cages, trying to pull apart the bars, and various other things to try to break free.
The Triune and Chelle lay in their cages, unconscious.
Gary and Tom yelled at me.
Caleb met my eyes, and I saw fear within his.
Wait, the Triune had told them there would be a test today. Was this it? Was it actually a test for me?
Alfred moved closer to me, his hands shifting to wolf’s paws with claws ready to attack.
“You did this,” I whispered. “You sold us out.”
He nodded. “The vampires pay better than anyone else.”
I couldn’t just unleash my fire in an explosion, because I’d likely hurt everyone in the cages. Unless I could get to the middle of the vampires and use it on them.
Wait.
I glanced up at the sun and then back down at the vampires who were not burning.
“This isn’t real,” I whispered.
Closing my eyes, I used my other senses.
Magic stirred on my left. I turned and struck out with fire.
An explosion knocked me to my butt and when I opened my eyes, I found not vampires, but Fae.
“What is this?” I asked as I stood.
Everyone was still in cages and Alfred still advanced on me, but the vampires were actually Fae.
“For too long, we’ve been under the witches’ control. We will be free,” the Fae in the front said.
I sighed. “I’m not controlling anyone. If you don’t want to be here or don’t want your sons to be here...leave.”
That caught them off guard.
“You don’t speak for all witches,” the Fae man said.
I laughed. “If I’m the last, how do I not?”
“The Triune,” Caleb said.
My head whipped around to him. “You knew this would happen? Was this part of your plan? Were you going to kill me?”
“No,” he snapped. “I’m not going to kill you.”
“But you knew this would happen,” I said and bit my lip to stop it from trembling. “You betrayed me.”
“No, Sarah. I didn’t—”
“I am the last witch, and as such, I speak for all of them. Only those who truly wish to be Guardians should stay. This is voluntary. If you wish to leave, then do so.”
Alfred snorted and leaped for me, but hit my barrier and yelped as he fell backward.
I walked to the cages, the gathered Fae warily watching, and opened the doors.
I stepped back and said, “You are all free to go.”
Caleb tried to push through the others in the cage to reach me, but I walked away.
“Not good enough,” the Fae leader said. “As long as you breathe, you can repopulate the witches and we will always be second class citizens.” He drew a bow and shot an arrow tipped with a silvery light. It pierced my barrier and struck me in the chest.
“Sarah!” Caleb, Gary, Tom, and a few others called out.
With a shaking hand, I touched the arrow’s shaft protruding from my chest. I expected pain, but as I fell, only numbness spread.
My body bounced on the ground, and my head fell sideways, dirt and leaves pressed against my lips, but I couldn’t move them away.
Hands touched me, people yelled, and my body was moved, though I couldn’t tell who touched me or where we were going. My surroundings blurred and then my eyes closed.
The darkness didn’t last long. Bright light speared my eyes and I opened them—
Caleb stood over me, his hands pressed to my chest, and white light flowing from him into me. “Hold on, Sarah. I’ve got you. I’m not going to let you die.”
“Traitor,” I whispered.
He shook his head. “No, I’m not.”
“Leave,” I hissed and tried to sit up, but Tom held my arms down.
“No, stay still and let him heal you,” Tom said.
The magic Caleb poured into me was fast-working and it wasn’t long before I could speak properly.
“Leave. I’m not your pawn. I don’t want this...any of this. Take all the Fae and leave,” I snapped and struggled against Tom’s hold. “Leave.” Tears slid down my cheeks and down my neck.
I’d warmed up to him. I’d considered leaving Gary and Tom to protect them and keeping Caleb. And this was his plan all along, to give the Fae their freedom at my expense.
“It wasn’t me,” Caleb said. “I overheard some of the others discussing it, but I didn’t think they’d actually try anything. They won’t stop until the Triune is destroyed.”
“They’re pieces of the Goddess. You can’t destroy them,” I said.
I didn’t believe him. There was more to this than he was telling me.
Tom released me at the same time Caleb stepped back.
I sat up and