Page 197 of Tears for a Broken Sky
“It’s up to her if she figures out how to use it.”
We started walking again, but Lacey drifted to my side.
“Where is Maddie, Leo?”
I cast her a look. “She’s on a separate mission.” I sighed. “She’s infiltrating the tower as a maid—right now, if all went to plan.”
“You let her go alone?”
“I didn’t have a choice!” I snapped, scrubbing a hand down my face. “Mads does what she wants.”
Lacey’s jaw tightened. “She’s brave - but she shouldn’t have gone in alone.”
I looked away. “Yeah. Don’t remind me.”
Lacey’s eyes narrowed, sharp and unreadable.
“What do we do about Ashton?” Slade asked Lia.
“Kill him slowly and horribly, hopefully,” I muttered.
Rigg snorted. “He’s got a small army out front, ready to engage Vael’s forces. If we play our cards right, they’ll kill each other for us.”
“Ashton’s attack is our best distraction right now,” Lia said. “He’s played into our hands better than he knows.”
“Did you know he’d come?” I asked.
Lia gave me a tight smile. “Of course. If there’s one thing Ashton can’t stand, it’s losing.”
“The only wildcard is King Ivan. We don’t know his current plan, only that he has been working with Vael for the past few months.”
“Queen Syrena is here to meet with him.” Phoenix said quickly. “She said they were meeting at The Moon Gate.”
“That’s in the old castle grounds. Not the tower.” Lia said.
“Small favours, I guess.” Phoenix said, his expression glum.
“She shouldn’t have come.” Rigg said. “Today is not the day for diplomacy.”
“All these things have transpired for a reason.” Lia said, her voice calm. “Her majesty needs to be here, just as we do.”
We reached what looked like a dead end—solid stone, no path forward.
Lia turned to me. “Okay, everyone back up. Let Rigg work his magic. Ray should have our people in position on the surface by now.”
Rigg stepped forward and cracked his fingers.
“What are you doing?” I asked, eyeing the grizzled old man.
He waggled his eyebrows at me. “Watch and learn, pretty boy.”
Before I could respond, Toma shoved me back a few steps and took position in front of me. His eyes warned us back.
We watched in silence as Rigg’s hands began to vibrate, glowing with a soft, golden-brown light. He stepped forward and pressed both palms against the stone.
To my astonishment, the wall began to melt away—like it had never been there at all.
Caelen and Phoenix exchanged an uneasy look.
