My mind raced as we followed her through the kitchen and out into the hall.
“Has Ash seen the boys?” Breana asked.
Dani shook her head. “Nothing clear. There are too many possibilities, rather than not seeing them at all.”
That wasn’t good. We were basing a lot on the Oracle’s and Breana’s visions. If the Fire Drake was here, it confirmed all the suspicions about the Emperor colluding with the underworld.
But the success of this entire venture rested on us getting the rest of my family out alive,without anyone knowing. Much more difficult, if the enemy was already inside the building. Because we couldn’t engage them directly, without giving everything away.
We moved out into a hall lined with graceful, arched columns that framed interior halls suitable for full-sized Dragons. As we raced toward the courtyard, I appreciated that in the interests of security, the architects had inadvertently created something much more sinister.
The perfect trap.
4
Bree
As Riggs, myself, and the others followed Dani along the hall, one thought occupied my mind.
Victor might be here.
I wasn’t quite as convinced as Dani that the Fire Drake was involved in this. Was it because I had enough issues believing my own visions, let alone anyone else’s?
You just want Victor to be innocent,Caliel stated.
It was the truth, and I knew it. No ordinary fire could trap Dragons—their scales were impervious to most.
The Fire Drake’s flames were the exception.
While we ran along, I glanced up at the walls—and ice traveled up my spine as my feet slowed down.
Riggs immediately slowed with me. “What is it?” he asked.
All the halls will be similar,Caliel stated.Look for the differences.
I concentrated as he helped me remember. “The hall I saw the boys in was wider than this one, and it had more art along it. And polished metal tiles.”
Riley moved closer to me. “We aren’t coming at this the right way. What would two young boys be up to at this time of the night? Everyone else is asleep.”
“Good thinking,” Marcus said. “Food, is my guess.”
Riley snorted a half-laugh. “With you, it’s always about food. But, according to Bree, this isn’t the hall they were in. This leads to the kitchen, and therefore, not to the boys.”
I looked around as we continued to follow Dani, who had pulled ahead. I was sure my memory was correct. Whatever they’d been up to, it hadn’t been about eating.
Rafael ranged up beside me, and for a few strides, my body was not my own. Caliel seized control and moved us well away from the lean young man.
Will you quit?I protested.He’s a member of the team. We have bigger concerns.
Caliel offered a mental sniff.I will quit once he has earned my trust, and not before.
We slowed down again as we approached the hall’s last arched column, and hugged the wall to each side. Framing the arch on the courtyard side were two enormous, carefully pruned bushes that were dense all the way to the ground.
As I carefully spied past them, I saw the courtyard was intensively planted with mature shrubs and trees. But the center of it featured a perfectly circular pool with stepping stones to an intricate metal arbor.
I sucked in my breath. Standing on top of it was Victor.
Riggs exhaled so hard the air hissed through his teeth. “Is that him?” he whispered to me.
