Anton taps his head. "I have a witch bond with a girl who's with them. Her name's Izzy. We work together."
"Against the Dominion?" I ask, eyes widening as I attempt to catch up with his story.
"No. Both." He fixes his gaze on Tobias. "Both sides are a threat."
"And they're waiting?" I ask, my spirits soaring for the first time since I woke up on the floor in this room.
He nods. "I'd hoped helping you escape wouldn't be dangerous. Killing a Blackwood speeds up the need to get the fuck out of here."
I look to Tobias, whose expression hasn't changed. We should trust him. Can't you feel his fear?
Why would he help us?
"Ah. So, you communicate too. Unusual for a vamp and a witch." He tips his head. "Especially you, Tobias."
Tobias scowls.
I don't have time to waste, even if Tobias seems to. "Do you know the best way out? Can we leave?"
Anton strides to the door. "Yes. There's a back way through the servants' quarters. Can you mind-wipe them if we pass through, Tobias?"
"That depends on how much time we have and how many are in there."
"Most are involved in the gathering, which continues. That's another reason we have time. Few people have left the party."
I shuffle from foot to foot. "Can we not stand around talking? I want to leave."
"I still don't understand how we can. The Blackwoods—"
"Tobias, shut up and leave!" I retort as my anxiety to leave ramps up.
The sullen-faced Anton laughs. "Listen to her, Tobias and stop thinking you're the one in control."
Tobias's mouth thins. "You know nothing about us."
Nobody does.
Chapter Twenty-Six
MAEVE
We make our way through the servants' quarters, past the kitchens filled with roasted dinner aromas that would normally whet my appetite. There's nothing but acid in my stomach as I pass by. Only two staff see us, a young girl dressed down in plain clothes washing plates and the guy beside in his butler uniform flirting with her. They watch us open-mouthed, the guy asking where we're going. Tobias hangs back to use his mental magic on the pair, and each second that passes as he does is an eternity before his tall figure appears through the small doorway.
I hate our slow steps as we carefully navigate around the house towards the lawns. Our feet spring on the grass as we head into the dark and in the opposite direction to the gathering. Have some guests left now? Somebody could see us.
We break into a run at the edge of the lawns towards the trees and when the lake comes into view I halt, heart pounding and chest tight from the run and the fear.
A small victory. One step closer.
I stand with Tobias and Anton at the edge of the willow trees that line the banks of the lake. In the daytime, this place must be tranquil and pretty; there's no sound around us. Tonight, the still, dark water scares me. Does the magic stretch this far?
To the right, there's a small jetty with a rowing boat moored, for those who want to spend lazy days on the lake beneath the sun. The lake is large enough to row into the middle, far enough for privacy, which means walking around the edge takes time.
"Where are our friends?" I ask.
Anton points. "The woods on the other side of the lake. There's no fence, but of course, magic protects the estate."
I frown. "Then how do we get out?"
"We hope our combined magic is strong enough to break through."
Tobias grunts and leans against the tree. "Hope isn't a useful weapon."
"No, but water is." He walks to the lake and turns, spreading his arms either side of him. "I can cast a spell on the water, and Izzy can focus her elemental magic too. Maeve, you can influence minds. If anybody follows us, you can work your magic."
"Unless they're stronger than me." Tobias squeezes my hand and I look down as his power shimmers between us. Together.
Anton leads us around the lake, past the moored boat. Tobias's hand remains in mine as our footsteps are muffled by the long grass beside the bank. Suddenly we're out in the open again and beads of perspiration break out across my back. Behind, the mansion towers through the night, the white facade less imposing than the academy but as eerie. Each time I look, I'm terrified I'll spot somebody following us.
I bump into Anton as he abruptly stops. "What's wrong?"
He holds a hand up. "Shush. I'm listening."
The only sound I can hear is the blood whooshing in my ears, and I grip Tobias's hand tighter. He's calmer now, focused more on what's happening than what happened. The sexual connection from handholding still hums uncomfortably, but I don't want to lose his safety right now.
"Okay." Anton lifts his head and moves to a spot between the lake and the trees. "You need to stand here and wait. I've let Izzy and Alaric know that you're here."
"And Alaric is...?" asks Tobias.
"Strong. He's Thornbrook coven. Or was. His magic can cause a weakness in Blackwood spells. He can penetrate the barrier even if he can't destroy it. That's what Izzy needs." He scratches his cheek. "Once there's a weak spot, Izzy will create a channel for you. If the earth trembles, step aside and watch. Once the channel appears, run."
I sense Tobias's continued doubt and nudge him. "This is our chance. If we don't take it, I don't want to imagine what the Blackwoods and Gabriella might do to us."
"Or this spell could kill us."
Anton twists his head around. "The witch-killer isn't very optimistic, is he?"
Tobias tenses. "I don't kill witches. I teach them."
"But what did you teach Maeve tonight, Tobias?"
I'm glad of the dark as heat reaches my cheeks. How does he know? "How not to kill a Blackwood," he says gruffly.
Anton chuckles. "Your energy shines brighter than I've seen in anyone before, and you're both lit up by the lamia magic that passed between you."
"Irrelevant. How long will this take?" he retorts.
"I don't know. Sit and wait."
Wait? Stupidly, I expected us to reach the edge of the estate and magically escape. Okay, we will escape magically at some point, but when?
Tobias returns to the tree he stood beneath and I follow him. The willow branches hang down, a green curtain against us and Anton, who sits and talks to himself—or Izzy.
Leaning against the tree, Tobias takes hold of me and pulls me to him. His arms wrap around my waist holding me steady and the fire flares again. His eyes glitter as he looks down at me.
"You're about to say something, aren't you?" I ask and place a hand on his hard chest.
"If we make it out of here—"
"When," I interrupt.
He sighs. "When we make it out, and return to the academy, you understand things are different between us, but they have to stay the same."
"That's confusing, Tobias."
"You know about the curse now and understand the consequences if we continue on the road we took tonight."
"Don't say that," I whisper and touch his face. "Don't push me away now."