He turned back toward the table. “We need to get our army all the power we can. Seems we’re having an issue reversing the spell. Which means this battle could last much longer than we actually have.” He grunted as he loosened a stubborn lever. “We’re not sure who raised it, as the Narcolym Council kept that aspect hidden. Well, lied, actually. The Narco who raised it used their power to manipulate the shield. An equal or greater amount has to be used to reverse it.” He placed the crystal on the machine, exasperated. “I just wish we knew who raised it.”
“Drevan,” I announced.
Mr. Liam and the other members sitting at the table turned and stared at me.
“Drevan?” Mr. Tuner asked. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Yes. I’m sure.”
I felt a hand on the small of my back. Jace stood beside me. “Stay here, in this room. Try and help them get the barrier spell up.” He turned and walked away.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I asked, grabbing his arm.
“We’re running out of time. And losing too many…” He trailed off, his face pinched. “Nick and I are going out there to try and buy more time.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Wait. We’ll have weapons soon, and we’re a step ahead now on the barrier spell. Don’t go out there yet.”
“I have to, Dez.” He tried to smile. “This is what I have to do.”
God. I was sick of guys telling me what they had to do. I wasn’t going to let Jace and Nick—and knowing Lana and Devon, them too—go out there and get killed.
I turned and pressed my hands firmly on the table. “Okay, so you need someone with as much power or more to match Drevan, right?” Heads nodded around the table. “Fine. That’s me. What do I have to do to reverse the spell?”
“I’m not leaving your side,” Jace said, walking ahead of me as we moved through the back alleys. “So stop trying to make me. I can’t believe they agreed to let you do this, anyway.”
“They, and you, know I’m the only one who can.”
Jace climbed a fence and reached down for my hand. Then he pulled me to the top with him. “Besides,” I said as we both jumped, hitting the ground at the same time. “I had to find a way to leave with you. Someone has to watch your back.”
He shook his head and laughed. “Glad to have you back, uh, watching my back.” He tilted his head. “Just scratch that.” Then he stopped me mid-stride and faced me, looking deeply into my eyes. “I told you once that I’d always be there for you. No matter what. And I meant it. I’ll never stop caring about you, Dez.”
My breath hitched, and I swallowed down the ache at the back of my throat. “I care about you, too, Jace.” I smiled, taking his hand in mine. “You’re still my best friend. Nothing you can do will ever change that.”
He dropped his head to the side and peeked up at me. “Damn, really?”
“Jace…” I slapped his arms. “I thought you were being sincere.”
He brought his hand to my face, rubbing the backs of his fingers over my cheek. “I am.” He gave me his Jace squinty-eyed smile, and my heart soared. He
was back. He spun around, and began walking in front of me, but hollered over his shoulder, “I still think Reese is a dick, though.”
I shook my head and followed after him. Would I ever have both of them in my life at the same time?
After maneuvering through Haven Falls using back alleys—attempting not to be seen—we finally reached our destination. The precise spot where I had to try to reverse the barrier spell couldn’t have been in a worse location. I stood silently, looking out over the bay, its inky water splashing below me as the black sky connected seamlessly in the distance. The Narcolym airships hung against the dark backdrop.
I gripped the wooden post and scuffed Haven’s crest on the plaque beneath my boot. I glanced around as I heard a scream from the battle raging only a couple streets behind us.
“I hope Dr. Thailow was right about this,” I said, kneeling down and running my fingers over the crest.
Jace leaned down beside me. “It makes sense.” He pulled me back to my feet. “And don’t lose focus, no matter what you hear. I’m here to fight so you can do your thing.” He eyed me closely.
I nodded shakily. “Okay, hand me the text.”
Jace dug out the small book from his leather satchel. It was old, ancient, used back in the times of our guardian ancestors and written in Egyptian. Dr. Thailow had gone over the incantation with me about a hundred times before Jace and I had set off. He’d been the one to originally place the barrier spell around Haven Falls. But after he’d taken it down, and a new, more powerful one had been raised, there was no one else who could reverse it. No one else except me. Maybe. I still wasn’t completely confident that I was more powerful than the man who claimed to be my father.
I was Feyan. But what did that mean? Reese was Feyan along with the rest of the Feyan Army, but Drevan still ruled over them with enough power to force them into submission. And if I was being honest with myself, I had to admit he intimidated me, also.
I shook out my hands and cracked my knuckles. Then accepted the text from Jace. Placing my feet directly over the crest, I stared out over the ocean. “How long before dawn?” I asked.