Page 66 of Of Flames and Crows

They headed over on foot and were soon joined by the Council of the Moon’s sorcerers and witches who’d followed them in the van. An abandoned mine appeared at the foot of a cliff. Rotting planks covered the entrance.

“It’s a dead end,” Julius said, disappointed.

Cortes dropped on his haunches and traced a finger in the dirt. He brought it to his nose. “A car’s been through here.”

Mae stared at the barricade. “Brim?”

The fox’s ears pricked forward. He scented the air.I smell…ancient magic.

Understanding dawned. She conjured up a crimson sphere, walked up to the wooden blockade, and punched through it.

“Mae!” Nikolai gasped. “What are you—?!”

His eyes widened as the makeshift barrier vanished under the effect of her magic.

“It’s an illusion.” Mae frowned at the gaping tunnel she’d uncovered. “Probably Raya’s.”

She felt Cortes’s gaze on her as she headed into the dark void.

The mine shaft spiraled as it dropped. They came across old, rusted-metal tracks screwed into the floor and passed side passages blocked by rockfall. It appeared to have been a prolific quarry at one time.

They emerged into what looked like an old resting area a while later. The empty town car was parked in the middle.

Cortes pressed a hand to the hood. “Engine’s still warm. They can’t be far.”

Nikolai was about to lead the way into the tunnel beyond when Mae froze and clutched his arm. She looked around wildly, her heartbeat accelerating.

Vlad tensed. “What’s wrong?”

“Brim’s gone!”

I’m right here.

Mae whirled around. Her eyes bulged.

The fox’s head was poking out of the solid rock some twelve feet to her right.

“That’s a space warp,” Cortes said grimly while everyone stared glassily.

Mae shuddered and pressed a hand to her chest before scowling at the familiar. “Don’t scare me like that!”

It’s not exactly my fault, Brimstone grumbled.I thought I felt something, poked at it with my demon powers, and fell right into the damn thing.

The fox hopped out of the concealed entrance.

Mae’s skin prickled with unease. Now that she knew what to look for, she felt the magic Brimstone had detected.

“Your aunt is one hell of a witch,” she muttered to Cortes.

The Colombian frowned. “I know.”

“What’s down there, Brim?” Mae said.

Stairs that lead to a tunnel.I think we’re beneath the lower edge of Barquiel’s portal.

CHAPTER28

“Don’t do it, Roman!”The sorcerer’s pupils were wide with fear behind the iron bars of his cell. “They’ll kill you and probably the rest of us if they find out!”

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