LISA
The entire world shakes and shudders, and I wake with a jolt. "Earthquake!"
"We landed, you idiot." Elverly scowls at . "Next ti, don't use as a pillow."
"Don't take her vitriol seriously, Lisa. She's the one who covered you with a blanket." The Grand Sage nods toward , and I glance down, surprised to see a flannel fabric about as large as a baby's blanket.
She yanks it off with a huff, folding it and tucking it under her arm, where it disappears.
I blink.
"Where did it go?"
"Dinsional storage," The Grand Sage tells , pushing different buttons. The vibration of the room ceases. "Stay here. I'm going to check on matters, and the cloaking device isn't enough to cover everyone outside."
A hatch above us creaks open, letting in a sliver of light that makes squint. I hold my breath, not daring to move as the Grand Sage maneuvers his way between Elverly and . His robes brush against my arm, and I catch a whiff of sothing herbal—sage, maybe?
Funny. Sage for sages.
As he climbs, I can't help but stare at the rungs he's using. Were those there before? I wrack my brain, trying to rember if I'd noticed them during our journey, but co up blank. It's possible they were there all along, hidden in the shadows of this cramped space.
But it's more probable that they popped out of the wall when he was pressing one of those many buttons.
The Grand Sage's feet disappear through the hatch, and I strain my ears, trying to catch any sound from above. The silence remains unbroken, broken only by my own shallow breathing and the faint rustle of Elverly's clothes as she shifts in her seat.
"Do you think—" I whisper, but Elverly cuts off with a sharp look.
Right. Stay quiet. Got it.
I press my lips together, fighting the urge to fidget. The waiting is excruciating. How long has it been since the Grand Sage left? A minute? Five? Ti seems to stretch in this confined space, each second feeling like an eternity.
A soft thud from above snaps back to the present.
The hatch opens wider, and I blink against the sudden influx of light. The Grand Sage's face appears in the opening, his expression unreadable.
"It's clear," he says, but his words are grim. "You can co up now."
Elverly moves first, gracefully rising from her seat and climbing the rungs with practiced ease. I follow more hesitantly, my muscles protesting after being cramped for so long. As I near the top, I can't help but look down, curiosity getting the better of .
The rungs definitely weren't there before. I'm sure of it now. They seem to lt seamlessly into the wall, as if they've always been a part of it. Another bit of magic? Or so kind of advanced technology? The line between the two seems increasingly blurred around these two.
I haul myself out of the hatch, taking in our new surroundings. We're in what looks like an old barn, dusty sunlight filtering through cracks in the wooden walls. The air slls of hay and sothing earthy I can't quite place.
How the hell did we magically land inside a barn?
I want to ask, but I already know the explanation will be over my head.
Our "safe room" sits in the middle of the floor, looking for all the world like an oversized tal egg with a flat top. If I hadn't just climbed out of it, I'd never believe it could fit three people inside, plus all the things that are in the 'dinsional storage' they speak of.
"Where are we?" I ask, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.
The Grand Sage turns with a faint frown. "We did not go far. About two hours' drive from the heart of the Westwood Pack."
"You don't seem very happy to be here." Glancing around, I ask, "Are you sure it's safe?"
It certainly seems quiet.
"Safe for now, yes." He reaches for my arm, slapping a white bracelet onto it. Elverly gets the sa treatnt. "This is in case we are parted. If anything happens, co here and press the green button on your bracelet. It's programd for the next destination. Don't wait for any of us, even if you're the only one aboard."
Wow. That seems terrible. I can't imagine leaving them behind.
He pauses, seeming to weigh his words carefully. "Don't introduce yourself by na. Use a pseudonym, if you must." His nose wrinkles. "This place doesn't sll right. Be on your guard."
* * *
The crunch of gravel under my feet feels surreal as we exit the barn. My eyes dart around, taking in the vast expanse of farmland stretching out before us. Horses and cows graze peacefully in nearby paddocks, oblivious to our status as refugees. A cluster of beat-up trucks sits in the driveway of a dilapidated white farmhouse.
Elverly's nose wrinkles as she surveys our surroundings. Her disdain is palpable, and I can't help but share her sentint. This place seems a little too worn down to be considered a safe haven.
Then again, I guess no one would expect to find two gnos here.
The Grand Sage motions for us to follow him towards the farmhouse.
As we approach, two n materialize, seemingly out of thin air. My heart leaps into my throat, and I stumble back a step. Their sudden appearance is startling enough, but it's the low, rumbling growls emanating from their chests that really set on edge.
Shifters. They have to be.
The Grand Sage doesn't seem fazed. He addresses them directly, his voice calm and authoritative. "I need you to take to the alpha of the Westwood Pack."
The shifters exchange wary glances, their postures tense. I hold my breath, waiting for their response. To my surprise, the Grand Sage smoothly introduces himself.
"Allow to introduce myself. I'm Dr. Jonathan Blackwell, senior consultant for Paradigm Solutions. I was hired to assist with a few of your delicate matters."
I struggle to keep my face impassive. Dr. Jonathan Blackwell, my ass. But the way he introduces himself so smoothly makes wonder how much ti he's spent dealing with humans who had no idea they were shaking hands with a supernatural.
A gno.
I've never even heard of gnos.
Garden gnos, but otherwise, no.
The shifters still look uncertain, but before they can respond, a familiar face erges from the farmhouse. My heart skips a beat as I recognize Ryder, one of the deltas of the Westwood Pack. He's followed closely by Mia and Chloe, two faces I know all too well from my ti with Ava.
Panic floods my system. The Grand Sage is undercover for so odd reason, and wants us to be, too. But there's no way I can keep my presence here a secret now. They know .
On the other hand, I can ask them about Ava—
But as their eyes sweep over our little group, sothing strange happens. Or rather, doesn't happen. Their gazes slide right past as if I'm not even there. They focus intently on the Grand Sage, hanging on his every word as he reintroduces himself as Dr. Blackwell.
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