my army because you’ll hold us back. I can still smell the afterbirth on you,” Crane told her.
Lune’s eyes filled with tears. “Walk with us,” a young fairy said to Lune, grabbing her hand.
Lune snatched away from her. “I don’t have anyone left! What else do I have to lose?” she asked.
“That’s the problem, you don’t have nothing to lose but I do! Head back to the village before I take your head off!” Crane told her.
The young fairy pulled Lune away to leave the temple. The others picked up the badly wounded fairy and carried her out as she screamed from her broken wings.
“Go ahead, get out!” Crane shouted at everyone.
