Which was almost my undoing. I grabbed one thick stalk, and it came away beneath my hand.
Leah sucked in her breath as we slipped, suspended by only my one hand, but we didn’t go far. It wasn’t until I looked for a new handhold that I discovered why.
My fingers had sprouted talons. They only extended two inches, but they easily sank into the stone.
My heart thundered. It was the first true sign of what might still live inside me. I hoped Leah had her eyes closed, as I’d be hard-pressed to explain away Dragon talons, even small ones.
We hung there, frozen, while we waited to see if anyone had heard the stalk fracture, or my talons sinking into stone. But nothing happened, and my new additions made scaling the last story a simple exercise. I paused beneath the parapet, and Leah’s arms tightened as she began to sing.
With the earplugs, I couldn’t hear her, but the vibrations penetrated my body, and I had a sudden craving to do whatever she asked. I was very glad I couldn’t hear the words.
That was some radical power she possessed.
After a few minutes, Adilyn appeared above my head, and I climbed the last few feet onto the roof. The guard was just lying there, snoring loudly.
I kept my hands as much in shadow as I could. How in the heck was I going to get those talons to vanish? I turned my back and heaved the rope over my shoulder?—
And stared down at normal, human fingers. Had I imagined the entire thing?
I extracted the earplugs and pulled the rope off my shoulder, tying one end to the parapet protrusions to make sure it was secure for the few hundred pounds of Anisau coming up.
Sid climbed so fast he was there before I realized he’d grabbed hold. Then he and I hauled up Nar, Breana, and finally, Cody.
I grabbed Breana’s hand as she reached the parapet and lifted her onto the roof. She met my gaze, and smiled.
The feelings that surged through me as I smiled back had nothing to do with the mission. If I still wanted to keep her out of my chaotic life, I was doing a pitiful job of it.
My heart told me it had gone too far for me to back out now. I wanted her there. Because a large part of me insisted that it was where she belonged…
24
Bree
I met Riggs’s eyes, and I couldn’t have stopped smiling if my life had depended upon it. Being here, on a mission, with him, made me feel as though anything were possible.
The reassurance that coursed through me when he smiled back was sorely needed. Because I was desperately worried that I wouldn’t be able to help with this effort. That I would be merely a burden.
So far, I’d contributed nothing. I’d had a difficult enough time holding onto the rope while Riggs and Sid hauled me up the wall.
Caliel’s silence was only adding to my angst. I needed him on board to do my bit, and he wasn’t even monosyllabic. Our partnership had eroded to almost nothing. Was it only the lack of crystal dust that had caused this? Or was he withdrawing due to his reaction to Riggs?
I couldn’t believe he’d hold back just out of a jealous pique. Not unless I’d misjudged him. Which was possible, as in reality, I barely knew him.
But could it be both? Was he jealous, but also growing weaker?
Adilyn hovered in front of Cody. “The stairwell is locked.”
“Expected that.” Cody dug into the pocket of his pack for a small oilskin roll, and from it extracted a lock pick.
It only took him seconds to get the door open. He peeked inside and then took us in.
We moved down the stairs in near silence. Adilyn flew point, darting to each level to check for activity before continuing on. Cody was directly behind her, pack over his shoulder. I drew the sword I’d been given and followed him. Its edge had been dulled to reduce its lethality, but if we met anyone, I was nervous about using it at all.
I guessed I could always use it to smack someone over the head.
Lightly.
I missed Caliel’s sarcastic chatter. Made me feel very alone.
