Page 62 of Freed Wolfsbane

Jad has the same blissful smile that’s probably on my face, and I wonder why the veil doesn’t seem to bother me. I don’t have time to dwell on it because the city quickly comes into view.

“Oh fuck,” I breathe when I see the state of the city.

CHAPTER30

BRIAR

“You can say that again,” Saint mutters as all of us stare in horror at the hidden city.

It’s not just occupied by Knights. It’s a freaking Knights of Aeneas fortress.

The entire city is surrounded by thick stone seawalls topped with ramparts and guard towers. Knights are stationed all across the walls. I can see a few of them running back and forth from here. On top of the towering stone structures are massive machine guns and other artillery.

Docked in front of the walls are modern-day battleships kitted out with giant naval guns that can shred anyone even trying to approach. Some of the Knights are loading cargo onto one of the ships docked closest to port.

“Can they see us?” I ask frantically, so not wanting to get shot. It hurts like hell with a regular gun, so I can’t imagine how much damage any of the massive artillery pieces would do to us.

Jad huffs a small laugh. “No. The veil moves with us and keeps us obscured from the Knights.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief. Then I see shimmering brown magic encasing the city and its ships. “Please tell me that isn’t a defensive dome, Saint.”

He winces. “I wish I could, little shadow, but that’s definitely a defensive spell that will alert them if we get too close.”

I groan.

Lovely.

So not only is Dido’s burial place guarded by the very best modern weaponry humans have to offer, but it’s also protected by good ol’ fashioned magic, something the Knights really shouldn’t have.

Xander shoves an agitated hand through his hair. “How the fuck are we supposed to get inside the walls?”

A hysterical giggle bubbles up because I would like to know the same thing. When Xander looks at me in concern, I wave him off. I’m not going to fall apart, just internally scream at how impossible this whole thing feels.

“I think our only option is to try to launch a surprise attack. I doubt laying siege would work with the mage ability to portal in and out,” Malachi comments after a long pause.

My eyes widen at his suggestion. “How exactly would we do a surprise attack? They have visibility in every direction, not to mention more artillery than anyone really needs.”

Bastian nods in agreement. “The howitzers are excessive but hella cool. They’ll definitely be able to mow down our forces before we even get close.”

I blink at him because I really don’t know what a howitzer is, but whatever floats his boat.

“My thought was that we would portal in,” Malachi explains. “We can have the mages kill the defensive spell, then portal in behind the walls.”

“You cannot portal through the veil,” Jad interjects. “I will have to guide your forces through the veil, after which they will be able to portal within the confines of the boundary.”

I tilt my head in confusion. “How did the Knights get through if you have to guide people?”

Jad shrugs. “Supernaturals can get through the veil without my family’s assistance, but it is excruciating. The pain is so debilitating, most that try end up drowning before they can reach the city. It is a wonder how they managed to get all of these people here.”

Well, that’s one way to keep people out. Gruesome but effective.

“The only problem with portaling after Jad brings us all in is that none of them know what it looks like,” I point out. Mages can only transport themselves to somewhere they’ve seen before or have a picture of.

Malachi lifts one shoulder nonchalantly. “Then we need to get close enough to take a photo.”

I roll my eyes at him acting like it’s so easy to get a picture. He seems to have forgotten the defensive spell and all the Knights swarming the city. “We can’t get past the defensive spell without alerting all of those heavily armed Knights that someone is here.”

No one says anything for a long moment as we try to figure out what to do. Jad interrupts our contemplative silence to reluctantly add, “The veil can allow people it forms a connection with to pass through earthly magic like the mage spell.”

---