Night Rune (Prof Croft Book 8) by Brad Magnarella (best e reader for academics txt) 📕

and the space was so quiet now that I could hear Caroline’s fae energies whispering through his restraints. Some of them kept Arnaud subdued, while others bolstered the wards and sigils I’d installed, and still others wove in new enchantments. His eyelids quivered, then closed. After another moment, I sensed Caroline exploring his memory.

“What’s she doing?” Vega whispered.

“Looking for what he was up to in the time catch,” I answered. “Along with anything else that might be relevant to Malphas’s plan.”

As Vega slid an arm around my waist, I imagined the doubts running behind her brow. How do you know she won’t be undermining your magic? The reasons I’d given her were sound, but in the end it was an odds game. Nothing was one hundred percent. I rubbed Vega’s shoulder and pulled her against me.

Caroline turned toward us. “I’m afraid the memories are scrubbed out.”

By Malphas, no doubt, I thought bitterly. Probably before I transported Arnaud here to the cell. “So, there’s nothing?”

“Just fragments of him handling the energy you described, but not how or why.”

Disappointment weighed on me like chainmail. It looked like we’d have to investigate the questions ourselves. When Caroline fell silent again, I sensed her exploring the line to the time catch. Hopefully that was still intact. As seconds stretched into minutes, my shirt clung damply to my back.

At last, Caroline opened her eyes. “The way is ready.”

Surprised by the announcement, my voice snagged for a second. “To the time catch?”

She nodded and stood. Vega patted my hip before separating and helping me back into my coat.

“Are you sure you have everything you need?” she asked.

“I have everything that’s going to make the journey.”

With my coat on, I slung my pack over a shoulder. Everything was lighter. Like the last time I’d made this journey, there were restrictions on what I could take. No potions, combustibles, or electronics, and only two enchanted items. My cane was essential, and I wanted Grandpa’s ring as a backup for Arnaud. But I’d also pocketed Gretchen’s iron amulet, putting me one over the safe limit.

I turned to Bree-yark. “Hey, would you mind carrying this for me?”

I’d agreed that he could bring Dropsy—he kept insisting she was good luck, and she had bailed us out in Kinloch Forest. That left space on him for another enchanted item. He nodded and opened the mouth of his pouch.

“There’s room in here, if it’s not too big.” He grimaced when he saw me tuck the amulet inside. “Cold iron?” Though not as susceptible to the metal as Faerie’s magic-wielding beings, goblins still didn’t care for it. Their own iron was forged in fire, making it less effective against fae creatures, but easier to wield.

“It’s just for the trip. I’ll take it back once we’re there.”

“You think we’ll encounter fae?” He closed the pouch again.

I glanced over at Caroline, who was helping Arnaud to his feet. I remembered her warning about Malphas controlling a fae. But there was also Caroline herself.

“It’s more a precaution,” I said, returning my gaze to Bree-yark.

At my apartment, I’d stored some of his street clothes in my interplanar cubby hole. He’d gone ahead and changed into them and was back in his bomber jacket and a pair of steel-toed boots. He’d also traded his bow for a shepherd’s sling that he could stuff inside a pocket. Less conspicuous.

Vega smoothed my coat lapels. “I’m not going to tell you to be careful.”

“Then I won’t tell you either. The thing that’s hunting me is still out there, and the fae could come looking for Caroline.” I touched Grandpa’s coin pendant through Vega’s blouse and topped off the energy. “Carry hybrid rounds, just in case.”

“I’ll have the Sup Squad escort me back to my apartment later.”

“Given the time differentials, I should be back before your shift ends.”

Vega managed to smile. “I’ll look for you, then.”

I pressed my lips to the top of her head. “I won’t let Arnaud out of my sight.”

“Come here, stupid.” She gripped my lapels and pulled me into a real kiss.

When we separated, she blinked back some moisture and nodded. “You’ve gotta go.”

“C’mon, Everson,” Bree-yark said, jerking his head as he started toward the circle.

Reluctantly, I let my hands fall from Vega’s. “I love you.”

“I trust you.”

Not the words I’d been expecting, which made them ring more powerfully.

Caroline’s long cloak shifted as she stepped back to make room in the circle. Arnaud’s entranced eyes stared above his muzzle. None of us were dressed for 1776 New York, but Caroline assured me she would take care of the needed glamours. Given her power demonstrations thus far, I believed she’d deliver.

“Is everyone ready?” she asked as I squeezed into the circle beside Bree-yark.

I looked over to find Vega standing in the same place, her face firming around the emotions clashing in her eyes. I’d given her every reassurance, but we both knew the danger was through the roof. I felt my gaze wanting to drop to her stomach, but if I started dwelling on our daughter, I was going to lose it.

Instead, we gave each other a final wave.

I turned back to Caroline. “Ready.”

19

Without warning the bottom of the casting circle dropped out, and we fell into a steep, shuddering descent. Sulfur-yellow flames flickered, then roared past the sides of our column, some resolving into the visages of claimed souls.

Definitely a demonic line, I thought sickly.

“Holy thunder!” Bree-yark cried when one especially tortured face appeared inches from his. I gripped his arm, as much to calm him as to steady myself, because our plummet was turning increasingly turbulent.

Bree-yark shouted something else, but the rattling reduced his words to garbles. Dropsy became a chaos of jumping light. But Caroline remained the image of self-possession, eyes closed, hands on Arnaud’s shoulders. Cool blue lines of fae energy rippled over our column, buffering our violent passage.

She got us through the lunar door, I thought. She’ll deliver us through a demon line.

Unless of course she was the one who had fallen under shadow…

I