sagged against Dominic. He scooped her up like a sleeping child, concern creasing his face. “See to her,” he said to Luc, nodding in my direction. An instant later, they had gone Between.
“What the hell was that?” Luc asked.
Pascal’s brow furrowed. “As with all seers, Marguerite’s talent is unpredictable. Likely the surge triggered her ability, permitting her to voice a new prophecy.”
“Was she talking about me?” I asked. I have other talents , she’d said to me. No kidding. How much of my future did she see?
“It would appear that way. We’ll study it,” he said.
“I don’t like all this magic floatin’ around,” Luc said, taking my hand. “Let’s get you home.”
I was about to answer when something struck the side of the building. The torches along the walls guttered.
Luc swore. Pascal and Orla exchanged a look of dread. As usual, I was the one playing catch-up. “What’s going on?” I asked.
Orla’s lip curled as something jolted the wall again. “Darklings. We told you, they’re attracted to raw magic. From the sound of it, no more than a pair.”
That was two more than I was comfortable with. “They’re attacking the building?”
“The surge must have brought them,” Pascal said. “Don’t worry. Orla and I can easily dispatch two Darklings. It’s unlikely they’ll even breach the outer doors. This is not a comfortable place for their kind.”
“Not odds I’m willing to play,” said Luc. “We’ll go Between instead.”
Even though my heart was thudding in my chest as loud the creatures outside, I couldn’t leave yet. Orla was already heading toward the stairs, ready to do battle, but I blocked her path. “You promised to help Constance. That starts now.”
The walls shuddered from another assault. “Priorities,” she said, gesturing to the bow in her hand.
“Constance is my priority.” I crossed my arms.
“Fine. I’ll select a guide and they’ll begin tomorrow. You’ll be kept ...”—she smiled thinly—“... in the loop? That’s what Flats call it, correct?”
The loop was feeling more and more like a noose. “How do I fix the magic? I don’t even know what’s wrong with it.”
“Enough,” said Luc, as several of the torches went out.
“Figurin’ out the next step is their job. I’m taking you home.” With broad, angry slashes, he cut a doorway into the air.
“You ready?”
I nodded, and he pulled me through.
C HAPTER 14
W e came Between down the street from my house. The lights were blazing from the windows, my uncle’s Cadillac parked at the curb, Colin’s truck right behind it. “The gang’s all here,” I muttered, nearly toppling over.
From behind me, Luc grabbed my shoulders, keeping me upright. “Easy, Mouse.”
I peered down the block. No bony talons, no rotting arms or tattered wings pierced the amber glow of the streetlights. “Do you think the Darklings will follow us?”
He concentrated for a moment, searching along the lines for some hint of trouble to come. “Doubt it. My guess is Pascal and Orla took care of them quick. And they’re not after you—they want raw magic. None of that floatin’ around here.”
“I’m safe now?”
“Let’s not get carried away. Seraphim could be a problem. Covenant definitely is. But Darklings shouldn’t be an issue tonight.” He didn’t let go of me, though.
I couldn’t think about the Seraphim or the Covenant right now. There was enough trouble facing me inside the front door. “You should check on your mom.”
His body tensed against mine, and he rested his chin on the top of my head. “She meant us, you know. In the prophecy.”
“The Four-In-One.” Luc had one elemental power; I had three because of my link to Verity. But thanks to our binding, we shared all four talents.
“Bound forever,” he added. “You heard it, too.”
I knew what he was going to say—Marguerite’s vision was proof we were supposed to be together. But I couldn’t talk
“What the hell was that?” Luc asked.
Pascal’s brow furrowed. “As with all seers, Marguerite’s talent is unpredictable. Likely the surge triggered her ability, permitting her to voice a new prophecy.”
“Was she talking about me?” I asked. I have other talents , she’d said to me. No kidding. How much of my future did she see?
“It would appear that way. We’ll study it,” he said.
“I don’t like all this magic floatin’ around,” Luc said, taking my hand. “Let’s get you home.”
I was about to answer when something struck the side of the building. The torches along the walls guttered.
Luc swore. Pascal and Orla exchanged a look of dread. As usual, I was the one playing catch-up. “What’s going on?” I asked.
Orla’s lip curled as something jolted the wall again. “Darklings. We told you, they’re attracted to raw magic. From the sound of it, no more than a pair.”
That was two more than I was comfortable with. “They’re attacking the building?”
“The surge must have brought them,” Pascal said. “Don’t worry. Orla and I can easily dispatch two Darklings. It’s unlikely they’ll even breach the outer doors. This is not a comfortable place for their kind.”
“Not odds I’m willing to play,” said Luc. “We’ll go Between instead.”
Even though my heart was thudding in my chest as loud the creatures outside, I couldn’t leave yet. Orla was already heading toward the stairs, ready to do battle, but I blocked her path. “You promised to help Constance. That starts now.”
The walls shuddered from another assault. “Priorities,” she said, gesturing to the bow in her hand.
“Constance is my priority.” I crossed my arms.
“Fine. I’ll select a guide and they’ll begin tomorrow. You’ll be kept ...”—she smiled thinly—“... in the loop? That’s what Flats call it, correct?”
The loop was feeling more and more like a noose. “How do I fix the magic? I don’t even know what’s wrong with it.”
“Enough,” said Luc, as several of the torches went out.
“Figurin’ out the next step is their job. I’m taking you home.” With broad, angry slashes, he cut a doorway into the air.
“You ready?”
I nodded, and he pulled me through.
C HAPTER 14
W e came Between down the street from my house. The lights were blazing from the windows, my uncle’s Cadillac parked at the curb, Colin’s truck right behind it. “The gang’s all here,” I muttered, nearly toppling over.
From behind me, Luc grabbed my shoulders, keeping me upright. “Easy, Mouse.”
I peered down the block. No bony talons, no rotting arms or tattered wings pierced the amber glow of the streetlights. “Do you think the Darklings will follow us?”
He concentrated for a moment, searching along the lines for some hint of trouble to come. “Doubt it. My guess is Pascal and Orla took care of them quick. And they’re not after you—they want raw magic. None of that floatin’ around here.”
“I’m safe now?”
“Let’s not get carried away. Seraphim could be a problem. Covenant definitely is. But Darklings shouldn’t be an issue tonight.” He didn’t let go of me, though.
I couldn’t think about the Seraphim or the Covenant right now. There was enough trouble facing me inside the front door. “You should check on your mom.”
His body tensed against mine, and he rested his chin on the top of my head. “She meant us, you know. In the prophecy.”
“The Four-In-One.” Luc had one elemental power; I had three because of my link to Verity. But thanks to our binding, we shared all four talents.
“Bound forever,” he added. “You heard it, too.”
I knew what he was going to say—Marguerite’s vision was proof we were supposed to be together. But I couldn’t talk
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