“What’s going on?” Julio shouted.
“Alpha Fergus’s wolves have fired on your northeast outpost. We’ve seen it on the security footage. The wolves are wearing his amber-trimmed tanks.”
Kiara remained as still as she could, but if anything was going to break the stalemate, it was news of an attack.
The next split second, everything happened at once. She watched Glissane’s shimmer become more visible as he whipped away from their position. The next moment, the wizard and Julio turned and flew down the hall toward the foyer, Warren gripped her arm. Let’s get out of here.
By now, she knew the drill. When he reached for her waist, she leaned into him so he could take them both wherever he wanted to go.
We’ll head out through the back courtyard.
He whipped them past the table that once held the plans, then through the open wall into the courtyard. A number of wolves had already taken to the air, so he kept them levitating low and near the brick pavers. She remained as relaxed as she could and concentrated on using her levitation to stay pressed up against him. He would have to navigate them both out of harm’s way. They might be invisible, but they could collide with anything physical.
When he reached the building on the other side of the large patio, he ascended slowly then stuck close to the roof. Wolves suddenly appeared from the other side coming up and over the house. He dropped them both down flat to avoid getting hit.
Kiara once again employed her levitation skills to keep from getting slammed into the roof.
Slowly, Warren kept them creeping forward toward the roof’s apex. Once there, Kiara could see that the air was clear.
Warren glanced behind them, then took them into the sky in a swift jolt of flight, heading away from the battle. In the distance, she could hear more bursts of gunfire.
Warren said, I’m going to contact Fergus telepathically, let him know what’s going on.
Okay.
She waited as they rose another forty feet into the air. She was now looking down into the backyards of dozens of houses. Many of them were dark and looked deserted. She’d heard Julio was buying up the homes. At least four of them had been demolished.
She’d give Julio this much. He had a plan and he appeared to be industrious. Of course, what it meant was a solidification of power and a compound underway that would easily rival either Fer
gus or Warren’s organizations.
Warren turned north heading back in the direction of both the Caldion compound and her refuge. Fergus is pulling out as we speak. He wasn’t attacking Julio. It was for show in case a diversion would help. I told him he had no idea how right he’d been. Who knows how long Glissane would have stayed there. How did you keep from blinking?
What do you mean?
He was staring at you, straight at you the whole time.
A sudden chill rolled through Kiara’s body. I never saw him. Just a faint impression of his aura.
At that, he pulled up midair, and turned her to face him. He held both her arms. You couldn’t see him?
No. I was just doing what you were doing, being still and quiet.
A deep furrow cut through his brow. She’d never seen him so distressed. Wait. Are you saying you actually saw Glissane?
He has blond hair and black eyes, like coal. He’s very thin.
He does? I mean you saw that? You know what he looks like? What she really didn’t understand was how a wolf could see an invisible wizard when she couldn’t.
At that, his lips curved slightly. I must be channeling your witchness.
I’m stunned.
As am I. He glanced around. Let’s get you back to the refuge. I want you safe behind your security spells. Then we need to bring Fergus in. Now that we have the plans, it’s time for a full-on assault.
I agree, except for one thing.
What’s that? He flew her in the direction of the refuge.