Forsaken - Final by Nicole McKeon

Author:Nicole McKeon [Nicole McKeon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tower Room Publishing
Published: 2025-08-05T00:00:00+00:00

17

Lia, if You Don't Mind

Lia

Flattened against the stone wall, scarcely breathing, Lia was as invisible as any mortal could hope to be. The Sightscreen warmed against her wrist, but the diamond wouldn’t last forever, and the mistcat crept into the corridor on silent paws. Its head was lowered and tilted to the side as if listening, large ears swiveling even as its almost delicate nose tested the air.

Mortal magic did not work properly on faeries, but the Sightscreen used a bastardized form that must have been at least mildly effective because the creature didn’t pounce on her despite her thundering heart.

Lia is in danger! Gwen’s voice exploded in her mind. Lia winced and locked her jaw as the mistcat froze, thinking madly, I’m concentrating, Gwen, be quiet. I'll ring you when it's safe.

The beast was less than fifteen feet away, close enough that she could see the breeze from the rotunda ruffle its stippled fur and catch the faint, musky scent of its pelt. The direction of the breeze was likely the only thing keeping it from scenting her. Caves breathed with changes in air pressure, and the underground may as well have been a cave. Which meant an exit was likely behind her somewhere.

If she could reach it, the mistcat might never know she was here. But the beast’s lips pulled back, revealing a pair of white canines. A low growl rumbled at the edge of hearing. Mistcats were ambush predators. They did not make noise when hunting, which meant the creature believed something had violated its territory.

Two prowling steps brought those teeth within feet of Lia’s throat. She knew just how it would sound: the wet pop of parting flesh, the meaty tear, the yowling as it raked her belly with its back claws. She closed her eyes and tried not to breathe.

“Have they gone?” a male voice asked.

“A moment.” a feminine voice, one she’d heard speaking earlier, hissed. “Theriannon, come back.”

Lia opened her eyes enough to see a feminine silhouette in the arched doorway.

“Does she scent something?” the man asked, his voice low.

“I do not think so, else she would have killed it already. But I see nothing, and these tunnels are infested with rats. Theriannon, come!”

The creature did not move for so long that Lia thought it wouldn’t obey. Its yellow eyes flicked around the tunnel one last time; it snorted, then turned and slunk back toward the voices, tail lashing.

Lia’s entire body shook with relief, but she didn’t dare to move. Not yet.

That, she thought as a trickle of sweat trailed down her temple, is one of the stupidest things I have ever done.

“We are safe,” the feminine voice said. “Did you hear all of it?”

“Every word. And I must admit that I mislike their doubt. How can we ensure one of them will not disrupt the spell?”

“They cannot turn back now,” the woman said in a soothing voice. “Not after they failed to support Madame Matilda. And no one else is strong enough to wrest the coven from me.

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