Chapter Thirteen

CHARLIE

We’d retrieved the list of names from Lorenzo’s body, but it seemed we were further away from the vampire key than ever. A week passed without any word from the Elvish Associates, and I was getting impatient. They were supposed to be investigating the names on that list, but so far, it didn’t seem like they’d made any progress.

I kept busy by training with my grandfather in the gardens, while Ava spent most of her time with Oberi in mystic training or planning the wedding. We were preoccupied, but I was still on edge. Every moment we didn’t have the vampire key in our hands was another second closer to the Warden finding it before we did, and we couldn’t allow that to happen.

I’d been practicing my Elvish powers all morning when my grandfather finally excused me hours later. I’d skipped lunch, as I was too immersed in practicing to take a break. Eddie had been waiting for me at the garden entrance and quickly fell into step beside me as I left the area.

“Your highness, I have news,” Eddie said.

“It better be good,” I told him. I was too tired for another crisis— though now that I thought about it, it might be Ava’s fatigue coming through our bond. She’d been more tired than usual, and her daily naps were stretching longer. Mystic training was difficult, and it often wore her out. Attempting to contact the Elvish goddesses was highly difficult. She hadn’t done it yet, which meant whatever Eddie had to tell me needed to be a win. We couldn’t take any more setbacks.

“Very good news,” Eddie replied chipperly. “The Elvish Associates have a development for you.”

“That’s the best thing I’ve heard all week,” I said. “Lead the way.”

Eddie led me to the Elvish Associates’ headquarters. They were all there, waiting for me.

I sat in a chair reserved especially for me and turned to the team. “I hear you’ve made progress on the list.”

“Yes,” Max said. “We’ve been able to verify that the men on this list are among the oldest and most highly trained vampires working under Salvatore Bianchi. Our intel confirms these are the men Salvatore has hired to guard the vampire key.”

“Great. Let’s find one of them, and get them to tell us where the vampire key is,” I said.

“It’s not that simple,” Max said. “Salvatore was smart. He didn’t tell these guys everything— only certain things that each of them need to know to defend the key. For example, one person might know the city the key is in, but not in what building. Another person might know the combination to the safe where the key is kept, but has no idea of its location. This prevents one of them from betraying Salvatore, as nobody has all the information needed on where the key is or how to get to it— except for Salvatore, and we know we’re not getting anything out of him. Since we believe he’s given information out in pieces, if we want to get the location of the key, we’ll need to obtain all the pieces of information at once from all of the people on this list so we can put them together.”

It seemed impossible. We’d barely scraped by with information from Lorenzo, and it was by sheer luck we got anything from his list. Now we had to try to get information from six separate people?

“How are we going to do that?” I asked.

“We need to get them together and read their minds,” Max said.

I shook my head. “There’s no way it’s going to work. They’ve got wards over their minds, and Marcus couldn’t even sort the information for one person, let alone six at the same time.”

“That’s because Marcus hasn’t received proper training,” Max argued. “We found a witch who can mentor him— a friend of his parents. Marcus is being summoned to the demigod training room as we speak to begin his training. It’s going to take time for him to learn how to break past mind wards and read minds properly, but he has to learn the technique if we’re going to get the information we need. It’s the best chance we’ve got.”

“How do we get these people on the list together?” I wondered. “They have to be in the same place at the same time for Marcus to be able to read their minds. If we go one by one, and isolate them in separate locations, one of these guys might figure out what we’re doing and alert the others— even if we’re doing it in disguise. We’ll only get one shot to read all of their minds collectively, and I’m not sure what we can do to get these guys in the same room.”

“We’re working on that,” Max said.

“If I may,” Eddie offered. “I might have some suggestions.”

I stood. “Excellent. Eddie, you stay here and work with the Elvish Associates. I’m going to find Marcus. I want to see what this training is all about.”

“Very well,” Eddie agreed. “We’ll meet back at your quarters before dinner.”

I left the Elvish Associates’ headquarters. By now, I knew my way around the palace pretty well, and I could find the demigod training room on my own. On my way, I felt a familiar presence approaching me from the opposite direction. Her demigod magic rolled off her in waves.

“Hey, Kallie,” I said.

She slowed her step. “You haven’t seen Marcus anywhere, have you? I’ve checked his suite and the art room, but I can’t find him anywhere.”

I paused in the middle of the hallway. “Is something wrong?”

“No. Actually, it’s the opposite,” she admitted. “Oh, shit.”

She dropped something, and I bent down to pick it up for her. It was a thin, smooth piece of wood with some sort of intricate carvings along the outside. If I had to guess, I think they were cats, intertwined with swirls. On the end was a carving in the shape of a wolf’s head, with two gemstones embedded for the eyes, though I couldn’t tell what kind they were.

“A wand?” I asked. Why was she carrying this around? Fae didn’t use them.

“It’s for Marcus,” Kallie admitted as I handed it back. “I made him something— a sort of peace offering. I wanted to give it to him.”

I tilted my head curiously. “I thought you two weren’t planning on staying friends after everything that happened.”

“I thought so, too,” Kallie admitted. “But things are different than I expected them to be. I thought it would hurt to be around him, but now that the bond’s broken, it’s easier than ever. There’s no romantic pressure anymore. We don’t have this magical tether chaotically pulling us together and then pushing us apart. The energy between us is steadier. I think we can both think more clearly now— I know I can. Marcus and I will never be a couple, but I think we can still be friends.”

“Are you sure? You seemed pretty done with him when the bond broke,” I said.

“I was, but I’ve had the space I need, so it’s not a big deal anymore,” she said. “We can hang out now without it being awkward. It’s actually really fun. Plus, he’s getting treatment for his BPD, so I don’t feel pressured to save him like I did before. We can just… be cool. It’s nice.”

That was a relief to hear. I worried that the Villain’s Club would be no more, and that was really sad to think about. It was nice to see them getting along for a change. I knew they’d never hook up again, but I honestly thought that was better for them, anyway. Now they could be friends without all that stuff getting in the way.

Kallie must’ve created a gift bag and tissue paper, because I heard it rustle as she placed the wand inside. “I want to give this to him right away. Do you know where he is?”

“Marcus is in the demigod training room,” I told her. “I’m on my way there now. You’re welcome to tag along.”

“Thanks.” Kallie tried not to let her emotions show, but I could tell her steps became a little lighter. She seemed more than a little excited to see Marcus again on good terms.

We entered the demigod training room and found Marcus seated at a table, while Rishi purred softly in front of him. They appeared to be alone.

“I didn’t expect to see you two here,” Marcus said. “I’ve got this room reserved for a mentorship session. She should be here any minute.”

I sat in a chair opposite him. “We’re not here to take the room from you. We’re here to observe. If we’re going to pull off another intel operation, I want to know everything. We can’t afford any mistakes, so we’ve got to be confident we can pull this off.”

“I can handle it, Charlie,” Marcus said. “You don’t have to babysit me to make sure I do it right.”

“I know you’re capable. I just want to learn how this works,” I replied.

Marcus sighed, but he didn’t insist I leave, so I stayed.

Kallie sat beside me and reached across the table to place her gift in front of Marcus. “I came to give you this.”

“Oh, uh… thanks,” Marcus said. “But it’s not my birthday.”

“It’s not a birthday present, dummy.” Kallie giggled. “I just wanted to do something nice for you.”

“Wow, thanks,” Marcus said, like he was baffled she would. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything. Just open it,” Kallie said in excitement.

Marcus was already tearing at the wrapping. He opened the bag and gasped.

“You got me a wand?” he squeaked. Sounded like he had tears in his eyes and everything.

“I didn’t buy it. I made it,” Kallie explained. “It’s carved from a branch from the oldest tree in Ilamanthe. The gemstones in the wolf eyes are polished lepidolite and rhodonite.”

I recognized the first one, because it was the same stone I’d gotten Ava for emotional healing. I didn’t know the second stone, though.

Marcus must’ve, because he mused, “A stone of forgiveness.”

“Yeah. Rhodonite heals wounds caused by… past relationships,” she said, a little lamely. “I figured we’re on the same page now, so maybe we can move forward as friends. I know we needed some time apart, but I have to admit I missed having you around. I want my best friend back, you know?”

“But Ava’s your best friend,” Marcus said, confused. “I didn’t know I was in the top spot.”

I nearly facepalmed. Marcus really had to stop taking the best friend label so literally. He did the same thing when I asked him to be a part of my wedding. It wasn’t a competition, for fuck’s sake.

“She is, but you are, too,” Kallie confessed. “I miss goofing around and talking all day. I figured we could have that again, since, you know, there’s no more pressure.”

I held my breath, thinking Marcus would turn her down or have another explosion, but his clothes rustled as he reached over to hug her. “Thanks, Kallie. This is the best present I’ve ever gotten. I love it so much.”

Rishi meowed, and Kallie mumbled, “It really was nothing. It was easy to make.”

I didn’t believe her. Wands were strong magical objects, and this wand had to be fortified with powerful demigod abilities to be able to withstand casting Marcus’ magic without blowing itself apart. She’d poured a piece of her own power into this. It showed how much she still cared.

“I can’t wait to try this out,” Marcus squealed as he sat back in his seat. “This is awesome.”

“Well, you deserve it,” Kallie said quietly, though I didn’t think Marcus heard her.

I drummed my fingers on the tabletop. “Who is this witch you’re meeting with, exactly? Max said she was a friend of your parents.”

“Yeah. She works with my mom, but they’ve been friends since I was born,” Marcus explained. “She used to babysit me when I was little, and she comes over for family parties all the time. She’s not my aunt, but she might as well be. When I was in the hospital after my first attempt, she came to talk to me and gave me some tough love. My parents are always soft and gentle, but she knew what to say to me to get me out of it. She says what she means, and she doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Sometimes it can be rough, but more often than not, it’s helpful. She’s a very powerful witch, and we can trust her to teach me what I need to know to get the job done.”

The door opened, and a woman walked in. Her heels clicked against the floor, and I could feel the air swirling around a cloak that billowed at her ankles.

“Marcus,” she said brightly. “It’s good to see you again.”

Marcus immediately stood, and I knew this woman commanded respect. “It’s been a while. Guys, this is Priestess Chloe.”

I was shocked. Nobody mentioned anything about this mentor being a Miriamic priestess. That meant she was one of the people who’d sentenced Marcus to the Darke Institute. He didn’t seem to hold any animosity toward her, though. Rather, he seemed to respect her. She must’ve advocated for him alongside his mother, to avoid a harsher sentence.

“Marcus, I babysat you for years. Just call me Chloe,” she offered. “Have a seat. The technique you’re about to learn is very intensive, so you’ll want to get comfortable for it.”

Marcus sat, and Chloe took the chair at the head of the table. “Chloe, these are my friends Kallie and Charlie,” Marcus introduced. “They’re demigods, like me, and we’re working together to find the Divinity Keys, open the Elven Gate, and fulfill Charlie’s prophecy as the Elven heir. We believe that by growing my power and learning how to read minds, I’ll be able to obtain the valuable insight we need.”

Not just anyone was privy to this information, but Chloe was a Miriamic priestess. She was practically a queen among the witches, and she was privileged to possess any and all information any other rulers had. Marcus trusted her, so I did, too.

“I can help with that,” Chloe began. “As you know, various members of the Miriamic Coven possess the ability to read minds. But these powers have limitations. While each witch’s specialty differs, I have yet to meet a witch or warlock who can fully intercept another person’s thoughts with precision. A member of the Mentalist Cast may have the unique ability to read thoughts that you freely share with them, but they aren’t able to see what remains hidden. A Seer might be able to interpret messages through feelings, but aren’t able to get the exact thoughts in words.”

“What’s the difference between the Mentalist Cast and the Seer Cast?” Kallie wondered. “They sound so similar.”

“They are, in a lot of ways,” Chloe admitted. “And there’s some overlap between the two Casts’ powers. What separates a Mentalist from a Seer is how they use their power. Mentalists toy with the mind or have the power of telekinesis, while Seers are more adept at perceiving emotions, reading information from a distance, or obtaining visions about the past or future.”

She turned back to Marcus. “Since you have the powers of both Casts, I believe you may be able to combine these powers to read minds more effectively. It’s a technique I developed long ago alongside your Aunt Talia, who is a Seer. It’s called teleinsight.”

“Forgive me,” Marcus said curiously. “I know you’re the Mentalist Priestess, but how were you able to develop a mind-reading technique? I thought you had the powers of telekinesis.”

“I do,” Chloe confirmed. “Unfortunately, teleinsight is not something I’m able to do without the proper tools. Talia and I were in possession of powerful objects that granted us access to immense power. We no longer have those objects, so we can’t perform the technique anymore. In fact, I don’t believe any other witches could pull this off. However, I remember it well and can teach you. Since you have demigod power and the power of all five Casts, you should be able to do this. First, you’ll need a wand so you can focus your powers. As the technique is very direct, I don’t believe even you will be able to perform it without assistance. A wand is required for this technique to work.”

“I’ve got one,” Marcus said, and he waved his wand in the air. He almost poked me in the eye.

“Ouch! Be careful,” I snapped at him, rubbing my cheek where he’d stabbed me.

“Sorry,” Marcus apologized.

Maybe this was the weapon we needed. Get the Warden in here and we could just have Marcus gouge his eyes out by accident.

“This will work well,” Chloe said. “What you’re going to do is take your Mentalist powers and your Seer powers and combine them together, then direct that magic down into the wand. If you are focused enough, you should be able to pierce through any mental wards the subject has protecting them.”

“So it’s like using simultension on yourself, like Ava does when she combines Fire and Water magic to make blue fireballs?” Marcus asked.

“That’s what I’ve heard when it comes to your friend, yes,” Chloe responded.

“Ava’s magic is stronger than ever when she combines her powers. Maybe if I do this, I can use teleinsight to read the Warden’s mind,” Marcus said.

“I wouldn’t jump to conclusions just yet,” Chloe warned him. “While the technique is powerful, other demigods are an even match for you. I don’t think you’d be able to overpower another demigod’s mind without their consent. Plus, this spell works best in close proximity, so even if you could read the Warden’s mind, you’d have to get close enough to him to do it.”

“All right,” Marcus said. “Let’s stick to these vampire baddies for now. What can I do once I’m inside their head?”

“You’ll be able to quickly search for the information you desire, rather than being overwhelmed by too many thoughts and memories,” Chloe explained. “You can force them to tell the truth if you so desire, or you can learn it yourself without them ever suspecting a thing.”

“This sounds really useful,” Marcus remarked. “There’s got to be a special trick to it.”

“The trick is to use their own mind against them,” Chloe explained. “Before we proceed any further, I’d like to assess where you’re at. I want you to demonstrate your mind-reading abilities on me. Somewhere in my mind, there is the name of a girl I once called a dear friend. Find her name.”

Marcus cleared his throat. “All right. I’ll give it a shot.”

“Use the wand, and direct your magic,” Chloe encouraged. “When you’re ready, speak this incantation; By the goddess’ light and candle fire, illuminate the information I desire. In time, you will learn how to perform the spell without speaking the incantation out loud.”

“All right, I’ve got this,” Marcus said; more to himself than to any of us.

Usually, he seemed so apprehensive when trying a new spell, especially one so powerful. Today, he seemed really confident in his abilities. Marcus began muttering the incantation under his breath.

I felt his magic swelling over the room. Though he directed his power at Chloe, I could feel it tingling over my skin. This spell was a lot, even for Marcus.

Several moments of silence passed. Kallie and I waited, but neither Chloe nor Marcus said anything. I must’ve been holding my breath, because I had to remind myself to inhale.

After a full minute, Marcus breathed a sigh. “I can’t see it. There’s too much information.”

“I could feel you poking around in my mind,” Chloe said. “You were flipping through my memories, trying to figure out on your own which one was important. You’re trying to label these experiences for yourself, but you cannot rely on your own discernment. You’re trying to observe, when you must command. You must rely on the subject’s mind, because it’s already cataloged and labeled these experiences. It already knows what information is important. Once you’re inside, you must order the mind to bring the information to the surface. Forget about your own experiences and what you believe to be true, because you’re not in your own mind anymore. You need to become a part of the subject’s mind, until the subject is no longer the master of their own mind, but you are their master.”

“Oh, I think I get it!” Marcus said brightly. “Can I try it again?”

“Certainly,” Chloe responded.

Magic swelled over the room again, and Kallie leaned over to whisper to me. “Marcus isn’t moving. He’s gone into some sort of trance.”

“Oh, wow,” Marcus didn’t sound like he was entranced, but I trusted Kallie that it must’ve looked that way. “I can see things more clearly. It’s a lot more organized. Now I just have to find what I’m looking for… Was her name Lily— no. That’s not it. Hang on.”

We sat in silence for a while. Marcus kept pushing, never once giving up or criticizing himself for not getting it right away. He was more determined than ever.

Then Marcus snapped his fingers. “Got it! Her name was Gwen— no, Camille!”

“Well, which is it? Gwen or Camille?” Chloe replied harshly.

Marcus hesitated. “It was both. You loved them both dearly, and they turned their backs on you.”

Chloe clapped her hands together. “Marcus, you did it! And it was so direct, I couldn’t even feel you poking around.”

“It worked!” he cried in relief. “But man, that’s a powerful spell.”

“I want you to try it on one of your friends,” Chloe pressed. “As demigods, they’ll be harder to read, and therefore, more similar to our warded vampire friends.”

“I thought Marcus couldn’t read demigods,” Kallie pointed out.

“He should be able to if you open yourself to him,” Chloe said. “As long as consent is provided and you let him in, he’ll be able to see what’s inside.”

“No,” Marcus objected. “I know I need to practice, but I’d rather not read Kallie’s mind. I hope you understand, but it’s kind of a respect issue.”

That was putting it lightly. Digging around in someone’s head, when you were their ex and things were already fragile was definitely uncomfortable. There were times I’d been in Ava’s mind when we’d been broken up, because I couldn’t help it, and it had been damaging to us repairing our relationship. Marcus didn’t want to put this new friendship with Kallie on the line, even if he needed to practice this spell.

“Thanks, Marcus,” Kallie said, almost in relief. “I appreciate that.”

“You need to practice,” Chloe insisted. “Someone has to be willing.”

“Try it on me,” I quickly offered. “I’m up for it.”

“You sure you want me inside your head?” Marcus teased.

I shrugged and gave an uneasy laugh. “I tell you everything, anyway.”

“All right,” Marcus replied skeptically. “You asked for it. What am I looking for?”

“Find one of Charlie’s secrets,” Chloe encouraged. “Something he hasn’t told you— something he may not even realize he hasn’t revealed.”

There wasn’t much Marcus didn’t know, but even so, I stiffened. I didn’t want him finding out about everything. Some stuff I wasn’t ready to reveal.

“Here we go,” Marcus said. He began muttering under his breath again.

I opened up my mind to him and waited, then waited some more. I felt his magic swell and settle over the table, but I never felt it enter me. “So… are we going to get started, or what?”

“Shh…” Marcus hissed. “I’m concentrating.”

That’s when I realized he was working his magic on me. It certainly was a tricky spell, because I couldn’t tell he was inside my mind. I didn’t feel it at all.

I was anxious about what he might find, until Marcus burst out laughing, startling me. “That’s your secret? Sounds like some kinky shit.”

“Hey,” I snapped. “I don’t want you looking at any memories of me and Ava.”

“Relax,” Marcus said casually. “I only saw where that mirror in your bedroom leads. I didn’t know you two had a secret sex dungeon.”

“Marcus,” I warned.

Marcus snickered. “I always wondered why we never heard you guys going at it from the other room, because you’re literally right next to us. I know Ava’s a screamer.”

“Leave my wife out of this,” I growled.

“Please,” Kallie chuckled. “It’s not like it’s a secret. Some nights I could swear I heard Ava screaming at the Institute, and I wasn’t even in the same cellblock as you. And let me tell you, those were not screams of torture.”

I shrugged. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Ava would wear this information as a badge of honor.”

Chloe gave a sigh. “Goddess. Do I remember what it was like to be your age. Not much has changed, has it?”

“Please don’t tell me any stories about you and Uncle Miles. I’ve heard enough about my Mom and Dad’s super happy fun times, and don’t need to listen to yours, thanks,” Marcus grumbled.

“You deserve it, for poking around in my head and immediately finding mine and Ava’s hidden room,” I replied. He didn’t discover the worst things he could’ve, but he still found one of my secrets, so I guess that was great progress. This spell was actually going to work to get us the information we needed.

Marcus slumped in his chair. “It took a lot of energy for me to get just that little bit of information. I need time to perfect this strategy, because if I’m tired now, it’s not going to look pretty if I go poking around in six people’s heads at once. I need to learn how to do this with more people without getting so tuckered out. Otherwise, I’ll pass out when I’m trying to read the minds of those vampire gangsters, and they’re not gonna stop to ask if I need a minute. I’ve got to be able to do this flawlessly when the time comes to do the job.”

Chloe stood. “Take the afternoon to recover. We’ll continue these lessons tomorrow.”

“Thank you for believing in me, Priestess,” Marcus said.

“Of course,” she replied softly. “I know you’re capable of wonderful things. You just have to learn how to harness what’s already inside of you.”

We left the demigod training room. Priestess Chloe went one way, while Kallie, Marcus and I went the other. Rishi followed along at Marcus’ feet.

“What are you two up to the rest of the day?” Kallie asked. “My schedule is free.”

“Mine, too,” Marcus said. “There’s an indie film premiering at the theater this afternoon I wanted to go to. Do you want to come, Kallie?”

“Absolutely,” Kallie answered. For a girl who wanted nothing to do with Marcus a few months ago, she seemed eager to spend time with him now. I wondered just how much of their connection had been a magical bond, and how much of it had been because they naturally worked well together. I was really glad they could be friends now without feeling pressured to be more, because it seemed like they really did get each other.

“Sorry, but I can’t come with,” I told them. “I don’t get much free time these days, and I’ve got to take what I can. I’m working on a special project for Ava.”

“Oh… that,” Marcus teased. “I saw that in your mind, too, but I didn’t want to say anything.”

“That’s it, you’re officially banned from my mind,” I said. “I don’t want you ruining the surprise.”

“I won’t!” Marcus made the sound of a zipper. “My lips are sealed.”

“They better be,” I warned.

“Would you relax? You’re so serious lately,” Kallie said, and she punched my shoulder. “Lighten up every now and then, would you?”

I scowled. There wasn’t much of a chance to lighten up. Not when there was so much on the line.

Kallie and Marcus went off to the theater, while I headed toward the music room. It was one of my favorite places in the palace, with all kinds of instruments for the royal orchestra. It was often a bustling place, even when the orchestra wasn’t in session, because the Elves were such musical people that they enjoyed going there to practice. As the prince, I had free rein of the instruments and got to play with whatever I wanted.

I turned a corner, and my heart leapt into my throat as I rammed into someone. I nearly fell over, but caught my balance at the last minute. It was a little weird— servants in the palace usually gave me a wide berth, as it was seen as incredibly offensive to touch one of the monarchy without specifically being asked. But this person probably hadn’t seen me coming. An honest mistake.

“Easy there,” I said. “I didn’t mean to run into you.”

“My prince!” a woman cried. I didn’t recognize her voice, but it could’ve been any servant or guard. She hadn’t stumbled like I had. “Thank the gods I found you. You must come quickly. She’s hurt— your one true love is in pain!”

Alarm bells went off in my head, and I immediately started to panic. Something bad must’ve happened during mystic training. Why hadn’t I been informed the second it happened?

I quickly tried to connect with Ava through our bond, but I brushed up against an impenetrable wall. That usually meant Ava was sleeping… or that she was seriously hurt, and unconscious.

I tried to do the same with Oberi and was met with no response. That immediately made me worried. I should’ve been able to contact at least one of them, and I couldn’t reach out to either.

“Where is she?” I demanded.

“Follow me,” the woman urged.

I ran to keep up with her, and we twisted through a maze of hallways. I assumed we were headed toward the temple, but it wasn’t long before I lost my bearings.

I slowed and turned around, trying to use my magic to figure out where we were.

“Are we going the right way?” I asked the servant girl. “I don’t know this part of the palace.”

“This is the right way,” she said. “It’s just downstairs.”

My Air magic sensed an empty column rising upward through the palace— an elevator shaft. I figured Ava must’ve taken the elevator, so I headed for that immediately.

The servant girl grabbed my arm, but I was freaking out too much to remind her that was against the rules. “It'll be faster if we take the stairs.”

I didn’t know this part of the palace, and all I wanted was to get to Ava quickly. I followed hastily beside her. Her stone-like grip on my arm didn’t release as we hurried along, until we began to descend a twisted staircase. I was getting more anxious with every passing second, so I took the lead. The air grew colder around us the deeper into the basement we went. Heat radiated off torches burning on the wall, which I was sure provided the only light. I heard the servant girl behind me slip a torch off its sconce to carry, to help her see as we descended.

“This has to be the cellar, where the royal stores of wine are kept,” I mused aloud.

I didn’t know why Ava would be down here, but I guess it wasn’t unlike her to go exploring, especially in cave-like places where she might find a hidden passageway. It was the anthropologist inside of her. I just hoped she wasn’t seriously injured. Why hadn’t she talked to me about this before she went wandering off?

She wouldn’t. That didn’t make any sense. She always came to me about everything before she went and did it. That was the agreement we’d made, and she’d never broken it. Was she led into some kind of trap, where she thought something was safe but was actually dangerous? I didn’t think the Elves would put her at risk, but the mystics were desperate to contact the goddesses, so maybe something had gone wrong.

“Was this part of her mystic training? Is that why Ava came down here alone?” I demanded.

“Who’s Ava?” the servant girl asked innocently.

I stopped dead on the stairs. “My wife. You said the princess was hurt.”

“Oh, her,” she sneered. The way she said it tickled a memory in the back of my mind, but I couldn’t quite place it. “I said your one true love was hurt. I never said anything about Ava-Marie.”

Something was very wrong here. My magic tingled through the stairwell, and for the first time, I actually paid attention to it. I hadn’t been listening to my magic because I was so worried about Ava, but I finally recognized that the woman standing beside me wasn’t an Elf. That’s when I noticed the energy signature of the servant girl following me.

She was a vampire, and I wasn’t entirely sure?—

I didn’t finish the thought before she shoved me hard, with enough force to send me plummeting. I went tumbling head over heels down the stairs. My head smashed against the wall, then again on the corner of a step.

I came rolling to a halt at the bottom of the stairs. My heart hammered, though I was no longer worried. I was pissed.

I groaned and struggled to get to my feet through the ache in the back of my head. I felt completely disoriented. I never managed to stand before I heard the vampire rush toward me.

“Your true love is right here!” she cried, before I felt the heat of the torch she carried coming straight for me.

The torch slammed hard into the back of my head with the force of the vampire’s blow. I felt cinders burn into my scalp, and the world faded to nothing.

When I came to, I couldn’t make sense of my surroundings.

The back of my head pulsed in pain, and my guts twisted with the weight of a heavy sickness. I was sitting upright on a hard surface, some sort of chair, but that was about all I could process.

I tried to move, only to meet restraint. Cold, hard objects wrapped around my wrists and ankles. My heart hammered as I tried to yank free of the shackles, but no matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t break free. I tried to pull my magic to the surface, but found it only made the sickness in my gut tighten.

I realized in horror what was going on. These weren’t just any old shackles— they were made of inferichite. Whoever had restrained me had been cautious, because these inferichite cuffs were large and heavy, and there were two per limb. These were nothing like the cuffs the Warden used on us in the Institute. Back then, the inferichite was just enough to keep my demigod powers at bay, but they still allowed me to cast elemental magic. These were more like the cuffs they fitted on us in Cellblock 9. There was so much inferichite that it made me sick to even try casting my Air.

I tried reaching out to Ava or Oberi through our bond, but the inferichite cuffs had shut that down.

I was completely alone.

I turned to my other senses. I could tell I was in a large space, because I could hear a fire crackling from a hearth at the other end of the room. The warmth of a smaller flame flickered a few inches in front of me, like I was surrounded by candles. Various scents surrounded me— all delicious and enticing. The savory smell of prime rib and the pleasant scent of risotto filled my nose. It was strange, because I’d think that if I were to be kidnapped, I’d be thrown in a musty, rotting dungeon. Wherever I was, it was a nice place.

And roses. There were so many damn rose petals around they almost overpowered the scent of the food. They were all over the floor under my shoes, and scattered all over my clothes. What the hell was going on?

I ran my fingers over the armrest of the chair I was shackled to, and I realized the material was smooth, but not cold enough to be stone. Intricate carvings ran up and down the wood.

I pushed a little harder past the inferichite, because I had to make better sense of my surroundings, and without my magic, it wasn’t enough information.

I sensed the air swirling around the area, and I realized I was in a long room with a high ceiling. A table that must’ve been able to sit twelve people expanded out in front of me, and I sat at the head of it.

I had to be in some sort of fancy dining room. I sensed someone at the other end of the table, though they didn’t breathe.

“Finally, you’re awake,” a woman purred. It had to be the vampire girl who’d lured me to the cellar. “We can finally eat!”

She sounded more happy than sinister, which was really fucking weird for a captor.

“Forgive me if I’m not hungry,” I said through gritted teeth. There was very little that could keep me from scarfing down such delicious-smelling food, but this bitch had accomplished it. I was almost certain every dish at this table had to be poisoned.

She rose from her chair, and her heels clicked on the floor as she made her way over to me. “You’re not even hungry for some chocolate cake, Charlie? I know how much you love it.”

She ran her hand over my back, and it made my skin crawl. She held a plate under my nose, and the sweet smell of chocolate cake filled my nostrils.

“Tell me what’s going on,” I demanded. “Where’s Ava?”

“Back at the palace, of course,” she said.

“She isn’t hurt then? You lied,” I accused.

“Ava was merely taking a nap with that dog of yours,” the woman sneered. “I don’t know why you care so much about her when I’m around.”

“Who are you?” I growled.

She set the plate in front of me and took the seat beside me. The hem of her silk dress brushed my ankle. She reached out to trace her finger along my arm. My insides curled, but I couldn’t get away from her.

“Oh, Charlie.” She let out an innocent giggle. “Haven’t you figured it out by now? I left you so many clues.”

I tilted my head, but I had no idea what she was talking about. “Clues?”

“Didn’t you get my roses?” she asked. “I wanted you to know I was there in the palace.”

I didn’t know what she meant, until a memory of roses came back to me. “The morning after the engagement party,” I realized. “You’re the one who left those cut-up roses at my door.”

So it wasn’t some elaborate prank Alistair pulled off while he was drunk. Shit. We should’ve made sure.

“Of course it was me,” she snickered. “Don’t you recognize me?”

I tried to place her voice, but I couldn’t make the connection. Then I thought of the way she sneered the word her when talking about my wife, and it clicked where I’d heard that tone before.

“You’re the servant girl from our engagement party,” I realized. She’d been trying to flirt with me that night when I approached the dessert table— and insulted my wife to do it. It’d made me uncomfortable then, and I was beyond uncomfortable now.

“Servant girl?!” she balked. “Charlie, how could you possibly reduce me to that? It’s true I was at your party, but I was only there to keep an eye on you. I’ve been watching you for a very long time. You’re a very hard man to get alone. The prince is always surrounded by guards, and I can see why, because you deserve to command an army. It’s so you.”

She gave another high-pitched giggle. “It’s funny, referring to you as the prince now. I remember when you were just another hunk in fight club. I used to come to your fights at the Institute. I always bet on you, of course. I watched every one.”

So she’d been an inmate. My mind raced with the possibilities of who this girl could be. She sounded like she was my age, but I couldn’t think of anyone from the Institute who’d go through all this trouble to kidnap me, apart from the Warden’s demigods. I could tell by her magic she wasn’t one of them, and she didn’t seem affected by inferichite, either.

Most of the inmates at the Institute had died, and if they hadn’t, they’d joined The Mission. My friends and I were the only inmates I knew who’d made it to Ilamanthe. I knew even fewer vampires from the Institute— and most of them were enemies. The only vampire I could think of was Scarlet, and I’d spent enough time with her in the fight club’s training area to know this girl wasn’t her. The voice wasn’t right.

She had to be from The Mission, because despite her friendly tone, she was certainly no friend of mine.

“I’m going to ask you one last time,” I growled. “Who. Are. You?”

She giggled, like she thought of me as nothing less than amusing. “I suppose it has been a while, hasn’t it? It’s me, silly! Danielle!”

I felt the blood drain from my face, and as a vampire, I was certain she sensed it. Danielle had barely been on my radar my whole time at the Institute, but I remembered she was on the bus that brought us to the Institute the day we arrived. She was buddies with Naya, and though Danielle had mostly kept her distance, she’d always been a little too nice to me.

Ava had despised Danielle, and had insisted to me more than once that Danielle had a thing for me and I needed to take it seriously. I barely thought about it, because I didn’t think a little crush was a big deal. After all, I’d never considered her a threat.

Apparently that had turned out to be a big mistake.

“Finally, we’re alone, and we get to enjoy the proper date we always deserved over a candle-lit dinner,” she continued.

“I’m not interested. I’m an engaged-married man, Danielle,” I pointed out. I had a wedding coming up, but who knew if I was going to make it, now that I was in Crazy Town with a vampire who obviously had a sick obsession with me.

She cackled. “You’re so funny, Charlie— always making jokes. You can’t be engaged and married. Sit back and enjoy your meal. Isn’t it lovely? The Warden procured it himself.”

I figured a stupid crush should’ve died out by now, but Danielle seemed a little more than obsessed. She was delusional, really.

Unfortunately, I’d dealt with my fair share of crazy. If I wanted answers, I was going to have to play along. I forced my heart rate to slow.

“You don’t say,” I said smoothly. “That’s very kind of him to… set up this date. We must be in his home, then?”

“One of them,” Danielle confirmed. “A manor in Celestial City. He’s not here, though.”

Of course not. He’d sent Danielle to do his dirty work, though why he trusted her, I didn’t know. There had to be more to this plan than it appeared.

“I suppose the Warden sent you after me because you could get into Ilamanthe undetected,” I said.

“Yes. I’m a very valuable asset to The Mission,” Danielle said proudly. It was like she was repeating what the Warden had told her.

Danielle wasn’t a demigod like the others. She wouldn’t trip my grandfather’s wards like the Warden or Esther would. It was clear the Warden wanted to get me out clean, without inciting a supernatural fight.

It seemed Danielle had been biding her time, waiting to get me alone so she could knock me out and portal me to Celestial City. Danielle couldn’t create a portal, but Esther sure as hell could. That had to be how we got here.

I wondered where Esther was now. Though I nearly vomited, I forced myself to push past the inferichite and expand my magic outward. My magic brushed up against demigod powers just outside the room— four of them, guarding the entrances. It was like they were waiting for something. If they came in here, they’d get sick from the inferichite, but they could’ve killed me while I’d been knocked out. I didn’t get it.

I had to let my magic fall, because I couldn’t hold it any longer without puking. That little bit of effort to resist the inferichite had drained me. I’d broken inferichite before using strong emotion, but these inferichite crystals were much bigger than the ones I’d previously shattered, and unless all four of my friends were here with me, I knew I didn’t have a chance of destroying them.

So I needed to keep Danielle talking. At least long enough to buy my friends some time to find me. Ancestors, I hoped they knew I was missing by now, because I wasn’t sure how long I could keep this ruse up… or what Danielle would make me do in the meantime.

“So what’s going on here?” I asked. “The Warden obviously needs me alive; otherwise, I’d be dead by now. What am I, some sort of bait?”

“I’m not supposed to tell you that,” Danielle said. “I’m just supposed to keep you occupied.”

Ugh. Danielle wasn’t going to crack unless I put in some effort. I had to act like I was interested in her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t tell me shit, and if I was in this situation I might as well try to gather some intel.

Danielle was clearly in love with me. I had to use that to my advantage. I knew I could con anyone, but fuck, even considering this felt like cheating on Ava. That thought made me want to hurl more than the inferichite did, but Ava would want me to stay alive no matter what. I had to play Danielle’s game if I wanted to get out of this.

“Come on… darling,” I purred. I nearly choked on the words. “I’d like to get to know you better. We never got a chance back at the Institute to… talk. I want to know more about you.”

“Very well.” Danielle seemed to settle in, because her silverware clinked against her plate as she began eating. Vampires didn’t need to eat, but they could if they wanted to, just to enjoy the taste.

She didn’t seem to notice I was still shackled and couldn’t lift a fork, but it was better that way. I’d rather die than eat anything the Warden had prepared. It was like she was pretending I was here of my own free will, rather than being dragged here and chained up.

“Perhaps you’d like to hear the story of how I was sentenced to the Institute. I never got to tell you,” she offered. “I thought it was unfair, at first. After all, it’s technically not illegal to take the man you love back to your house and tie him up. Couples do it all the time!”

Delusional didn’t even begin to cover it. If Danielle thought kidnapping was anything like BDSM, she was sorely mistaken. At least I bothered to ask Ava first before I got the ropes out.

Danielle sighed. “He didn’t understand. We were so in love. Drake and I were the perfect couple, he just didn’t see it… didn’t see me. He never said hello, and we didn’t speak before the day I brought him home, but I saw the way he looked at me when no one else was around. He didn’t realize the special connection we had, and I knew I had to make him see it. I kept him in my basement and figured I’d let him out once he understood what we meant to each other. But Drake turned on me. When he escaped, he reported me to the United Supernatural Union.”

Danielle let out an obnoxious noise. “He was a dragon shifter, so of course the incident was treated like some crime against the fae. See what I mean by unfair?”

“Completely,” I purred, though I absolutely didn’t.

“I was angry at Drake for what he’d done. It wasn’t right for him to dump me like that out of the blue,” Danielle raged.

Her voice softened. “But then I saw you, and I realized it was fate that I was sent to the Institute! Drake meant nothing to me anymore, because the moment I met you, it was clear I was being led to my true mate the whole time.”

I wasn’t exactly following along, because vampires didn’t have fated mates the way the fae did. This bitch was even crazier than I thought.

“Of course. I understand now. I am your true mate,” I added, playing along. I didn’t think I sounded convincing, but Danielle didn’t seem to notice. “The Warden must’ve sensed it, too. That’s why he sent you after me.”

“I knew you’d understand!” Danielle cried happily. “He said if I help kill your friends, I can keep you!”

What a dumb bitch. She couldn’t actually believe he’d keep his word.

“I knew from the day we met that it was destined to be between us,” Danielle gushed. “You held the door open for me on our first day of class, remember?”

Yeah, that made her so special. I held the door open for everyone.

“One day, you brushed up against my hand in Commissary when you picked up a muffin,” she continued. “I knew you felt it, too. I couldn’t stand the thought of you not touching me. Then there were all those times I was behind you in the cafeteria line, and you left the last croissant for me!”

Damn, I didn’t even know the Institute had croissants in the cafeteria. That would’ve been awesome.

“I saw you push Scarlet off of you that day in the cemetery, and I knew you must’ve been thinking about me,” Danielle said. “It was clear all I had to do was get you alone, and we could finally be together. I tried for so long. Every day you walked to your factory shift, I was there walking behind you. I could never get close with your dog and that bitch around, but you’re all mine now!”

Danielle rose from her chair and came to sit on my lap. I nearly vomited all over her right there, but I couldn’t exactly shove her off. I still needed answers.

Danielle ran her fingers through my hair, and I noticed it was tangled in the back, matted with something that was probably blood. I winced, because the area was sensitive and still hurt. “I know you didn’t really love Ava, because you broke up with her. Then you were forced to marry her to survive, and she ended up in that nasty wheelchair. It was obvious you only stayed with her because you felt bad and couldn’t leave. But you don’t have to feel obligated to her anymore. You’re free!”

I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep it together. For her to suggest this was beyond disgusting. Danielle never let me get a word in, though.

“I’m more of a woman than she’ll ever be! I know you can feel it, Charlie.” Danielle shoved her boobs in my face— and they were so fucking huge I couldn’t breathe. I tried to inhale, but the fabric of her dress nearly suffocated me.

“I got a boob job for you!” Danielle raved as she drew away. “I know how you like your women busty. I’m bigger than Ava now!”

Fuck, this was getting out of hand way too quickly. I should’ve listened to my wife. She said this bitch was obsessed with me, and I didn’t believe her.

I had to get Danielle talking about the Warden again, or there was no point in playing along.

“Danielle—” I started, but she cut me off.

She grabbed my face with both hands, forcing my chin to tilt up toward her. “See me, Charlie! I know you can. I know you’ve seen me through all that haze, because I saw you looking at me all the time at the Institute. Our love cured your blindness, because I was the only one you could see. You were always looking at me. You don’t have to fake it anymore.”

For fuck’s sake. I guarantee all those times she thought I was looking at her, my head was just pointed in one direction. She took it as a sign that she’d restored my eyesight.

“Danielle—” I tried again.

“I had a shrine of our love in my room at the Institute,” she gushed. “I used my Commissary points to print out your mugshot. I saw you drop a candy wrapper, once, and I kept that, too.”

She gave a light giggle. “I also had your midterm essay from Rehabilitation Skills. You did such a lovely job typing it up.”

What the hell? So that’s where that essay ended up. I’d fucking got an F for that essay because Professor Ziva didn’t believe I’d turned it in, and I knew I had. She hadn’t let me redo it, either. Danielle must’ve snatched it off the stack of essays before Professor Ziva had a chance to grade them.

“We’re certainly devoted to one another,” I cut in, before Danielle could say anything else. “That means we’re on the same side. Perhaps you can tell me what I have to look forward to. I’ve been so eager to join The Mission, but… ah… that girl wouldn’t let me.”

Talking about Ava like that made me physically ill, but she had to play the bad guy if I was getting back to her.

“It’s going to be grand!” she exclaimed. “The Warden figured if he stormed Ilamanthe with you demigods there, it would only end in destruction and casualties, and he doesn’t want all those Elves to die. They’re too useful to him. But he had the brilliant idea that if I took you and lured your friends out, he could kill them and take Ilamanthe no problem, imprisoning all the Elves.”

I chuckled under my breath. “That’s so like him— never taking on a fight he isn’t certain he can win. He’s very cautious.”

My tone held amusement. Danielle clearly missed the insult that was there.

“Oh, yes,” she agreed. “He’s very methodical.”

“And patient,” I added. “What does he want to do with the Elves? Use their power? It’s weird he doesn’t just exterminate them all, like the fae tried to do during the last Great Supernatural War.”

“I’m not sure…” Danielle mused. “Maybe he just likes them because they’re beautiful. Like you.”

Ick. Please shut up.

“Surely he’s been working out a plan all this time,” I insisted. “What has he been up to? Making more demigods?”

“He tried, for some time,” she admitted. “But he’s moved on from that. Too many people died because their bodies couldn’t contain the power. Plus, he’s got to take power from Esther and Mad Dog to do it, since they’re natural-born demigods. They get sick for days after his experiments, so he put an end to them. He figured it’s better to put his best fighters to work rather than try to make more demigods and fail every time. He doesn’t want to keep giving up his power.”

Of course. That’s something he’d hoard for himself.

“How does he maintain loyalty?” I wondered. “I understand that Esther’s on his side, because she’s his niece, but what about Mad Dog, Naya, and Deuce? What has he offered them? Why don’t they just kill him and take over?”

Danielle laughed so hard it shook my shackles. “Kill him? Charlie, no one can kill the Warden. Why do you think the dark gods are working for him? Even they can’t destroy him.”

My heart rate picked up, but I forced it to slow so Danielle didn’t notice. Angels were immortal, but only in the sense that they didn’t age once they reached adulthood. They could still be killed by a number of other means, and I was damn sure a god had the ability to kill any supernatural, demigod or not.

But the dark gods couldn’t kill the Warden. That was absolutely terrifying. If they didn’t have the power to get rid of him, who did?

“How can you be sure?” I asked.

“I saw it,” she stated simply. “I witnessed the dark gods try to destroy him, but no matter what they did, he wouldn’t go down. He didn’t even get hurt.”

Terror spread throughout my body and pinned me to the chair. I couldn’t imagine the type of power it would take to protect himself like that. It had to be one hell of a spell… or maybe not a spell at all. Perhaps it was the Warden’s special demigod power— like how I could make illusions into solid reality, or how Kallie could manipulate time.

Still, there had to be some way around this power, so we could kill him for good. Even the greatest supernaturals alive had weaknesses.

“Demigods aren’t an easy bunch to kill,” I pointed out. “How does he plan to do it?”

“Esther had a job before she came to the Institute,” Danielle explained. “She used to kill angelic Deacons on the council for the Warden. She has experience killing angels. She can kill demigods, too.”

I shuddered. If Danielle was right and she wasn’t making up stories, there was literally no way to kill the Warden. It didn’t matter what kind of power we were packing, because he was completely invulnerable to all attacks.

I didn’t understand how we were going to win this war. The Warden had to die if things were going to come to an end. If we couldn’t kill him, eventually he’d find a way to kill us.

If I wasn’t dead already.

“Let’s not waste our time talking about the Warden.” Danielle ran a finger down my face, then across my neck. “Your blood smells so good. Everyone else’s blood is like water. Yours is like the finest wine harvested from the best vines of Napa Valley. I want a taste.”

“Danielle, don’t—” I warned, but it was already too late.

Danielle tossed her hair to the side, draping it over my shoulder as she pressed her sharp fangs to my neck. Pain sliced through my skin, and I felt my blood leaking out of me as she fed. I let out a hiss, because it was incredibly painful. I struggled away from her, but there was nothing I could do as long as I was shackled to this chair.

Something brushed up against my bond just then. I couldn’t hear Ava the way we usually communicated, but past the inferichite cuffs, I could tell that she was close.

And she was fucking furious.

Danielle pulled her mouth away from my neck, and I felt warm blood gush out from the incision wounds there. She rasped, “It tastes so good. I can’t wait to feed on you all night.”

I was already lightheaded from being fed on, and I felt my head lolling. But I still managed to force out, “Thank you, Danielle. You’ve provided me with some very crucial insights. Unfortunately, I believe it’s time for me to depart.”

“What do you?—?”

Danielle didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence before a high-pitched cry pierced the air from outside the room. Something blasted through the wall, though it couldn’t be very big. It was like a bullet had been shot. I heard a body hit the ground outside the door.

That’s when the chaos erupted.

Screams filled the air, and I heard the clang of knives clicking together. Something heavy landed against the wall outside, shaking the whole room. Mad Dog’s deep voice echoed throughout the manor as he yelled obscenities at his attackers. Naya shouted, and Deuce’s cry cut off mid-yell as another blow shook the house.

“Give me back my husband!” Ava screeched.

Joy flooded through me at the sound of her voice. She’d found me!

“No!” Danielle screamed, leaping out of her chair. “No, she can’t be here!”

She scrambled for something on the table, and I heard liquid sloshing in a glass. Before I knew what was happening, Danielle was behind me, yanking my head back by my hair.

“If I can’t have you, no one can,” she sneered.

Danielle shoved a glass between my lips and tipped it back. Wine filled my mouth. I refused to swallow. The wine gurgled out my mouth, spilling down my front as I choked on the liquid. She was going to drown me.

“Drink, goddamn it!” Danielle screamed. She tossed the wine glass aside, and it shattered against the wall. She grabbed the whole fucking bottle and shoved it so far down my throat I gagged. Wine slid down the back of my throat. My energy instantly drained, as if the wine itself was made of inferichite.

The door burst open, and Danielle cackled. “You’re too late!”

“Get your hands off my man, you vile bitch!” Ava cried. Oberi’s hooves smacked against the marble floor as she entered, and the Fire from her horn elevated the temperature in the room to an uncomfortable rate. I knew Oberi had carried Ava in here, and both of them were dead set on taking revenge.

My head lolled as I felt more blood trickle down my neck. It was obvious what Danielle had been doing in here, and it sent Ava into a mad rage.

Oberi let out a terrifying bray, and Fire shot out of her horn as she galloped forward. Danielle dodged out of the way, but that didn’t stop Ava. I heard the blade of a knife slide across the table as Ava snatched it up, then Oberi went charging her way.

A harsh wind blew by as Ava launched herself off Oberi’s back. Danielle grunted as Ava landed on top of her. The sickly sound of a knife tearing through flesh filled the room. Danielle screamed. She had super strength and speed, but Ava’s assault had slowed her down.

Ava didn’t stop. She screamed at the top of her lungs as she stabbed Danielle in the heart over and over again, until I was certain there was no heart left. Oberi commanded the flames from the hearth to spray onto Danielle’s body, and the vampire ignited. Danielle wailed in suffering as the flames consumed her, but Ava remained on top and kept going, sinking the knife into the flesh long after Danielle’s cries of pain ended.

I heard Kallie and Marcus rush in from the other end of the room. Kallie ripped Ava off of Danielle’s charred corpse, snapping, “Ava, cut it out! She’s dead already.”

Ava didn’t listen. She crawled back to Danielle’s corpse and continued stabbing with a gurgle of insane laughter.

“Screw it. Charlie, we’ve got to work together,” Kallie demanded. “We need to use simultension to overload the cuffs and break them.”

“Okay,” I choked out. I was still feeling queasy.

“Ready?” Marcus asked.

“Ready,” I said. Kallie took one of my hands, while Marcus took the other. Our magic combined, funneling into the cuffs. My head spun, and my body swayed, but I didn’t stop until I heard the crack of stone. The cuffs fell off my limbs and onto the floor, and I finally felt like I could breathe again.

Charlie! Oberi cried. Ava’s lost it!

Oberi’s hooves hit the ground, and she whinnied loudly, but Ava continued to sink her knife into Danielle’s chest, even though she was long gone.

“Ava!” I jumped out of my chair and grabbed her wrist as she drew the blade back once more. “Ava, it’s all right. I’m right here.”

Her whole body trembled beneath my touch. The knife clattered out of her hand as she reached for me. “She hurt you, Charlie.”

“It’s over,” I told her, getting to my knees beside her. “Danielle’s gone.”

“And we don’t have much time!” Marcus added. “We’ve got to go, before the Warden shows up.”

“Give us a fucking minute,” Ava snapped. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I squeezed her close to my chest. Her healing magic filled me up as we embraced, knitting together the wound on my neck.

Ava ran her fingers through my hair, catching in the tangle on the back. She gasped. “What did that bitch do— oh no! She ruined your beautiful hair!”

I reached back to feel, and I found a good chunk of my hair was missing, the ends all crusted and burnt. I had a bald spot the size of my palm, and some of the scalp had been singed. I winced as I pulled my hand away. “She knocked me out with a torch.”

“You can worry about his hair later,” Marcus demanded. “Right now, we need to get out of here.”

“I’m not going anywhere until this is fixed! My poor baby, what did she do to you?” Ava cooed. She put her hand to the burn. I felt the injury heal, and my hair grow back to its usual length.

“There. That’s better,” Ava said proudly, stroking my head like I was her pet. “Now we can go.”

“This place is warded down tight,” Kallie pointed out. “We have to get out of the manor so we can portal out.”

I hoisted Ava onto Oberi’s back. She’d sliced open the saddle straps to launch herself at Danielle, so I used my illusion abilities to mend them before I refastened them around her legs. We hurried out of the room, into a large foyer.

The commotion from earlier had died down, but Mad Dog was still yelling obscenities. I heard the tearing of fabric, then Eddie’s voice as he said, “Oh, put a sock in it!”

Mad Dog’s insults turned to muffled screams as Eddie shoved something in his mouth.

“You won’t get away with this!” Deuce sneered from somewhere on the floor.

Heavy footsteps approached, but my magic recognized them as friends. It was the twins Asa and Ares. Gavyn cleared his throat from nearby. The Elvish Associates had shown up and somehow kicked the demigods’ asses, though I didn’t know how they managed.

“What happened here?” I asked.

“The Elvish Associates have a few cameras scattered around the palace,” Marcus said. “The picture isn’t great due to all the magic, but once they realized you were missing, they pulled up the footage. They got Danielle on camera, and we recognized her.”

“You bet your ass I recognized her,” Ava seethed.

“Uh, yeah. Ava lost her fucking shit when she realized it was Danielle who took you,” Marcus added.

“Told you she was nuts,” Ava grumbled.

“Sorry, pidge,” I said. Ava huffed.

“The Warden wouldn’t take you to an imprisonment camp, as he wants to watch you personally,” Asa added. “Abigail knows where the Warden keeps his prisoners, as she was once imprisoned here before, so we portaled here to get you out.”

“Thanks for the rundown,” I said flatly. “But I meant what happened here, to all these demigods.”

“Oh, it’s simple really,” Eddie said. “While on the way to rescue you, I was overcome by a strong magic, an urge to protect, really, and it awakened my Elvish powers! By the goddesses, I’m a Grand Master! I can phase solid objects in and out of existence, almost like reversing illusions. I can phase through walls and the like as if they’re nothing. I siphoned Deuce’s super strength and punched him into the floor. It was quite thrilling, really— unlocked something deep inside of me. I phased the concrete foundation around him, and now, he’s stuck. Just his head is poking out!”

Just as he said it, my foot landed on something soft, and Deuce let out a scream. I’d literally just stepped on his face.

And I did it again, too. And a third time just for laughs.

“Elyx is stationed outside the manor with a sniper rifle,” Ava explained quickly. “He shot Esther in the wing to slow her down, then Asa and Ares snuck up behind Mad Dog to siphon his strength. They used knives to pin him to the wall. Gavyn took on Naya.”

“I siphoned her wings and her super strength,” Gavyn said. “I beat the crap out of her before locking her and Esther up in a safe down the hall, but it won’t hold them for long.”

“We need to kill them while we have the chance,” I said.

Ava gave a hollow laugh. “Oh, believe me. I’m burning this place to the ground the second we’re out of here.”

“Come on. Max is waiting for us outside!” Gavyn called.

I didn’t want to risk staying another second and facing the Warden. Because if what Danielle said was true about him, we weren’t ready. Not even close.

But you know what? Deuce was stuck in the floor, and he wasn’t going anywhere. He couldn’t fight back, and I had a few minutes to take care of this fucker. I swore not long ago that the next time I encountered Deuce, he was going straight to hell. Deuce was as good as dead.

I took a step forward to do just that, but I found that the movement made my head spin. Suddenly, my body felt feverish when it hadn’t been before. An intense wave of dizziness overcame me, and I was briefly aware that I’d staggered forward. Eddie caught me, holding me upright.

“Charlie?” Ava asked in worry. “Are you okay?”

I tried to say something, but instead, something caught in my throat. I heaved, and without me realizing what was going on, I was vomiting a thick substance that poured from my mouth and onto the floor.

“He’s been poisoned! Hurry!” someone barked, but I couldn’t be sure who it was. I’d lost all my bearings.

Several heavy hands landed on me, and they lifted to raise me onto Oberi’s back, situating me in front of Ava. A horrible sickness swelled in my gut.

“Danielle made me drink the wine…” I slurred. I gagged again, and tasted copper.

An enraged cry tore from Ava’s lungs. “These bitches are going to learn to never touch my man!”

Oberi took off running toward the doors, and our friends quickly followed. Fire crackled, and the waves of heat nearly seared my skin. Ava had lit the mansion aflame. The warmth quickly shifted to an icy chill as Ava blasted another spell at the walls, ordering her blue Fire to consume it all. The dying screams of the trapped demigods echoed through the air.

I received a brief moment of satisfaction before everything disappeared.