Anomaly (Causal Enchantment #4)(40)

I knew giving Mortimer a task right now was the smart thing to do. It was only a matter of time before he bolted back for the mines. From there, who knew? I might not see him or Veronique again for decades.

Within seconds, Mortimer had the security guard compelled and oblivious to our existence. I waited until he, Julian, and Evangeline stepped into the elevator, waving them off. “We’ll grab the next one.” In truth, I needed the three of them away from me so I could talk freely.

The second the doors shut, Mage spoke.

“We cannot sacrifice everything for one vampire.”

“Two,” Lilly corrected, her round blue eyes tinged with sadness.

Mage dipped her head slightly. “We cannot sacrifice everything for two vampires. And we cannot wait any longer or it will be too late to change the course of fate.”

I closed my eyes, listening to the doors of the next elevators slide open, pause, and slide closed, without us on board.

What Mage was suggesting was sacrificing two of our own for a gamble. It could already be too late to change the course of fate. Worse, I knew that it was the right thing to do. But how could I make that decision now? “I just promised Evangeline …,” I muttered.

“You made a promise that is impossible to keep,” she said. “Would you really risk this entire world for two of our kind? If I were out there instead of Amelie, I would not want you sacrificing everything just for me. I can only imagine that Amelie would feel the same.”

For the sake of my conscience, I had to believe that.

“We clear the surface and then can go back in and get rid of any that have survived in the tunnels. It’s a simple plan but it’s our best hope,” Mage pushed.

After a long pause, I said, “Losing Amelie and Kait is one thing but we cannot lose all of them.”

Mage wasted no time. “Lilly, can you reach Bishop?”

Lilly’s black bob swayed with her nod.

“Tell him that Evangeline is here and she needs to see the three of them immediately. She’s frantic. They’ll come.”

Blue eyes shifted to me and caught my nod. Lilly pulled out her phone and dialed the number.

The knots in my stomach tightened further. “She’ll never forgive me.”

“This must be done, and now, Sofie,” Mage pushed softly. “We both saw what was there.” Her voice dropped an octave, out of Lilly’s range. “And we both know what happened to Galen, and Amelie. And I presume Kait.”

Viggo. That’s what happened.

“Doing this will rid us of that problem too.”

That would certainly be a silver lining. Viggo, dead, without putting up a fight? But …

“Leaders can’t please everyone all the time,” Mage continued. “They make the hard choices because they’re the right ones. You know it’s the right one, don’t you?”

“Yes.” The one word felt like sandpaper against the inside of my throat. “How do you propose we get everyone to vacate the city?” I knew Mortimer wouldn’t be a problem. It was the others.

A grim smile responded. “By doing what you do best.”

Chapter Thirteen – Evangeline

“Caden is on his way,” Lilly told Sofie and Mage.

My heart skipped a beat and a smile curled my lips. But then I remembered, unless they miraculously found Amelie in a city of eight million people, Caden’s springy-haired sister probably wouldn’t be with them.

My smile dissolved.

“All of them? How far?” Sofie asked, staring out of the floor-to-ceiling window, arms folded across her chest. Like a group of con artists, we’d slipped through security, up the elevator, and into the penthouse. It was already vacant, the owners away on Christmas vacation according to the friendly, compelled man at the front desk.

“No more than five minutes, he promised. All three.”

“And Isaac?”

“It’s ready.”

Sofie’s lips pressed together. “Okay.” Pale green eyes darted to the white sectional where Julian and I sat before shifting back to the skyline. The glass reflected her grim reflection perfectly.

I frowned. What was going on? What was ready? What were they up to? I had the distinct impression that something had been set in motion since the three vampiresses swooped through the penthouse door, sharing hushed whispers. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what, though, and how it related to Isaac. He had one job on that submarine and until we were all out of the city, he couldn’t be delivering on it.

Beside me, Mortimer scanned the various news broadcasts, a sullen scowl marring his handsome face. It seemed the world was watching one thing and one thing only, and it was the state of emergency in one of the greatest cities in the world.

He cleared his throat, still focused on the screen. “How was Veronique when you left?”

“Fine.”

His head snapped toward me. “Just fine? How much blood was left when you abandoned her?” Dark, accusing eyes bore into me, a sure sign that Mortimer was ready to lose his temper. “What’s going to happen when they run out of blood? Who’s going to get more for her when she needs it?” He snorted. “Max? With his opposable thumbs?”

“I stole a blood truck and we restocked so there’s more than enough for days. And Max will take good care of them.” I hadn’t heard from my werebeast since just before the accident. He was likely sulking over my abrupt dismissal. I needed to check in with him soon, although then I’d have to explain how I’d lied and then risk him running here.