"Yes." Azriel pulled me into his embrace and wrapped his arms around me. "I fear, however, you have only delayed the inevitable."
"I know." I closed my eyes and listened to the steady beat of his heart, feeling so safe it had tears stinging my eyes. But it was an illusion. None of us were safe. Not even a Mijai warrior with centuries of fighting behind him. But I'm hoping that by the time they realize I have no intention of giving them the key, we'll have figured out a way of stopping them from hurting anyone.
It is possible. Though more than likely impossible. He didn't add that last bit, but the words hovered between us nevertheless. Shall we go get Ilianna, and see if she can create a doorway through those stones in the warehouse?
Yes. There wasn't much else we could do right now.
A second later we were standing outside the Brindle. It was a white four-story building that had been built in the Victorian era – a grand old lady from a bygone time that was a whole lot more than she seemed. It was the home of all witch knowledge, and was protected by a veil of power so strong that there were very few in this world – or the next – who would dare test its boundaries. Though I'd never considered myself overly sensitive to magic, I'd always been aware of its presence here. But the sensation I got from the place now was weirdly different. It wasn't just awareness – it felt like the power was alive. Energy crawled across my skin, its touch sharp, electric. Probing. The Brindle didn't suffer evil to enter, but it had never reacted to me like this before Azriel's presence in my life.
"It happens because you are now Mijai in waiting." Azriel pressed his fingers against my spine, lightly guiding me toward the steps.
"But this was happening before you pulled me back from death."
"Possibly because I was linked to your chi."
It was more than that, and we both knew it. He'd been linked to my chi – or life energy, as Ilianna called it – from the beginning of this mess, and it was only very recently that the Brindle had begun reacting to me.
But I let the matter drop – at least for now – and took the steps two at a time. The huge, medieval-looking, wood and wrought-iron doors were open, and a slender, brown-haired, tunic-clad figure waited to the left of them – for us, I suspected.
"Risa, Azriel," she said softly, as I approached. "Please follow me."
We obeyed, our footsteps echoing softly on the marble tiles. The energy of this place was so strong that every step was accompanied by a spray of golden sparks. The Brindle's interior tended to be somewhat austere, though the foyer's brickwork had been painted a rich gold that added a warmth that the entrance otherwise lacked. We were led to the end of the hall and down some stairs, then into a wide hall that was lined with darkly stained timber and filled with shadows, despite the morning light. Sconces flickered on as we approached, then went dark once we'd passed, fueled by magic rather than electricity.
We turned right at the end of this hall, and went down a second set of stairs. After traversing another hallway, we reached the end and two large, intricately carved wooden doors. The slender witch opened one of these, ushered us through, then closed it. The room beyond reminded me somewhat of a medieval hall, with its gabled wooden roof and walls lined with tapestries. But it was the large protection circle that caught my eye – that, and the four women standing within it. Ilianna, Mirri, Kiandra, and Ilianna's mom, Zaira.
I stopped immediately. Magic eddied around us – tides of power that itched at my skin – and I didn't want to risk getting any closer in case my presence disturbed it in some way. For several minutes, no one moved; then Ilianna sighed and glanced my way.
"Are you having any luck unravelling the cord?" I said.