Page 159 of The Iron Flower

“We’re not taking Diana and Jarod anywhere,” Andras says firmly. “It would be suicide.”

Ignoring him, Rafe strides toward the hall, holding an unconscious Diana, but Andras refuses to budge from where he stands in front of the door. Rafe narrows his eyes darkly at him. “Get out of my way, Andras.”

“No, Rafe. Normally, I would respect your judgment, but right now it is compromised.”

“No, it’snot.”

“Yes,” Andras rumbles, “itis.” He tilts his head toward Diana. “Because you’re in love with her. You’re not thinking clearly. Where can you go, Rafe?Think.The Gardnerians have some kind of weapon that can take out large numbers of Lupines, despite their immunity to magic. They took down two entire packs in one night. And justlookat them.” Andras gestures to Diana and Jarod. “One is unconscious and the other is in shock. They are in no condition to escape, much less fight.”

“They could Change us,” Rafe insists. “Wecan fight.”

“The full moon is more than a week away,” Andras counters. “The Gardnerians will find us long before then. They’re converging on this cityright now. They’ll capture you before the day is out.”

“So, you want us to just leave them here for the Gardnerians to take?” Rafe snarls.

“No,” Andras counters. “I want you to leave them here for the Vu Trin toguard.They arrived first, so they can seize the higher ground and the advantage on this field.”

Rafe glares at Andras. Then he walks back to my bed and lays Diana down with exquisite gentleness. Then Rafe goes over to my empty desk chair and kicks it so violently that its leg cracks, cursing loudly as he does so, causing Wynter and me to jump in alarm. My heart thunders in my chest.

Rafe pauses to rake his fingers through his hair. “They should have Changed us,” he rages to Andras, “back when we had the chance.”

“They couldn’t have,” Andras says. “Not without pack approval.”

“Jarod might have.”

“No one knew it would come to this.”

Rafe’s face fills with anguish. “Ican’tlose her!”

“Then listen to me carefully,” Andras says firmly. “There will be a time to grieve, but it isnotnow. We must all think, andfast.”

“You have to get out of here,” I tell Rafe, urgency welling. “Trystan, too. You attacked a military apprentice, and Trystan pulled his wand on them. They’ll arrest you both.”

Rafe blinks at me, his eyes a storm.

“You are no use to her in prison,” I doggedly insist, fear rising. “Go get Jules. And Lucretia and Fernyllia.”

Rafe holds my stare for a long moment, his jaw rigid. “I’ll get them.”

“The Icarals have to get out, too,” I say, my voice shaking. I turn to Yvan. “Ariel and Wynter have to get out of here before the Gardnerians come.”

Yvan nods, his gaze searing. “I’ll take them. I can bring them to Naga’s cave.” He looks to Wynter. “We’ll need to find your brother and Rhys.”

“I’ll find them,” Trystan volunteers, wand in hand. “I have an idea of where they might be. I’ll bring them to the cave. You get Ariel and Wynter out of here, Yvan.”

Wynter and Ariel immediately begin throwing together some of their belongings as Trystan leaves to find Cael and Rhys. Ariel’s chickens run frantically around her legs as she throws books and clothing into her ratty travel bag.

Andras crosses the room to stand before Brendan, who’s slumped down against a wall. “You need to come with me,” Andras says, his deep voice imperative as he holds out his hand for Brendan to take. Looking haggard, Brendan grasps onto it and lets himself be pulled up. “The Gardnerians don’t know that you and Konnor survived,” Andras tells him. “The Vu Trin are going to bring my son and my mother and me east. They’re prepared to bring you with us, as well.”

The full magnitude of this spears through me. Andras, Brendan and Konnor are leaving, and I’ll probably never see them again. Professor Volya, too.

Andras glances over at Diana. “It will all come down to her,” he says to Rafe, his face grim. “Everything rests on her shoulders. When she wakes, she needs to keep control of herself.”

“I know,” Rafe says.

“Rafe,” Andras continues, “self-control has never been her strong suit. If Jarod and Diana are going to survive, she will need to rein in her rage and give the Vu Trin time to formulate a plan to get them out.”

Rafe glares at him. “She’s the daughter of an alpha, Andras.”

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