Page 133 of The Legacy of Ophelia
Jezebel’s feet slipped from where they were propped on the arm of Erista’s chair. She leaned forward. “Does she know how?”
Vale shook her head.
“As cryptic as ever,” I mentioned as images of my magic illuminating the desert pounded through my mind, Jezebel’s silver flickering through it.
Tolek scrawled notes, saying, “That’s only the god. We have to be able to battle any forces he brings. We can’t rely on only Ophelia and Jezebel to be able to kill the gorgons or demigods.”
“And the cerberus,” Malakai reminded us. I met his hard stare, and I knew we were both recalling the beast that prowled in Echnid’s defenses, the one whose affection he’d won through a stone wall. We hadn’t seen her since Damenal.
“I can try to raise more aerial forces of gryphons and sphinxes,” I suggested. “But that won’t help us on the ground. And I can’t seem to do it with just any source.”
“What do you mean?” Cypherion asked.
“I’ve been trying with other renditions of sphinxes around the city,” I explained. “It has to be a true myth frozen in time. Like the ones in the Gates of Angeldust.” Unfortunately, Ithinix was last spotted loitering near the mountains, likely waiting for Xenique.
“What about the gryphon? You pulled that thing from a tapestry,” Malakai suggested.
Vale said, her eyes swirling silver, “That was Valyrie.”
I met the Starsearcher’s eyes and nodded. “I’d suspected that for a while. Valyrie was very busy shopping in Damenal. I think she knew we’d need an escape route Echnid wouldn’t suspect. She placed a tapestry that trapped the mythical beast in our path, covered it up with her other expensive purchases around the palace, and told me about the legends of gryphons to point me toward it.”
“We really can trust her,” Jezebel muttered.
Ezalia’s lips pursed as she massaged the back of her neck. “That makes one.”
“Two,” Meridat added, speaking of her own Angel.
“Two,” I agreed. The reminder was a slight relief.
“So, the cerberus,” Malakai said, bracing his elbows on the table, scanning the map. “We need something that could challenge a creature of that size. Especially if he could possibly bring more.”
Mila gasped, gripping Malakai’s arm. “You know who had mounts that could rival a cerberus?”
Malakai searched her gaze, and it almost felt as if they were communicating just as Cypherion and Vale had. Then, his eyes widened. “Mindshapers.” His attention snapped to Tolek andme. “They had them during the final battle. Wolves. Rode them into the mountains.”
“Like Rebel?” I asked.
“Even larger,” Malakai said.
For a brief moment, my heart inflated, but Meridat asked, “Do we have a Mindshaper contact?” and I deflated.
“A contact, but not anything near an alliance.” We’d written to the Mindshapers to alert them of the current threats, but we’d given them only necessary facts, not knowing who was receiving the letters or assuming leadership.
Spirits, I was wary of anything to do with that clan since Tolek had been kidnapped last year and we’d learned the true depths of their magic. It was the most manipulative and dangerous of any, in my opinion. Had that power grown with Thorn’s influence and Echnid’s return?
“We don’t have anofficialalliance,” Tolek added, voice harsh. “But we do have a debt we could call in.”
I sighed. “That’s one I’ll have to go in person for.”
“You can’t,” Erista reminded me. “If Echnid truly can’t enter Xenovia, you can’t leave the city.”
At her partner’s side, Jezebel nodded vigorously. Angels, she looked so scared, tawny eyes wide and lips pressed firm. So young and worried about me breaking, like when she’d first found the Curse on my wrist and insisted I would not face it alone.
Jezebel wasn’t that girl anymore. No, the warrior who swooped in on the back of a khrysaor to save me from a deranged god was not young and inexperienced. She was capable of conquering the realms, and still the thought of something happening to me rattled her defenses. My chest tightened.
“She’s right, Ophelia.” Meridat nodded grimly. “Echnid seems to wantyouspecifically.”
They were correct, but with the might of a god breathing down our necks, it would take all seven clans united to stand against him.
