A Shield of Glass (A Shade of Vampire #49)(63)

“Done.” He smirked. “I know exactly where that lazy bastard is right now—I’ll swipe the key from him.”

He picked the keys to my room from the leather belt that was now far too big for him to wear, and moved toward the doors, then glanced at me over his shoulder.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Wait, Patrik. You obviously can’t walk out like this. You know that, right?”

“I can still turn into a snake.” He grinned.

“Yeah, but your snake tail was huge. Won’t you draw attention as a full snake when everyone else is stuck in between?”

“Ah… There’s something you don’t know about me. I’m a bit of an anomaly among my Druid folk. I can take the form of any serpent I want. Most Druids discover their snake form during the First Circle ceremony, and stick with it for the rest of their lives. Mine never came as a single form, though. My serpent form changes, from big to small, from harmless to deadly poisonous. So don’t worry about me—I can morph into something small that these oafs won’t even notice.”

I smiled, fascinated. Patrik truly was an interesting character, and combined with his military training and experience, it was no wonder Azazel had taken a liking to him. Oh, the look on that snake’s face when he realized he’d lost one of his best lieutenants!

“Can you find out where the little Daughter is being kept?” I asked, thinking we might be able to shoot two birds with one stone, as my time in Luceria was running out.

“Absolutely.” He smiled confidently. “Stay here, Vita. I’ll be back as quick as I can.”

“Be safe, Patrik.”

He unlocked the doors, then tossed me the keys.

“Keep these for now. Damion has a copy,” he said, then instantly morphed into a small black viper as the bedspread fell to the floor. He slithered out and vanished down the hallway.

I locked the doors and put the bedspread on the chair next to them, for Patrik to have upon his return. My heart was filled with hope and joy, as I’d managed to help restore a powerful Druid’s freedom. I could only imagine his torture over the past few centuries, his inability to help those he loved as he watched his world quiver and burn under Azazel.

All I had to do now was wait for Bijarki and Patrik to come through. I had to get the little Daughter out of here. I had to do everything I could to destroy Azazel from the inside.





Aida





After Draven and Serena left for Marton, and the allies went out to their positions around Azazel’s castle, Field and the others started training and sparring sessions in the grand hall, where the Bajangs had cleared the space and brought in a plethora of combat gear and weapons from the armory.

I went up to one of the towers to summon some visions. I needed to keep track of Kyana and find out more about Jasmine, as I’d promised Draven I would. I sat down beneath the small wooden roof of the tower, taking a few good minutes to settle my breathing and relax.

I slipped into the darkness rather swiftly, focusing on Kyana and Jasmine.

I found myself standing by Kyana’s hiding spot near a bush, beneath the cloaking spell that concealed the White Tribe succubi and Jasmine. The Druid was conferring with several tribe lieutenants on the front terrace, while there was no sign of Kyana. I looked ahead and saw the Lamia in snake form, her head bound in a trap snare as a scout carried her over to Jasmine.

“Oh, crap,” I gasped, and ran after her.

I reached the succubus just as she presented Jasmine with the captured snake, holding the snare as the creature’s tail flailed around, unable to free herself.

“I don’t know how she got in here,” the succubus said. “She probably snuck in with one of us. I found her in the bushes on the south side, snooping around.”

“A Lamia.” Jasmine squinted at the cobra. “Reveal yourself.”

Kyana listened and morphed into her Lamia form, naked, with green and yellow scales covering her breasts and her lower body, as she struggled against the string snare now stretched over her head.

“A spy of Azazel’s, perhaps?” one of the lieutenants asked, drawing her sword.

“Could be,” Jasmine muttered. “I know he collects various creatures in his dungeon prison. She could be under his spell.”

The succubus lieutenant raised her sword to one side while the scout held the snare with one hand, keeping Kyana in place. The Lamia was about to lose her head, and my heart shrank.

“No, wait!” Kyana cried out, and stilled, her arms in the air in a defensive gesture. “I’m not a spy! I’m Kyana, sister of Tamara, leader of the River Pyros Lamias. I’m not under Azazel’s spell. I’ve just escaped from his dungeons!”

Jasmine motioned for the lieutenant to stop. The succubus grunted and waited, sword resting on one shoulder.

“How did you escape? I thought prisoners all got obsidian suppressors mounted on them from the moment they’re captured.” Jasmine lifted an eyebrow.

“We do! I had inside help. One of Azazel’s Oracles helped me,” Kyana replied with a trembling voice. “She was recently captured as well. She snuck out of her confinement and came down to the dungeons to help me. She knew about me. She knew about my sister. She said there’s an alliance rising against Azazel, and my sister is part of it. She stole the key for my cuffs from a sleeping guard and set me free. I’m just trying to get to my sister and join the Druid’s alliance, that’s all! I was on my way down to River Pyros when I saw your succubi disappear into a limestone wall and followed. I was curious, and I was hoping I’d get them to come with me...”