by Linsey Hall
The man’s cheeks poofed up again, but finally, he spoke. “There are operations all over the world. Sweatshops in Asia, mining in Africa, slave trade in South America.”
I listened as he talked, my stomach turning. I wanted to earn my wings to save my magic and my soul—but this. He was describing terrible atrocities. We needed to help these people.
Finally, he slowed to a halt.
I frowned. “The Rebel Gods have been busy. How long has this been going on? In earnest, I mean. These particular operations. I know they were lying low for a long time, their power depleted.”
“About five years now. They got a big shot of power, and it helped them jumpstart their operations again. They’re smart, and fast.”
“Are there any more records of these activities besides your office at the stronghold?” I asked. We’d want to get every record so we could put a stop to the Rebel Gods’ bullshit.
“I have most of them. There’s also the command center, to the left of the temple. There should be records there, too.”
I looked at Jude. “That enough?”
She nodded, her starry eyes serious. She turned to Ali and Haris, who stood in the doorway. “Take him up onto the lawn and call the Order. Tell them to pick him up ASAP.”
Ali and Haris nodded, then hurried into the room and hoisted the guy up by the arms.
“You can’t send me there!” he cried.
“You just described over a dozen torturous deeds you’ve helped the Rebel Gods commit against humans,” I said. “Sweatshops, slavery, murder. You think we’re not going to turn you over to the law?”
“You’re lucky we’re giving you to the Order,” Cade growled.
The man shrank back, and Ali and Haris carried him out.
I turned to Jude, Hedy, Cade, and Ana. “That was helpful.”
“It was.” Jude frowned. “Except we have no way to siphon that magic from the flame in the stronghold.”
“Without that, we can’t remove the magic that powers the place,” Hedy said. “And we can’t destroy it.”
Ana caught my gaze.
I nodded at her. “We know someone. Phoenix Knight, in Magic’s Bend. She’s a Conjurer who can transfer magic from object to object.”
Hedy’s brows rose. “Really? She must be very powerful.”
“To say the least.” Nix was a serious badass.
“Will they help you?” Jude asked.
We’d already called in one favor with Nix’s friend Cass. She’d helped me find Ricketts’s goons. But I could still count on Nix. “I think so. We helped her once, about five years ago.”
“Then go ask her.” Jude looked at her watch. “It’s after three a.m. here. If you take the portal to Magic’s Bend, you’ll arrive in time to ask them tonight.”
Cade looked at me. “Do you need to rest?”
Sure, I was dead tired. But there was no time. “I just need to get cleaned up real quick. Then we’ll go.”
“Me too,” Ana said.
I nodded. Ana had helped Nix, too.
“Ana and Bree, if you’ll go to Magic’s Bend, I’ll stay behind with Jude, and we’ll do a briefing of what we found at the stronghold,” Cade said. “We need a well-designed attack if we want to destroy the stronghold and get ahold of all their records.”
I nodded, relieved. Cade had gone with me to get Cass’s help before, but it’d be easier if it were just Ana and me. Cass, Nix, and Del were FireSouls, a forbidden sort of supernatural.
They were so powerful that they didn’t have to be very wary anymore, but it was always easier to ask for help when the person you were asking was comfortable. Not bringing the god of war would be better.
After the quickest shower in the history of time and a change of clothes, Ana and I met in the main hall. She wore her new brown leather jacket and boots, while I favored black. The cool Scottish weather had totally switched up our usual wardrobe.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Yep.”
We crossed the lawn, Mayhem joining us as we hurried across the grass. The ham in her mouth was almost entirely intact, indicating that it was probably her second or third of the evening.
Security ham, I liked to call it. Never leave home without one.
We entered the forest, which was still recovering from last week’s terrible spell. Underbrush was dead and the gnarled tree trunks were blackened, but they were slowly recovering. Fairy lights had returned to the forest and seemed to be healing it, so despite the fact that the damage got worse the closer we drew to the portals, I had hope that this place would recover.
We’d even spoken to Jude a couple days ago about eventually re-opening the portal to the Fae realm and helping Rocky and Emrys sort out things with the Vampire Demon Bats.
The portal to Magic’s Bend glowed white, and we approached it.
“Age before beauty.” Ana gestured to the portal.
I grinned. “I’m only a few hours older, dude.”
“Hey, I didn’t make the rules.”
I laughed and stepped through the portal, out into the alley in the Historic District of Magic’s Bend. Ana followed, and we went out onto the main street, where partiers were really starting to get their jam on. All sorts of supernaturals roamed the streets, and no one blinked an eye at Mayhem, who fluttered at my side. A group of girls did coo at her, however.
I couldn’t blame them. Mayhem was cute.
I hailed a cab, and we hopped in.
“To Factory Row.” I glanced at the clock on the dash. Nine p.m. “Potions & Pastilles.”
The cab driver saluted, then peeled away from the curb. We rode in silence to the coffee shop/bar that was run by Nix’s friends. We’d probably find them there in the evening, and if we didn’t, at least we could ask Connor and Claire, their friends who ran the place.
The cab stopped and Ana paid, then we climbed out, Mayhem fluttering behind us.
As expected, the crowd inside Potions & Pastilles was thick. Through the wide glass windows, warm light glowed from the mason jar lamps hanging from the ceiling, and local artwork covered the wooden walls. In the corner, Nix, Cass, and Del sat in their usual chairs.
“It seems things don’t change,” Ana said.
“Fortunate for us.” I crossed the sidewalk and pulled open the door. Music flowed out.
From behind the bar, a young man with floppy black hair and a band T-shirt waved, then his eyes brightened with recognition. Connor.
I smiled and waved, then turned and headed toward Cass, Nix, and Del. They were three of the most powerful supernaturals I’d ever met. Cass, with her red hair gleaming in the light, sat next to Del, a Phantom-FireSoul halfbreed, who had an enormous Hellhound at her feet. Pond Flower, I thought her name was.
Nix, our target, wore one of the funny cartoon cat T-shirts that I remembered. Her eyes brightened when she caught sight of us approaching and she stood. “Bree! Ana!”
Cass and Del smiled and stood.
“Hey.” I waved, feeling a bit awkward now. I really should have made a point to visit them more, or keep in touch, if I was going to start making a habit of asking them for help.
“It’s been so long.” Nix smiled, her green eyes bright. “It’s about time you visited.”
She sat and gestured for us to take two of the big chairs.
We sat just as Connor showed up. “Long time no see! What can I get for you?”
“Coffee,” Ana said.
“Same.” Though I was sure Connor could make an amazing pink cocktail, I was too exhausted. It pulled at my bones, so what I really needed was some caffeine.
“With a boost?” Connor asked.
Oh, right. They made magical coffees. “Yes. Extra energy.”
“Same,” Ana said.
Connor smiled and saluted, then hurried back toward the bar. I turned to Cass, Nix, and Del, but they were watching Mayhem sniff at Pond Flower, who was a massive white and brown spotted hound dog with fiery red eyes.
Finally, Mayhem
flew up to Pond Flower’s face and shared her ham.
“Nice ghost dog you have there,” Nix said.
I thought about mentioning her dragon abilities, but didn’t. “Thank you. She’s pretty great.”
“I’m guessing you need help?” Nix asked.
“How’d you know?”
“You two seem to keep to yourselves unless absolutely necessary,” Nix said.
“Ain’t that the truth,” Cass said.
I blushed, suddenly feeling extra guilty.
Del laughed. “Don’t worry about it. We were the same, once.”
“Things are changing,” I said. “We joined the Undercover Protectorate.”
“Wow!” Nix leaned back in her chair. “That’s cool.”
“Thanks. We like it. But we’re in some trouble, and we could use your help.”
The three of them leaned forward, interest gleaming in their eyes.
“Is it a fight?” Del asked. “Haven’t had a good battle in ages.”
“It could be, yeah,” I said.
“Probably will be,” Ana said.
Del clapped her hands together once. “Hot damn.”
“In particular, we need your help, Nix.” I explained the situation with the stronghold and the magic that powered it. “So you can see how we’d need you to transfer that magic out of the stone so that the stronghold will be destroyed.”
“I could do that,” Nix says. “And I’ve got just the object strong enough to hold the magic. I’ll bring it.”
“And who runs the stronghold?” Cass asked.
I’d been careful not to give too many details. When I’d seen her last, Cass had recognized that my magic was changing. That I was stronger than normal and something was definitely up.
Since then, I’d learned way more.
But should I tell her?
Del, Cass, and Nix looked at me, their gazes serious.
I glanced at Ana, who looked torn. Then she nodded.
I swallowed hard. It was only fair. I hated to share any secrets—but we knew that Cass, Del, and Nix were FireSouls. If they were going to risk their lives for us, they deserved our secrets as well. It was pretty shitty of me to even think of not sharing with them.
And they would keep our secrets. I could count on that.
Connor delivered our drinks at that moment, and I took mine.
“Thanks.” I sipped, waiting for him to leave.
Once he was gone and the coast was clear, I lowered my voice so other patrons couldn’t hear us. “They are the Rebel Gods, and I am a DragonGod.”
All three gasped low.
“Whoa,” Cass said.
“Double whoa,” Del added.
“Seriously badass.” Nix leaned forward. “You just learned this?”
“The transition comes late. I’m the Valkyrie DragonGod, and it’s my job to take down the Rebel Gods. This stronghold, at least. After that, we’ll see.” I really didn’t like the idea of these bastards running free, terrorizing people. The Valkyrie may have said that it was impossible to get rid of all of them, but I didn’t want to believe that.
Nix grinned “Yep. I’m definitely in.”
“We were in as soon as you walked in the door,” Cass said. “But this just adds fuel to the fire.”
“That’s true,” Nix said. “But I want a piece of the Rebel Gods. I thought they were gone, but if they’re back, then we need to get rid of them.”
Del scratched Pond Flower’s head as she shared the ham with Mayhem. “Have you been okay, otherwise?” Her eyes turned sad. “I have to assume you never found your sister, since she’s not here?”
Pain sliced through my heart. “We haven’t, but thank you for trying to help us all those years ago.”
After we’d first met them and realized that they were capable of finding almost anything, we’d asked for their help with Rowan. But she’d been impossible to see with their dragon sense—possibly because of a strong concealment charm, possibly because she was dead.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t do more,” Cass said.
“You tried, and we appreciate it,” Ana said.
“Where should we meet for this job?” Nix asked. “And when?”
“Meet in Little Grassmarket Close, in Edinburgh. It’s an alleyway in the supernatural part of town. Ten p.m. their time.” It’d be fully dark by then, giving us enough cover, and also some time to rest up. “There’s a portal in that alley. We’ll go to Kart-hadasht, in Tunisia, then cross through another portal into the Rebel Gods’ stronghold.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Nix said. “And you really should visit more often. We’d like to see you.”
I smiled. “Thanks. We will.”
As soon as I sorted out my magic, we’d make it a point. I needed to quit hiding from life.
Chapter Thirteen
We returned to the Protectorate as the night started to turn gray with dawn. Ana and I hurried out of the forest. I hesitated at the edge, the cliffs calling me.
I wanted to fly, even though I was exhausted.
“I’ll meet you later, okay?” I said.
“Sure.”
I gave her a quick hug, then went toward the cliffs.
If I was going to use my wings to fight the final battle, I needed the practice. And frankly, I just wanted to fly.
The ocean waves crashing against the cliffs sounded louder as I approached the edge. I sped up to a run, sprinting toward the edge of the cliffs as I commanded my wings to grow. They ached as they sprouted out of my back, but I felt them flare wide, felt the wind rustle through the feathers.
I sucked in a deep breath and leapt off the edge of the cliff, my heart jumping into my throat. Fear shot through me just before my wings caught the air.
I glided, effortlessly soaring over the waves below.
Joy and strength surged, a strange combination with the pain in my wings. That pain was a constant reminder that I had to succeed at this.
But how?
Was it just winning?
No, it had to be more. Like the Valkyrie had said, I had to earn it. To prove that I was worthy.
And my greatest weakness was jumping too fast. Action before thought.
I winced.
Just like when I’d leapt off that cliff.
I wheeled on the air, joining the white gulls as they cawed and greeted the rising sun.
Your weakness is that you jump too quickly. Learn restraint. It will save that which you love most.
Sigrún’s words echoed in my mind. But what did I love most?
Ana. Rowan.
Maybe Cade.
I shook my head.
I didn’t love him yet. Not even close. I shoved the thought away, mulling over the fight to come, playing it over in my head. Trying to think of how I could help us win. How I could make such a difference that I earned my wings?
And who was that woman? She was a leader in the Rebel Gods. But what religion was she from? Her power was godly, that was for sure.
Could I really take her down?
Eventually, exhaustion pulled too hard at me. I headed back toward the cliff, the onshore wind helping to push me along.
A lone figure stood on the edge, the wind whipping his short hair back from his face.
Cade.
I landed next to him, my cheeks chilled from the wind. He looked tired, his eyes heavy and his hands tucked in his pockets.
“Hey,” I said.
“You looked good up there.”
“Thanks. Trying to get a handle on these things.” I pointed back to the wings.
“Succeed?”
“Maybe. I’m getting more control, but I don’t know how I’m going to prove that I’m worthy of these wings.” I sighed. “I’m just worried.”
“Don’t be.” He smiled. “You’re special, Bree. Not just because you’re a DragonGod. You’re brave, strong, smart.”
I nodded, grateful. Slightly perplexed, too. “I can’t be that special, though. You’re a god. Not to say
you’re not special, too, but…”
His gaze softened. “I am one god. You have the powers of many gods. You are something rare and more powerful, with the potential to become one of the strongest supernaturals on Earth. Capable of almost any magic.”
I swallowed hard, the enormity of that sinking in. “I just have to succeed at the stronghold. Find a way to be worthy and keep my wings.”
“You will. You’re capable of anything, Bree.”
I smiled, warmed by his words.
“Tomorrow, you’ll have us by your side. The Protectorate. Me. Your friends from Magic’s Bend.”
“I like the sound of that.” I could do this. No matter what new magic was thrown at me, what challenges—I would succeed. Because I had to.
I’d find a way to be worthy. I wouldn’t settle for less.
I couldn’t.
I leaned slightly toward him, drawn by his strength and beauty and just because I liked him. A lot.
“Do you want to sleep at my place?” I held out my hands. “Just sleep, I mean. Sorry. Not propositioning you.”
He grinned, sending heat racing through me. “I wouldn’t mind if you did. But no. I have to go back to my place. Get some clean clothes and pick up some supplies from The Vaults.”
“Of course.” It was better that way. I really needed to get some solid sleep. “What supplies, though?”
“Comms charms. We’ll need them to keep in touch during our operations, and this is a bigger team than normal.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“No need. We’ll all play our role, and we’re happy to do it. We’re a team.”
I smiled, then leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Heat sizzled through me, but I ignored it. Or at least, I tried. Reluctantly, I broke contact and pulled back.
“I’ll see you later.” I skirted around him and headed toward the castle.
I only looked back once, just in time to see him disappear into the forest, headed toward the portal to Edinburgh. My heart seemed to sigh, just a little, at the sight of him.
My footsteps were heavy as I trudged through the main entry door to the castle.
When I reached my hallway, I saw Caro knocking on the door to my tower.
