do anything stupid. Once it’s clear, go to Asile. The sprites will make sure your path is clear.”
I tensed. “But—”
“Do as I say. I’ll help Ricardo.”
She worked her magic on me again. Its hypnotic control sent a chill slithering down my spine, but I tried to fight it.
Focus, Gia.
The bookcase shook and rattled as it slid open. A glass front bookcase nearby reflected the room. Several muscled guards stormed the room. Even the young women were menacing—tall and broad shouldered.
“Hold on boys,” Sinead said to two young male guards. “I come in peace. I’m here to speak to Conemar.”
The guards each seized one of her arms. “Oh, you will speak with him. When he returns,” the taller, bulkier one said, his accent as thick as his arms.
“She’s fey, and she’s trying to compel us,” one of the girls said. “Remember our training and block her magic from your minds.”
The two guards dragged Sinead away.
I held my breath, waiting for them to leave. A woman’s voice spoke a charm in what sounded like Russian. I had assumed all keys were in Italian, but obviously, they weren’t. I kept repeating the phrase within my mind, trying to memorize it.
The bookcase rattled open, boots slapped down steps, then the bookcase slammed back into place. I peered over the display. The sprites flew around me, all talking at once. It was like an annoying buzzing in my ear. “One at a time. I can’t make out what you’re saying.”
One with shocking red hair fluttered in front of my face. “You have to go after her.” Her voice whistled like a quiet teakettle. “You can do it. You’re the presaged.”
“I think she compelled me or something. I want to go but can’t.”
“It will wear off. Go help her when it does. We will clear the path to Couve and the Shelter.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“Not to worry. We have our tricks.”
They flew off, leaving me alone in the library.
After several excruciating minutes warring against Sinead’s magic, I blew out an exasperated breath.
My globe! It can undo spells. I held up my hand and willed it to life. The pink membrane engulfed me, releasing Sinead’s magic. Thankfully, there weren’t any aftereffects, other than a slight tingle in my stomach.
I hurried to the bookcase and spoke the key. It took several attempts to get the pronunciation of the Russian charm correct before the bookcase finally opened.
Too frightened to fire up a light globe, I felt for each step with my boot as I eased down the wet stairwell. Drops of water fell from the ceiling and landed on my head. At the bottom, I dragged my fingertips across the rough wall to guide myself down the pitch-black tunnel. I couldn’t believe I was doing this, but I had to risk it for Sinead. Ricardo didn’t know she was there, and I had to tell him, somehow.
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and wrinkled my nose. It smelled as if something had died in the tunnel. The darkness freaked me out. The scurry of tiny critters’ feet sounded below me. Something with many legs fell on my arm and skittered across my skin. I shrieked and quickly slapped it away.
Since I had probably woken the dead with that scream, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ignite a globe. After I had, I wished I hadn’t. Tons of spiders and other nasty bugs crawled across the walls and ceilings, and on the ground, several rats rushed in and out of holes in the mortar. I centered myself within the tunnel and stepped carefully over the fast moving hairballs underfoot. I shuddered with every step I took.
Nearly twenty minutes later, I reached the bottom of another staircase. I inched up the stairs and paused at the door. After extinguishing my light globe, I created a pink one in its place and threw it at the door, hoping to eliminate any wards attached. This time the magic shocked me. I rested against the door and waited for the spins to stop.
Using magic sucks.
After jerking the door open, I crept inside. Figuring I was in an outbuilding just like the ones in Asile and Couve, I continued to the other side where I hoped the door to the outside would be. Fur coats hanging on the wall by the door brushed my skin as I passed.
I stepped outside onto a cold and barren field, shivered, and darted back inside. Unbuckling my scabbard, I slipped it off and