Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,297

my feet, knowing full well the victims of his torture wouldn't be merciful if we let them decide his fate. But that really wasn't my problem. If they wanted to get revenge on him for what he’d done then they had the right to.

"If we just let them make a run for it they'll be caught again," Xavier protested angrily and I ran a hand over my jaw, knowing that there was a fair chance he was right about that.

"I don't see what else we can do," Seth said. "I mean, the Rats could shift and maybe sneak out, but the Sphinxes and Minotaurs..." He shrugged. "At least this way they'll have a shot."

"That's not good enough," Xavier demanded, stamping his foot angrily again and I opened my mouth to argue just as the sound of stone grinding on stone announced another secret door opening behind us.

I whirled around, fire blossoming in my fists as I felt Seth's air shield lock into place around us and my heart nearly fell out of the pit of my stomach as a door slid open in the wall and Gabriel stepped through it.

"I saw that you needed my help in getting some people out of here," he said with a cocky grin which he totally deserved to be sporting.

"Fuck yes," Seth whooped and Xavier sagged with relief as I set my focus on setting these Fae free.

I bent down and hunted Gravebone's pockets while he bucked and fought beneath me, but he was so well tied that there was no chance of him getting away. I pinned him down with an irritated grunt, finding the key to the magic restricting cuffs in his pocket followed by a thick metal key which I was guessing would set the Fae beyond that door loose.

I swiped a hand over my face as I cast the concealment to hide my identity and Seth quickly did the same for him and Xavier. Gabriel followed our lead and once I was certain no one would recognise us, I grabbed hold of the leather cuff tying Eugene's wrist to the table and tugged on it with a surge of my Vampire strength. The damn thing almost didn't give but with a grunt of effort, I broke it, leaving Eugene to unbuckle the rest of his limbs as I raced towards the door on the other side of the room.

The key I'd stolen from Gravebone opened it and I found a row of cells full of Fae who all shrieked and cringed away from the bars at the sight of the door opening.

"I'm here to get you out," I called, my voice disguised by the concealment spell as I moved to the closest cell and quickly unlocked it.

I decided that them knowing I was a Vampire wouldn't really risk my identity and quickly shot around using my gifts to unlock the rest of the cells as fast as possible. The Fae inside all poured out, calling their thanks, some of them sobbing as they ran for the exit and a freedom I was guessing they hadn’t expected to ever see again.

By the time I returned to the main room, Seth had unlocked most of their cuffs and Gravebone was well and truly dead. His blood was seeping over the floor and his mangled body so pulverised I was willing to bet they'd beaten him to death instead of wasting magic on him.

I dispersed the vines I'd created to hold him and Gabriel ushered the escapees towards the dark tunnel he'd emerged from.

"Go now," he barked at us. "Caleb needs to run you back to the party within the next thirty seconds or you'll be missed. I can get everyone away from here safely. Hamish will help them hide from there."

I didn't need telling twice so I gave Gabriel a firm nod before shooting forward and hooking an arm each around Xavier and Seth before speeding out of the hidden chamber.

I only paused to close the concealed door again then hoisted the two of them into my grasp and carried them back to the party, skidding to a halt at the side exit we'd used to escape it.

Xavier looked half inclined to puke from the speed we'd just travelled at and Seth shook his head like he was trying to stave off some dizziness. I dispelled the illusions over us and we pushed the door open, slipping back inside.

My heart was thundering as I led the way towards the buffet and my