Page 99 of A Monarch's Fall

“I can hear you, and of course I’m right,” he said smugly, standing straighter and adjusting the sleeves of his jacket.

“He kidnapped you not that long ago, have you forgotten?” Ana hissed in reply.

“I’ve not forgotten anything,” I assured her, “But we can’t get back on foot, and we can’t know if anyone we come across isn’t working with The New Foundation.”

“I don’t see any car,” Ana stated, never taking her eyes off Valen.

“It’s hidden, a quarter mile that way,” he pointed down the dirt road, “I suggest you decide if you’re coming with me or not. I can hear the search party out looking for you. It won’t be long until one of those shifters picks up the scent of you two, and then it’s over.”

“He’s trying to put us under pressure, so we’ll go with him,” Ana said.

“Maybe, but I don’t know what other choice we have,” I replied.

“Excellent.” Valen clasped his hands together, not waiting for Ana to agree. “This way,” he said and began walking ahead of us.

“Ana, relax,” I said, feeling her grip on my arm become painfully tight. “If he tries anything, you’re more than capable of putting a stop to him. Aren’t you?” I asked, not really sure of the extent of Ana’s powers and hoping I wasn’t wrong in my estimation.

“Yes,” she said confidently, and Valen laughed.

“Then we should go with him,” I encouraged.

“Okay, but if he so much as sneezes in our direction,” she warned.

“I trust you,” I told her.

“I don’t trust him,” she replied.

“I know, but we’ll be home soon,” I tried to reassure.

“I’m taking you two across the newly named Oskar River, into Viridis, from there you’re on your own,” he said and looked over his shoulder at me as he walked.

“You’re meant to get me back to Borealis,” I said.

“I’m meant to get you out of House Halvorsen and clear of The New Foundation. The rest is up to you girls,” he replied.

“We can make our own way to Borealis,” Ana told me.

“We’re all going to get what we want,” he stated.

I saw the outline of what looked like a car, covered in a green camouflage tarp with forest litter helping to hide it, off the side of the dirt path.

“Not that well hidden,” Ana commented.

“It is, if you’re looking at it from above,” Valen stated.

“Synoptic,” I said. “They’re guarding the base.” It made sense. Idonea might have been a cousin, but she was of Flores and Synoptic. What were the chances that other Synoptic witches were guarding the grounds?

“Won’t they see us now, out here?” Ana asked anxiously, looking around, “Any bird could be one of them watching us and reporting back where we are.”

“Exactly, all the more reason that we'd better get moving,” Valen replied as he pulled the covering off the car to reveal a dark blue SUV. He reached under the driver's side wheel cap and found a key. “Get in,” he instructed as he unlocked the car.

“We’ll sit in the back together,” Ana said.

“I’m not leaving your side,” I promised.

Chapter twenty-four

Where is Home Exactly?