Instantly, the eruptions of liquid hot stone ceased. At the same time, the troll opened a rip in space and time with the ease that only one of his kind could. Morrigan went through first, followed closely by Zinnia, and then Eirwen. Neeve and the troll stepped through last, the gap in reality closing behind them like a zipper. The magical shield fell with the absence of its creator and moments later, so did the last of Summer’s loyal Royal Guards, as beams of sapphire-pierced skulls, hearts, and spines. Gradually the steaming, burning jungle fell silent, with waves of heat rippling upward and ripples of somethings green moving over the destroyed clearing and circle of debris. After a moment, one big silver orb and five tiny ones popped into visibility, all of them slowly scanning the destruction for signs of life.

Chapter 48

“That’s it? The bitch gets away?” Lydia asked.

“Well, she and Eirwen are not among the dead bodies, and it sure seemed like something sudden happened there just at the end. If I were a gambler, I’d bet serious money that her sister and her Bigfoot troll just gated in there and yanked them out,” Declan said.

“But they hate each other,” Lydia said.

“And yet they are sisters,” Gina observed. “They have struggled against one another for thousands of years, yet neither had taken out the other. Doesn’t that strike you as unlikely? All that time and all those battles, yet neither actually ever won?”

“They are very much each other’s favorite enemy,” Declan said. “Always looking for advantage over each other. If she did save Zinnia, I’d say Morrigan has turned the upper hand pretty decisively.”

“And now you go after both?” Senka asked, maybe a trifle hopeful.

“No. I have an agreement with Morrigan. We don’t attack each other unless one of us is weakened severely,” the boy witch said.

“Pity. You are an honorable sort. Potentially a fatal flaw,” Senka said.

“Grandmother!” Tanya exclaimed.

“Well, I intend to abide by my word, which doesn’t bind Omega in any way, shape, or form. Plus, I think it’s time I got busy with matters of real importance,” Declan said.

“So you are leaving Arcane?” Gina asked.

“Yes, but I can still teach and even oversee Wytch War games. Omega’s holographic displays are almost as good as being there.”

“What are these matters of real importance?” Galina asked.