Several desperate screams merged into a single, chaotic wail, only to be intermittently drowned out by the blare of a siren. The red glow pulsed against Emily’s closed eyelids, but she could only block it out for so long before the screaming grated on her nerves.

  “Shut it, or we’re all dead!” she snarled, her voice cutting through the panic.

  She forced herself to focus. The next move had to be precise—if she messed up, they’d all end up as pancakes at the bottom of whatever pit led to.

  Alex had his full attention on Emily a touch of concern gracing his features.

  Emily glanced down at the rapidly passing quadrant. Level four passed them by before they even knew what was coming, and level three was almost as fast. Emily could not fly this many people; it was impossible. That being said, she could still arrest their fall just enough to matter.

  “Alright people get ready this is going to hurt,” she said.

  The second floor was fast approaching and Emily gathered blood from her arms, tying them all together, and just as they passed level two, she shot out two dozen cords of blood at the railing. The blood latched on, slowing their descent like a grim, sticky abseiling rope. As it stretched taut, the blood cord pulled them level with the quadrant. They were swinging straight toward the gap between the ceiling and railing when the painful part came.

  The top of the cord snagged on the underside of the second level, halting their momentum. The only way to stop them from swinging out of control was to cut the cords—but if she did that, they might go hurtling over the edge.

  Emily made a snap decision. Instead of risking it, she let them hit the wall.

  There was something absurdly funny about nearly a dozen people slamming into a stone wall at the same time. By the time they had ricocheted onto the roof and finally crumpled to the floor, Emily was giggling to herself.

  The sharp stab of pain in her broken ribs put an abrupt end to her laughter. Still, she pulled herself to her feet, healed and ready to move.

  Everyone else was groaning but they didn’t have time, guards were already becoming more active as they spotted them from across the chasm. Luckily Emily had been keeping an eye on the entrance she had come through so it wasn’t far from here. She was the first to take off, followed shortly by Alex. The rest of the Wandering fangs followed behind, some limping and more than a few of them probably needing tonic.

  Emily was more than a little worried that Ashe had already left. It would only make sense that when the chaos started she should make herself scarce, but when Emily turned the corner she saw one very pissed-looking Ashe standing in the opening.

  The large vault door was halfway closed and by the looks of things it had been trying to seal for the last while. If the source currently pouring off her was anything to go by, then she had been holding it open all this while. When Emily got closer, Ashe woke up with a start and, a scream.

  “Get through here now! I can’t hold it!”

  Emily didn’t need any urging. She hopped through and pulled Alex behind her. By the time the rest of the people were through, she let out an agonized pant, and the door groaned shut. The guards' footsteps were just around the corner by the time it finally sealed.

  Emily started to ‘whoop’ but Ashe put a hand over her mouth to shush her.

  “Don’t, we are not out of this yet We need to get through that door and make it out the tunnels. Who knows how many are out there.”

  Emily rolled her eyes and, without much fanfare, headed for the door. Alex stepped up beside her and gave her one of his usually solemn stares.

  “Emily when this is done we need to speak. How did you find me? Why did you find me.”

  Emily snorted.

  “Enough, grab your things, and let's get out of here. You know I need a guide, let's not make this reunion any soppier than it needs to be.”

  Alex pressed his lips together and turned to look at the others. Nodding to them, they all headed to grab their personal effects and in less than a minute they were already looking better without their ratty prison clothes.

  Unfortunately, it seemed their weapons were somewhere else but they didn’t have time to search for them now. So Emily snuck them out the door and down the staircase. The door they had come through was still not guarded so they slipped out into the labyrinth of tunnels.

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  When they did, they could hear dozens of voices spreading out all around them, bouncing around the corners. Emily knew from experience voices carried down here but from the sounds of it, they wouldn’t be able to take the path they had before.

  Emily's face twisted into a pout when she realized she would not be able to pay a visit to those swindlers, but Ashe seemed to know what she was thinking because she just rolled her eyes.

  “Oh, just leave it. I’ll pay if it means that much to you.”

  Emily snorted muttering that wasn’t the point, but it fell on deaf ears.

  They twisted and wound through the tunnels for over two hours but the night skies finally came into view. With it came a breath of fresh air that wasn’t painted with the stinking musk of long-stagnant tunnels.

  Emily took a breath as Alex looked around at what looked to be an old dumping ground.

  “We need to find a place to lay low. A tavern is too conspicuous, but maybe a bathhouse or brothel.”

  Emily held up her hand.

  “I have the perfect place. I have a house on the outer campus. We should go there, it will be the last place they think to look.”

  Alex frowned.

  “With this many people? How’d you even get a place in the upper campus, actually, forget it the trip would be too long for us to make right now.”

  Emily shrugged but Ashe answered.

  “She’s right, Alexander. I have a permit for us to cross at this hour but it might look a little suspicious with so many people. We’ll have to move in the morning but right now we should get to the supplies you’ve been hoarding Emily.”

  Emily groaned and sighed, she knew this was coming.

  Over the last few days, she’d been selling the Source metal at a fair price and buying up supplies and weapons they might need, especially those that ensured a hasty split from the city if need be.

  She wanted to tell Ashe no, but the supplies were bought with Keal’s money and she’d promised it would be used for the wandering fangs, so it was probably okay if they used them for their intended purpose.

  Sighing Emily looked to Alex.

  “Trust us, we have been up here for a week now, we can get you guys somewhere safe.”

  Alex squinted at Emily but nodded.

  Emily grinned and looked towards Ashe to lead the way, as she had no idea where they were.

  Alex looked like he was regretting his decision already, but after a couple of minutes or so, Ashe found her bearings and they made for the upper districts.

  Emily was surprised to note that while there was a lot of nightlife still burning right now. The guard's presence was as bad as they had expected. They still had to duck into alleyways when a patrol rushed through the area, but they seemed to be occupied.

  When they got to the lifts, everyone was on edge, including Emily as they boarded while surrounded by critical eyes.

  When they got to the top, the guard stationed there eyed everyone. He looked about ready to call it in when Ashe spoke.

  “We are Mage’s are you really going to block our path to call a tower representative at this hour? They’ll have your title by the morning. Now we have the permits, so let us through.”

  The poor man seemed unsure of what to do but finally let them through.

  Emily let out a silent sigh as they passed into the outer campus and headed towards the housing.

  When they got to the door Emily unlocked it and everyone slipped inside. Nox sat up suddenly from his place on the sofa to stare at them all.

  “You’re okay!” he said as he untangled himself from the lazy Rime wolf.

  Ashe went over to the teen as Emily moved to her room and returned with a large pack over her shoulder.

  He dumped it down, plopped onto the nearest cushion, and began patting Cupcake.

  “Right, there’s only one bath, so I get that first. Everything thing you guys might need is in there, like a change of clothes and rations. Luckily I stocked up on tonics, but only use one if you absolutely have to.”

  With that Emily headed to the bathroom. She could see Alex wanted to talk, but she needed to get rid of the sweat.

  Slamming the door shut, Emily drew a bath and relaxed in the soothing water generously before making her way out again.

  For the most part, everyone looked bandaged up the next person headed into the bathroom, which was surprising Svent. Emily was just wondering if tree folk drank their bathwater through their skin when Alex called to her.

  “Emily, we need to talk.”

  Sighing, she walked over to the corner he had taken up.

  The wandering fangs had taken up another corner of the common room whispering quietly to one another.

  “The others want to know if you found any of our wolves before you spotted us.”

  Emily frowned.

  “No, I only came to find you. I never saw any animals in that place. Oh, well I know where Mist is.”

  Alex nodded for her to go on.

  “Oh well, not his exact location. Last I saw him he was in the possession of Atticus. Which by the way, if we find him. I’m going to either punch him or stick him like a pig. Not too sure on which yet, I’ll see where the mood takes me.”

  Ales drew his brows together

  “So he’s alive…”

  “Yup, last I saw him, he abandoned me on one of those god-awful islands.”

  “Right well try and restrain yourself. We’re still working with the wandering fangs.”

  This irked Emily and she brought her boot up onto the small table and crossed her leg.

  “What’s with the sudden love for them? You can’t have already drunk the Kool-Aid.”

  Alex snorted.

  “Dammit Emily, I always cared, but this never happened last time. I’m trying to keep them together because we need them.” Alex hissed, glancing over at the rest of them.

  Emily pressed her lips together and shrugged. Sitting down next to the man.

  “We need to figure out what to do next. If our wolves can’t be found then we need to at least make alternative arrangements. For example, we should go early tomorrow to scour the markets, and-”

  Emily cleared her throat and glanced down at her palm.

  “Alex, I just got you out of prison. You should rest, at least till tomorrow. I can explain what's going on and we can discuss our plan then… But for now –and I’ll deny it if you bring it up– it's good to have you back.”

  Alex leaned back slightly as though some distance would allow him to tell if she was messing with him.

  But Emily wasn’t. She had missed having someone reliable at her back, someone that she could trust to cover her blind spots. Even if they didn’t agree on anything she was thankful for that.

  Alex blinked rapidly until a calmer look fell over his face.

  “Well, I’m still pissed at you for sending me away back there…But... likewise.”

  Blood points: 328