On a Razor's Edge (Darkness #3)(34)

“What are their plans?” Stefan asked, focusing on a map in the center of the table.

“They’re putting all their efforts into what appears to be Sasha’s location. They plan to create one hell of a distraction, killing anyone they can, while a small group spirits Sasha out the back. We should receive a small scale attack here, keeping us busy, and them under the impression they are the only ones with a spy. Andris and Trek will be heading the distraction, though. They do not think they will fail.”

“They never think they’ll fail. It’s their greatest downfall.” Stefan considered a minute, the room silent as he weighed the options. “Send a team in right now. We may be too late, but we need to at least warn the Shape Changers. We’ll leave a group here to defend the mansion, but we need to gear up and meet Trek head on.”

“Another team, you mean?” Andrew asked, his face screwed up in puzzlement.

“What do you mean another team?” Stefan shot back as Dominicous straightened.

Andrew shook his head in jerky movements. “Maybe I’m wrong, but Adnan, a student of mine, mentioned he wouldn’t be around because he was personally asked to help warn Sasha of a spy. He said it was a test of his skills so that he might make the Watch Command. He went with Darla and someone else. I thought him a little young for the assignment, but he has great rapport with Sasha, so I didn’t question your judgment—else I would have asked you about it.”

“Darla?” Stefan asked in controlled fury. “When did they leave?” And how the hell had Darla known Sasha's location when even he had not been told?

“About two weeks ago, if I’m not mistaken.”

“I haven’t seen Darla around,” another council member added thoughtfully.

Fear froze Stefan’s insides. “We haven’t any time to lose. Get Esmine and the children to a safe location. Rally everyone else.”

*****

The ground shook with an explosion, the telltale sign I’d be caught up in yet another battle. What had happened to my quiet life of boredom and hoping for some action? I missed those days.

“C’mon, Sasha, come over here,” Adnan said, his sword pointing at Jonas’s face.

“You two are under the impression you can take me, is that it? Did anyone happen to mention she shoots black?” Jonas asked in his scary voice.

“I wasn’t planning to deal with you myself.” Darla laughed.

“You were planning to let a child handle me, then?” Jonas stepped forward slowly, experienced and lethal. Adnan was good for his age, but Jonas had many years on him with the added bonus of unparalleled viciousness.

“Not at all. I brought the child to appear legit. He was too stupid to realize what was going on, unlike my other lackey. She had to be put down.”

She must have been talking about Mira! Sasha felt a rush of fury at the cruel injustice.

Darla looked over her shoulder at six men at arms stepping through the foliage.

“Shit,” Jonas swore, taking another step, this time in front of me.

“You see, I come prepared,” Darla continued. “Thanks for getting her this far, though. Underground was a great idea, but short lived.”

Adnan blinked, his sword lowering, his attention bouncing back and forth between Darla, the new additions—which apparently didn’t belong to Stefan’s clan—and Jonas. I was doing the same thing. Darla had always been a bitch, but never a double-crossing bitch. Jonas, on the other hand, had never struck me as trustworthy.

As if hearing my thoughts, and desperate to disband them, Jonas shouted, “Sasha, run!” He launched his body forward, bypassing Adnan and aiming directly for the first man through the trees.

“Grab her!” Darla shouted, propelling toward me.

Adnan, finally catching on, stepped in front of her, his blade whirling.

That’s all I saw. Afraid to do magic lest I accidentally blow up the good guys, I ran. No destination in mind, just away. I would not be captured again. Trek and Andris knew what I was now. I was sure of it. If they were coming for me again, they didn’t plan to let me go once they got me.

A blind panicked run later I heard the first screech of an animal in pain. That sorrowful dog’s wail, so much worse, somehow, than a human screaming or crying. The wail cut off abruptly.

My every instinct urged me to find a place to hide and wait all this out. But if I did that, I would forever be a coward. No matter if I made up for it later by somehow winning the whole war single-handedly, I would always remember that first battle where I skulked away and let other people die on my behalf.

The caped moron and his minions had come to this place because of me. Andris fought these people to acquire me as a prize. People were dying and screaming on my behalf.

To save me. In what world could I live with that knowledge, without helping them fight back?

No world I wanted to live in, that was for sure.

“Damn it!” I sprinted toward my cabin, darted through the door and pawed through my possessions. One thing was for certain, I had to have my trusty rape whistle. It had always been good luck in these sorts of things, and by God, it would see me through. Obviously I grabbed my dagger, too. I wasn’t a complete idiot.

With that, I sprinted back out, my chest throbbing with the magic in the air, proof the Dulcha were in the area. I might as well just call the damn things. They’d seek me out anyway.