Fear curls tension through my muscles. If a councilor has no power to talk them down, how do we get through this safely? I don’t want to hurt anyone or kick up a fuss in a hospital full of injured patients, but I’m not going anywhere with a Belanger. I knew the cage was in my future, but only Flanagan gets to chain me.

Without conscious decision, my hands fill with Flame. The energy is so weak it barely sparks from my fingers.

Trenton jumps anyway, his chains clattering to the hard floor as he lights his own hands with silver flames. Two of his men do the same. The others draw swords.

“I’m Class 7,” he says. “So are my men. We’re Headquarters elite. We’re not afraid of you, Whisperer. I won’t allow anyone to be injured.”

Quinton grasps my shoulder. “Michael, please remain calm. Gentlemen—”

Shouted orders from the corridor outside the infirmary interrupt his next words. The deep Scandinavian accent resonates into the room, and my heart flips. Judging by the collective wave of relief, I’m not the only one glad to hear Flanagan’s voice. Let’s hope he can talk these idiots into backing off. Even though he may be locking me down himself.

Chapter 30

30

The crowd parts as Flanagan strides into the infirmary with Mason and Seonu, the commander’s tall stature visible above every other head. His eyes search the room till they land on me, and my heartbeat thunders.

Somebody has found him a clean white shirt, but his blond hair lies in a wild mess around his shoulders, dirt streaks his skin, and four open claw marks, wet with blood, run from hairline to neck on the left side of his face. His features are human, but a glimmer of feral intensity lingers in the silver of his eyes.

It’s so good to see him. The relief nearly collapses my knees.

Trenton turns to greet him with a piece of paper. “Commander Flanagan, I have orders to imprison the half breed and escort Sergeant Belanger back to—”

“Seonu!” Flanagan bellows, “please escort Captain Trenton and his men off the premises. And why is Sergeant Belanger not restrained?”

Trenton raises his slip of paper. “Commander, this writ has been signed by Councilor Belanger herself, and—”

Flanagan levels Trenton with a lead-melting scowl. The captain flinches but doesn’t back down.

“The Belanger family does not have authority in Blackriver, Captain Trenton, and Sergeant Belanger is under arrest. Unless you are here to help us, I suggest you leave my compound before I have you arrested for trespassing.” He looks up. “Seonu!”