Devilish Game (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 4)

you can find out at the city,” I said.

“On it.” The communication severed.

I looked at Stavros. “Did you get that?”

He nodded, turning on the boat’s engine. The engine rumbled almost silently.

I leaned toward Seraphia. “Is he using magic to keep it so quiet?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

I stood at the bow with Mac and Seraphia as we approached the rocky shoreline. Tension tightened my skin as the breeze blew the wind back from my face. In the distance, I could barely make out the sight of the city on the hill. As Seraphia had said, it was mostly rubble. Broken walls and tumbled stones, all so ancient that it was hard to believe.

Stavros beached the boat, and we scrambled off. We had transport charms for when it was time to leave, so we waved our thanks, and Seraphia said a quick goodbye. Silently, he drifted out to sea, then turned around and headed back for Cyprus.

The path up the hill was rocky and dusty. I led the way, spotting several goats as I walked. They stared balefully at me as I passed, chewing on some vegetation that couldn’t possibly taste very good.

From up ahead, I sensed magic in the air. Something powerful and dark that sent a shiver over my spine.

“I do not like whatever is going on up there,” Mac whispered from behind me.

“No kidding.” I was grateful we hadn't transported right into the middle of it.

Clouds drifted over the moon as we neared the city walls, and gratitude welled. Eve hadn't reported that there were any guards, but it’d be good to have the cover of darkness.

We slowed our pace as we approached the wall, which soared twenty feet over our heads. It was an enormous structure, wider at the base than at the top, with an incline about forty-five degrees. Rubble decorated the top, the remnants of the upper part of the wall.

An arched entryway to the city beckoned us. Whatever wooden gate had once been there was gone, and the tunnel into the city stretched ahead of us.

“Reminds me of the entrance to Guild City,” I whispered.

“Only creepier,” Mac said.

I nodded, walking silently through the gate. The tunnel within was pitch black, but I didn’t dare use a light. Instead, I walked slowly, my hands outstretched as my eyes gradually adjusted.

At one point, I stumbled. Heart in my throat, I reached out for the wall, bracing myself.

Power slammed into me, my vision going red. Screams echoed in my head, and pain flashed through me. My stomach pitched.

It was that same terrible vision I’d had earlier back in the alley and, again, when Coraline’s abductor had touched me.

“Come to me.” The voice echoed deep and terrible in my mind. I felt an aching pull dragging me toward it.

Almost immediately, the red turned to white. Calm descended, along with fear. The voice changed, soft and low, whispering, “Resist.”

Hands gripped my shoulders and pulled me back.

“Carrow, are you okay?” Mac sounded frantic.

“Yes. Yes.” I shook my head. “Just a crazy vision.”

“Your magic seems different,” she said. “More powerful.”

“I don’t what’s happening, but Anat may be trying to contact me.” It sounded crazy.

“Anything is possible,” Mac said. “Can you keep going?”

“Of course.” I straightened my spine and looked ahead. I could only spot the vaguest shadows and the exit on the other side. From the look of it, we were about halfway through. Magic sparked, vibrant and bright. Torches appeared alongside the tunnel walls, flames sending a golden glow through the space.