Page 128 of The Divide that Binds Us

I fight through three Guards at once, kicking a crossbow from one of them so I can grab it and shoot the other two in their legs before they shoot and I deflect with my shield.Skylar takes on the other seven, nearly impaling a Guard who almost grabs me from behind.Mildred skitters toward the ladder, moving further from me.She also looks a little confused.

The sky hasn’t changed, no blood rain has fallen.

All the Guards are down, so I dash for Mildred while Skylar rushes behind her and she trips down to one knee.I jump on her back, forcing her to fall flat on her stomach.I get up and smash my boot into her face and hold her there.

“Call off the operation.EVERYTHING!”I demand, also taking this moment to catch my breath.“And give me back my friend!”

Mildred cackles under my foot.

“Do it!”I order.“Tell the Guards to stop and release the dragons!”

I move my foot, finding this a perfect opportunity to go in and open this roof.I run for the ladder, with Skylar watching Mildred.Before I can head down, something pinches me.A syringe needle stabbed into my shoulder.

My breath hitches in my dried throat.“No!”

Instinctively, my eyes dart to Skylar, razor-arm in mid-swing toward Mildred before vanishing.Mildred is on her feet, out of breath and staggering forward with a wide grin.It’s too late.A bald man emerges from the ladder, chiseled and carved right from a statue.

The Guard Spirit User who took Nicholas.

“Thaddeus,” Mildred purrs.“I’m assuming you’ve taken care of Mr.Shackler?”

I’m powerless and Rio is possibly trapped...or dead.Foolish of me to think of her as inferior for not having magic.

“Naven isn’t so bad, Alice,” Mildred assures.“All I’ve ever wanted was to create a safe space for everyone, especially the unfortunate.You’ll be with your father again.”

I back away from the two but hear the groans and moans of the Guards behind me.

“No.This isn’t the way.”

“Well, if you don’t want to think about reuniting with your father, then think about the power you could have to avenge him,” Mildred suggests.“If you leave with me, I’ll help.You can have that revenge on Ultima you’ve longed for.There are many secrets Azul is keeping from you.”

The buzzing comes back, and the idea doesn’t sound too bad.I’ll take down Ultima.I’ll be with my dad again.I look back at the Guards recovering to their feet and approaching me weaponless.

Mildred licks her lips.“You’re considering it aren’t you?”

This...isn’t a bad idea.Nicholas was right.

I walk over to Mildred, every cell in my body screaming, but I’m not understanding why.I should join her.She looks down at me with a wicked grin.Before I answer, the roof jerks and the panels slide apart, opening the warehouse below.Some of the Guards fall through with wails.

Mildred sighs.“Looks like the party is over and our time has been cut short.Alice, if you’re still around, do not hesitate to seek me out.You know where to find me.”

My mind shrieks something faint in the background, but I can’t understand what it is.I’m perfectly fine with making sure she escapes safely.Even if I die.

The trance breaks just when she reaches for my shirt and in one swoop with her arm, swings me off the roof.Again.Dammit.

I’m not expecting the air to save me twice, so I close my eyes.Maybe a Superior will take my soul before I hit the ground.Or maybe not since I practically let a dragon slayer escape.

I open my eyes and see dragons everywhere in the night.It’s blurry and hard to tell what’s going on because I’m falling faster, but I’m at peace, knowing that somehow the mission is complete.

The dragons are free.

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