Allegiance(112)

“I wonder how many buildings they can burn before it’s impossible to hide this,” Amelie said, the laugh lines in her face disappearing as sadness took over. An empty, distant look glazed over her eyes. Reminiscing over her own world’s doomsday, no doubt. My heart went out to her. She’d already suffered through this once.

Julian responded with an arm around Amelie’s shoulder, pulling her to his chest in a loving embrace ... We needed to do this. Now. You and me, together again, Julian. This plan would probably get us both killed.

“How do we get in there, Lilly?” I asked, no interest in wasting any more time dreading possibilities. Caden’s arms instantly tensed. I ignored the reaction.

“Well … my informants say a dozen Sentinel come in and out daily. The witches have barricaded themselves in,” Lilly explained, taking a seat next to Galen. “I don’t know that they could even get out if they wanted to.”

My attention drifted back to the window to survey the surrounding buildings and Central Park. Lilly had spies, Viggo had spies, Mortimer had spies. Spies everywhere and none of them knew what was going on inside. “I know vampires can’t get in. We’ve already tested some of the windows. The entire place is set with Merth.”

“Well … why don’t we go in the same way we did the night we chased Jonah?” Amelie asked Caden. “We just need something that will pass our weight through the window. I’m sure there’s something.” She paused. “Or maybe Wraith can carry us in.”

Lilly was shaking her head already. “We thought of that. We sent a couple of humans in through a broken window on the fourth floor but the witches have a secondary spell layered on.” Lilly’s face turned sour. “It set them on fire. Who knows how many more tripwires they’ve set.”

Amelie’s shoulders sagged. “They’ve thought of everything, haven’t they?”

“Well … no,” I said, smiling. “They didn’t think of a human who could walk through their spell and break it.” The Tribal magic was going to serve a purpose. It was going to help! It could work!

“And what exactly do you plan on doing—launching yourself through a fourth-story window to break the spell?” Caden answered in a biting tone. “What if you get hurt? What if they’re waiting for you? What if breaking the spell warns them and they get hold of you before I can get in there?” He released his loving grip of me to whip me around, intensity in his eyes. “No, Evangeline. There’re too many things that could go wrong with this harebrained idea!”

I opened my mouth to argue but Lilly spoke. “Caden’s right, Evangeline. We need stealth, not kamikaze barbarism. If the witches get so much as a hint that we’ve made it inside, they could do a number of things, including kill you and Veronique.”

“So … what’s the best way for Julian, Wraith, and me to go in?” Dead silence filled the room.

“Well, I was thinking,” Julian started, pulling all eyes to him. “You said they’re letting the Sentinel in through the doors, right?” Lilly nodded, her eyebrow perked curiously. “Well,” he licked his lips nervously. “I have a Sentinel tattoo, so why don’t I go in …”

I choked on my tongue as Julian blurted out the one admission that would get him killed in an instant, before he could explain. Oh my God, Julian … why now?

“Caden … help him!” I cried out. There was no need for the plea, though. Caden and Amelie formed an instant barrier around Julian, teeth bared, their stance fixed in a fighting position.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Max stalk toward Julian, his hackles raised, his three brothers following suit. “Max! No! Don’t you dare!” I shouted. My words meant nothing. He didn’t flinch, didn’t slow, his lips curled back in a snarl, teeth glistening. I doubt he even heard me, focused on the smell of newly discovered Sentinel flesh. Flesh that would kill him if he bit into it, given the Tribe magic coursing through Julian’s veins.

No, no, no! This was spiraling straight to hell. “Max!” I shrieked. “Please! You’ll die if you bite him!” His front paw wavered. But he didn’t stop, stalking in more slowly now, like a lion stalking a gazelle. Five more bodies suddenly appeared around Julian—Ivan and four of his wolves. Forming a solid guard. I let out the tiniest sigh of relief. That might keep Max at bay. But what about the six vampires in the room, all shocked, and all, by the venomous blaze in their eyes, one step behind Max in attacking?

“Is this true, Evangeline?” Kait hissed, observing Julian hungrily. I quivered, picturing her standing over Julian in a dark windowless room with an array of chains and other sadistic tools lined up on a table. I’m sure she had her own special pleasure in killing Sentinel. I wasn’t going to let her satisfy that here. All in all, it was a lethal room for Julian to be in. I needed to make them understand.