Heat swelled at Emily's back as Cupcake trotted away from the charred streets. The cobblestones near the tower glowed a deep red as the remaining buildings collapsed behind them. The only thing standing near the black and gold pillars was the other towers. Luckily for Emily and everyone else there, they had been able to get out of range of the descending blaze in time.

  For there it was just a matter of following Genevieve’s carriage. Cupcake continued to take them further from the tower but Emily couldn’t help glancing. Almost hoping she could spot Ariandel peering out at them. She had a score to settle with the man, but when he holed himself up in that place all Emily could do was plot his downfall. She would have to hope that he came out at some point unless she could find some way to get in there without being burned to bits.

  Turning her head back to the front of their small procession, Emily saw Umbra laughing with his men, though his gaze was fixed on her.

  When he noticed her watching him, he adjusted his pace to fall in line with Cupcake's.

  “What’s your name, woman?” he asked bluntly.

  Emily raised an eyebrow but replied regardless.

  “Emily, huh? Strange name you’ve got there, but I like it. It’s as exotic as you are,” he said with a honeyed tone.

  Despite herself, Emily smirked wryly.

  “And I hear you’re Umbra,” Emily said as she took stock of the man.

  Now that she had more time to take him in, she noticed he wasn’t classically handsome as she was accustomed to, but he was by no means a troll. His eyes were a perpetual muddy brown with occasional flashes of red, and his dark hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, secured with a piece of twine. The next striking aspect of his presence was his clearly defined muscles, which even time in prison hadn’t managed to soften.

  When he heard Emily say this a smile appeared on his face.

  “So my name has reached your ears? Well, I consider that a win,” he said grinning to himself.

  Emily snorted at the man. Whatever reputation he had was none of her business, but he had been key in rescuing her so she nodded to him.

  “I appreciate the rescue,”

  Umbra shrugged his shoulders.

  “I was only returning the favor. Plus had your boyfriend over there not told me about your struggles I probably would never have known.”

  Emily glanced back at Alex with narrowed eyes.

  ‘Why does everyone we’re dating ?’ she thought as she cleared her throat.

  “Yes, actually how did you find me?” she asked.

  Alex had also been keeping an eye on the tower, but he turned back to look at her now.

  “Well, we were still resting and discussing things when some guards came knocking on the door. Luckily Nox had been keeping an eye out for us, so we were able to escape but when Your wolf found us I knew something was wrong.” Alex said.

  Cupcake sent a proud feeling down the link and Emily ruffled the fur by her neck in thanks.

  “But then how did you find me?” Emily asked. She’d never hidden where she was going, but neither Nox nor Ashe had been with her. How did they know which tower was the right one?

  Ashe nodded from the front looking rather sheepish.

  “So I may have followed you without you know one of the days, but just so that I knew where you were. And look it turned out to be useful.”

  Emily squinted down at the woman, but couldn’t find it in herself to be mad. If Ashe had asked she would have happily given her directions. The real problem was that she had put herself in danger to do so.

  “And what if someone had seen you? What if Neal had seen you.”

  Ashe sighed and shook her head.

  “Look I don’t want to fight. It was as risk I know, but it was worth it.”

  By this time they had moved into the inner campus and when they got to the guard station they didn’t want to let their little group of disheveled people through.

  Umbra disappeared at this time along with a couple of his men.

  When Genevieve stepped down from her carriage the guards seemed to bend allowing them through on sight. They didn’t seem happy about it, even with the extra security.

  As they approached Genevieve’s tower a streak of black light flashed against the barrier, bathing the whole city in brilliant night.

  Umbra chose this exact moment to reaper next to her letting out a long whistle.

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  “Wow, they really want to get in here. Won't be long now that the heads have gotten involved.”

  Emily’s eyes narrowed at the man who had appeared next to her without her being able to detect him.

  “Yeah well, I’m going to make good use of it.”

  Umbra’s eyes held that keen thirst for chaos.

  “It would be a letdown if you didn’t”

  Arriving at the door, Genevieve disembarked and pressed her hand into the side of the tower. The large tower began to rearrange itself and an opening arrived large enough to accommodate all of them.

  She led everyone in but Emily hesitated. Entering another tower didn’t seem like a smart idea and yet everyone else was walking into the lion's den without so much as a faltering step.

  Behind her, Alex whispered in her ear.

  “Don’t worry. She gave us a vow. It isn’t a perfect promise but it’ll do for now. Until the condition is met she will protect us.”

  Emily pressed her lips together and sighed, ushering Cupcake forward.

  Umbra hummed a quiet tune next to them as he put his hands over his head and walked in.

  The chamber looked like a large hall with chairs and tables. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and warm food sat on plates waiting to be eaten.

  “All of you can take time to rest and fill your bellies. I will take Emily up to my workshop to see how I can help, but the rest of you will remain here-”

  Genevieve had barely gotten the sentence out before the light coming from above warped and shadow descended from on high.

  The source in the room churned and swelled as an icy voice came from all directions.

  “Of all the irresponsible feats you’ve pulled over the years, this has to be your finest moment!”

  The air vibrated, a sinister malevolence seeping into every corner of the room.

  Straight ahead, two red orbs glowed faintly from within a wall of shadow that coalesced into a towering form, nearly as tall as the ceiling. Flashes of red streaked through the cloud like a thunderstorm.

  Genevieve stepped forward without hesitation.

  “Brother, I know what this looks like but you must listen-”

  “Be silent, Genevieve! Do you know who hides amongst you!” the shadows screamed.

  They rose up and sharp thorns of darkness began to encroach in on everything. The majority were pointed at Umbra and his men. But there were plenty to go around and Emily found even herself staring down the barrel of a shadowy sprear.

  “Brother I will not! I have made a vow to these people. They are under my protection!”

  A bestial scream issued from all around them.

  “You did, what!”

  Genevieve had moved to stand in front of everyone, staring at the shadow face.

  Second ticked by and no one spoke eventually Emily decided she couldn’t take the suspense anymore.

  “Juest, stop being overdramatic. Come out and talk” Emily shouted, her head pounding with a building migraine.

  After another moment, the shadows faded, and Juest’s form took shape. He was holding Genevieve’s latest replica of the scepter. He was dressed in beautiful red leather that accentuated his form. That and his coiled posture made him look like he was ready for war.

  “Emily… What has my sister promised you this time? I’ll be honest. I’m having a hard time coming up with a reason not to kick you all out of my home.”

  Emily nodded as she looked at their ragtag bunch of criminals.

  “I understand. But I need her help. You were right, Ariandel is a snake. I know we’re putting you in a difficult situation, but no one had to know.”

  Juest snorted.

  “You think it’s that easy? Many people will have already seen you entering my tower. I should capture him and send him back down to the Well.”

  Emily shook her head.

  “Fighting right now is pointless. Why not just watch over him while Genevieve looks at me after that we’ll be gone.”

  Juest’s source churned incessantly.

  “I’m afraid that can’t happen. I’ve been called to battle, all the council members have. Leaving this man here alone is impossible.”

  Emily could see she could not change this man's mind but to her surprise, Ashe spoke.

  “Sir Juest, I know I speak out of turn, but there may be a way we can all benefit from this meeting”

  Juest glanced at Ashe with lowered brows.

  “I find that hard to believe, but go on.”

  Ashe glanced at Emily with a tremble in her lip and then turned back to Juest.

  “If I am correct, your plan is to open the shield just temporarily to let them weaken themselves against our defenses, yes?”

  Juest’s eyes widened and he squinted at Ashe.

  “I- you look familiar, where do I know you from.”

  Ashe swallowed but shook her head.

  “That's not important, what is important is that we have a bone to pick with Sam’eth too. Let us join you in your assault”

  Emily's face twisted into a scowl, but before she could say anything Alex's hand came around and covered her mouth.

  “Quiet, we are hanging on by a thread, don’t say a word!”

  Emily’s chest closed and rage pulsed through her blood. She was tempted to bite his damned hand off, so she did. Well not quite, but Emily did sink her teeth into the fleshiest bit of Alex’s hand as compensation.

  He hissed but the conversation went on.

  “You expect me to believe you will follow us out?” Juest asked with a wry tone.

  “It's the truth!” Nox said dismounting from the carriage. “Our people have been caught by the Black core. You know what fate awaits them if we leave them there!”

  Juest seemed to hesitate as he looked amongst the people here.

  “And what about you Umbal traitor, what say you?”

  Umbra shrugged beside Cupcake.

  “I have certain interests in this city, so you can bet I’ll be there to collect my share of the kills,” he said. Not giving anything away.

  Emily furrowed her brow at the man. What was going on here? There was no way she was going to allow this to go on. Emily pulled Ashe’s hand away and tried to speak but at that moment her pounding headache became too much. Vertigo set in and Emily almost fell of Cupcake's back as the world spun.

  “You’re all crazy- ” Emily started but wasn’t able to get the rest of the words out.

  Alex’s arms caught her before she fell completely but Ashe took advantage of the opening.

  “We can discuss this in a moment, right now Emily needs help. Please let us stay here until we can talk this through.”

  Emily pushed back the dizziness long enough for an incredibly full feeling to settle into her bones.

  Juest seemed to glance around at everyone but eventually, he nodded.

  “Fine. Emily and my sister may leave but the rest of you will remain here where I can watch you. If I catch even the smallest doubt out of you all, I will arrest who I must and kick you all out onto the streets,” Juest said with conviction.

  Emily wanted to tell him to fuck off, but she could tell which one of the three images she was seeing was the real one.

  When Genevieve tried to collect Emily she grabbed Alex by the back of the neck.

  “Follows” she growled, getting out the only word she could manage.

  Genevieve looked at Juest and when he nodded the three of them left the room.

  Emily was not sure how they got there, but the next thing she knew, they were in Genevieve’s workshop, with her examining her bridge.

  “...Emily can you hear me.”

  Emily brought herself back just long enough to focus on the red-skinned woman.

  “Emily listen to me. I can’t take it off but I can make it so that Ariandel no longer has any influence over it, but we’ll need to…”

  Emily’s grasp on reality slipped as she strained to catch Genevieve's last words, but it was futile—the pull of unconsciousness was too strong.

  Blood points: 306