The jet slowed down, and a few minutes later, the polite young steward came out of the galley. “Is there anything else I can get you or assist you with before you deplane, Ms. Strohen?”
“No, Makir, I’m good. Everything was great. Thank you so much.”
He bowed his head. “I’m at your service. The captain is just going through some formalities, and then you may go.”
Not long after, Makir opened the doors and motioned for her to exit. As she headed toward the stairs, the two hulking members of the Almoravid, the royal family’s personal guard, followed behind her. King Karim had insisted she take them with her for protection and said they were well-trained in combat, and just as formidable as any Lycan.
There were two black SUVs waiting at the foot of the stairs. She was halfway down when the passenger-side door of the first one opened, and Astrid practically flew out and met her halfway. The younger woman enveloped her in a tight hug before her feet had even touched the ground.
“Oh, my God, Sabrina.” Astrid tugged her toward the vehicle. “I didn’t get Deedee’s message until about an hour ago and by then …”
“What’s happening?” she asked as she sidled into the car after Astrid.
“I should have checked my phone, but everything happened so fast.” She worried her lip. “I’m doing a terrible job of being Beta.”
“Stop saying that, sweetheart.” The man in the driver’s seat looked back at them, his hand reaching out to touch Astrid’s knee. “You’re doing a great job.”
“Sabrina, this is my husband, Zac Vrost.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Zac turned to her, ice blue eyes twinkling. “Nice to finally meet you too, Sabrina. You’re all Astrid’s been talking about for the past twenty-four hours.”
“Zac, we should get going,” Astrid said. “Your bodyguards are in the car behind us, Sabrina. They’ll follow along.”
As Zac turned back and started the engine, Astrid enveloped Sabrina’s hands in hers. “Deedee said you could help. That you can stop all this from happening.”
She swallowed hard. “What’s happening?”
Astrid took a deep breath. “Originally, we were going to find the mage hideout and attack them there. However, it turns out they’ve been here in New York City all along. Then, one of them sends a message to Cross, telling him to meet them at Central Park at midnight, with you and the dagger or else.” She gripped Sabrina’s hand tighter. “I’m sorry … they … they have your dad and two of our guys. The mages are probably controlling him with their necklace.”
Sabrina gasped as dread wrapped around her like a vice. “No!”
“I’m sorry. We tried to protect him, and we failed.”
Now panic was starting to overwhelm her. “We need to go. I have to go save my father,” she cried. “They’ll kill him if I’m not there!”
“That’s why I came all the way here when Deedee said you were on your way,” Astrid said. “Lucas and Cross, they came up with this plan.” She let out a frustrated sound. “I told them it was a terrible one, but they wouldn’t listen!”
“What plan?”
“They’re going to meet the mages with the dagger and someone … someone glamoured to look like you.”
“Glamoured?”
“It’s a type of magic that can make you look like anyone,” Astrid explained. “Usually, it would be easy for any other magical being to see through a glamour potion, but we have these new allies, the Beaumont witches, who can perform a different type of magic. One of them has the power of shadow glamour or something like that, I’m not entirely sure how it works. But anyway, she’s going in to look like you to fool the mages.”
“But what use would that be?”
“Once they’re within the vicinity, Cross plans to transport your father out to safety, and then our forces will attack. We’re going all out, apparently, just in case. A couple of people are staying behind, including me since I’m Beta and my job is to protect the clan and I’m not involved with GI stuff. But Lucas wants this done now.”
A terrible feeling made Sabrina’s stomach turn in knots. “If the mages find out it’s not me—”
“They’ll be furious. Who knows what they’ll do?”
She had a suspicion, but didn’t want to vocalize it. “We need to get to Central Park.”
“Are you sure you want to go there, Sabrina?” Astrid asked. “Really sure? I mean, I could take you away and keep you safe. Or send you back to Zhobghadi.”
“No.” She squared her shoulders, mind made up. No, she’d made up her mind even before she got here. Gunnar’s words were the key. How it was going to work out, she didn’t know, but she had to trust her instinct. “Let’s go, please.”
“All right.”
The rest of the ride was mercifully silent, and Sabrina stared out the window, her heart pounding as they drew closer to the city. Finally, they arrived on the east side of the park, right by the Metropolitan Museum.
“We’re here,” Zac announced as he cut the engine. “Let’s go. We’ll head ’round the building.”
“They’re supposed to meet at The Obelisk behind the museum,” Astrid explained as they got out of the car. “Our guys are hiding in there,” she pointed with her chin at the museum building. “Lizzie’s keeping the alarm and surveillance system busy, and a majority of our forces are waiting inside, and they’ll sneak out the back once it’s time. ‘You’”—she did air quotes to signify she meant the glamoured witch—“and Cross are going to walk up to The Obelisk while a small backup force is coming in from the other side.”
“It’s just after midnight,” Sabrina said woefully. “Are we too late?”
“We can’t give up yet.” Astrid grabbed
