Kill them. Jarron’s voice is rough.
My bottom lip trembles. He didn’t want me to do this but now he’s determined I finish it. Is that because he’s losing on his side?
His energy is low.I’ll be okay.
He’s not okay. Our link ensures that I know it, but he cares more about my future well-being than his present.
Kill them,he demands again.Get this over with.
The hair on my arms rises.
If I let even just one of them live, they’ll regroup. They’ll re-recruit like last time.
I can finish this now. I can. But—
“How can we help?” Lola asks. “We can do something.”
She’s right. I don’t have to do this alone. I can’t do it all. But maybe… maybe I can still achieve both things.
I quickly grab my bag and slip two very important vials from their slots, holding them out, one in each hand.
“What do we do?” Janet asks.
“I need someone to take this to Jarron. It’s a nullifier reverser. He can heal once he has this. I need—” I swallow, realizing this will not be an easy ask. “Someone to go into Oriziah, find him, and give it to him.”
Thompson steps forward. “I’ll do it.”
“No,” Manuela says. “No, you and I stay here. We protect her.” She nods to me, her eyes fierce.
“What?” I ask. “If Jarron dies, then what does your alliance matter?”
“I’m not saying we give up on Jarron. I’m saying the Minor Hall witch can do it.”
Janet sucks in a breath.
Manuela’s fierce eyes turn to me. “She cannot protect you, but we can.”
“You want me to…go to Oriziah?” Janet’s eyes are wide.
I’ll help her.
I suck in a breath at the sound of a familiar but out-of-place voice in my mind. There is chaos around them. Pain and fear. But they are also poised and ready to do whatever is necessary.
Laithe?
Yes. And I will find Janet. Have her meet me at the main portal into the palace. She can reach it through the home Jarron built for you. Pass through his door, enter the portal. Once inside the house, go down two floors into the basement. There is another portal there. It may be closed when she reaches it, but I will get there and open it, retrieve the antidote, and get it to him.
Shit, that’s a lot but still a much better plan than Janet rushing into a battle in another world. I pass along the instructions.
She nods quickly. “I can do that.”
I swallow and throw my arms around her in a tight hug.
“Will you four be okay?” she asks.
“What’s my potion?” Lola’s wings flutter excitedly.
“Invisibility. I need you to go in there and use your pixie dust.”
