Beth smiled, her eyes tearing up. “Emma healed me. That’s how we got out of this. It was all Emma.”
Vaughn held his arms wide and Beth flew into them. He met Emma’s gaze over his sister’s head. “Thank you.”
Emma nodded but she lifted a finger and slid into telepathy. We’ve got to get out of here. I can feel Loghry’s presence and I have a strong sense he was able to watch everything that just happened. In fact, I’m sure of it. I’ll access the future again.
Vaughn nodded. I think he can only disrupt the snapshots for one of us at a time, so let me know if he blocks you, and I’ll take over.
She nodded. We’ll do this by flowing back and forth.
He held her gaze for a moment, carefully shifting Beth to one side, then opening his free arm to her. When she drew close, he surrounded her with his arm then leaned down to kiss her. “I know. We’re a team.”
Emma’s heart fluttered because of what she saw in his eyes. He was with her now, really with her, nothing held back. She drew a deep breath. “We’re a team. Now let’s get your sister and these other girls out of here.”
“I love you, Em.”
“I love you, too.”
~ ~ ~
Vaughn focused tightly on Emma and held his mind open. Though he tried to access the snapshot images, again, he couldn’t see a damn thing, which meant Loghry was still blocking him. But he knew Emma was working to engage the future again as well.
After a moment, Emma dipped her chin. I’ve seen what we do next. We need to get the girls and head back through the labyrinth the way we came. I’ve seen Brannick in place, waiting.
She turned as she spoke, then gestured for Beth to follow. He moved in behind his sister as all three of them levitated swiftly to the opposite cage.
I’ll contact Brannick. He thought about using his phone but he didn’t want Loghry to know what he was up to. He tapped on Brannick’s telepathy.
When Brannick responded, Vaughn told him they were coming out with five girls who would need to be carried to safety.
My team’s ready.
Knew I could count on you. Vaughn smiled as he broke off the communication. He watched Emma pull the rod from the cell door’s locking mechanism, a simple arrangement located far enough on the outside that the girls would never be able to reach it. With the rod gone, Emma pulled the door wide.
She waved to the girls. “Come with us. We’re getting you out of here.” The girls rose uneasily to their feet.
Emma went into the cell and spoke quietly to them, then turned back to Vaughn, frowning. Her voice once more pierced his mind. The images are blocked again. Your turn.
I’ll take it from here.
Vaughn opened the shared witch power and the future images slid straight into his head. He knew the route he needed to take to get the girls out and let Emma know what was going on. He felt compelled to add, But Loghry’s here, in the labyrinth just as you said. I can feel him now.
With her arm supporting one of the girls, Emma caught his gaze and nodded to him. Me, too. So, let’s go.
He watched her turn to the teens. She held a finger to her lips, making sure each of them
understood they should be very quiet.
A solemn hush came over the girls, and those that had been weeping, drew shuddering breaths and wiped their faces.
Vaughn told Beth to track right behind him. He needed to know she was safe.
He glanced at Emma. We need to move fast, Em. Tell the girls.
“We’ll be running. Follow Vaughn. I’ll be behind you all. Now, go.”
Maybe it was the girls’ basic survival instinct, but they lined up behind Vaughn, and the moment he levitated, they charged after him. They didn’t even balk at the sight of Dagen’s corpse near the exit point.
He could hear Emma encouraging them from behind. One last glance over his shoulder told him Beth was up to the challenge as well. She was levitating with confidence.