Chapter 31

“There’s no haze on this side.” Reagan whispered.

We moved back toward the overgrown grass, keeping low to go look from another angle.

“I can’t believe we don’t have to be on coms to do this.” Paisley said.

I glanced behind us to the guards. Detrick winked and pointed to his ear. “The guards are dialed in.” I said softly.

Paisley and Reagan both turned to look at their guards.

“Captain’s orders.” Felix said with a serious look.

Paisley nodded and started moving again. “I suppose it makes sense.” She paused and looked in the other direction. “In case we run into trouble.”

“I’m hoping they think we got away and have no way of finding this spot again.” I checked the direction we had already covered, looking for any signs of their people.

“Surveillance team hasn’t reported any increase in guards.” Reagan said softly.

Paisley nodded, then motioned to me, “we need to get Rena to put Kinsley on the report list.”

Reagan nodded. “I already told Quinton to do that.” She smiled at me. “She needs to be informed and owing to the fact that she was a guard, she has the experience the rest of us women don’t.”

I opened my mouth to correct them and say I was still a guard but decided in the middle of an open field when we were supposed to scoping out the place wasn’t the right moment.

“Let’s get behind that tree over there.” Paisley pointed.

Gudrun moved alongside me, then passed me and headed to the tree.

I blew out a breath and looked down at the grass around my boots.

“You’ll get used to it.” Paisley said.

I glanced at her before following Gudrun.

“The constant guarding.” Paisley added.

“It’s not really necessary.” I said and regretted that I sounded petulant.

“From the looks you and Emil were giving each other, I’d say it’s very necessary.” Reagan said, amused.

Paisley stopped and checked behind us again, “how’s that going?” She looked at me, “with Emil?” She clarified.

“There’s nothing to really…”

Gudrun crouched down.

I immediately followed, crouching.

He pointed toward the old school.

I raised up to look over the grass toward the building. There were four men standing near a door. Each had a weapon. I blew out a breath when one of them lit a cigarette then offered his pack to the next guy. Not sentries, just taking a break. I held my hand up with my fist clenched to tell the guards around us to hold where we were. I didn’t need to look and see if they followed the silent command, we were all trained the same.

Reagan sat right down, crossed her legs and waited, facing the building. I didn’t know much about her life before Alterealm, but clearly, she knew when to wait it out. I did know she was over one hundred and fifty years old though, so some quick math told me she’d seen a war or two in her time.

Paisley didn’t look toward the building at all, she watched Gudrun to see what he was doing.

The men were still standing outside, chatting quietly. I didn’t focus too much on what was being said, their demeanor told me they weren’t even slightly worried about the prospect of being watched. I gnawed on my lip and thought about that. We’d checked two directions so far, neither had sentries nor were watching for unwanted company. I looked at Reagan. “Can you see all magic?” I whispered under my breath.

She nodded, then tilted her head to ask me why.

No guards, I mouthed then jerked my head toward the building.

She frowned and then nodded, she understood what I was saying. Leaning closer until we were inches apart, she spoke into her shoulder. I was impressed she knew to do that so her voice wouldn’t travel. “I’ll have to get closer.” She said.

I nodded and then turned to see Detrick and Felix were close enough to hear her as well. They both nodded. Looking, I watched two of the men go back inside. Another walked over to corner of the building and relieved himself. With a shrug to the man on the steps, the two of them went back inside.

“You think it’s warded somehow?” Reagan asked.

I shrugged, “you’d think after the princess and I landing in there, they would at least have someone keeping watch.”

Reagan looked at Derian, “ask Quinton his thoughts.”

Derian smirked, probably because she knew who would be on the other end of the call. He backed up a few feet further from us and touched his earpiece.

I didn’t pay attention to what he was saying, I was too busy looking around the building, trying to figure out how we could get closer without being seen. If it was warded, how would they be able to come and go from the building without being detected?

“He says we’re not to get too close.” Derian said.

I bit my lip. “Stay here, I’ll be right back.”

Gudrun stiffened.

“Relax, I just want to try something.” I gave him a hard look and hoped I’d pulled off that commanding expression my superiors used on me.

He motioned to Detrick. “He follows at a distance.”

I looked at Detrick, then turned to Paisley. “I want to see if it’s an alarm or warning system.”

She nodded and looked at Detrick. “Stay here.”

With an uneasy expression on his face he nodded.

“Have them tell the watch team to move back further.” I told Derian. “In case they check beyond the perimeter.”

Derian started talking quietly again into the coms.

I didn’t wait to hear what he said. I moved back in the direction we’d come from. At least it the building was only one level, so falling over railings wouldn’t be an issue here. Unfortunately, it was a big structure with many doors and a lot of windows to cover at the same time. I was going to go all the way back to the first side we’d checked for portals. If it came down to it and I needed to hightail it out of there, I didn’t want to endanger the princesses. I scowled at the ground. I was not a princess. I was not a guard. What the hell was I now?

I spotted the tree we’d stood by and headed for it. I kept watch for something to throw beyond the field to land closer to the building. I found something about thirty seconds later when I stumbled over a stone hidden in the long grass. It was about the size of a baseball and perfect for my test.

I got behind the tree and tried to judge the distance from here to there. I had no idea if I could throw it that far. I looked down at the rock in my hand as if to say, it’s up to you. Nodding to myself I stepped out and whipped the stone with all the might I could find. That side of the building lit up as soon as the rock crossed some unseen barrier. I looked to see several large floodlights on the side of the wall.

When the door opened, I ducked back behind the tree. Two men came out it. Guns were in their hands. I snarled in their direction. Cowards used guns. They headed in different directions, looking around the area.

When one pulled out a flashlight and shone it into the field, I leaned behind the tree, watching the light reflect over the grass near me. The light disappeared. Ducking down I looked around the tree.

“Animal?” Another man stood in the doorway looking out at them.

“Probably.” The one at the corner of the building said.

“Come on.” The guy in the door said as he shrugged out of his jacket. “We only have a day left.”

I frowned as they went back inside. A day left for what? Having seen enough, I double-timed it back to the others. My adrenaline was so high when I reached them, I was almost out of breath. I held up my hand as I pulled out my phone. I tapped my call list to call the Captain. Rafael, I thought as I raised it to my ear.

“Kinsley?”

I nodded, “the old school has motion-sensor lights.”

“That’s an obstacle.” He said in a serious tone. “I wonder if it warns them inside too.”

“I don’t know.” The others moved closer so they could hear what I was saying. “The guards have guns as well.”

I watched Gudrun’s expression darken.

“Shit.” Rafael hissed out a breath, “hang on.” I heard doors being opened and closed. “You’re on speaker.” He informed me. “It’s Kinsley. The school has motion sensor lights, and the guards have guns.”

I didn’t wait for anyone else to speak. “One came out and took off his jacket,” I cringed, knowing I’d just buried the main fact, “a heavy winter jacket.” I added speaking each word slowly.

“Do you think there’s another portal inside?” That was Michael.

“Not sure, we still have one side left to check.” I glanced to Reagan, she nodded.

“Check it and get back here.” That was Troy.

“Will do.”

“Port to the palace, we’ll be in the summit room.” Quinton said.

“See you soon.” I hung up the phone and tucked it in my pocket.

“Guns?” Paisley blew out a loud breath. “I hate guns.”

“Yeah.” I turned to Detrick, “we’re to check the last side and get to the summit room.”

“The man had a winter coat on?” Reagan looked toward the building.

I nodded, “Yeah somewhere in there is a portal to the winter hideout.”

She glanced to Felix. “Let’s go check that last side.” She started moving. “Are they going to figure out what to do with the lights?”

I gave her a quick look. “I hope so.”

“That’s a good thing—in a way.” Paisley said. “They must be running out of mages, it would be warded instead.”

I hadn’t thought of that. “There’s only one mage I want to see.”

She snorted softly, “get in line. I’ve lost count how many times he’s tried to kill all of us.”