Dawn Study

“Take me to Bruns for interrogation. I considered letting her so I could see where they’re holding Fisk, but...” He rubbed his ribs, probably remembering the last time he was Bruns’s prisoner and had almost been beaten to death.

“Better to get Zitora on our side first. You need to convince her, love.” He sat down on the floor next to the door. If anyone entered, the open door would hide him from view.

I moved to the deepest shadow that had a clear shot to the entrance. Careful not to prick myself with the sharp tips, I laced the darts in my tunic for easy access. Then I loaded a dart into the pipe and waited. My stomach did flips—or was that the baby, energized by all the magic? Easier to blame him or her than my nerves.

After a moment, Valek said, “They’re in the alley.” He closed his eyes. “Onora has engaged.”

A few shouts and sounds of a scuffle reached us.

“Right outside.” Valek’s voice strained with the effort to speak.

I raised my blowpipe and aimed. The door flew wide. Spotting the guard’s neck, I puffed, then loaded another dart. People tumbled into the room. I shot at anyone I didn’t recognize until I ran out of darts. However, many of the guards remained on their feet, and while I managed to hold my own with my switchblade for a minute or so, the small confines of the room limited my maneuverability. Two guards disarmed me and grabbed my arms, pinning me between them.

“Yelena! Figures I’d find you here.” Zitora’s tone turned deadly. “Traitor, where’s that killer Valek?”

Flabbergasted by her anger and hatred, I stared at her. Words refused to move past my lips.

“Behind you.” Valek pressed a knife against her throat. She didn’t make a sound or move, but he tightened his grip on her and said, “Don’t.”

Zitora glowered at me. Finally the sleeping draft kicked in, and the men holding me swayed and collapsed. Wow. Leif hadn’t been kidding when he’d said it would take longer. Onora entered and, in a few quick moves, disarmed the other two before they also succumbed to the drug.

“Is that all of them?” Valek asked Onora.

“For now. When they don’t return, the others will come investigate.”

“Yelena.” Valek met my gaze. Lines of strain showed on his face.

Oh, right. I approached and grabbed Zitora’s hand.

She cried, “You? You’re the one draining my power?”

“Not me. The baby.”

She glanced at my abdomen, and for the first time, I wished I had a baby bump.

“It’s hard to explain, but if you stop aiming your magic at me, it won’t...er..llect it. At this point, we don’t really know what it’s doing with the magic.”

“You’re not making any sense,” she said.

I figured she might be distracted by the deadly weapon at her throat. “Valek, put the knife away. Why don’t you and Onora go guard the door?”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

No. “Yes.”

He stepped away from Zitora, and I released her hand. When she didn’t move, he titled his head at Onora, and they left the building.

She crossed her arms. “My magic might not affect you, but I still can escape at any time. All I have to do is set this place on fire.”

“You can, but you won’t. There are innocent people living on the upper floors.” Before she could respond, I held up both my hands. “Give me five minutes of your time. Please.”

“And what if I don’t agree with what you have to say, Traitor?”

Oh, boy. “Then you can go.”

“Just like that?”

“Yes. I’m not the enemy.”

She glanced at the prone forms scattered on the floor.

“Those men are asleep. Not dead.”

“Fine.”

Where to start? “The Councilors, Bain and Irys are not dead either. And you don’t have to take my word for it. Try contacting Irys or Bain.”

“How? There are no more super messengers. Your Commander had them all destroyed.”

One thing about Bruns—the man was smart and a smooth liar, which Zitora should have picked up on. Unless... “Bruns wears a null shield pendant, doesn’t he?”

“Of course, or you’d attack him with your Soulfinding magic.”

“I can’t access my power right now. The baby is blocking it.” I hoped.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Read my thoughts. See that I’m not lying.”

She scrunched up her face as if smelling a rotten egg. “I can’t.”

Shoot. Valek had been able to read my thoughts a month ago. The baby’s ability must be getting stronger as he or she grows. “That’s the baby.”

Zitora failed to appear convinced.

I tried another tactic. The truth. “Bruns has lied to you. His Cartel is planning a takeover of Sitia and is working with the Commander, who is under Owen Moon’s control.”

“He said you might try to twist things around. Besides, Opal never said a word about this Cartel to me.”

“That’s because when Opal left to help you, we didn’t know the extent of their reach. They’ve been feeding everyone Theobroma and using magic to brainwash everyone. At least tell me you noticed the taste in the food at the Hall.”

“I did, but Bruns said the new chef likes to use it as seasoning, and it’s harmless in small quantities.”