“Go get ’em, tiger.” I winked and laughed silently as he rolled his eyes and walked out.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Montana. Love you.” Clay brushed his lips against mine before teleporting out.
I waited until Rob’s and Vanessa’s voices faded before peeking around the wall. Leo peeked in at the same time, and we smacked our heads together. He stepped into the ruins holding his forehead. “Ouch.”
“I have to go.” I readied the necklace.
“Babe?” He stopped me with his hand on my arm. Those brilliant blue eyes searched mine. “I know I’m not as expressive as Rob or Clay. I’m not real open about my emotions and all that. Just know that I…” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I know, Leo. Me too.”
“Okay, then. Good. I don’t know what you have planned, but I’m sure it puts you right in the middle of it all. Promise me you won’t do anything crazy.”
We both knew I couldn’t make a promise like that. This entire situation was batshit crazy. I had an enchanted crystal that created portals and made me invisible. I lived in a treehouse with a coven of witches hiding out inside a magic bubble of perfection concealed by a veil. On top of all of that, I was about to go public with Sentry and actively recruit members through my webcomic. Any of those would get me thrown into Carcerem.
But the fact I was leading an uprising against the Council…
That just might get me killed.
12
Bryan was waiting in our treehouse when I returned to the grove. “How’d it go?”
I squinted against the bright sunlight shining between the branches and through the window openings into the room, the contrast to the darkness on the other side of the magic bubble sharp and vivid. I didn’t like that the sun never set here. It was like living in Alaska in the summer. “What time is it?”
“I have no idea. Early, I think. Or late, depending on your life choices, as you’d say.” He flashed a lopsided grin before a yawn stole it. “I tried to sleep, but then I, uh… I sort of woke up in the middle of, um…” He colored hard.
“One of the downsides to us being bonded through our wards.” I fell into the chair next to him and leaned my head against his shoulder. “When one of you blows, you all blow.”
“Classy.”
“That’s me. Classy with a K, baby.”
“I’m making coffee in the percolator. Should be ready soon. Did you get in touch with Cressida?”
I sat up straight as the adrenaline raced through my system at the plan I’d concocted. “No, but she gave me the idea, nonetheless. We’re going to use my webcomic to reach the masses.”
The look he gave me, a cross between shock and seriously pissed off, caught me by surprise. He launched out of the chair and backed away as if I’d just admitted to carrying some plague worthy of a global pandemic. “Are you kidding me with this?”
“With what? It’s a solid plan.”
“The Council already knows it’s your comic. You put something in The Elements that ties you to Sentry, and that’s it. You’ll be elemental enemy number one.”
“I’m already elemental enemy number one. Think about it. The Council banned any mention of the prophecy, claiming it’s propaganda. Who’d they decree the one to fulfill said prophecy? Strike one against me.” I held out my arms, sat back, and crossed my ankles. “I’m also a witch, and witchcraft, as you know, has been outlawed. Strike two. Add in the way I took a stand against Graves in front of the Council, and that’s strike three, my friend. I’m a trifecta threat.”
“That doesn’t mean you go and advertise it.” He placed his hands on his hips and lifted his gaze to the ceiling, searching for answers. “Why would you think this is a good idea?”
“Because it is,” I defended and shot forward, my irritation inching higher. “It’s a goddamn brilliant idea.”
“No, Katy. It’s suicide. The Council is going to know you’re Sentry.”
“We’re Sentry,” I clarified.
“Then we are all screwed if you go through with this. You’ve done some crazy things before, but this one…”
“This one is the craziest, I admit.” I slapped my knees to make my point. “That doesn’t make it a bad idea.” I sat, watching him pace back and forth, back and forth. It was like watching a tennis match. “It’s going to work.”
He stopped and looked at me. “How do you know?”
“Because we have no other choice. Now, are you going to help me design my next webisode?”
For several tense seconds, he just looked at me, studying me, probably to see if I had a head injury considering the idea I’d come up with. The sound of the percolator filled the uncomfortable silence with gurgles and the glorious scent of coffee. I continued to stare at Bryan, waiting for his reaction. I never expected him to spin on his heel and walk out.
I ran after him. “Where are you going?”
He’d already made it halfway across the rope bridge before turning to face me. “I need to think.”
“Bryan?”
“Just…” He brought up his hands in surrender and took a few more steps back. “Let me think about this. Promise me you won’t do anything until I get back.”
“Where are you going?”
“Promise me, Katy.”
“I promise.” And I hated being forced into agreeing to a promise like that. I was always doing something Bryan would deem unacceptable. I wanted to believe that was one of my many charming traits he loved so much. “Now will you tell me where you’re going?”
“I’m going to find the guys, see if they can convince me this is a good idea.”
That sucked. And hurt. “You mean I didn’t?”
“No, Katy. You didn’t. But I don’t think that’s your fault. I think it’s mine. I’m too close to you on this. I need to hear it from someone who doesn’t have me tied up in knots over my need to protect her.
