"I know you'll need every advantage." She gripped my shoulders. "These will absorb three, maybe four direct hits before failing. After that, you're on your own."
"Three or four is more than I expected to get."
"Thank you, Thea."
"Do not thank me yet. Thank me when we all survive this madness." But her eyes were worried. Scared.
We looked at the circle one last time. Deadly.
Beautiful and terrible in equal measure.
"Let's go," I said. "Forty minutes left."
We headed back toward the walls. Behind us, the circle waited.
I didn't look back. Couldn't afford to second-guess now.
But I felt it. Through the Tear, through my magic, through my bones.
Felt the trap waiting. Felt the power contained within those twelve runes.
Felt how fragile our plan really was.
One mistake. One miscalcu
