Page 57

Aldris, Rosaanne, Graff, Mirin, Fletcher, and I gathered at Aldris’s place around nine that night with a certain type of morose cheer in our voices. Happy that the Cidris would be gone tonight and all the Elizians would be safe. But anxious about pulling it off.

A beat of jealousy shot through me when I saw Rosaanne and Fletcher smile at each other and give a side hug. Fletcher’s eyes darted to me afterward.

I love you, princess.

Breath escaped me in a sigh of quick release as he came to me and guided me upstairs to the bed. After situating myself under the blankets, he delicately stuck me with two needles so I could do one final blood draw for everyone.

“You okay?” His tone was dark and grim.

I nodded. “Just want all this over with so we can focus on us.”

His hand came to my cheek, whispered a, “Me too,” then made his way back downstairs.

I listened to him drawing the layout of the Cidris Facility on Aldris’s table with magic.

There were four sections of the facility that we had to hit.

Fifty women on the east wing. Fifty men on the west. North, beyond the sleeping quarters, was the nursery where dozens of parents and newborns stayed.

And lastly, was the cage of drabes that needed to be released if we had time.

Fletcher proposed that we split up. Rosaanne, Graff, and Aldris could take on the men’s wing while Mirin, himself, and I took on the women’s wing. Whoever finished first would take off to the nursery.

“Wait,” Graff chimed. “Are you seriously suggesting that Ripley come with us? ”

I lifted my head slightly with an angsty alert at the question.

“She’s coming if she’d like to,” Fletcher defended.

I calmed, listening to his words. I trusted that he’d straighten this out for me. I just had to worry about the blood being drawn from my arms.

“She’s a liability—her magic is a liability,” Graff urged in a hushed tone that I was sure he thought I couldn’t hear.

“None of this would be possible without her. She can come if she’d like. These are her people.”

“Fletcher, you are not thinking clearly. She is our princess. To put her in this situation is beyond ridiculous. She is unable to use her magic. She is not needed.”

“She will stay with me, and I will ensure she remains safe.” Fletcher’s velvet voice cradled my ear with love and admiration.

A loud thud echoed through the house like Graff had slammed his fist on the table. “Go upstairs, say goodbye, and we will execute this plan, just the five of us.”

“She’s coming if she’d like to. She can be our lookout,” Rosaanne’s sweet voice chimed .

Graff’s growl was deep and distinguishable. A lengthy stretch of silence expanded in the house before he relented. “If she’s coming, then I’d like eyes on her also. I will go with you and her. Rosaanne, Aldris, and Mirin can go to the men’s wing.”

“Fine,” Fletcher answered with a bite to the word.

“Works for me,” Mirin agreed.

“I’ll have to teleport all of you. Once you’re there, take a good, hard look around.

Memorize your surroundings so you can get back and forth more easily.

If something goes wrong, send me your thoughts and I will find you.

” The four of them agreed with Fletcher before he rearticulated the plan.

Mirin, Rosaanne, Aldris, men’s wing. Graff, Ripley, and me, women’s.

Once we’re done, I’ll take everyone to the nursery.

I’ll get drabes because they are in a separate area while you all start getting everyone out. ”

Something about hearing Fletcher take control of the conversation—the mission, asserting his dominance, made him even more attractive. I bit my lower lip and continued to listen to the power in his voice.

“Once you feel like you have your bearings, get started. Jump in those cages and start bringing everyone back to Elizy. Got it?”

Everyone agreed .

“I will do an all call before I set the place on fire. You’ll have thirty seconds to jump out.”

Everyone agreed again.

“Good. We gather at midnight.”

Light chatter amongst the group hummed as I saw Fletcher’s thick head of dark, wavy hair bob up the steps, making his way to me.

He sat on the edge of the bed, hand cupping my cheek and feeding me an ocaberry with his other hand. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine,” I said. “Thanks for telling Graff to fuck off.”

He grinned with a small chuckle. “You know, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to.” After a quiet sigh, he lowered his voice to a whisper. “I’d actually prefer it too.”

“I’m coming. I will be the one to set that place ablaze. That is the one thing I want. And that will be the final time I’ll ever use my magic again. Okay?”

He nodded like he already knew that was going to be my answer. “I promise.”

“I love you, Fletcher.”

He leaned down, let his lips brush across mine and whispered, “I love you too.” He pressed on my lips for a single, sultry kiss. His eyes glanced at the bag of my blood. “I think you’re done, princess.”

“Yay,” I said with a small cheer to my voice.

“Good job.” Carefully, he withdrew the needles and placed pressure on where I bled with some clean towels. “I wish you’d let me take this from you,” he suggested, gesturing to the wounds in my arms.

“You need to be in perfect condition for tonight. And I’m fine. It’s nothing new.”

Getting to his feet, Fletcher held up the bag of blood. “I’ll bring this to everyone for one last drink.”

“This is going to work. You don’t need to worry.”

He grinned, rubbed my thigh, and said, “Rest. It’s almost time.”