Page 32 of A Dawn Of Blood

That’s what the two of them were doing — checking the premises for the source of the threat.

Some part of medoesregister everyone squirm at those words.

But I’m frowning at what Dryden just told me. “He’s broken through the wards?” I demand breathlessly. “Why isn’t the Academy disappearing? How do we make it?”

Nuala shakes her head. “I believe I already told you that particular magic only activates if the Academy is on the verge of being destroyed. This also means we’re not the ones in control of it.”

Damn it.

“What else do you have in the form of protection?” Lorcan demands.

“Nothing that could be used in this case,” Nuala replies, but she immediately turns her focus back onto me. “How does he know we have you?”

I move to shake my head, when an image flashes through my mind. An image of my tattoos glowing while my hand is reaching for Dryden’s. Fuck. “I… I thought he was nowhere near here,” I start apologetically, “and besides, I didn’t know he’d be able to detect my magic even if he was.”

Nuala’s eyes widen. “You used your Aurora magic from within the Academy walls?”

“Why didn’t anyone tell me not to?”

“You didn’t brief her properly?” Lorcan asks, all incredulous and a little condescending.

“No, we’ve never had the need to add special clauses for an Aurora,” Nuala snaps at him a little. “But that’s beside the point now. We need to figure out what to do,fast.”

“No, you don’t,” I force myself to say. I don’t exactly like it, but it’s the only way for me to save them all. I get up. “I think it’s become quite obvious we only have one solution.”

I start walking out of the room.

“You’re not surrendering,” Nuala calls out after me.

I turn to face her. It’s the only way for me to save them all. “Finn just died a horrible death,” I reply, “all because I blew my cover earlier tonight.”

She looks at me as if I’m being thick. “Do you know how many of them have died so far?”

I just observe her for a second. I could argue with her, or I could reassure her. I choose the latter. “You do understand what all this means?” I ask as I wave a hand around. “The fact that he’s asking me to surrender instead of taking me by force? He wants me alive. I’ll give him what he wants and find a way to turn things around. That way, no one else needs to die.”

This makes Nuala angry. “No. If we don’t haveyou, we’re back to square one.”

Everyone seems to agree with her.

Not without hesitation, I return to my seat and go back to trying to come up with some solution. “If we can’t defeat the army and if you won’t let me surrender…”

I put my feet up and look around the table, seeing everyone stare at me intently. My lips curl into a smile. “Tell me everything you know about Cain.”

*

Several of them exchange glances. “We already did,” Dryden finally says.

I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter how small a detail it is.”

“No, Anna. The man can’t be seen anywhere except the battleground, and those whohaveseen him, say he can’t be killed, seduced, made to talk… It’s no joke when we say no one knowsanythingabout him.”

I squint at him. “Oh but you know plenty, don’t you?”

I see confused faces all around me.

I lean back in my chair. “You’ve told me yourself. He’s ruthless but efficient, that’s how you described him. He’s the kind of man who’s always in control, wouldn’t you say?”

Most of them nod without so much as a second of hesitation.

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