Did it mean we were actually… A few things connected in my mind. The way our training taught us of the mages and the unicorns and the dragons and what good each creature brings. There are books with pages ripped from them from the olden days, but I found one in the far back corner of the Red library that was unscathed. It spoke of Source and how she gives Gifts to all her people, some more noticeable, some less so.
Did that mean we were going about this all wrong? Did our ancestors truly try to kill magic, or did they work with it?
Jacob returned with Anna, whose head rolled as she was carried between two enforcers. Herneedto rest struck me, though it wasn’t as sharp as before. She was better. This stress could undo everything we’d worked so hard to accomplish.
“We will get Doc out for your sister,” Shen whispered from behind me. “Or we will get her to him.”
I turned to stare at him. He was bound with magic I couldn’t undo and had a silver collar around his neck, but he was thinking about helping my sister?
“We need to survive first,” I whispered.
His crooked grin popped up. “We will, Little Red. You have the heart of a wolf and the spirit of a dragon. You will lead us to victory.”
I stared at him for another moment. This was the werewolf who killed my grandpa. He was also the werewolf who’d stuck by my side and believed in me and cared with his entire being. He had been under Alpha Command when he killed Grandpa, right? If so, then that absolved him of the crime. His Alpha was the true one at fault.
I turned back around.
Jacob was blinking his eyes mighty fast at me. When he was certain I was looking, he stumbled over his own feet and went down. The enforcer rolled her eyes and helped him up.
I walked over to them, hugging Anna. “Please, be kind to her. Can you take her inside and give her a place to rest?” I asked.
“For dragon scum like yourself?” the female enforcer said, scoffing.
“Enough,” Enforcer Markus said. “Brandt, take the sister into the house. Make sure no harm befalls her.”
Brandt gave a salute to the heart and gently supported Anna, taking her inside.
Oddly enough, there was no one here I’d rather have by her side if none of my family could do so.
Markus gave me a slight nod. I returned it with a salute and a bow of gratitude. While my head was close to the ground, I uncovered what Jacob had left for me. It was a tiny book. And on the face, it read:Of Wars and Peace, Life and Death, Within these Pages lie the Red Code of Honour.
It was old. Were it not of sheet metal, it likely wouldn’t still be legible. I tucked it close to my heart and walked away. When I was around a corner, I opened the pages. My eyes grew wide as I learned the origin of my people from within.
Everything I thought I knew was a lie.
Shen
The bonds were digginginto my skin. I had endured much worse. This was merely a pesky annoyance.
Alia’s unicorn, Ran, was silent as a grave beside me, her eyes trained on where her bond last went.
I scooted over to her in marginal increments. She did not move, which was good, but I was unsure if she was aware of my plans.
Then her eyes darted to me. She knew.
I hid a grin. She was just as devious as her master.
The first thing I cut away was the rope about her neck.
CHAPTER 27
Revelation
ALIA
You have a nice male,Ran said in my mind.
I sagged against the side of the building, trying not to cry.