Did Galeran realize just how terrifying she’d become? His gaze met mine, and in it, I saw not only anger and disgust, but confusion that I couldn’t see how wrong I’d been.
I closed my eyes. “Goodbyee, Galeran.”
“You will die the death of the coward you really are,” Galeran hissed, and strode away.
Isobel turned to the three coven members overseeing the slaughter. “Drain him next,” she said, before she followed Galeran.
56
Anna
As we moved through the alley, I received a flash of an image from Sebastian.
It didn’t entirely make sense. I saw a courtyard of stone, with what looked like stalls along the walls. And bodies of Trantils lying stretched out on the floor. All from a very low angle, as though he were lying there too.
And then a flash of three women, with dark hair streaked white, leaning over a Trantil. Holding containers in their hands.
Containers of red fluid...
One woman turned toward where he lay—and the images cut off.
Matt had been right there with me.Strewth. They’re bleeding them.His mindvoice was filled with horror.
They were going to do it to Sebastian too. My heart raced.
They are monsters,Talakai rumbled.
My gut twisted. We were too far away. How long could Sebastian hold on?
We’re on our way, Angel. We’ll stop them,Matt said.
I struggled with my panic as we reached the end of the alley and paused as Maddy evaluated the buildings lining the main thoroughfare. A small feathered form shot across the street to investigate the other side. The owl could give us a better panoramic.
The street was busy despite the time of night—everywhere we looked, mercenaries were packing up Trantils, getting ready to move out. Maddy’s eyes were glazed as Ben used Valki to decipher the layout, and reported to her. “If we take the alleys, we’ll waste a lot of time. They weave all over the place,” she concluded.
“We don’t have time to waste,” Talakai said.
I agreed. I glanced at Lucas, who didn’t look like Lucas—he’d adopted Alex’s form for this mission, muttering something about not wanting to be recognized. I hadn’t pressed for details, but it seemed this wasn’t the Morph’s first run-in with Galeran.
“Can you keep us hidden along the main drag?” I asked Maddy.
Lines of tension framed her mouth. “There’s a lot going on. I can’t hide you if you bump into someone.”
“Just like before, Lucas and I will take point and pave the way for the rest of you.”
Keeping Talakai hidden was the main concern—he was so much bigger than most. He was clearly not a local resident, and I had yet to see any Dragons among Galeran’s mercenaries. And because Lucas and I were posing as locals, and they didn’t hang out with Dires, Matt had to be disguised as well.
Lucas and I blended with the average resident. Maddy nodded at me. “That would work. Just like before.”
Another day, another rescue mission,Matt said.
Just stay tight, you two,I sent to Talakai and him.Maddy needs to keep you under wraps.
Should I hold on to your tail?Matt asked Talakai.
The Dragon merely growled, but he did move closer to Matt.
With a grimace, I sent Trix just ahead of us, and Lucas and I stepped out onto the main drag. After the first half block, I relaxed a little—Trix was largely ignored, as were we. The mercenaries were focused on packing up, and the legitimate residents scuttled among them, intent on avoiding notice. Most were hiding.
