Page 103 of Gift from the Wing

“Keep one alive. We can question them about the layout inside before moving in blind. That’ll give us a better advantage over getting to the three of them quicker.”

“Allow me the honor. Twenty is light work,” Keeper practically purrs when he steps up, eyes already crimson.

“Why do you get to do it?” Dyce immediately asks, crossing his arms.

“You may join…if you can keep up.” Keeper winks and I shake my head at the two of them.

Guess I’m getting that battle I pictured.

“Enough, you two. Keep it clean and quiet. Move out,” Tillman orders.

That’s all Tillman had to say and suddenly, what appears to be a race between two teenage boys ensues. That is until Keeper reaches the Mastery members. By the time Dyce reaches him in his Tasmonium form, four bodies have already hit the ground and the remaining rebels look around frantically for what the hell is happening.

Just as I imagined. The two of them work seamlessly together. Keeper dances around with unmatched speeds as Dyce’s large, extended jaws wraparound unsuspecting victims. It’s brutal, bloody, and they take down the nineteen members without ever breaking a sweat.

Kicking and screaming, unable to even see the beast that has him by the collar, Dyce drags the twentieth member by his robes and tosses him into our silencing bubble. He tries to pry himself free of the invisible restraints he finds himself in, but Caspian has him coiled tight.

“His heart’s going to fall out if I pry,” Tillman says.

“Then just ask him. This information probably isn’t even blocked.”

The look they all give me has me rolling my eyes, and without waiting for them, I reveal only myself. I’m instantly offended when the asshole stops his thrashing and sighs a breath of relief.

Idiot.

“I don’t have time for small talk. Tell me exactly what the inside of the volcano looks like. Now,” I command, forcing my eyes to turn violet.

I get great pleasure when the prick’s gaze widens comically and his trembling starts back up, but regardless, he keeps his mouth shut, so I shift a claw and press it to his neck.

“I won’t ask nicely again.” I growl.

“Ch-ch-chambers, rooms. There’re small hallways grooved out until the…the center magma pool,” he stutters.

“Are there hostages inside?”

“Y-yes.”

“How many?” I press my claw into his neck firmer when he takes too long to respond and he yelps loudly before spilling.

“I don’t know. A couple rooms worth. They’re spread out. Please, I just got sent here recently. I didn’t move them in. Just door duty.”

I remove my claw from his neck and conceal myself once again as I turn to Tillman to take over. We stare at one another for a long moment, indecision warring between us. He knows I can’t kill him. Taking a life in the heat of battle is one thing, but this kid, well, man child, gave me everything I needed once I scared him shitless.

“Move him to the palace prison, then report back. He’ll have his rune removed and tried fairly for his cooperation,” Tillman finally orders apalace E.F. member. “Observe the wall, Will. Let’s find our way in before he returns.”

I hold in my small, appreciative smile because I have no doubt they all would’ve preferred to just kill him now and make it easier, but I am grateful and proud of his decision. It takes a lot more strength to be compassionate than not.

Taking a few steps forward, there’s still nothing to be seen from here other than the haze I know to be the concealment covering this side of Pyra. I continue my trek, ignoring the bodies lying about until I can run my hands over the hot, smooth surface. Wherever the door is, it’s blending in effortlessly or they have it extra shrouded.

Rubbing down every inch I can reach, all that presents itself is the faintest buzzing in my palms from the concealment, and just as I grow frustrated, I fall forward.

I hold in my sudden shriek, slapping my hand to my mouth when I stumble into an empty stone chamber that has only a single hallway leading out of it.

Intrusive magic crawls across my skin, attempting to reveal my presence as I glance around and it’s a battle to shove it off me. My men’s panic hits me in seconds, causing me to shiver, and I jump right back out before they flip their shit.

Slamming into a solid chest, my shoulders are gripped tightly as Corentin holds me steady. “What was that, princess?”

The calm, collected tone doesn’t fool me. The tight grip and the glow on his fingertips tell me that was about to be my ass if I didn’t come back out.

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