Devilish Game (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 4)

I followed, aching all over as my heart raced. The alarm still sounded, a shriek that was surely alerting the people within to our presence.

“Will our transport charm get us out of here?” I demanded, my mind racing with plans as I staggered upright.

Mac stood. “Yes, but do we wa

nt them to see us out—”

Five robed figures shot out of the temple, breaking through the misty barrier like it didn’t even exit. Their magic preceded them, sounding like war, the clash of swords and cries of pain. It smelled like it, too—blood and smoke and dirt. Their robes were crimson red, with hoods obscuring their faces.

We couldn’t run now. We needed to get some information at least.

My gaze darted to Seraphia, the smallest and quickest of us. “See if the barrier is open where they came out. They ran through like it was nothing so maybe it has dropped. Mac and I will provide cover.”

She nodded, and it was too late to go back.

One of the robed figures raised a hand and hurled a blast of black smoke at us. It thundered like horses’ hooves, and through the smoke I spotted an equine nose and galloping legs.

Mac and I dived to the right. As I flew, I took a glancing hit to my legs as the magic blasted by me. Pain radiated outward.

Seraphia darted into the shadows along our left, clearly intending to sneak around the back of the robed figures who sprinted toward Mac and me.

A bolt of lightning blasted from the sky, hitting the ground between us and our attackers. They slowed, rearing backward. Eve’s attack bought us a few precious seconds, allowing Mac and I to rise.

I plunged my hand into the sack of potions at my side and withdrew a stunner, hurling it at the nearest figure. It slammed into his chest, sending him whirling backward, unconscious.

One of his buddies had already powered up another smoke blast, and he hurled it at us. This one was brilliant green and shrieked like a banshee. Mac lunged left, hurling a dagger as she flew through the air. It pierced one of the bastards right in the throat, and he slammed back to the ground.

I darted right, barely avoiding the banshee blast, then dug for another potion bomb. If we could just take these guys out and Seraphia could find the entrance, maybe we’d have a few minutes to sneak in and do some recon before the others realized we’d taken out their partners.

The three remaining red cloaks charged us, their robes flapping ominously on the wind. No matter how fast they ran, their hoods stayed over their faces. They carried ancient swords that looked like something from a museum.

Had they stolen them?

They didn’t seem to possess the same long-range magic as the two we’d already taken out.

My hand closed around a third potion bomb and I dug it free, hurling it at the closest one. He was nearly upon me, so close that I could see the shadow of a face beneath his robe. The glass orb smashed against his chest and he went rigid, toppling over.

Behind them, Seraphia was nearly to the part of the temple they’d exited. I prayed she could find the weak spot in the barrier.

Next to me, Mac clashed with one of the robed figures. She punched him in the face so hard his head snapped back, then leveled a kick to his gut that sent him flying.

The fifth was nearly to me, now. No time for a potion bomb. I took a page out of Mac’s book and leveled a hard kick at his midsection, feeling a satisfying thud as his sword arm swiped out toward me.

I ducked the blade, taking a slice to the arm that burned like hell. He was off balance, though and tumbled backward.

At that moment, Seraphia reached the barrier and touched it, searching for the opening. The alarm shrieked again, and the barrier blasted her backward, sending her flying ten feet through the air before she slammed to the ground.

“Crap. There is no weak spot,” Mac cried. Blood dripped from her cheek, and she clutched at a wound in her side that I hadn’t seen her receive.

Damn it, we were in trouble.

The robed figures must be immune to the barrier, or perhaps you could only exit but not enter. Whatever the case was, we couldn’t get inside.

“I think more are coming,” Eve shouted. “I can cover you with one more bolt, but I’m running low on power.”

I looked at Mac, my mind whirring. Three of our attackers were unconscious from potion bombs, but the two wounded ones were rising unsteadily to their feet.

At the temple, a dozen more figures charged out into square. Seraphia still hadn't managed to sit up, either.