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Nicholas checked his phone, pressed a few buttons "We’ll have a dozen er I don’t knohen Paul and Andra will be back Zach and Lexi are still helping rebuild the African stronghold Unless soot a portal up their sleeve, it will take theet back"

Everyone looked at Gilda She shook her head, , dark hair sway "I’us’s deeply creased face darkened with rage, hisinto a pale, flat line

"We can’t wait for theet," said Joseph "If we go in unprepared for whatever nu to beTori"

"We need to go in during daylight, e know they’ll all be confined to the dark, contained," said Madoc "If this Zillah prick gets away to do this again, we’ll be right back where we started from"

Joseph turned to Madoc and Nika "Do you have any idea how ainst?"

Madoc shook his head "Sorry"

"I can ask Tori," offered Nika

"Is that safe?" asked Madoc

"Safer than not knowing how ine"

"Do it," ordered Joseph "But don’t take any risks Gilda, how many people can you port at once?"

"After I rest, maybe four"

Madoc frowned He knew he’d seen her transport rius’s face, he had, too

"Rest, then You, too, Helen We’re going to need your firepower if Andra’s not back in ti hall at sunset and see where we stand and plan our attack"

The rooan to empty out Joseph said, "Madoc, Nika, hold on a sec"

Nicholas was last to leave and he pulled the door shut behind hiratulations to both of you"

"Thank you," said Nika

Joseph looked at Madoc "I need to kno strong the two of you are, where Nika’s strengths lie, and if there are any proble to sneak up and bite us in the ass"

Madoc took Nika’s hand, hoping she’d understand what he had to do and eventually forgive hireat skills when it cohter She doesn’t belong in co her hand frohtened her mouth "You toldon the front lines"

"I saved your life last night I held those sgath still while you killed the to sneeze at"

"Yes, you did But you could only control them one at a ti in their veins"

"I can fight"

"How?" asked Joseph "Like Andra? Can you blow things apart? What about fire? Tell ed fingertips "I tried fire It didn’t work so well I just need practice Once Andra gets back, I’ll learn what she can do and try that, too"

Joseph shook his head "We don’t have a lot of time I think it’s best if we use the skills you already have, rather than you exhausting yourself trying to learn new ones"

"I a Madoc

"Of course you’re not," said Madoc "We just need to play to your strengths You’re the only one who can talk to Tori and gather intel for us"

"Assu me away, like she did with us She doesn’t want me near her"

Madoc wanted so much to comfort her, but he didn’t kno Even worse, he wasn’t sure she’d let him now

"She let you in," he said "I’m sure she wants to be out of that place as much as ant her out"

Nika looked up at Joseph "When you go, I’s play out," said Joseph

"No We won’t I’--Madoc proret it" She looked pointedly at each

Joseph let out a weary sigh and sank into his chair "What do you think?"

"I think I’d like nothing more than to lock her up here in a room with no sharp corners where I know she’ll be safe I also think that if I tried it, she could find ten kinds of hell to bring down on me"

"Is she ready for battle?"

"No, but she’s also not stupid And we need her I’ll protect her We’ll stay well behind the fighting"

"I think that’s best, at least until you two are ready for action"

"That may take a while I won’t let her push herself and suffer a setback I can’t let her go back to that screahtmare she suffered before we found her Which means I can’t let her spill her blood"

"Hard not to in coet close to one "I think her strengths are going to lie ht If she can learn to use her ability to control one of the Synestryn to gather intelligence or sabotage a nest, she’s going to be one hell of a weapon"