Rise of Rebellion by Madeline Freeman

Author:Madeline Freeman [Freeman, Madeline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Laurealinde Publishing LLC

Chapter Seventeen

My first instinct was to shout a warning to the newcomer, but the words died in my throat. Admitting I knew what the movement meant was tantamount to announcing to the chancellor himself that this wasn’t the first time I’d stepped foot inside these walls.

Heavy footfalls pounded across the floor. “It’s okay! It’s just me. And I brought… guests.”

“Derek?”

My aunt’s voice, which usually filled me with solace and relief, flooded my body with fear. I rushed from my spot beside Clio, hoping to get to the desk before more prying eyes arrived. It wasn’t safe for her up here. “Derek, why don’t you let your friends know there’s no need to roll out the welcome mat for us. We’re leaving in the morning.”

But instead of disappearing back through the hidden doorway, Liza stepped forward, her eyes widening and her mouth popping open. Her lips moved in the shape of my name, but no sound came out.

My heart twisted as realization hit me like a wave. Until this moment, Liza didn’t know I was alive. After I spoke to Farrin, I assumed he would have passed along the message. But communication between demons was often sporadic under the best of circumstances. There were plenty of reasons for Farrin and Liza to limit comm activity.

Everything in me wanted to run to my aunt and wrap my arms around her, but approaching footsteps rooted me in place.

“Mr. Charge, you didn’t mention there would be other people here,” said Burgess as emerged from the reference section.

“I didn’t know there would be.” Derek twisted a few degrees as if he planned to glance in my direction, but he stopped himself. Even if he looked at me, I wouldn’t have an explanation for him. When Farrin told me Liza and Marco left his old compound, it hadn’t crossed my mind that they would have risked coming back to Cameron Heights.

Liza stepped backward slowly, fear flickering across her face as she registered the senator. “My apologies. Of course, you’re all welcome to stay. I just… I heard voices, and I needed to see what was going on. I’ll leave you to your affairs.” But instead of retreating to the stairs and closing the door behind her, Liza lingered. “Is there anything you need? We don’t have much, but…”

“We’re fine,” I said. “But thank you. Like Derek said, we’ll be gone tomorrow.”

Liza took another step back, but before she could disappear, Kingston emerged from the shadows. “Actually, before you go, I wonder if you could share what you know about the curfew the Guard has put in place. Does it end at sunrise?”

“I…” Liza licked her lips. “I’m not sure. Just got back earlier today. I can put some calls out to friends in the city, but…”

A bright light blazed through the gloom of the library, illuminating Liza’s face. She brought up her arm to shield her eyes, but the damage was already done. The black horns sprouting out of the top of her head glistened in the glow.

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