One of them groaned, and Morgan blushed, knowing that they could probably read her expression. They were offering her everything. She just needed to be brave enough to take a chance.
“Time to go.” Ascher tugged her toward the portal. “Now is not the time to finish this conversation.”
Kincade scooped Loki up and went through first.
They passed under the arch. Instead of stepping into the alcove, they simply disappeared. Morgan quickly followed. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but finding the soldiers who turned back after the first trap waiting for them wasn’t even close.
They scrambled to attention when she emerged, then did something that terrified her down to her soul…they knelt.
“They know.” Atlas was grim. “And word will only continue to spread.”
“Don’t do that.” Morgan awkwardly urged the soldiers to stand, trying to haul them to their feet, ignoring Atlas’s ominous prediction.
The soldiers grew uneasy at her touch, and Draven grabbed her arm, stashing her securely behind the others. “Stay here.”
She watched him walk away, feeling like a pariah. If the soldiers weren’t in awe of her, they quailed in fear. It made her itch to get away and hide. She watched him guide the captain of the guard toward her, and she grew more uncomfortable by the second.
“I’m glad you and most of your men made it out alive, Captain.” She shifted her feet awkwardly at the knowledge in his eyes.
“Only thanks to you.” He stood to rigid attention in front of her, glancing at her quickly, before avoiding further eye contact by studying the ground. “The door appeared about an hour ago. I thought we would be lost down there forever.”
“The fog should be gone,” she offered in apology. “While no one else will become infected, unfortunately, the mutations are permanent.” She still cursed herself for not being able to help them. “Katar won’t be returning. You and your men are free.”
He gave a start, meeting her eyes boldly, his sharp eyes shrewd. “Free?”
“My men and I are going to rescue the rest of my classmates, then head back to Earth.” Morgan was actually looking forward to being alone with the guys and spending more time with them. She backed away, eager to be gone.
“What about the village?” The captain’s voice was harsh.
Morgan hesitated, not sure what he was asking. “The fog is gone. I’m sure between you and the others, you can figure out a solution, right?”
He studied her for a long second before nodding, his dark expression clearing. “We’ll get it cleared up.”
But he continued to stare at her, leaving her a little unnerved. “Was there anything else?”
“You’re welcome to come back with us.” He studied her face intently. “You could lead us.”
Morgan glanced at the men behind him, heard the whispers that floated on the air, and shook her head. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. You need to rebuild. You don’t need me meddling in things or attracting the wrong kind of attention, not when the village is so vulnerable.”
“You will call on us if you need us.” He snapped a sharp salute, performed a crisp turn and returned to his men.
“You’ve just earned his undying loyalty,” Atlas commented idly, cleaning his fingernails with his knife.
“What?” Morgan glanced back at the captain. “You’re wrong. He doesn’t even like me.”
“Maybe, but he respects you, which is infinitely more important to a man like him.” Atlas glanced at her from the corners of his eyes. “They’re going to talk. People are going to discover the truth. We can slow down the rumors, but you’re not going to like it.”
“Tell me.” Morgan braced herself for his reply, not ready to go from being the assassin to the one hunted.
“Kill them.”
“What?” Morgan blanched, already shaking her head. “No way.”
The rest of the guys gathered around her protectively. Kincade rested his hand on the knife at his side. Following his lead, Loki bared his teeth, his snout scrunched up in a ferocious little snarl. “He’s right. Letting them leave will only cause you more trouble.”
They would do it.
Slaughter innocent people to protect her.
What did it say about her that she thought it was sweet that they would kill for her?
“I—”
“If it was to protect one of us, you would do it in a heartbeat.” Draven was in full assassin mode, his eyes completely devoid of any emotion but death.
As to his accusation…
Maybe.
Probably.
She’d gone through too much to lose them.
She would do whatever it took to keep them…even kill if she was left with no other choice.
Morgan sighed. “I can’t. We just risked our lives to save them. I won’t be the one to kill them to gain a few more weeks of freedom. People are going to investigate why the fog suddenly disappeared and discover the truth. I fear it’s much too late to stop it from getting out.”
Atlas pocketed his blade, then grabbed her elbow. “Come. I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.”
Morgan nearly sagged in relief and beat a hasty retreat in case the guys decided to change their minds.
Chapter Twenty-eight
It took three days to travel back to the castle to reunite with MacGregor and the rest of the students. The landscape was only slightly less dangerous without the fog, the carnivorous plants nearly as deadly as the animals, but they managed to elude most of them without incident. Loki seemed intent on being king of the jungle and destroying anything within reach, so each of the guys took time to carry him to keep him out of trouble.
The guys catered to her every need. She was used to fending for herself, so it was terribly sweet…in a weird sort of way.
They cautiously crept up to the castle. Despite the absence of fog, the fortress remained in lockdown.
Not a good sign.
“Do you think they’re still alive?”
Draven snorted. “You haven’t been at the school long, but I can guarantee you this place would be destroyed if it came down to a fight.”
They kept to the tree line while they surveyed the castle, the hair on the back of her neck lifting at the ominous stillness. Trusting her instincts, Morgan whirled, catching a staff right below the spear, stopping the sharp tip dead.
“So you didn’t forget everything I taught you.” MacGregor harrumphed, but a smile cracked his craggy face. He yanked her into a bear hug and pounded her on the back. “It’s good to have you back.”
“It’s good to see you, too.” Morgan hugged him tight, absurdly pleased to see him alive and well. After the vicious attack on his coven, she didn’t think she would ever see him pick up another weapon. She pulled back and smiled. “So, how long was it before you took control of the castle?”
He barked a laugh, nodding to the guys as they stood. “A day or so after you left.”
“We picked them off one at a time.” One of the three underclassman with MacGregor spoke excitedly, obviously on one of his first missions. “They didn’t even know what hit them.”
“Enough.” MacGregor raised his hand. “Let’s take this discussion inside. I don’t like being out here longer than necessary.”
When they entered the castle, the organized chaos was run with a ruthlessness she recognized from the Academy. The bailey and hall were full of students practicing both weapons and magic.
“I assume you were successful in stopping the plague from spreading further?” MacGregor limped to a side room where the activity was better managed. Three elves were seated to the side, shackled with their own magic-stealing cuffs, watching everything with disdain.
Their anger smelled like burnt spices strong enough to make her want to sneeze, each of them clearly pissed at being beaten by a bunch of kids.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” A curl of disgust twisted one elf’s mouth as he scanned her from head to toe, disdain dripping from every syllable. “If we hadn’t been betrayed by the very people we offered our protection, we would’ve had the situation under control much sooner.”
Atlas drew his weapon in a blur of speed and launched himself across the room. Morgan barely caught his arm in time to prevent him from slitting the elf’s throat.