Chapter 30 · Lucas Has the Map

"My lord, your family waits."

Lucas stared at the soldier kneeling in front of him. His mouth went dry. This wasn't supposed to happen. The portals were supposed to stay closed until he had the keys, until he could finish the job and get his sister back.

Now everyone was looking at him and the lead soldier was still calling him "my lord" in a language Mark shouldn't understand but clearly did.

"Get up," Lucas said. Too quiet. "Get up and get out."

The soldier didn't move. "The Conclave sent us to bring you home."

Mark took a step forward. His burned hand was still smoking a little, the skin around his fingers red and blistered. "My lord?"

Lucas couldn't look at him. He focused on the soldier instead. "I said get out. Tell the Conclave I'm still working."

"Lucas." Amy's voice came from behind him. Sharp. The tone she used in the ER when someone was lying about their pain meds. "What the hell is going on?"

The soldier finally stood. He pulled something from his belt. A small silver disc that pulsed with the same sickly green light as the portals. "The Conclave grows impatient.