Page 108 of Land of Monsters

“Putting all our personal issues to the side,” I intervened. The need to reach my brother glittered with a slight hope. “Is this Kalaraja on the inside? Can you trust him?”

“I never trust anyone fully,” Dzsinn answered. “But yes. He owes me.”

“Owes you?” Warwick asked.

“We have a past. And he used a favor from me.”

“Who doesn’t?” Brexley scoffed. “I have a past with him too. Doesn’t mean I trust him or I won’t gut him the first chance I get.”

“Let me ask again. Do you trust him enough to get us in?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Wait.” Brexley jolted, her head already wagging. “You want to align with someone who’s been trying to kill us?”

“To be fair, Kovacs. A lot of people have tried to kill us.” Warwick leaned into her, his eyes glinting with mischief. “And really, he’s been trying to killyou. We just got in the way.”

“Makes it so much better.”

“I don’t like this either.” Ash shook his head, his eyes meeting mine for a moment, understanding how badly I needed this. “But if Raven is willing to overlook these two trying to kill her, I think we can put Kalaraja to the side right now. Not like we have a lot of options. Guaranteed, Sonya has doubled her security since I got in last time.”

“She has doubled the men and spells and has thePrimulhunting the forest for intruders.” Dzsinn confirmed Ash’s theory. “There is no way in anymore unless you have someone on the inside.”

“You have the insider now. Why don’t you just go in with your army?” Scorpion frowned.

“Because.” Kozlov leaned back on his heels. “The soldiers might be good in numbers for a battle, but I understand I need more than that. She can’t be killed easily, and thePrimulare even harder. Nothing normal soldiers can go up against. I need power like yours.” His focus went around the group, singling Brexley and Warwick out more than others. “Need to get close to her to get her out.”

“Then that makesyouthe perfect Trojan horse.” Brexley’s mouth curved. “And we are the surprise inside.”

My mouth parted at the understanding of Brexley’s idea.

“She still believes you are an ally, right?” I addressed Kozlov.

“Yes.”

“Then you are the perfect person to get us to the gates.”

Dimitri’s mouth pinched, his head dipping in understanding.

“I will let her know I am visiting.” Kozlov looked around. “What is your plan after that? Her security will check the car I come in for weapons and any threats to her. You won’t be able to hide in the trunk.”

“She’d never expect you to come without personal guards.” Caden folded his arms. “Father didn’t go anywhere without a handful.”

“And if they figure out you are not my normal guards?” Kozlov eyed him. “You don’t exactly blend.”

“We kill them.” Warwick shrugged.

Ash rolled his eyes. “We need a better strategy than that.”

“I will spell them.” I licked my lips. “I can control them.”

“Control them?” Hanna blinked at me. “Like mind control? Can a Druid do that sort of magic?”

“I’m not a normal Druid.” I swallowed, fear bubbling up at exposing what I was. I had been hiding it from people for so long, it felt wrong to tell people who I didn’t really know. I pushed through the terror, straightening my spine. “I am an obscurer.”

The silence clouded the room, reeking of dread and shock.

“What?” Caden’s mouth parted. “Obscurer? I heard you were half dark dweller and half Druid?”

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