Page 103 of The Shadow Wand

I cough out a laugh in response to his brazen level of understatement. “You mean we’ll run for our lives.”

Lukas’s confident aura doesn’t budge. “We’ll have to travel over the mountains to avoid the current hostilities at the Pass, but yes, we’ll need to get East as fast as we can. And from there to Noi lands, where I’ll train you in the use of your magic and organize an army.”

I eye him with disbelief. “The Vu Trin want me dead, Lukas.”

“We’ll win them over.”

“But...”

“We’ll convince them by force if necessary. We need their dragons.”

“You think we can make it through the desert all the way to Noi lands?”

“That’s the wild card in all this, but I believe we can get there. If we’re lucky. The Sealing might buy us enough time and enough of a lead to get to the Eastern Realm.” Lukas lets out a long breath. “We have to get out soon in any case because Vogel is rune warding the entire border.”

My heart twists as I think of Sparrow and Effrey and of all the Urisk and Smaragdalfar and Fae still trapped here in the Western Realm. Anyone who doesn’t make it out in time will be horrifically imprisoned by Vogel’s runes.

Imprisoned by that Shadow Wand.

But if he can imprison a whole country with his newfound power, what happens when he sets our Sealing spell with his Wand?

“Lukas, I want you to tell me every last thing you know about Vogel’s Wand,” I press.

“I will,” he promises, “but for now, you and I need to focus on getting out of here and east of the Pass. Then we can prepare to wage open warfare on Vogel and his Shadow Wand. Now that we’re properly armed.”

Hope sparks. “You have a weapon, as well?”

Lukas’s mouth lifts, as if amused by the question. “Yes, Elloren.You.”

I startle as I struggle to adjust to this new reality I’m faced with—

Allied with Lukas Grey. About to flee to the Eastern Realm. About to run for my life as both Realms come after me.

Because I’m a weapon.

My mind whirls as I’m hit by a remembrance of something else I need to tell him. “I have a Wand, as well.” I reach down and pull the cloth-wrapped Wand of Myth from my boot and then hold it up for his inspection, the pale Wand holding its faint, luminescent glow. “I know this is going to sound impossible, but I think this is truly the Wand of Myth. Although...it might be dormant. Trystan wasn’t able to cast spells with it the last time he tried it.” I frown with frustration. “I have no way of proving this. But...I think it might contain a primordial force, like Vogel’s Shadow Wand.” I’ve a sudden, strong recollection of how I was rendered immobile by Vogel’s Wand on the North Tower’s field...and how my Wand seemed to fill me with starlight branches to break Vogel’s Shadow hold on me. A new idea rises. “I think the two Wands might be enemies.”

Lukas lifts a brow. “Enemies?”

“I think my Wand might be a counterforce to Vogel’s Wand. Like in the myths.”

“A dormant counterforce?”

I slump, fully aware of how outlandish this must sound, his expression unreadable as he seems to consider my fantastical theory.

“Perhaps some of the myths are true,” he offers, “and we’ve landed in mythic territory. Iwilltest your wand, Elloren. Once we get out of here. All right?”

Loosening a relieved breath, I nod and push the Wand back into the side of my boot, my gaze sliding toward my servants’ quarters. My thoughts latch on to how I’d be dead if Sparrow hadn’t summoned Lukas’s help while Damion attacked me. And Effrey is just an innocent child. If we escape and leave them behind...

“My maids,” I say. “We can’t abandon them here when we leave. Sparrow saved my life.”

Lukas nods. “I’ve already arranged for them to come. Elloren, Sparrow’s offered to organize a network of Urisk spies for me.”

This catches me completely off guard, but I find myself rapidly adjusting to the idea. Sparrow seems to be all self-protective barriers and facade. I’ve glimpsed only a slim piece of the steel inside her, but it’s clear to me that there’s something fierce and unyielding beneath her guise of the subservient, compliant maid.

“Aislinn Greer’s coming with us too,” I suddenly insist. “I won’t leave without her.”

Lukas stills. “Damion Bane’s fastmate?”

---