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“There, we walk in shadows ofofsky,” Gwyn said.

“New faces,” added Kage. He winked at me when I cracked one of my thumb knuckles.

I’d prefer Gwyn’s hallucinations to alter my features, but she would be focused on her duskcloakofskycast for our cover. Kage would be the one to shift our bones should we be found out.

“Then I will create the diversion.” Asger snapped his fingers beneath the table, drawing a spark between his thumb and center finger. To implant the fear of fire into the minds of any elven required a bit of a blaze. A risk, but the swiftest distraction and simplest for Asger to control.

“I’ll take the lock,” Kage said.

“And I’ll take the flower,” I finished.

If our drawings and readings were correct, the flower was held in a far region of Aelvaria, but I did not know much about the various elven lands, nor who ruled them. From Hakon’s memories, we’d deduced where we thought—more like hoped—the flower might be.

“We all realize this is likely going to fail,” Asger said, a declaration more than grumbling.

Kage dropped his hand to my knee but held his friend’s gaze. “We know.”

Risk or not, I had to hold to the dream, to the spell found in Gaina’s knoll. I had to believe all of it meant we were right where we ought to be.

A deep, throaty groan like an embitteredughcame at our backs, and was promptly followed by a grumble of, “Mages.”

I spun around. Kage rose to his feet, one hand twitching near the blade concealed on the small of his back.

Mere paces from us, a couple returned our scrutiny. The woman had long hair like an ombre flame, darker reds and oranges near her roots, but it burned bright and golden near the ends. Her companion was stupidly handsome, ink black hair, and a frown that rivaled Kage’s.

“Be ready,” Gwyn whispered, slowly reaching for the knife she kept tucked in her boot. “All at once, I don’t think we’re welcome here.”

CHAPTER 41

Kage

With the risk facing Magiaria,the threat we could become to other species in Terrea, I trusted the elven as much as I trusted Cy to never say another salacious word. Adira rose from her chair, brow pinched; she studied the elven woman with a befuddled sort of expression.

Then she lost her mind and crossed the damn tavern without warning. I fumbled around a chair, desperate to keep by her side. True, she had her magic unfettered, but she was still rather unaccustomed to the world as a whole, still restoring memories lost.

By the way he looked at us with a bit of snide repulsion, no mistake, the elven man was a royal.

I’d seen Hadeon in various trade and passings over the seasons, and if I recalled correctly, he was the one they called the shadow king. Adira would not know he was rumored to be capable of obliterating armies with darkness from his damn hands.

Adira came to a stop in front of the other woman. “I know you.”

She didn’t speak Magish or Elvish, she spoke to the woman in the generic mortal tongue.

The elven’s full lips twitched. “I was in Las Vegas, at the casino.”

My blood chilled. By the goddess, another Lost Vegas sacrifice.

Rumors confirmed, the tavern darkened. Shadows bled from the king. I’d snap his damn neck if he touched Adira.

When she took a wary step back, I pulled her beside me, glaring at the dark king. Adira let out a rough breath, cracked more of her fingers, but kept her voice steady. “Am I supposed to believe it’s coincidence we’re both here?”

I tightened my hold around her waist.

The elven woman cast me a dubious glance, then turned her focus back to Adira. “Abba sent me.”

I fought the urge to hiss my annoyance. Abba was the priestess of the goddess, and from the sagas, had played a role in gathering the blood needed to be sacrificed. If anyone were to be blamed for ripping Adira away, it was Abba.

After a moment, the woman waved a hand to the opposite side of the room. “Maybe we could talk over there. Somewhere a little more private?”