Hour of the Dragon - Heather Killough-Walden Page 0,98

it,” said Cain. “And before you ask, it doesn’t matter how strong the illusion is. What he’ll be looking for is the fear attached to it, and you can’t attach fear to an illusion. Fear is in the blood.”

“We could throw someone else in there, make them look like her, and there’ll be plenty of fear in their blood,” Ares said bluntly.

Annaleia’s eyes widened. Was he serious?

He looked down at her. “What? We could pick an asshole if that would make you feel better.”

She really didn’t know what to say to that.

But Cain saved her from having to respond anyway. “Look. He isn’t going to expect us to follow through in any capacity. He knows we won’t allow you to personally meet with them. So anything –” he looked up at Ares through a slightly reprimanding gaze, “or anyone we send will automatically fail the test right off the bat.” He paused and then added, “And be killed for their efforts.”

Ares crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, that’s why I suggested the asshole,” he muttered.

Annaleia looked up at her long-lost best friend and blinked. Then she chewed on the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. Honestly, it was like she was staring at the handsome but slightly unstable and highly volatile teenager she’d left behind fifty years ago. The one who would surreptitiously track down her would-be admirers and assert ownership of her as if he were pissing on street posts.

But then the gravity of the situation hit her again, and she felt as if she were going to be yanked down to the ground so fast it would give her a concussion.

Her friends were going to get killed. She just knew it.

Anna didn’t realize she was falling until two sets of strong hands were on her arms, lifting her. She wrestled noiselessly with a heart that wanted to come out her throat, and when she had that under control, she shuddered hard.

“Whoa,” said Ares, taking her from Cain and pulling her into his arms.

Hard, warm, safe….

“Raindrop, we’re going to get through this, baby.”

Safe, warm Ares.

He ran one hand through her hair at her scalp, tender and comforting. “We have every last detector from every warden clan in the world at the ready to pull this off. Maze will expect a lot of magic, but I doubt he’ll be expecting all of that magic to focus on a single thing.”

She felt dizzy as hell, and a little sick. But she was in the arms of the man she had always loved, and she had to admit he was probably right. Focusing on one thing was quite literally not in Victor Maze’s repertoire. He was the chaos god. He was a god in need of Adderall, if ever there was one. Which was why they’d decided to go with this plan.

…the man I’ve always loved?

When Annaleia realized fully what she’d just thought and that it was absolutely and fundamentally true, she experienced a flush of warmth with an unsteady sigh and wrapped her arms around him to hug him back. She closed her eyes and nestled into him. Promise me they’ll be okay, Ares. If you promise me right now, I’ll believe you.

But of course he didn’t tell her that, despite this being the perfect time to do so. It was simply a promise he couldn’t make. This was a bad situation. It was terrifying for a reason.

It was too bad no one had yet been able to find Victor Maze’s original jailor, the Great Black dragon Bantariax. So far, the only thing location or scrying spells had managed to pin down was flickering and ever-changing fragments of his essence, scattered all around the world. Every once in a while one would grow stronger, but then it would move and seem to split again.

At least, that’s what she’d heard.

They were on their own.

“Alright. I’m meeting the boys for a final rundown. The portal will remain in transit until the scramble is complete. Hang in there just a little while longer,” he told them. To Annaleia he said, “Remember, when you get to the safe house, don’t leave the portal until you see Lily Kane at the other end. She’s waiting for you there.” To Ares he said, “Mace, I’ll see you soon.”

Then he stepped through the portal wall – which Anna had always thought impossible – and was gone.

Chapter Thirty-two – (Temporary) Sovereign Safehouse, Undisclosed location

“Okay. So let me get this straight.” Conall Tiarnahn braced his hands on