Once Bitten (Shadow Guild: The Rebel #1) - Linsey Hall Page 0,64
over the gate, too, so they definitely weren’t supposed to be there. I tucked myself deeper into the shadows to watch them approach. Two men, both of average height and looks.
“I think I recognize them,” Mac murmured. “A seer and a sorcerer from Guild City. They pass through the pub sometimes but rarely stop to drink.”
They reached the edge of the small graveyard and hesitated briefly. I squinted as I watched them, the full moon illuminating their movements. They gestured—a kind of circular movement with a flick at the end. The faintest flash of light appeared, and they stepped forward.
For a brief minute, the air around them turned a faint blue. Then they were on the other side of the barrier, and it disappeared.
“A magical shield,” Eve whispered. “Only supernaturals can enter the graveyard as long as it is up.”
“And only if they make that gesture,” Quinn said.
The figures were blurry now, the barrier seeming to make them almost invisible to the eye. Someone walking by probably wouldn’t notice them.
I strained my eyes, trying to glean any more clues about what was going on inside. We were only an hour from midnight, the most dangerous time for our victim. We didn’t want to rush in and scare off the necromancer and lose her, so we were trying to play it slow and careful.
It was making me antsy as hell, though.
“They’re putting something on,” Quinn murmured.
As I watched, the blurry figures swirled cloaks around their shoulders and pulled up the hoods.
“Okay, that’s some creepy ritual stuff,” Mac said.
“Incoming,” the Devil whispered.
I looked up, spotting two women headed toward us—incredibly gorgeous women like Eve, who had stashed her wings when we’d come to the human world, magically folding them into her body.
“Are they Fae?” I asked.
“They are.” Eve’s voice had a dark timbre. “Vivia and Elona. I never liked them.”
They entered the protected graveyard in the same way the seer and the sorcerer had, using identical gestures. They were nearly invisible on the other side, but I caught sight of them sweep on their cloaks.
“It looks like someone from every guild is here,” the Devil said. “Almost.”
“Is it a council thing?” I asked.
“No. None of them are high ranking,” Quinn said. “I wonder how many more are coming.”
“It’s close to midnight.” I frowned. “Maybe not many more will show.”
“It’s a small church,” the Devil said. “I’m not sure all of us will be able to sneak in unnoticed.”
“You and I will go.” I didn’t mind risking him as much as my new friends…right? The idea made me uncomfortable, but there was no disputing the value of his abilities. And somehow, I knew he wouldn’t let me go in there without him. I looked at Quinn, Eve, and Mac, who were scowling at me. “You guys can be backup if a fight starts.”
“How will we know if a fight starts?” Mac said.
“I’ll call you.” If I had time.
“Bad idea.” Mac shook her head and yanked off the necklace she wore, handing it to me. “Take my comms charm. When it gets dicey in there, tap it and call us. It’s connected to Quinn’s and Eve’s charms, so we’ll hear you.”
“I can call my security force as backup as well,” the Devil said.
“Okay. We’re as prepared as we’ll ever be, then.” I studied the street around us. “Let’s slip into the graveyard and try to ambush the next people to arrive. We can use their cloaks to sneak in.”
The Devil nodded. I gave my friends a goodbye look, then hurried after him toward the graveyard. When we reached the magical barrier, I could feel it prickle against my skin.
“Do you remember the symbol?” the Devil asked.
“I do.” Raising my hand, I mimicked the circular gesture that I’d seen people make. The magic in the air changed slightly, and I held my breath as I stepped through the barrier. At first, it resisted. I had to force my foot through air that felt like jelly, but finally, I was inside the protected space.
The Devil entered with seeming ease and pointed to a massive headstone. “Let’s hide there. We’ll be covered and have a view of the church.”
Together, we knelt behind the gravestone. The Devil had changed into the same simple black tactical wear that his security force wore, and somehow, he was even more handsome in casual clothing. My shoulder pressed against his thin jumper, and it was impossible not to feel the heat of his skin. Every inch of me was impossibly aware of