Page 74 of Shadow Weaver
“That’s all very well,” Brunner said. “But Mr. Raj … can you hold that much energy?”
He looked worried. “I … I don’t know, but we have no choice. We have to try.”
“Mr. Raj—”
He held up a hand. “It’s our only hope.”
Brunner looked torn, but then she pressed her lips together and nodded. “Let’s get to work.”
Twenty-Two
The symbols had been painted on the building, but the herbs had yet to be smeared on to activate the symbol. Kash had been inked, but once again, the herb hadn’t been put onto his skin.
We got only one shot at this, and Kash needed to be in the thick of the mist for it to work. Although regular supernaturals couldn’t survive beyond the mist, they could still go into the mist. He just needed feytech armor, and the surviving knight had handed over his. It was a tad on the large side, but it would have to do.
“We’ll give you five minutes, and then we’ll magnify the ward,” Brunner said.
“It won’t last long,” Joti reminded us. “A minute and a half, two if you’re lucky, so you need to be quick.”
Kash clutched the small pot that contained the crushed herb. “And I just put this on the symbol?” He pointed at his cheek, one of the only exposed spots on his body with the armor covering him.
“Yes,” Joti said. “It’ll feel warm, and you’ll know it’s activated.”
He nodded curtly, his face somber and pale.
Joti threw her arms around him. “Be careful. Please, come back to me.”
He grinned, and his eyes lit up with warmth and love. “Always.” He hugged her once more, then let her go. “Come on,” he said to me. “Let’s get this over with.”
I walked over to Athos.
“Whoa, wait a minute.” Kash backed up. “We’re riding that?”
Athos glared at him, and his snout wrinkled in warning.
“He didn’t mean offense, Athos.” I looked over my shoulder at Kash. “Did you?”
Kash made an “o” with his mouth. “Hell, no, I didn’t.”
I climbed up. “Get on and hold on to me. Do not let go. Athos is fast, and falling off hurts.”
Kash climbed up and wound his arms around my waist. His breastplate clinked against my back shield.
I hooked my hands into the ridges and held on tight.
“Everyone to your positions,” Brunner shouted.
Several students ran off around the building carrying herbs. The plan was for them to smear it onto the runes at the same time, activating the magnification of the wards that were woven into the building.
I nodded in Brunner’s direction and then leaned into Athos. “Get us into the mist, please. It’s time to end this.”
His muscles bunched, and then he leaped forward and fell into a sprint back into the mist.
* * *
“Now!”I pulled on the ridges, and Athos slowed and came to a halt. We were in the thick of it, shrouded by the mist.
Kash held me tight. “Motherfucker. Oh, God. Is this it? You have to work in this?”
