Page 216 of The Black Witch

The rustling thing shrugs the blankets off her head, and Marina peeks out at me with her ocean eyes.

“Ariel hid her?” I rasp out to Wynter, amazed and stunned, doubling over to catch my breath.

Wynter gives me a small nod.

“But...” I say, high-pitched with confusion, “Ariel hates her.”

“She does,” Wynter affirms with another nod then gestures outdoors, toward the soldiers. Her pale face darkens. “But she hates them more.”

I look back to Ariel, and she glares at me with a hatred as hot as Fallon’s.

“They came for Fallon Bane,” I tell Wynter, my throat dry and tight. I’m overwhelmingly grateful that my grandmother’s power has completely passed me by. “Ishkart assassins. They’re trying to kill the next Black Witch.”

“But they failed,” Wynter says, more a grave statement than a question.

I let out a long breath and nod. I’m tense and still lit up with alarm, my ankle throbbing painfully.

“Why was Fallon Bane here?” Wynter’s eyes are full of solemn concern, her voice a constricted whisper. “Does she know of our Selkie?”

I shake my head. “No. But she knows something isn’t right.” I tense my brow at Wynter. “We’ve got to free that dragon. No more waiting. We’re going to need a way to fly a Selkie and more than a few Fae out of here. Before Fallon is healed.”

* * *

The next day rumors abound that Fallon was brought back to Gardneria under heavy guard, some say to a military base surrounded by dragons.

Vogel uses the incident as an excuse to lock down the borders. Urisk seamstresses are interrogated, and all those who might have worked on Fallon’s rune-marked uniform are shipped off to the Pyrran Isles. Random iron tests begin at all the border crossings.

The need for escape is getting more dire by the minute.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Breaking Cages

The Lupines, my brothers, Cael, Rhys, Wynter, Andras, Tierney, Yvan and I all peer through the dense brush and down onto the expansive military base that lies before us.

The Gardnerian Fourth Division base is like a small city unto itself—multiple Spine-stone buildings carved into cliff faces, a sea of waxed-canvas tents and dragon cages interspersed throughout. On the western end of the base stands a series of wooden barracks, only one lit from within by lantern glow, its chimney spitting smoke into the chilly air. Soldiers appear small as ants from our high vantage point.

I sense movement to my left and turn to see Jarod, then Diana, crouched low and rushing over to us.

“It’s just as we thought,” Jarod tells us. “They’re operating with a skeleton crew.”

“Everyone’s gone to Valgard for Marcus Vogel’s appointment of the new base commander,” Rafe says with a smile.

“Who’s the new commander?” I ask.

Rafe turns to me, his smile widening. “Mage Damion Bane.”

I spit out a laugh. “We’re going to get him in a whole lot of trouble, aren’t we?” I crow.

Rafe nods. “Hopefully so much that Vogel will rescind Damion’s power over the dragons andfeedhim to them instead.”

I briefly meet Yvan’s green eyes, and we share a brief glimmer of satisfaction.

Rhys turns to Rafe. “It appears they haven’t bothered to post sentries.” The young Elf points a slender finger toward the rows of dragon cages that border the entire base, edging the wilds. The cages appear isolated and unguarded, no movement around them. No torchlight.

Cael glances at Rhys, the older Elf’s face taut, fully understanding the risk we’re all taking, but desperate to have options for his sister to escape into the Eastern Realm. He moves protectively closer to Wynter.

“Damion Bane’s not the only upper-level soldier in Valgard right now,” Jarod goes on. “Vogel’s reorganizing the whole Guard—there’s a number of promotions being announced. All of Damion’s lieutenants are in Valgard with him.”

---