Chapter 24 THE ATTACKER REVEALED
CHAPTER 024: THE ATTACKER REVEALED
The guards search Morgana's room but find nothing except the blade embedded in the wal
I stare at it. The metal is black and etched with symbols I don't recognize. They pulse faint red like they're aliv
"Don't touch it," Corvus warn
One of the guards reaches for it anyway. The moment his fingers brush the handle he screams and jerks back. His hand is smokin
"Cursed blade," Alaric says quietly. "Forged with blood magic
The guard cradles his burned hand. Another guard helps him out of the roo
Morgana stands in the corner. She hasn't said a word since we got back here. Her eyes are locked on the blad
"We need to find whoever wielded that," Kieran growl
"They're long gone," Zev says. "No trace. No scent. Nothing
"Then how did they get in?" Cassian demand
Corvus examines the window. It's closed. Locked from the inside. "They didn't use the window
"The door was guarded," Sofia points ou
"Then they used magic," I sa
Everyone turns to look at m
"What kind of magic gets past academy wards?" Kieran ask
"The kind that's older than the wards," Morgana whisper
We all stare at he
"What do you mean?" I as
She finally looks up. Her face is pale. "The Hollow King's magic is ancient. It predates most of the protections here. If someone's using his power they could walk through walls and no one would notice
"Someone working for him then," Alaric say
"Or someone he's controlling," Zev add
A chill runs down my spine. "Like he controlled you
Morgana nods slowl
"Then anyone in this academy could be the attacker," Sofia says. "Anyone he's gotten his claws into
"That's a comforting thought," Cassian mutter
Corvus straightens. "I'll order a full lockdown. No one in or out until we find who did this
"That won't work," Morgana says. "If they're using his magic they'll just disappear again
"Then what do you suggest?" Corvus ask
She looks at me. "We bait them
"Absolutely not," Kieran snap
"It's the only way," Morgana argues. "They came after me because I'm bonded to Thalira. If we separate they'll try again
"And that's supposed to be better?" Sofia demand
"It is if we're ready for them." Morgana's voice is steady now. "We set a trap. Make them think I'm alone. When they come we catch them
"You're asking us to use you as bait," Alaric say
"I'm volunteering
"Why?" I as
She meets my eyes. "Because I owe you. You saved my life today. Let me help save yours
The room goes quie
Kieran shakes his head. "This is too dangerous
"Everything is dangerous right now," Morgana shoots back. "At least this way we're making a choice instead of waiting for him to make one for us
I hate that she's righ
"If we do this," I say slowly, "we do it smart. Guards hidden. Wards reinforced. And I stay close enough to feel if something goes wrong
"No," Kieran says immediatel
"Yes." I turn to face him. "The bond works both ways. If she's in danger I'll know before anyone else
His jaw clenches but he doesn't argu
"When?" Cassian ask
"Tonight," Morgana says. "Before they have time to regroup
Corvus looks like he wants to object but finally nods. "I'll arrange it. But if anything goes wrong we pull you out immediately
"Agreed," I say before Morgana can argu
The guards clear out. Corvus leaves to make preparations. Sofia squeezes my hand before following the
The boys sta
They form a loose circle around me and the tension is thick enough to choke o
"This is a bad idea," Kieran says for the third tim
"Noted," I repl
"I'm serious Thalira. You're putting yourself in danger to protect someone who tried to kill you two days ago
"And yesterday I saved her life. Things change
"Not that fast they don't
"Maybe they do when you're bonded to someone." My voice rises. "Maybe when you feel everything they feel you stop seeing them as an enemy and start seeing them as a person
Kieran's eyes flash gold. "Or maybe you're letting the bond manipulate you into making stupid choices
"That's enough," Alaric cuts in. His voice is ice. "Fighting won't help
"Neither will coddling her," Kieran snap
"I'm not coddling her. I'm being realistic." Alaric looks at me. "This plan is dangerous. But it's also our best shot at finding who's working for the Hollow King
"Thank you," I sa
"Don't thank me yet." His expression darkens. "Because if this goes wrong you might not survive long enough to regret it
Zev hasn't said anything. He's been watching me with those too knowing eye
"What?" I finally as
"You're scared," he says quietl
"Of course I'm scared
"But you're doing it anyway
"I don't have a choice
"You always have a choice." He steps closer. "You're just choosing to protect her over protecting yourself
"Someone has to
"Why you
I don't have an answer for tha
Cassian breaks the silence. "We'll be there. All of us. If anything happens we'll stop it
"You can't be in the room," I say. "They'll know it's a trap
"Then we'll be close," Kieran growls. "Close enough to hear if you scream
Night falls too fas
They move Morgana to a different room. One with better sight lines and fewer places for an attacker to hide. Guards are positioned in the hallway but out of sigh
The boys hide in an adjacent room with the door cracked. I can feel Kieran's restless energy even from her
I sit with Morgan
She's on the bed. I'm in a chair by the window. The curtains are open and moonlight spills across the floo
"You didn't have to do this," she says quietl
"Yes I did
"Why
"Because the bond goes both ways. If something happens to you I feel it. I'd rather be here than somewhere else wondering if you're dying
She's quiet for a moment. "I never thanked you
"For what
"For not giving up on me. Everyone else did
My chest tightens. "I'm not everyone else
"No." She almost smiles. "You're really not
We wait in silenc
An hour passes. Then tw
Nothing happen
Morgana starts to relax. "Maybe they're not coming
"They'll come," I say. "Just wait
Another hour crawls b
Then the temperature drop
It happens so fast I see my breath mist in the air. Morgana sits up straigh
"Did you feel that?" she whisper
"Yeah
The candles flicker. Then go out completel
We're plunged into darkness except for the moonligh
A shadow moves in the corner of the roo
Not a normal shadow. This one is solid. Aliv
It peels away from the wall and takes shap
A figure in a black cloa
Morgana scrambles backward. I stand and put myself between her and the attacke
"Who are you?" I deman
The figure doesn't answer. Just moves toward us with slow deliberate step
I reach for my time magic. It flickers to life in my ches
The figure raises a hand. The blade from earlier flies across the room into their gri
"Show your face," I sa
The figure stops. Then slowly reaches up and lowers their hoo
My blood turns to ic
It's a woman. Tall. Elegant. With silver hair braided down her back and eyes that glow like ember
She smiles and it's the cruelest thing I've ever see
"Well well," she says. Her voice is smooth as silk and twice as deadly. "The Phoenix Soul and her little pet. How touching
Morgana makes a small terrified sound behind m
"Who are you?" I ask agai
"I am Seraphine." She tilts her head. "The Hollow King's right hand. And you little phoenix are long overdue for your final death
She move
Faster than anything huma
The blade flashes toward my throa
I try to freeze time but my power stutters and fail
The blade is inches from my nec
Then Kieran crashes through the windo
Glass explodes everywhere. He's already shifted. His massive wolf form slams into Seraphine and they hit the ground har
Alaric bursts through the door. Cassian and Zev right behind hi
"Get Thalira out," Alaric shout
Zev grabs my arm. "Come on
"I'm not leaving them
"They can handle her. You can't
"Let go of me
Seraphine throws Kieran off like he weighs nothing. He crashes into the wall hard enough to crack the ston
Cassian's flames explode around him. "You made a mistake coming here
Seraphine laughs. "Did I
She moves again. This time toward m
Zev shoves me behind him. His dream magic ripples the ai
But Seraphine doesn't even slow dow
She reaches out and her hand closes around my throa
Pain explodes through me. Not physical. Something deepe
The seed in my chest burns white ho
"You think you can fight him?" she whispers. Her face is inches from mine. "The Hollow King has already won. You've been marked since birth
I claw at her hand. Can't breathe. Can't thin
"You really don't know do you?" She smiles wider. "You're not just his daughter little phoenix. You're his weapon. And soon you'll destroy everyone you love
Her words slam into me harder than any blade coul
"What are you talking about?" I choke ou
Before she can answer Alaric's hand wraps around her wrist. His eyes are solid red now. Full vampir
"Let her go
Seraphine releases me. I collapse and Zev catches m
She looks at Alaric with something like amusement. "So protective. How sweet
Then she vanishe
Just dissolves into black smok
The room falls silent except for my ragged breathin
Kieran shifts back to human form. Blood drips from a cut on his forehead. "What the hell was that
"That was a message," Morgana whispers. She's pressed against the wall. Shakin
"What kind of message?" Cassian demand
I push myself up on trembling legs. "She said I've been marked since birth. That I'm his weapon
The boys exchange look
Dark look
Looks that say they know something I don'
"What did she mean?" My voice cracks. "Tell me
Alaric's jaw tightens. "We need to talk to Corvus
"No." I step toward them. "Tell me now
Zev's expression is carefully blank. "Thalira
"Now
Kieran's the one who finally speaks. His voice is rough. Broke
"The prophecy," he says. "It doesn't just say you'll save the world or destroy it
"Then what does it say
He looks me in the eye
"It says you'll do both