Mine to Fear (Mine #3)(53)

The building looks the same with its red brick, no windows, and wires coming out the top, but it's set in a forest this time. A lot more places to hide before running across open terrain.

“Let's see what they've got waiting for us,” Cynthia says.

She leads us through the spells, taking us through faster than last time. When we get to the building, it's the same drill as before. All of us line up against the wall, pulling out the red side of our material Katherine made so we blend in more.

Jack waits until we're all in place, then knocks on the door. No answer. He knocks again. Still no one answers. He knocks a third time.

He looks to me, and I shrug. Does this mean they're waiting for us inside? Ready to jump on us the moment we enter? Or are there no guards?

I scoot across the wall so I'm closer to him but still won't be easily seen since the door opens next to me, and I'm leaning against the wall. I lift my hand, just in case he needs immediate reinforcement. But when he opens the door, nothing happens.

He points at Chadwick and himself, and then inside. Chadwick moves forward, but I shake my head. There's no way they're both going in there alone. I hold my hands out, wrists together like they're cuffed, and then point at myself going in. Chadwick has the gall to huff, but Cynthia jumps right in, spelling both of our wrists to look like they are tied together with a spell, but in reality, it's just a burst of light.

Jack leads us in, Chadwick bringing us in from behind. He may be the strongest warlock present, but there's no telling how he'd be mistaken for a Chardonian. He's over a head taller than I am, and compared to the Chardonians, I'm pretty tall. Still, it's nice to know his skills are with us.

It’s even nicer to know that Jack is leading us. There's something so safe and secure about him. The people he cares about, he cares for deeply. What's more, he's quick on his feet. I know with him guiding us, we're in the best possible hands.

We enter the glaringly bright hall. It's empty. Why aren't there any guards here? Are there no people here to rescue? I can't think why else, and my suspicion only increases as we turn the corner and find the same sickening setup as last time. Even though I saw the sight before, a gasp escapes me.

Several of those locked up look our way. One says, “Don't come in.” But it's too late. As soon as Jack’s foot crosses the line into the room, a multitude of spells spring into life. It's a trap.

Reds, blues, blacks, purples all surround us in a dizzying array.

“No one move,” Cynthia says.

Not like I was planning on it. Even an inch in any direction, and I'll hit a spell. Some spells separate us from each other, even.

“Do you know if anyone's here?” Jack calls out toward the woman who first spoke.

“Not now. They'll be coming now that you've sprung their spells, though.”

Chadwick curses.

Cynthia doesn't wait. She's already breaking through the spells between us while Chadwick is working on the ones behind us.

I help Cynthia smash the spells between us and then work towards the people.

“Just leave us,” a woman calls out. “Don't get captured because of us.”

“Speak for yourself,” a man replies. “I want out of here so I can pay the Grand Chancellor back for his treachery.”

That statement alone makes me work faster trying to get to them. That is exactly the sort of person we need on our side.

Behind us, Chadwick yells, “We have to go. Now!”

“We can't,” I yell back, trying not to think about how exhausted I am and how low my magic is running.

“There's too many warlocks coming, and they'll be here before you can break through.”

“But we can't leave them.”

“Just go,” one of them calls out.

“I can't.” I hack away at another spell, a frenzied urgency gripping me.

Jack puts his arms around me, dragging me backward. “We can't save anyone if we get caught ourselves.”

He's right. Oh, so right. But leaving them here like this… “I'll be back for you as soon as I can.”

“Save yourself now, then,” the man calls out. “And hurry back.”

The statement has me turning toward the exit, but not without a pricking in my chest. Jack hurries me toward the exit that Chadwick has already cleared and Cynthia waits at with the others, huddled just inside the door. Everyone is staring out the door. When I peek to see why, my breath leaves in a painful gasp.

Outside, a small army of warlocks waits for us.





Chapter Forty-One





“What do we do now?” I ask.

Theodore gives me a look.

“What? It's not like ignoring them will make them go away.”

“What about the spell you used to escape Stephen before?” Lukas asks Cynthia. “If we could all fly away on a spell, that would work.”

“I'm not strong enough to carry this many people. I barely did it when it was just you and me,” she replies.

“What if we all work together?”

She shakes her head. “I don't think we'll have enough power to get far enough away fast enough.”

“Any other ideas?” Jack asks.