Chapter 672: Witch Interference
The moment I landed back in the bedroom, I knew I was too late. The touch of werewolf and sorcery was gone. I jerked the door open after swearing at the lock I myself engaged, racing down the hall and into the foyer, reaching for Piers even though I knew he was gone.
They all were. Didn't take them long to clear out, either. I stood in the empty dining room, maps still spread out, and knew I'd pushed the young sorcerer to act impetuously by denying his request for help.
Damn it, he was going to get them all killed.
I spun, reaching for the veil, ready to chase them down and stop them.
Only to slam into a flare of blue magic that sent me flying backward. Stars burst in my vision as I impacted the doorjamb, body going limp. I sagged to the floor, spine on fire as Finlay and Gwendolyn appeared in the foyer in that same flare of magic.
The young witch ran to my side, falling to her knees beside me as I fought to stay conscious. My head rang, the clunk to my skull enough to shake my focus. My vampire did her best to fix the damage quickly, but I was already being lifted into Finlay's arms, his power wrapping around me before she could complete the healing.
Flaring once again.
I tried to fight him off as the big Enforcer set me on the bed. The inn again, the same suite I'd been kidnapped from. Was it really only a few hours ago? My vampire cursed softly as she finally healed me, my awareness coming into sharp focus.
"Let me go." I shoved Finlay aside, almost ran into Gwendolyn who reached for me, worry creasing her face.
"Are you all right?" Her voice shook as she spoke. It wasn't until I looked up and around I realized we weren't alone. The room was full of witches, both local and Enforcer. Nataliya wrung her hands over and over, tears standing in her eyes while Fedir patted her shoulder in an endless attempt at comfort. "We've been searching everywhere for you."
Could this night really get any worse? "I have to go." I tried to shove past Gwendolyn, felt a bubble of Enforcer magic flare to life around the room.
"You're not going anywhere." Finlay's gruff voice made me snarl.
"Like hell." I jerked free of his grip as he reached for me. "Back off."
"Sydlynn." Gwendolyn's worry turned to hurt. "We came to save you."
"Thanks for that." Okay, it wasn't her fault, not really. But Charlotte was still captive and, if my werefriend was right, Piers and her family were walking into a trap. I had to go, damn it.
I reached for Piers again, only to run right into the same bubble of witch power.
"For your own protection," Gwendolyn said. I'm sure she meant to be soothing, the way she patted my hand. Like I was some frightened kitten needing to be coaxed into trust with a soothing pet.
"Listen to me." I reached out and grabbed her like she'd grabbed me, ignoring Finlay's growl of warning. "You have no idea what's going on out there." The bubble taunted me. I could break through it easily, of course I could. But doing so meant taking that final step. Expulsion from Europe and war.
"We know the Czar has been difficult." Gwendolyn gently detached herself from my grip as the gathered witches and Enforcers stared at me like I'd lost my mind.
Was about to, thanks.
She had no clue, none of them did. That the Czar was owned by the Brotherhood. Would it be worth it to tell them? I met Gwendolyn's eyes, Finlay's. The other gathered witches and Enforcers who looked alarmed, but not for me.
Because of me.
They wouldn't listen. No more than the two who were charged with tying my hands behind my back listened when I'd berated them only a few hours earlier in this very room. I scowled at the missing furniture wreckage, evidence of my loss of temper wiped clean, replaced with a new chair.
As if nothing happened. As though none of what was going on beyond these walls mattered.
Sometimes I really hated my kind for their shortsighted lack of willingness to care about anyone but their own damned outdated laws. Had finally dealt with this same mess at home only to have to face it all over again.
Déjà vu I could do without.
I could have told them about the Czar, the Brotherhood connection, my suspicions this wasn't about Charlotte at all, but about me and the final battle to come. But I just didn't have the energy to expend on wasted breath and effort.
Hope died. I'd fought so hard for so long, only to be right back where I'd started. Yet again, things had gone so far out to left field I was sure now they would never come back. But.
But.
Head shake. This wasn't my fight. I had a larger picture to observe, didn't I? The werewolves, the Steam Union. None of them were part of what I had to do, at least, not according to Iepa. They might have to fight if I failed, but I wasn't planning on failing. I really should just stand down, focus on what I had to be prepared for, my job ahead. The last battle with the Brotherhood. With Ameline and the two sides of the maji.
The grand scheme called me. Mocked me. Rubbed me the wrong way for the last time.
To hell with it.
Something fluttered in the air, shadow trying to take form. I caught the briefest touch from Isabelle as I reached for her with my vampire power, slicing the tiniest hole in the edge of the bubble.
Please.
It was the only word to make it through. That and the snapshot of the scene at the front of the palace. Falling werewolves dying under gunfire, pops of light cutting the night. The surging black of sorcery devouring everything.
Piers. Oleksander.
Aw, crap.
I reached for the veil, felt Finlay's magic try to stop me. Brushed aside the surge of rage Applegate aimed at me as I reached for Ahbi and jerked open a hole in the bubble.
Dove into the welcoming amber fire to the sound of Gwendolyn calling my name and was gone.
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