The Stolen: An American Faerie Tale by O'Connell Bishop

Author:O'Connell, Bishop
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2014-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“Good. When you’re done, lock everything down,” Dante said into his cell phone as he paced back and forth in Edward’s study. “Notify the Cruinnigh about that, too. Oh, and we need wardens and marshals watching every gateway in a hundred-­mile radius. I don’t want them slipping by us. We’ve been waiting for a chance like this for too long. It’s time to finish it.”

Dante listened. “Good. I also want anyone not fighting to go to ground and stay there till the dust settles.” After a pause, he nodded. “That’s right, and make sure the mortal involvement is as limited as possible. I don’t want the police, or anyone else, involved.” He ended the call.

“I’m almost done,” Edward said without looking away from the bookshelves. Finding a book that looked useful, he shoved it into a bag with the others he’d pulled. When Dante didn’t answer, he glanced up. “How bad is this?”

Dante gave him a sideways glance. “Pretty bad.”

A noise outside caused them both to look up.

“I think the wardens have arrived,” Dante said. “Stay here and finish, quickly.”

“Do I need to—­?”

“No door, no hearth protections,” Dante said as he walked out.

Edward returned to his books.

“They’re here,” Dante said from the living room. “It’s time to go.”

Edward scanned faster to see if there were any other books he might need. “Too bad I can’t take the whole thi—­”

“Now, Edward.”

Edward dashed into the living room. When he looked up from latching his bag on the run, he stopped so quickly he nearly toppled over.

Eight tall, handsome men—­other elves he presumed—­dressed in dark green tactical gear were standing in his living room. Five were holding submachine guns, the likes of which Edward had never seen. The other three were holding pale green pistols, and they all had two swords on their belts, one on each hip.

He blinked at the sidhe SWAT team, then at Dante, who somehow had managed a quick change into green fatigues. “Well, that’s not going to draw any attention at all.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Dante said. “It won’t be a problem.”

“Incoming!” one of the elves shouted. Edward was tackled by one of the wardens and knocked away from the empty doorframe just before several black arrows passed through the air.

“Ah, damn it to hell!” Dante shouted.

“What?” Edward asked. Shouldn’t they be happy? Arrows against guns didn’t seem like much of a fight.

As if in response to his thoughts, automatic gunfire chattered outside and bullets struck the floor and wall opposite the doorway.

“How many, Arlen?” Dante asked from a crouch to one side of the doorway.

“Not sure.” Arlen chanced a glance around the doorframe. “Two score, maybe. All oíche.”

“Those arrows didn’t come from oíche.” Dante cocked a pistol.

Arlen snapped his head back just in time to avoid an arrow. “You’re right. I see goblins, too.”

Edward lost track of the commands given. The elves worked like a SEAL team. They shot and moved just before the return fire reached them. His mind was a jumble. He tried to grab lucid thoughts, but they slipped away.

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