Anomaly (Causal Enchantment #4)(42)

“I referred to those earlier,” Mage said. “Highly effective.”

“Then let the army chase after the fledglings. Why are we fighting?” Mortimer grumbled.

“Because the fledglings are evolving too fast, and they’ll figure out the threat quickly. You can’t shoot a target that you can’t see,” Mage answered.

“Fine. Whatever. Let’s go find Amelie. And don’t any of you dare tell me that I can’t handle it!” Julian exploded, his voice cracking with heavy emotion as he clutched the bracelet.

Caden’s questioning eyes shifted to me. “He can handle it,” I mouthed in confirmation.

“Okay.” Caden nodded.

“I’m going with you,” I said, squaring my shoulders, ready to put up a fight. I knew Caden. He’d want me to stay put, to stay safe. He was so used to me as a fragile human, he had yet to accept me as something else. But after what I’d seen out on the streets, no one was going to make me stand here and watch Caden’s back as he walked into that. I didn’t care what anyone, including him, had to say.

I’d compel them all if I had to.

I don’t know if it was the determination on my face or that Caden felt the same way as I did—that he was tired of saying goodbye—but he acquiesced. I smiled.

Julian was already halfway to the door. “Let’s go!”

It wasn’t Caden who deterred us. Mage’s hand flew out with the speed of a viper, seizing his forearm. “No one’s going anywhere.” Her calm tone was back but it still sent shivers down my spine.

What were they planning?

“Sofie, this is ridiculous!” Caden yelled. “I told Lilly we’d come back because Evangeline begged me to, but then I’d go back out. We only have a few hours left!”

“Begged? I didn’t beg for you to come back,” I said slowly. All eyes shifted from me to Lilly, finally resting on Sofie.

And then I saw it.

The pink glow surrounded her body, like a growing bubble. The long, tentacle-like arms reached out, eight of them, drifting toward us. Her focus remained on the skyline.

“Sofie?” My eyes widened as pink bubbles cocooned first Lilly, and then Mortimer, and then the rest of us. A quick glance around showed me that everyone’s focus was still on the redhead by the window. I was the only one to see it. No … Mage’s eyes drifted over the edge of her own shell. She could see it too.

“What is that?” Bishop hissed.

Could Bishop see it too?

I checked his gaze. No, he was focused on something in the night sky, his arm outstretched and his finger pointing. A glowing bulb approaching from the distance. Closer … and closer … and …

Snowflakes tickled my nose as the mine’s entrance came into focus. It took me a moment to feel Caden’s arms still wound tightly around my body. It took me another moment to realize that we weren’t in Manhattan anymore. That Sofie had used her magic to transport us back here, as she once did when sending me into the Siberian Mountains to protect me from Caden. Then, a blinding flash of light in the sky pulled my attention to the south for a brief second before I was forced to duck against the brilliance. With another glance, I saw the orange glow overtake the skyline. Even in the black of night, I could make out the large cloud rising into the atmosphere.

“What was that?” I whispered. If anyone had an answer, it was easily drowned out by a deafening sound. The ground rumbled. It raised the hair along my neck.

“Was that …?” The pieces began to click. “Did someone just blow up New York City?” Who? The Sentinel? The witches? Viggo? Who was crazy enough?

“No, not someone.” Caden stared at Sofie. “You did it anyway.” I’d never heard his voice so hollow before.

“No! That wasn’t Sofie,” I quickly jumped in. “She didn’t do it. She was waiting until sunrise.”

I watched the stunning vampiress’s face, waiting for her to defend herself, to deny the accusation. But she stood stock-still, a hard look planted on her jaw, her eyes unreadable.

“Tell them Sofie!” I finally yelled.

Mint-green eyes settled on me with a look that explained everything.

The whispers, the urgency, the distracted demeanor. Sofie had not waited.

“Did you know? When you promised me, did you know?” My words were barely above a whisper but she flinched all the same.

Yes. She had known all along. Right to my face, staring me in the eye, Sofie lied to me.

Amelie.

My gasp came only a second before Julian lunged at Sofie, his hands gripping her neck. “You killed her!” he screamed.

She didn’t even attempt a fight as a loud crack filled the otherwise serene nightscape.

I stared, mouth agape, as Sofie’s body dropped to the snowy ground. She landed on her back as if asleep. One … two … three … Her eyes flickered open but she did not move. She simply gazed up at the night sky.

Mage, on the other hand, was not as lenient, charging for Julian.

“Stop,” Sofie’s deadpan voice called out just before Mage’s fingers wrapped around Julian’s neck. Sitting up robotically, Sofie muttered quietly, “I deserved that.” There was no mistaking the sorrow in her voice.

Caden stood silently beside me, arms at his side. I’m not sure when I lost the comfort of his embrace. He faced southeast, to where he last saw his sister alive. Grief tightened its suffocating grip around my chest.