Page 65 of Magick and Lead
We looked at one another
“No,” Charlie agreed. “But it’ll have to be enough.”
He snatched up a pad of paper and began scribbling down notes from the planner while I grabbed the rest of our things from the bedroom, where Suzie still peacefully slept.
As I stepped back into the living room—boom, boom, boom.
A knock at the door.
Charlie gave me a wide-eyed look, and I tossed him his shirt. He jerked it over his head as he made his way to the door and peered out the peephole.
When he turned back to me, his face had gone a shade paler.
“It’s Kitty,” he hissed. “And she brought friends.”
30
ESSA
Idrew my dagger while Charlie went to the window and looked out.
“Way too high to jump,” he muttered.
“Then we’ll have to fight our way out,” I said.
“There are six intelligence agents out there,” he hissed.
I tilted my head at him, a look that said,really?
“I know you’re a mighty dragon rider and everything,” he said. “But intelligence agents are nothing to mess with. We?—”
Something thudded hard against the door. Already, the door frame was cracking. Ready or not, they were coming in.
I could hear muttering and shouting outside in the hallway. There had to be more than six voices there. I glared at the doorway once more, adjusting the grip on my dagger, then I turned and hurried over to the window.
“Open it,” I said.
“We’re four stories up,” Charlie protested. I brought up my boot and kicked out the glass. It fell, sparkling, into the night.
“Now you owe Suzie a new window,” I told him, sheathing my dagger. “Take my hand.”
He looked aghast. “You’re kidding.”
“Listen, Charlie. I know you have no reason to trust me,” I said. “Just like I have no reason to trust you. But…”
There came another thud at the door, rattling the whole apartment.
“I can trust you,” he crossed his arms. “If you’ll trust me.”
I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. “You lied about your identity. You pretended you thought I could win the trial when you really thought I would die. You stole secrets about my country. You betrayed me, Kit.” I shook my head, correcting myself. “Charlie! Ugh, see what I mean? I barely even know your name.”
“My name doesn’t matter. Youknowme, Essa.” He put a fist over his heart. “You’ve always known me.”
A body slammed into the door again.
“Gods, you really are a poet,” I groaned, offering him my hand again. “We’re out of time. Jump with me or stay behind.”
I could hear the door cracking behind us, heard the groan and crackle of breaking wood.
