Look, Angel—
Matt. This is the only way.
He started to growl, but I poked him, hard. We were almost at the portal. The last thing we needed was for a guard to pick up a disembodied growl.
He cut it off, but it continued in my mind. He was one very unhappy shifter.
The guards didn’t even glance at the wagon as we skittered in behind it. We traveled down a tunnel, and it opened up into a courtyard. At first, I thought it was the one I’d seen through Sebastian’s eyes, but there weren’t any Trantils being bled here. Instead, the mercenaries were gathering, and at the far end of the courtyard, glowed an open gateway.
We pinned ourselves against a wall and analyzed the situation.
Strewth. Maybe we’re too late.
The energy I sensed, the awareness, was on this side of the gate, not the other. As we stood there, three women appeared from a large side tunnel.
They are coven members.Talakai’s mindvoice snarled through my head.
They did have the long hair, flowing gowns, and features of female Liberis. They were leading Trantils loaded with baskets, and what exuded from the containers congealed the blood in my veins. It was energy, but of a type I’d never felt before.
It was like that during the battle,Talakai noted.
Bloodpower.I remembered what Cara had said.Those baskets must be loaded with crystals that have soaked it up.
Then a tall, thin figure appeared from the central tunnel. His features were hatchet-sharp, his hair heavily streaked with white. And his eyes gleamed crimson.
Torshin,Talakai’s mindvoice hissed.
I watched as the Torshin took the lead rope and led the line of Trantils forward. Just before he stepped through the gate, he paused. Looked our way.
Matt tensed.Strewth. Can he sense you, too?
I held my breath because I didn’t know the answer. But then, two more figures appeared from the central tunnel and approached him.
My gut twisted. It was the Watcher from my dreams.
Isobel.
With her was a young man of medium height, yet lightly built. His hair was long and rippled with every color of the earth. And when he glanced my way, the world spun to a halt.
Who the hell is that?Matt asked.
I didn’t know, but my heart thundered because my inner beast was screaming at me. It wanted me to go over there and touch him. But why? And who was he?
It wasn’t until Talakai grabbed my arm that I realized I’d taken a step toward them. As if I had no control over my body.
“Who is that?” Lucas hissed. “Nikolai is going nuts.”
The young man took a step toward us. Isobel said something to him, gesturing to the gate. He turned away, and the disappointment almost took me out at the knees.
The Torshin spoke as well, but I couldn’t catch the words. The youth joined him and took the rope. They both led the Trantils through the gate. It flared wildly as they passed through, turning scarlet in response to the crystals the baskets contained.
Until I gasped, I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath. I wanted, so desperately, to follow them.
Isobel watched as they vanished, and then she turned toward us.
We all held our breath this time. Then she disappeared back up the main tunnel, while the three coven members took the side one.
Who the hell was that guy, Angel?
