Bloodrose (30 page)

When we had all settled around the table, Anika unrolled a large map. I stared at it, my breath catching at the sight of Rowan Estate’s grounds laid starkly before me.

When I looked up, I met Anika’s hard gaze.

“If we’re going to succeed,” she said. “This is what has to happen.”

 

Anika fell silent, the battle strategy still ringing in our ears. Ren’s hands were folded on the table in front of him. If I didn’t know him better, I would have thought he was meditating. Shay paced alongside Anika. The Elemental Cross hung in two sheaths at his back. I could sense their power even from where I sat, but Shay moved casually, as if he barely noticed the swords’ presence.

Bryn was holding Ansel’s hand. Tess had her arm around his shoulders.

I was wondering if I could do what I would need to do. Kill who I would have to kill.

“We are all gonna die.” Mason leaned back in his chair. “That’s for sure.”

I swallowed a growl when Shay met my eyes.

“Shut up, Mason,” I said.

“Just trying to keep things in perspective.” Mason grinned. “It’ll be a good fight, though. I’m okay going out like this.”

“Mason,” Bryn snarled at him. “Like Calla said, shut up.”

“Our chances are slim,” Anika said. “But this is the only way.”

Ren leaned forward. “This plan rides on Nev and Ethan.”

Anika nodded.

“Have you heard anything from them?” he asked.

“No,” she said. “But we don’t have time to wait. We must attack tonight before the Keepers have time to amass forces when they realize we have the cross. Without catching the Keepers off guard, we’ll never be able to pin the Harbinger down.”

“You’re also relying on Logan,” I said. It was the part of the plan that left a bad taste in my mouth. “And he isn’t reliable.”

Mason snarled. “He shouldn’t be part of this.”

“We don’t have a choice,” Anika said. “His blood oath enables him to summon the Harbinger. Without that ritual, the Scion will fail.”

“If Logan hadn’t turned up,” Mason said, “how were you going to get this ritual done?”

“We’d intended to capture a Keeper and force them to do it,” Anika said. “And we can still force Logan to act for us if he has indeed turned traitor.”

“And you really think the five of us will be enough?” I asked, glancing at my companions.

“You retrieved Pyralis,” Anika answered. “And the rest of us will be engaged on the main front while you enter the estate. We’ll shield you from attack.”

“Except from Bosque,” Shay muttered.

“Which raises one last issue,” Anika said.

“There’s another issue besides Shay’s demon uncle?” Mason asked. “Wonderful.”

“Once Bosque has been summoned, he’ll likely call the Fallen to his aid.”

“Those zombie things?” Shay said. “Well, at least they aren’t fast.”

“They aren’t zombies,” Connor said.

Anika nodded. “They may be slow moving, but they are the husks left of people driven insane by torment. And their attack is just as deadly as a physical assault.”

“Their attack?” My skin crawled, remembering their shuffling gait and Ethan’s cry of grief when he’d recognized his own brother among the Fallen.

“Their touch brings instant madness,” Anika said. “You must not let them touch you.”

“Can they be killed?” Ren asked.

“They’ll go down if you cut their heads off,” Connor said. “But if you bite them, you’ll regret it. And we’ll probably have to kill you.”

Ren growled at him. “You’ll have to what?”

“One of the reasons the Harrowing was so costly for us”—Anika’s face paled—“was the arrival of the Fallen. Our friends and family reduced to that horror, and when our Guardian allies tried to fight them—”

“The Guardians attacked the Fallen?” I folded my arms across my chest so I wouldn’t shudder.

“Yes. And their minds were overtaken by their worst nightmares,” Anika said quietly. “They turned on each other, on us. We didn’t understand what was happening until it was too late.”

“So the moral of the story is: wolfies leave the Fallen to us,” Connor said, patting his sword hilt.

“Gladly,” Mason said, shoving away the last bites of his sandwich.

More Searchers arrived in small groups, their mood somber as they gathered in Haldis Tactical. One by one Weavers began to open doors, and I knew this deployment was happening all over the Academy as the Searcher army moved into position outside Rowan Estate. Anika rose from her chair.

“We’ll fight with all we have to buy you time,” she said, and then turned to Shay. “All our hopes are with you.”

He gave her a thin smile. “Thanks.”

As we stood up, Tess came over and took my hand.

“We’ll be working from the Eydis Sanctuary,” she said. “That’s where they want us to bring the wounded.”

A lump rose in my throat and I nodded. “Be safe.”

“Thanks for lending me your brother, Calla,” she said. “The Elixirs are grateful too. He’s been a great help to us.”

“Take care of him,” I said.

“Of course.” She squeezed my hand.

Ansel tried to sneak behind Tess, but I grabbed his arm.

“Don’t say good-bye,” he mumbled, not looking at me. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“I’m not saying good-bye.” I dug my fingers into his arm and he stared at me in surprise. “This is a warning, Ansel. You stay with Tess. Any running off, any stupid heroics and I will hunt you down myself no matter what’s happening on the battlefield. You are still my baby brother and I am still your alpha. I’m not going to let you get hurt out there.”

He nodded, still wide-eyed. I wrapped my arms around him, knowing I’d be too far from him to track his movements during the attack. But I hoped he’d at least listen to me and that some of his instincts to obey his alpha might still be lingering.

I turned, sensing someone behind me.

“He’ll be fine,” Ren said, searching my eyes with his own. “Tess won’t let anything happen to him.”

“I know,” I said, forcing a smile.

“So the plan really pissed you off, huh,” Ren said as we walked toward Adne, who’d begun to weave the door our party would take to Vail.

“Did you expect me to be happy when I found out?”

“I didn’t bet on Shay telling you about it,” Ren said. “He over-shares.”

“I appreciate honesty,” I said. “It’s a winning trait.”

“I honestly will play dirty to win this fight,” he said. “Is that a winning trait?”

“Drop it.”

Shay and Connor were standing near Adne, watching the shimmering portal take shape.

I glanced at Shay. Ren waved at him and Shay made a rude gesture at Ren, but then gave me a sad smile that made my chest tighten. Did he really believe he wouldn’t survive this fight?

The tightness in my chest became so painful I had to close my eyes to push it away. My mind had to be in this fight, no matter what else might be tugging at my heart. I couldn’t afford to think about what this war would ultimately cost me.

Mason came up to us, grinning. “You guys ready to roll?”

“You look awfully happy.” I eyed him warily. “Considering.”

“I miss Nev.” He shrugged. “Sure, it’s a war and all, but at least he’ll be there. I’ll take what I can get.”

Ren slapped him on the back. “I love you, man.”

“Of course you do.” Mason smoothed his hair back. “I’m irresistible.”

Bryn tossed her curls. “I think this fight is going to be fun.”

“I hope you’re right,” I said.

“All right, hellhounds.” Connor was waving at us. “Get your butts through that door.”

“We are not hellhounds,” I growled. “We are wolves.”

“Really?” Connor gave me a crestfallen look. “You didn’t like my new nickname for your pack? I thought it was inspired or maybe awe inspiring. You know, like Hell’s Angels.”

“We’re not a motorcycle gang either, dude,” Ren said, then he shifted into wolf form and bounded through the portal.

“Are his jokes always this bad?” Bryn asked.

“Usually.” I smiled at Connor. “But don’t tell him that. I’d hate to hurt his feelings.”

Connor shook his head. “Alas, I will always be unsung.”

“Yep.” Shay smiled. “I’d say you’re right.”

“Thank God for that.” I flashed a grin at him, shifted, and leapt after Ren.

My paws crunched into snow that reached the middle of my legs. The moon hung high above us, offering considerable light despite the late hour. Adne’s portal opened onto a crest at the edge of the forest. The grounds of Rowan Estate stretched out below us. The garden with its curving paths and sculpted hedges lay cloaked in shadow. Caught in early winter’s grasp, the fountains were dry and the flower beds empty, devoid of the life that made gardens so inviting.

At intervals along the forest ridge and at points closer to the gardens other winking lights appeared. Shadows moved under the night sky. The Searchers were arriving, our forces gathering. As our numbers amassed, the strike teams began to move forward into the garden, making their way toward the manor house. Rowan Estate’s windows were black. The stately home stood silent, giving every indication that it was empty.

I pawed the ground anxiously as we waited. With our separate mission in play, we were among the last of the teams to move out. I lifted my muzzle, testing the air for any signs of danger. Or allies.

Where were the Nightshade and Bane packs?

As much as this was a quasi-surprise attack, the Keepers would be anticipating our arrival. Anika and all the Searchers knew that. Our enemies were waiting for us, but where?

Would my father be running with Emile’s wolves, ready to turn on his adversary when the right moment came? Were they on their way here now?

“It’s time.” Adne closed the portal, sheathed her skeans, and pulled out that wicked steel whip she’d used in the practice match with Shay while we were in Denver.

“You should stay here.” Connor frowned. “I don’t like risking you.”

Adne laughed. “Sorry, Connor. All the Weavers are in this fight. Including me. Anika’s orders, remember?”

He shook his head but trudged down the slope with Adne grinning as she kept pace with him.

Ren, Mason, Bryn, and I formed a protective ring around Shay and the two Searchers. I took point, while Bryn and Mason trotted beside them. Ren stayed at our rear. As we entered the garden, I snarled at the marble incubi and succubi that were arranged like sentinels all around us.

“Don’t worry, Calla,” Shay said. “We’re keeping an eye on them.”

“Yes, we are,” Connor said. “And if they break open those shells, we’ll know that Bosque is already here.”

I sniffed the air, still bristling.

Is that supposed to reassure us somehow?
Mason barked at him, baring his teeth at Connor.

We’d made it a few yards into the estate grounds when the first shouts rose from the teams ahead of us.

“Looks like we’ve got incoming,” Connor said.

Shay drew his swords, squinting into the distance.

I waited to hear the ringing of steel and snarls of wolves, assuming that our allies would encounter Guardian resistance as they closed in on Rowan Estate. But the Searchers’ shouts weren’t battle cries. They were confused yells, filled with fear.

“What’s happening?” Adne and Connor were standing back-to-back as they scanned the gardens around us.

I snarled, wanting to run into whatever conflict was taking place ahead. But our directive was to keep out of the fray.

“Look!” Shay pointed the tip of one sword at the tall hedges that lined the garden’s paths. The hedges were moving. Not moving, growing.

Connor swore, bolting forward as the thick knotted branches swarmed over the path, breaking through the paved walkways and twisting in wild patterns around us. The hedge climbed before our eyes, rising at an impossible speed.

“Connor!” Adne shouted as a new hedge burst up between us, blocking our way to him.

I heard him yell but couldn’t see through the wall of branches that separated us.

Adne was running along the hedge, shouting Connor’s name. A yelp sounded behind me. I wheeled around to see Mason being thrown backward as new branches, fast and hard as whiplashes, slammed into his body. Bryn barked, leaping after him, snapping at the attacking vines. I howled in frustration as Bryn, Mason, Ren, and Shay disappeared from sight.

I turned back around, racing after Adne, who was still running and shouting. She changed direction as a new hedge appeared, blocking her path forward. I threw myself into the air, crashing into her. She struggled as I pinned her down.

I was still snarling when I shifted forms. “Stop it! Adne, stop!”

She was breathing hard, but she pulled her fists back so she was no longer beating at my chest and shoulders. “We have to find him!”

“It’s not just him.” I stood up, pulling her to her feet. “We lost the others too.”

“What?” Her eyes widened as she wheeled around to see the labyrinth that had exploded from the earth to surround us.

“We’re cut off.” I pressed my hands against the hedge and thorns pierced my skin.

A howl broke through the night.

Adne looked at me, her eyebrow raised. “Friends?”

“No,” I said quietly.

Another howl sounded, and another. The wolves’ cries rose one by one, filling the air with their battle song. I turned in a slow circle, listening, tracking their calls.

“We’re surrounded.”

Adne swore under her breath. “They’re separating us. Keeping the teams apart.”

I nodded. “They were waiting for us.”

She strode along the labyrinth walls, turning corners, finding dead ends. “What do you want to bet that the Keepers’ side has a map that solves this maze?”

“That does seem likely.” I looked up at the hedge. It was too high to jump.