Blackbird Broken (The Witch King's Crown #2) - Keri Arthur Page 0,106

a stony incline into a wide, shallow pool that covered most of the cavern’s floor. In the middle of this was a long, darkly stained stone table. Sitting in a shallow basin in the middle of the table was a dark, oily-looking liquid. A long copper rod rose from this, and cut deep into the line of energy that flowed through the middle of the cavern

The ley line was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. At first it appeared to hold no color, and yet the longer you stared at it, the more beautiful it became. It was a rainbow of perfection, a pulse point of immeasurable power, an artery that belonged to the earth itself.

And a goddamn dark altar was feeding off it.

I gripped Nex tightly and fought the urge to send a blast of lightning at the table to smash its grip on the ley line. I had no idea how dangerous that would be, and suspected it’d be better not to find out the hard way.

I drew in a calming breath and looked beyond the rainbow river. The cavern was oval in shape and, at first glance, didn’t appear to have a second exit. It wasn’t until I spotted shallow stairs cut into the side of the wall to our right that I saw it partially hidden behind an outcrop of rock on a ledge about halfway up the wall opposite where we stood.

I returned my gaze to the altar. “How long will it take to disconnect that thing?”

“Anything between ten minutes and half an hour.” She grimaced. “Unfortunately, the minute I start disentangling it, they’ll know.”

“Then let’s pray for the shorter disconnection time over the longer.” I pointed Nex at the ledge. “I’ll contact Barney, then wait up there for the bastards.”

Mo nodded. “Be prepared for a major attack.”

My gut twisted at the thought of facing them alone, but I nevertheless smiled and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Don’t get washed away by those currents.”

“That may one day be my fate, but today isn’t that day.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief and an odd sense of knowing. “I’ve got a queen to see crowned, a dark enemy to defeat, and Blackbird grandbairns to help raise first.”

“We haven’t even had sex yet, and here you are anticipating grandchildren.”

“Because fate will not be denied.”

“She has been for multiple centuries—why should that all change now?”

“Because timelines are converging. What was destined will now come to pass.”

“I hate it when you talk shit like that.”

She laughed and began taking off her shoes. I walked over to the rough-cut stairs and, as I climbed, activated the two-way. “Barney, you there?”

“Sure am—what’s happening? Where’s Mo?”

“We’ve found a dark altar connected to the ley line in a cavern under the house. Mo’s about to disconnect it, and the shit is likely to hit the fan. Can you warn me the minute there’s any sort of unusual activity up there?”

“Sure will. Is there only one way in and out of the cavern?”

“No—there’s a second tunnel, though I’m not leaving Mo alone to investigate it.”

“In what direction does it run?”

“I have no fucking idea.”

“Use the compass on your phone.” His tone was that of a teacher talking to a not-too-bright pupil.

“Oh.” I dragged it out and opened the app. “Okay, it’s saying we’re northeast. Why?”

“I’ll get our earth witch to suss it out. If she can find the tunnel’s other end, she might be able to seal it.”

“Why not just collapse the whole thing?”

“Because we’re in the middle of a large housing estate. The last thing we need is a tunnel collapse taking out a house or two. Tell Mo to be careful.”

“I will.”

I signed off and glanced across at her. “Barney sends his love.”

“He did not.”

I grinned. “Well, maybe not in so many words, but that’s what he meant.”

“Get your lying bones over to that ledge and keep sharp.”

I laughed and bounded up the remaining steps. The tunnel half hidden by the outcrop of rock was a lot wider than the house tunnel, and certainly looked better built. It also didn’t have anywhere near the amount of water leaching from the walls, though the taint of earth and moisture still hung heavily on the gently stirring air. That breeze at least meant I’d smell the demons before I ever saw them—though Nex and Vita would no doubt ‘see’ them far earlier than even that.

I moved back several feet, then leaned against the cavern wall. While it was unlikely they’d attack from the house