Allegiance(113)

“Wraith,” I called out calmly, ignoring Kait’s question. Wraith stepped forward, awaiting my command. “Please go stand with the group over there. Protect Julian. Don’t kill anyone,” I added quickly, my next words slow and clear, “but put them to the ground if they approach.”

Like an obedient soldier, Wraith followed orders without delay. As he approached Julian, all those around him, including Julian, cowered a little. “Okay, now that that cat is out of the bag, so to speak, let me enlighten you.” I stepped closer so I was firmly in between the two groups. I spent the following ten minutes, with Julian’s help, explaining how he ended up a Sentinel, how he didn’t believe in their cause, and how this had turned into a good thing for us. By the end of it, most of the tension seemed to have deflated. Max was still visibly agitated but he and his brothers were at least resting on their haunches versus ready to spring.

“So you’d be willing to go in there on your own?” Lilly asked, her mistrust evident. “To what end?”

Julian shrugged in that casual way of his, sliding his hands into his jeans pockets. “To get more information, to see if Veronique is okay. To get her out if I can. I don’t know. All I know is I want to help and I’d rather go in there on my own than have Evie come in as well. She’s bound to do something goofy and get hurt.” His wry smile was meant to erase my guilt over this. It wasn’t working.

“But …,” I began.

“Good idea.” Caden cut me off. My mouth gaped open and I looked up to see newfound respect radiating from Caden’s eyes, directed at Julian. Finally … it only took Julian risking his life for me. Again.

“I agree,” Lilly seconded with a curt nod. “You get in there and find out what you can. Come back and tell us everything. Then we can form a proper plan of attack.”

“Well, I don’t agree!” Amelie wailed, glaring at her brother like he’d just killed her puppy. “What if he doesn’t come out? What if they recognize him? What if they use their magic on him and discover he’s unique? They might kill him instantly, for that alone!” All the possibilities spewed out of her in rapid fire. “Why are we doing this? Can’t we just wait for Bishop to show up so we can grab him?” She finished by giving Julian the best set of doe eyes I’d ever seen. “This is too dangerous, Julian!”

“Mage called me,” Lilly explained. “Bishop eluded her in England, grabbing a plane headed for Labrador. She’s on another one and should be landing in Montreal soon. Intercepting him from there is going to be tough …”

“Fantastic,” Caden’s fingers pressed against the bridge of his nose. The sarcasm only thinly veiled his worry. If we couldn’t stop Bishop, if we couldn’t get Veronique out of there …

“We need to get Veronique out. They’re torturing her, Amelie.” I emphasized the word torture, hoping she could remember what it was like to be human.

“I know … you’re right,” Amelie said, her hand reaching up to outline Julian’s jaw. “But don’t forget … Julian may not be turning like you, but he can’t be fixed.”

“I know,” I whispered, observing him with refreshed worry.

“Please, rethink this. There has to be another way.” Amelie’s hand slid down to rub across Julian’s chest.

Julian shook his head abruptly, scowling, reminding me of those first days back in the mountains, before I knew him. He had a permascowl in those days. “No, Amelie, I’m doing this. I need to do this.” And that was that.

Fifteen minutes later, Julian stepped out of a room dressed in dark blue jeans and a long winter coat. Amelie, her face painted with anxiety, slipped his knife into the inside coat pocket, planting a kiss on his cheek as she did so.

“I’ll be fine, Amelie,” he said, inhaling deeply. “In and out, right?” He nodded toward me as he walked past. “See you guys soon.”

Caden surprised everyone by reaching out to clasp hands. “If you don’t come out in a reasonable amount of time, we’re coming in after you,” he assured him in a gruff voice. How he expected to do that, exactly, I wasn’t sure, but now wasn’t the time to question it.

Julian nodded curtly.

“And don’t get yourself killed, okay?” Caden added. “If you do, I’ll have to deal with my sister for another seven hundred years …”

Julian chuckled. “Payback for yesterday?”

Caden grimaced. “Sorry about—”

Julian cut off Caden’s apology with a wave of his hand. “You had every right …”