The Epilogues: Part I: Badge of Honor (The Potentate of Atlanta Book 6) - Hailey Edwards (the best novels to read .TXT) 📗

he needs the head start to the surface. We’ll crack the ward surrounding him then let the other team retrieve the Billiards after theirs dissolves.”

“Okay.” A kick in my pulse sent my gaze skittering toward another scaley side. “Let’s do this.”

The divers angled straight for the barn, their flippers and experience making descent look easy.

Meanwhile, poor Dee was stuck working twice as hard to drag me behind her.

The darkness at this level explained why no one had spotted Neely during their initial sweep of the area. A mountain of rubble where the walls had collapsed in on themselves didn’t help matters. The wide barn doors hung open, but the hayloft had crumbled to the main floor.

A hard thud in my chest warned me this was about to get real. “You’re sure he’s in there?”

“The tack room is intact,” she assured me. “It’s a tight fit, but we can get through in single file.”

Three others ducked in ahead of us, giving me an idea of where to go when our turn came, but Dee was right. We were packed into the ruined main aisle like sardines in a can. The trio ahead must be the ward breakers. They linked hands and began chanting, though I couldn’t hear them, just saw their lips moving in sync and felt their intent spreading through the water around us.

The door before them fit square in its frame, and they didn’t attempt to open it.

Light blossomed in the small room, seeping through the cracks, and a percussive ripple punched through me. I flew back, my spine cracking against a fallen beam, but the bubble protected my head. The witches around me were in worse shape. They all had a dazed look about them.

Ambrose, knuckles poised to rap on my bubble, mimed eating then rubbed his belly.

“You snacked on the ward?” I would have throttled him if he had substance. “Without permission?”

A clap of his hands simulated the explosion, and he chomped at the water.

“You ate the magic the ward flung at us?”

I had credited the bubble, but this explained why I hadn’t had my bell rung as thoroughly as the others.

The shadow patted me on the head then reached for the tack room’s doorknob.

Unnerved at how Ambrose was evolving, my constant state of being lately, I took the hint.

The door swung open under my hand, revealing a tiny room with a cot, a bucket for waste, and supplies.

Water filled the space now, causing the contents to float, but I had no doubt the area had been dry until we smashed the bubble with a hammer. And drifting in the center of the flooded cell…

Eyes shut.

Tiny bubbles fizzling out the corner of his open mouth.

No. No. No.

This was not happening. This was not how it ended. I was not going to lose him.

Not here, not now, not after everything I had already sacrificed.

At that moment, I would have given anything to yank the bubble over my head and down onto his.

“Neely.” I kicked off the door and launched myself at him. “Hang on.” I dragged him out. “I’ve got you.”

Such a big personality ought to have taken up more space, but his thin frame glided gently in my wake.

The other witches were coming around, but the one I aimed for, the one with the spare oxygen tank and mask, had yet to shake off impact with a chunk of concrete that had no business in a barn.

I needed this witch, even if I had to jostle her awake.

Out of my depth, literally, I spun and bumped into Dee.

“Let me.” She nudged me aside, swiftly accessing the equipment and sliding the mask over his head. “He needs to get topside ASAP.” Unless I missed it, Neely wasn’t breathing. “He’s swallowed half the lake.”

“Go.” I shoved him at her. “I’ll help the others.”

Once she got him clear of the wreckage, three more divers latched on to his arms and legs.

They kicked toward the surface for all they were worth. As much as I wanted to follow, I stayed put.

Heart beating a mile a minute, I returned to the dazed witch who had carried the spare tank.

“Pretty sure you can’t hear me.” I lifted her gently. “I’m going to get you out of here, okay?”

Careful not to bang her head on the way out, I released her to her coven, who spirited her away.

The others had come around by the time I returned to check on them. They followed me out under their own steam, which was good. I was running low myself. I had doubts about reaching the surface with Dee gone. Ambrose had eaten a lot during the gauntlet, but he had burned most of that up while healing me.

Thankfully, two of the remaining witches hooked their arms through mine and gave me a lift.

We breached the surface in minutes and took turns climbing up the ladder into the boat.

“Oh.” I jolted when Dee was kind enough to burst my bubble. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” She helped me stand. “Your friend is right over here.”

The dive team formed a loose circle around Neely’s drenched form, and Higgins knelt beside his head.

“Well?” I scanned their pinched faces. “How is he?”

“He doesn’t want to see a mirror,” Neely rasped and coughed. “God only knows how I must look.”

The coven made way for me, and I plopped down beside Neely, my hands taking his.

“Beautiful,” I told him, and I meant it. “You’re in the top-five best things I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

“Lie to me some more.” He smiled faintly. “It’s making me feel better.”

“Okay, I will, but there’s something you need to do first.” I waved to get Dee’s attention. “Get this man a phone.” I pictured Cruz in his hospital bed. “He’s got a call to make.”

Twelve

Sitting at the end of the pier, I swung my legs over the water and stared at my exhausted reflection.

A sleek head broke the surface, forcing me to hold still or risk kicking Sean in his cute little seal face.

“Hey.” I