Page 108 of Touched

This is war. This is what war is. It’s taking a stand and deciding that you are willing to die for your cause… you are willing to give your life should it come to that to protect others.

We fight so those who come after us shouldn’t have to.

I’m doing this.

“Does everyone have a weapon? Are you ready?” a familiar voice sounds from the tree line, pulling me from my morose thoughts. Whipping around, I gape. Trevor walks through the foliage.

And he’s brought friends. Lots of them… trolls, and … goblins?

Is that a goblin? Are those actual goblins?

And is that a half man and half horse? A freaking centaur?

Centaurs are real!

Of course, they are… I mean, why not?! Fairies, trolls, werewolves, witches, goblins…

What’s next?

Trevor grins up at me. “Close your mouth. I’ve brought reinforcements.” He points. “Callum, meet the trolls, the goblins, and the centaurs. Everyone… meet Callum… The Sylph. He’s Lanie’s grandson. Theonefrom the prophecy.”

The prophecy again.

Is anyone ever going to tell me what the fuck this prophecy is?

Not the time.

Trevor is here… with help.

Plan now. Ask questions that demand answers later.

Travor and his motley crew are a much-welcome sight. After meeting Kalilith…

Who knows what she’s conjured up? What we’re up against?

We’re going to need all the help we can get.

Shit! Wait…

“You can see us?” I ask uneasily, though the answer is obvious.

“Of course, I can see you. You’re standing right in front of me,” Trevor replies drolly, as though it’s the dumbest question he’s ever heard.

This isn’t good. It’s not good at all.

“Ifyoucan see us, Trevor, so can the FaeDorcha. We’re supposed to be cloaked… Shit! We must get under cover. Quickly! Before we’re seen.” Glancing behind me, I sigh. Dark smoke is billowing, much closer than before, the sound of battle within it, though it’s too thick to see through. I mutter, “They don’t appear to have made it this far back…yet. But they’re close. Too close. Our cloaks don’t seem to be working.”

Waving my arms, I motion everyone toward the tree line, across the way, behind a small vine-and-flower-covered structure located at the very back of the colony. A stone border creates a path that leads the way. Large, bloom-covered trees decorate the landscape, and ornately interwoven tree trunks and branches adorn the flower and herb-filled landscape.

This must be Cyrus’s plot.

“Everyone, come on. Hurry. We all need to get under the cover of the trees, or at least out of sight of anyone or anything that could be flying over or lurking nearby.”

We all start running. Once we pass the tree line, I look up. The thick canopy of branches is almost woven together like a basket.

We’re concealed.

If we can’t see the sky from under here, that means anything in it can’t see us either.

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