Page 7 of Scarlet Wars
I had to slim down the options. “Which one has the least visibility?”
“Norton, for sure. It connects Vermont with Stanhope. The crossing is in a rural area, surrounded by dense forests. It’s outside the Metasphere, but Quebec’s been friendly to magi-crossers. She won’t have trouble getting through, once she’s past US military.”
I nodded. “Good.”
James stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “And what, you’re just going to sit there and wait? Hope she wanders into your arms?”
I shot him a withering look. “No. I’m portaling out there and crossing it myself into the US. Emma’s brilliant, she won’t stay stuck in the Human World without translation. She’ll figure out the fastest route from Boston to Canada, and I’m betting my life she’s already on it. I’m retracing that path—straight to Boston—and I will fucking find her.”
“You’ll be bubbled in,” James countered, jaw locked tight enough to grind. “No magic, no backup, no way back into Canada if the bubble seals you in. You think I haven’t thought of this? You think I haven’t wanted to tear down the whole damn line and go get her myself?”
My upper lip curled in quiet disgust. “Then why haven’t you?”
He stepped closer, chest to chest, his fury as sharp as mine. “Because one of us has to think past the first suicidal move. You go in alone; you don’t just risk yourself, you riskher.”
“The hell happened to you?” The pressure in my chest burned hotter every second. “That’s your girl out there. The James Walker I knew would’ve annihilated the whole border before letting her fend for herself.”
James bristled. “She means more to me than my own life. But if you storm into the US blind, you’ll get yourself killed before you ever find her.”
My patience was gone. “Me standing here and listening to you underestimating my basic capabilities, isn’t exactly worth my time.” My words sank to a growl. “I’m going after her, and I’m making sure she’s safe. You can help me, or you can get in my way, but either way, you’re not stopping me.”
James’s mouth twisted, something bitter flashing through before he finally snapped, “Fine. Whatever. We’ll cross it together. But if she’s sitting safe in her parents’ house sipping coffee when we find her, and we get trapped for this stunt? I’ll kill you for it.”
I almost smiled while I opened a green portal. “Can’t wait to see you try.”
His glare was molten, but the edge had shifted. Still sharp, just aimed at everything else as much as me. “Let’s move.”
I gave him a mock salute, letting my grin needle him. “After you, princess.”
He stepped into the portal with a muttered curse, throwing me one last warning look over his shoulder. “You’ll regret that.”
“Already do,” I mumbled as I followed him through a second later, barely acknowledging Rachel, who stood there watching us like we’d completely gone off the rails.
Maybe we had.
While it didn’t determe, I hated to admit: the border crossing at Stanhope was a godsdamn fortress.
Armed US soldiers lined the perimeter on their side of it, their green uniforms almost blending into the thick fog that rolled in from the forest, creating a wall of shadows.
James and I moved fast to hide out of view, the cold biting into my bones as our breaths misted in the air.
Radios hummed. Weapons clicked. No gaps, no weak points, only a wall of military precision ready to crush anything that came through.
“We’re not making it through there without a fight,” I muttered, as I crouched behind a rock formation.
James squatted beside me. “No shit. You must’ve been elected First Offensive for yourexceptionalobservations.”
I ignored his jab while I scanned the line of soldiers.
“We could lure them to our side,” James continued, tracking my line of sight, “kill them with translation, but if we get too close to the bubble, it could get dangerous fast.”
“As opposed to fighting them one by one on their own side, which will be a walk in the park,” I replied dryly.
He sighed, annoyance creeping into his demeanor. “Is there a reason this shit brings out the sarcastic comedian in you? Because, timing-wise, it’s not the best.”
I suppressed a snort and motioned him to follow me instead.
Blending with the shadows, we ducked between trees and low bushes, inching closer to the border.
