I darted backward, and magic flashed around her hands. The chain snapped, and the light fixture came crashing down. It slammed onto the man, crushing him into the ground. He lay still.
Cordelia jumped down and dusted off her hands. You’re welcome.
“You’re getting two kebabs for that. How are the prisoners?”
Most free, our friends are working to release the rest.
“And Grey?”
Fighting like a demon to find you.
“You didn’t tell him where I am?”
He won’t stop to listen. He’s gone crazy with worry.
The idea pulled at my heart, but I shoved the thought away. “I need to get to the statue of Anat. Go warn people that these bastards can’t be killed. Maybe we need to burn them to dust.”
She nodded, then darted off.
I followed, sprinting through the hall as I touched my comms charm and warned Eve about the deathless state of our enemy.
Finally, I reached the huge room with the statue of Anat. It pulled at me, stronger than ever. The sound of battle echoed closer, and I could catch glimpses of fighting through doorways leading off the main temple room. It hadn’t arrived here yet, but it would be here soon.
I sprinted across the empty space, drawn to the huge statue. As I neared it, I called upon my magic, praying I could read what I needed from the cold stone.
I skidded to a halt in front of it and slammed a hand onto the base, looking up at the towering figure of Anat.
Light flashed, and the ether sucked me in.
19
Grey
Fear iced my skin as I tore the head off one of the red cloaks standing between me and a cell containing a middle-aged woman with brilliant red hair.
Where was Carrow?
The need to find her raged through me, a beast with vicious claws and fangs. But the red cloaks had discovered us freeing the rest of the prisoners, and they’d come to stop us. If we didn't get these people out of here, the red cloaks would kill them.
Carrow would never forgive me for letting that happen.
I flung the headless body away and yanked on the door that trapped the woman. It broke away, and I flung it aside. She raced out, eyes wild and dress ragged.
“Go right,” I said. “There’s an exit.”
“Hell no. I’m going to kill those bastards.” Anger gleamed in her eyes.
Not a single prisoner had run for it so far, all opting to join the fight.
“Go right anyway. Your magic will start working again when you’re out of this hallway.”
“Thank you.” She sprinted away.
I spun, searching for more doors. Down the way, Quinn ripped a door off its hinges, and Mac poured a potion onto a lock to break it.
“We’ve nearly got them all,” she shouted. “Cordelia already released most.”
The little raccoon had vanished recently, which meant that Carrow was in trouble. It was the only reason she’d have left the job of freeing the prisoners.