“Serena…” Declan’s voice holds a hint of warning, and I roll my eyes, shaking my head. If we do this here, we’ll be helping everyone else.
I look out across the land and spot the green of the forest. I grit my teeth, fighting back my reluctance by forcing my feet forward and into a run. I don’t wait for the rest to follow, and their curses come like music to my ears.
Within a minute, I’ve crossed the boundary into the forest, and my footfalls are muffled on the mossy floor. I try to ignore how the air changes, becoming cool and earthy, and how the shadows cast by the trees are long and dark.
“I knew… I should have asked… how they communicated…” I pant as branches flick across my face. “Are they… coming?”
Lore hoots softly, her tone a confirmation. “They are. But so are some of the students. You will need to lose them.”
Nodding, I change direction as I spot an open clearing, stopping only when I’m in the center. “Do you think this is far enough?”
Lore bobs her head once, and we wait for the guys to catch up, their faces a mixture of anger and betrayal as they break through the forest’s edge. Their feet pound heavily on the grass, and they pant as if this is the first ounce of exercise they’ve completed in months.
“Yeah… I should probably have told them my plan,” I mutter as Declan’s eyes darken the closer they draw to me, followed by Rory, Paxton, and Dane.
Lore ruffles her feathers. “You think?”
Sinking to my knees, I wait until the guys are within range before drawing on my power and burrowing my hands into the soft earth, the soil cool and damp against my skin. But it’s the dormant bulbs in the ground that allow me to enact my plan.
My eyes focus on the gap between my team and the forest. I allow my senses to stretch across the distance and my magic to flood the earth. A bright, green light bursts from the ground creating a near-transparent circle, just as the boys come within meters of me. The hum of the shield drowns out their curses for a moment before it settles, creating a towering wall around us and sealing us inside.
“What the hell, Serena?” Declan demands as he slides to a stop next to me. Somehow his withering glare sends warm tingles through my body.
“You are odd,” Lore remarks, hopping from my shoulder to land on the ground.
“I know,” I say, smiling as the guys stare between us.
“Well?” Declan asks.
I shrug. “I would have told you, but—” A scream rings out from the edge of the forest, and I smile as I peer around Declan to see the first body drop to the ground.
“Poor sucker shouldn’t have tried going through the field.” Shaking my head, I pick up the cylindrical device, my focus zeroing in on the runes.
“Did you just… Is that guy dead?” Rory asks, his eyes widening as they move between us.
“No, he’s not dead. Just knocked out.” We watch as his team pulls him from the green light, the glares they send our way have me chuckling.
When their eyes return to me, I sigh, gesturing for them to take a seat on the ground and roll my eyes when they refuse to move. “Yes, I should have said something before running. And no, I’m not sorry. I can’t communicate telepathically like you guys, so this was my only option to make sure we’re not overheard.”
I ignore the way each of them tense and close my eyes to focus on the bumps and ridges of the device. I smile when I find the two buttons at either end. The runes are merely a distraction; the cryptex itself is actually quite simple. Clasping my hands around the ends, I shuffle on the ground and steady my breathing, bracing myself for what’s to come. I press both buttons simultaneously.
Needles erupt from both sides, plunging straight through my palms and erupting from the backs of my hands, dripping red. I let out a deep growl, pursing my lips shut to keep from shouting.
Rory drops to the ground in front of me. “What the fuck, Serena?”
I open my eyes to find his concerned gaze looking back at me. I turn my grimace into a small smile. “It’s a blood cryptex. It’s a magical object used by spies to share information. Only those who are willing to sacrifice their life can open the cryptex.”
“But you… you just…”
I smirk, staring at the wide eyes of the men around me. “I couldn’t let the pretty boy be the one to do it; I’d never live it down.” The guys smirk, knowing I was right. “Rory, you seem too nice to do something like this, and Dane, you look like you’d have crushed the thing with your bare hands, which would only destroy whatever’s inside.”
Dane only shrugs.
“And you,” I turn to Paxton, whose eyes darken as I search his face. “I think you’ve already suffered enough.”
Between my hands, the cryptex glows bright red, having absorbed enough blood to release the latches hidden inside. Drawing in a deep breath, I hold it steady and start to slowly slide my left hand off the spike. Each movement feels like getting pierced all over again, and I can do nothing to stop the groan that rumbles through my chest. Finally, it comes free.
Gritting my teeth, I hold the cylinder under my arm and brace myself for the next wave of pain as I inch my right hand off the other end. This time, I decide to just go for it, pulling my hand out and off in
