Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #4)(64)

And now that she was thinking about it, hadn’t the Collective said that today was some sort of special day, before extra security arrived?

“I can’t figure out how this stupid cage works!” Dex shouted over the still blaring alarm. “It’s like they designed it specifically to resist Technopaths. But don’t worry, I came prepared.” He pulled open the left side of his cloak to reveal a half-dozen small metal cubes strapped to his chest. “I wasn’t sure what we’d need, so each of these does something different. And at least two of them should be able to shatter the glass.”

“Wouldn’t Prentice get speared by the raining shards?” Fitz asked.

“Perhaps we could shield him using telekinesis,” Granite said to Mr. Forkle.

“I do not like leaving so much to chance,” Mr. Forkle said.

Sophie shook her head, no longer able to ignore the prickles. “This is wrong. It has to be a trick.”

“Finally, someone who sees wisdom,” a voice said behind them.

The alarm went silent as they turned to face all twelve Councillors, blocking their only escape.





TWENTY-NINE


SURRENDER IS YOUR only option,” Councillor Emery told them, his eyes looking as dark as his skin and hair.

Once upon a time, Sophie had counted the spokesman for the Council among her advocates. But she heard no trace of compassion in his velvet voice.

“We designed this trap most carefully,” he said. “Nothing was missed—including your inflicting ability, Miss Foster.”

Sophie unclenched her fists, but held fast to the frenzy she’d been brewing. “How are you going to stop me?”

“Councillor Bronte will. Should you attempt to inflict, he will be obligated to respond. And we are confident his power will overshadow yours.”

Several Councillors nodded, though a few looked apologetic. Surprisingly, Bronte fell into the latter category.

For months the sharp-featured, pointy-eared Councillor had fought to make Sophie’s life miserable. But something had changed between them, and now she believed Bronte when he traced a hand across his cropped hair and said, “I am bound by my oath. If forced, I must protect the Council, regardless of how distasteful it may be.”

“Distasteful,” Councillor Alina scoffed. “Look around you, Bronte. These children were attempting to steal a prisoner from Exile!”

“A prisoner you should’ve pardoned weeks ago,” Fitz argued.

Councillor Alina sighed as she tucked her wavy, caramel-colored hair behind her ear. “Clearly this is your mother’s influence, Mr. Vacker. She’s hiding here somewhere, isn’t she? Don’t worry. We’ll find her.”

It was no secret that Councillor Alina had tried to stop Alden and Della’s wedding, begging Alden to marry her instead. Alden had dodged a bullet there—though she hadn’t been as bad when she was principal of Foxfire. The power of being a Councillor had gone to her head.

“I feel you trying to invade my mind, Emery,” Mr. Forkle said. “Having any luck?”

“Enjoy your last moments of anonymity,” Councillor Emery told him. “They will soon end rather dramatically.”

“Perhaps.” Mr. Forkle twirled the ring on his finger, and terror boiled through Sophie.

Not yet, he transmitted. All is not lost yet.

He must’ve sent Dex and Fitz the same message, because they both straightened, neither looking particularly reassured.

“We knew you would use Miss Foster to rescue your associate,” Councillor Emery told them, “and we knew we could leak enough information to draw them here today. But I must say, we never imagined you’d be foolish enough to come along.”

“I could say the same for you,” Granite told him. “All twelve Councillors out on a mission—and without their goblins?”

“Our bodyguards exist to make our opponents underestimate us. But you do not look properly intimidated.” Councillor Emery glanced over his shoulder. “Would you mind, Clarette?”

A bronze-skinned Councillor stepped forward, her silky black hair swaying with each swish of her hips. She reminded Sophie of a volcano goddess, and the comparison made Sophie brace for some sort of earthquake. But all Clarette did was part her lips.

The sound that came out wasn’t elvin or human. Sophie wasn’t entirely sure it was earthly. The clicks and chatters and flutters sounded like a dolphin crying as a million dragonflies attacked.

“That’s it?” Dex asked. “That’s . . .”

His voice trailed off as the ceiling rumbled.

Mr. Forkle pulled Sophie to his side while Granite grabbed Dex and Fitz. The five of them barely got out of the way before a dozen massive boulders crashed into the room.

No—not boulders.

Boulders couldn’t uncoil, or stretch eight feet tall, towering over them with hundreds of writhing legs.

“Arthropleura,” Councillor Emery said. “Remarkable, aren’t they?”

Sophie remembered learning about the giant, supposedly extinct arthropods in her human science classes. “I think they’re plant eaters,” she told her friends.

“True,” Councillor Emery agreed. “But that doesn’t mean they’re defenseless.”

He pointed to the long antennae jutting off the creatures’ heads. The ends had forked points, glistening with some sort of clear slime.