face. “But, Dez…I need to know first. Are you all right?” I managed one nod before he continued. “We haven’t finished decoding the rest of the scroll, and we need to hurry and do that before the fighting starts.”
“Fighting?”
Jace ushered me toward his levibike. “You don’t think Reese is going to let you get away now, do you?” He started the engine. “Now that his plans have been ruined, I’m sure the Narcos will try and take you by force.”
Reese’s warning echoed in my mind, adding to the fear in Jace’s voice.
Run.
Jace took us to his house. For now, there was no going back to the Academy. When I walked through the door, Lana wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Oh, my God,” she said. “I was so worried. When Dr. Thailow finally deciphered the part about…well, Jace figured out it was you.” Her eyes shone, gleaming with tears. “I wanted to come with him, but he wouldn’t let me.”
I hugged her again. “I’m glad. I wouldn’t want you in danger, Lane.”
Her eyes trailed over my busted corset, and she pinched her eyebrows together. “Did Reese hurt—”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m fine.”
She clasped my hand, pulling me behind her as she moved toward the stairs. “Come on. Let’s get you a change of clothes.”
Once I was in her bedroom, she closed the door and left to join the others downstairs. I needed a moment alone. I didn’t want to face all those knowing eyes just yet. My secret was out. They knew who I was, and they weren’t attacking me. I shook my head in confusion.
My mom had hidden me all these years from our own Council, but they weren’t locking me up or trying to kill me. Well, yet, I realized. I tried to clear my lungs with a shuddering breath, and then went to Lana’s closet. I grabbed a pair of leather pants and a loose fitting blouse. Then I balled up my bustle and tattered corset and tossed it in her waste basket.
I made my way down the steps and braced myself for the interrogation I was sure I was going to get. As I entered the dining room, I saw the Tuners’ table littered with proofs of the scroll, documents, and maps. Four members of the Shythe Council sat around the table. I assumed the man hunched over a notebook, scribbling away was Dr. Thailow. I glanced around, and noticed Mr. Tuner in the kitchen. I gave him a weak smile. He only nodded, his eyes heavy with his thoughts.
He neared the table and pressed his palms flat against it, staring at the other members of the Shythe Council and his family. “We may only have hours before an attack comes. The scroll can wait.” He eyed Dr. Thailow. “We have what the Narcos want, so we must plan strategy now.”
Jace stepped forward. “The barrier spell,” he said. “We need to reverse it. The Narcos’ airships are docked in our harbor. We can infiltrate the ships, take them over, and push them and the rest of the army beyond the barrier.” He glanced at each serious face in the room. “We’ve snuck on the airships before. It’s not that—”
“Which was the stupidest thing you’ve ever done, Jace,” Mr. Tuner interrupted.
Jace’s eyes shot toward him, angry. “We have the scroll now. Don’t we? And we have Dez.” He looked to me for a moment. “We might only have a short time to try and force their army through the barrier. If we can reverse their spell, I think we can fight them back.”
Dr. Thailow stood. “That’s a fine plan, Jace, but our army is no match for the Feyan. Even if we somehow manage to put the original barrier back up, I don’t know how we’re to defeat an army of super Kythan and Narco guards. It’ll be a massacre.”
The room went still. Then Nick spoke. “Regardless, we have to try.” His eyes scanned our faces. “If we don’t fight, they’ll storm every house, every unit, looking for Dez. And after they take her, they’ll destroy us.” He lifted his shoulders, shrugging. “The way I see it, we don’t have a choice.”
“What about the magics?” Lana piped up. “Is there some kind of spell that we could cast on the Narcos? Make them leave?”
Dr. Thailow shook his head. “Those are long lost, my dear. I’ve no idea how the Narco Council managed to remove the humans.” He rubbed his forehead. “They must have a powerful leader in