“No idea,” I admitted. “But they make me look badass.”
Lucas shot Marcus a look, and then said, “I don’t think I’ll comment on that.” He cleared his throat. “We’re ready to roll.”
The knot in my gut twisted tighter, but I took a deep breath.
“Let’s do this,” I said.
* * *
The garden had gotten even more raggedy since our last visit, likely due to people searching through it with swords.
Hardly good for the shrubbery.
I arrived out of breath, as though I’d lifted a load slightly too heavy. Which I likely had. And when I looked down at my arms, they were lined with jet-black scales.
Dragon scales.
Marcus noticed. “You might not be Wiley for much longer. Far too scaly.”
“Why are you calling her Wiley?” Havoc demanded.
“Because I am,” I answered. “Much better than being a Dreambitch.”
“I don’t call you that anymore,” Havoc pointed out.
“Shh,” Lucas hissed. We all waited, frozen, but no one came. It seemed we’d managed to sneak in without anyone detecting the energy surge.
Dreambit has bite,Havoc defended in my mind.Which you do, despite being little.
Okay, I’d accept that.
Wiley has meaning.The new mindvoice was a bit faint, but undeniably Marcus.
As I regarded him with surprise, Havoc growled,Great. Now I have two of you in my fucking head.The Dragon had a hand up behind his neck, and seemed to be trying to grab—Fang. Why was he trying to grab Fang?
I want her to stay with you,he complained, as she dodged his big hand.
She clearly has her own ideas on that,I said.If she wants to stay with you that badly, then maybe she should.
Havoc stopped trying to grab her, but I distinctly heard his teeth grind together.
“Alright, Riley,” Lucas interrupted us. “What does Jinsic say? Is Isobel still in her lab?”
I couldn’t connect to Jinsic, as it was Tareal’s venom I had received, but I sensed a faint affirmation from Tareal, who was following along through me, and I passed it on to Lucas. Then I got an image—shaky, as Jinsic looked through another’s eyes that were skirting the room nervously from the edges.
I committed the room to memory. Its rough dimensions, the windows along the walls, the cage in the center. Which was occupied at the moment. And Isobel herself, stood near it with raised arms.
Behind her lay the enormous bronze body of Brock’s Dragon. We’d been right—Isobel was trying something, the red light danced all over it. The coven members were spread out on each side of her, with the bloodmagic dancing around them, too. Along the back wall were Bellatis, standing with their swords drawn.
Like they expected trouble.
The feed cut off, and I relayed what I’d seen to the others. Then I got another image—this one clearer. The hall outside Jinsic’s cell, viewed through his own eyes.
I paid close attention to that as well. Once things got going, we’d be moving fast. The hall appeared deserted, which I thought was odd for a dungeon. Then I got an impression of walking along the hall to a doorway—and on the other side, a guard.
Marcus approved.Excellent imagery. I’m a visual kind of guy.
An artist. Easy to forget that, when he was built like a warrior.
