Maddy Blocked him as he sneaked around, waking five young, befuddled Centaurs, and quickly explaining what we needed. They rose and stood in a circle around me.
“But”—one beamed—“we are going to be superheroes.”
She was a little loud, and Trey hurried to shush her. “Isobel is lying to you. What she is doing—it’s wrong.”
The little Centaurina blinked up at him. “But Bree says—”
“Bree is being lied to as well,” Tuli said. “We need to run away before it’s too late.”
The little one’s gaze moved to me. “Where are you taking us?”
“First, to where my friends are waiting. Once you are all together, the Watcher will take you to the academy, and from there, home.”
When that seemed to reassure her, I put out my arms. Six Centaurs, even though they were little, had to jostle to get at least one hand on me. “Hold on and don’t let go. Ready?”
I waited for the various nods, and then I reached for Havoc.
He was there so fast I knew he’d been following along. And he sent an image of a large open space with moonlight filtering through cracked roof panels. I looked out through his eyes, noticing large puddles on the floor and the other team members standing well back to give me space.
I reached for my talent, and fed it a burst of my anxiety. This was the fourth Jump in a tight timeline, but the crystal dust zinging through my veins enabled me to grab the kids and take us all away.
Snap.
* * *
We splashed down in a puddle.
I landed on my butt. Figures. My stories never mentioned staging a rescue with soggy underwear. Ugh.
I glanced quickly at my hands as the young Centaurs scrambled to their feet. A few dark scales had erupted along my wrists.
Cara came forward before the kids could panic, and as I stood, I hid my hands in my cloak.
“Welcome, children,” the Watcher said. “Come with me, we will wait over here for the rest of your friends.”
Tuli turned to me. “Will you bring back Trey?”
“Oh, yes,” I reassured her. “I certainly will.”
“Are you okay?” Cara asked me as she escorted them away.
“I’m good.” I found myself looking for a tall red-scaled Dragon, and found him. Havoc’s copper eyes gleamed at me from the darkness.
Sure you can’t bring the next lot back all at once?he asked.
Don’t think so. Six is all that can hang on at once.I envisioned the library and did my thing.
Snap.
When the golden light faded, I was on my knees in the middle of the library. Perhaps I should invest in kneepads.
Maddy stood against the wall with one hand slightly lifted, Blocking my bright arrival and the small group of Centaurs around Trey.
They were all up now, and huddled near Maddy. I glanced to the glass doors, and saw Lucas, looking like Tuli, talking with many hand gestures to the rather exasperated-looking Bellatis.
Trey had the remaining children split into two groups. I did a head count.
“Aren’t there more?” I asked him. “What about the older ones?”
