These guys seemed inexperienced and not too sure of themselves. It surprised me that they were the resort’s first line of defense. Something wasn’t right, and the last thing we needed was a wagon inspection.
They were bound to notice we weren’t all shrubbery.
A smooth voice interjected. “You don’t need to do that. The wagon is just full of herbs and mead.”
Rafael’s voice reverberated clear through me, and Breana went rigid. There was a pause before the guard said, “We don’t need to do that. The wagon is just full of herbs and mead.”
“Has there been anyone else through tonight?” asked Dani, sounding tense.
“Answer her,” Rafael insisted.
“A special security team for the Matriarch came through about half an hour ago,” the second said in a bored tone.
My skin prickled. Rafael’s ability was scary. Having a special team for someone like the Matriarch might make sense—but I would have thought any extra security would have started at the front entrance. Two young, insecure guards weren’t much of a deterrent.
Rafael wasn’t done with them. “We can pass,” he stated.
The second one said, “You can pass.”
A shudder ran through Breana, and I peered down at her in the darkness. What I could make out of her features were tense. Was it just the mission that had her unsettled? Or was it Rafael’s ability to override their suspicions? My own heart, already unsteady due to Bree pressing against me, accelerated.
The wagon rattled on, and the sound echoed as we entered an enclosed area. Then it stopped.
The tarp pulled back with a shower of leafy things.
“We’re here,” Dani said, “and we’ve got trouble.”
We climbed down out of the wagon, spilling the not-so-innocent shrubbery onto the cobblestones.
“Those guards”—Dani’s eyes flashed like crazy as she surveyed the alley—“had no idea what they were doing.”
“They said most staff members have been pulled.” Marcus was easily as tense as me.
With my senses on high alert, I perused our surroundings. The resort had only the one entrance, but two narrow alleyways extended from just inside. One functioned as the kitchen’s delivery access. A single, dim lantern hung above the door. The other led to a general receiving area. Both had their own halls to the central courtyard, but the average visitor arrived there through an elaborate promenade.
Dani’s eyes flashed as she consulted her Oracle mate. “Ash says the special security team isn’t here to protect the Matriarch.”
Marcus and I traded a look. He reached to heave the barrels out of the wagon, and I gave him a hand. We left them sitting on the alley floor as Marcus turned to Nettie. “You and Grunt get out of here. Don’t stop until you reach Havoc—if Riley can’tmeet you there to Jump you out again, Havoc will get you to the Satyr’s gate.”
Nettie’s mouth opened as if to protest, but it closed again, and she turned Grunt around.
As they trundled away, Dani moved to the door. “Ash says we have to hurry.”
The kitchen entrance was unlocked, so Marcus swung it open. The interior was barely lit.
My gut twisted. There should have been another guard at this door, but there wasn’t. Or rather, there wasn’t any longer. His body lay in a pool of blood.
I drew the sword. Its light cast shadows throughout the room.
Breana’s gaze fastened on the dead guard. “Why kill him, but leave the gate guards alive?”
My pulse pounded, and I exchanged a glance with Marcus. “It has to look like they died in the fire.”
He nodded, his eyes on my sword as he drew his own weapon. Then his eyes flashed. “Havoc says it’s all quiet out there.”
Did that mean—I shot Dani a look as she pushed past us.
“He’s already here,” she stated. “The Fire Drake is with the so-called security team.” She led us away. “Ash knows where the Matriarch is. Follow me.”
