Page 98 of Serpent and Shadow

“I apologize, Ms. La Fey…”

Alaric and I both jumped.

I stared back at the bear.

The voice had definitely come from it, and it sounded exactly like Forsooth. By the time my mind processed that much, the bear opened its mouth a second time.

“I apologize for being in your private rooms,” Forsooth said carefully. “I had my primal wait for you to wake up, and to notify me as soon as you had. This was the soonest I could break away, so I apologize for the delay.”

I opened my mouth, about to tell him it had been less than five minutes, but Forsooth’s voice came out of the bear’s mouth a third time.

“I’m afraid I have news,” he said grimly. “Several pieces, really, none of which are particularly encouraging… or pleasant to share.” The bear glanced at Alaric, which might have been comical if Forsooth’s voice hadn’t come out of its mouth an instant later. “…err, good morning, Mr. Greythorne,” the bear said, before looking back at me. “There’s been another attack on the Sanctum Occulus.”

My throat closed.

My dreams suddenly swam back into vivid relief.

I remembered the magical charges leaving Bones’s hands, the way the other Magicals looked at him as he strode through the rubble of the underground hall, most of them backing away, their eyes holding a respect that verged on fear.

“Bones,” I murmured.

The bear’s eyes shifted to mine, glowing with a pale, gold light.

“Yes,” he said grimly. “There were quite a few witnesses who came forward in the aftermath of the attack. They all described your husband as the primary actor in the destructive spells used to gain entry. He is said to have nearly decimating the learning institution on the upper floors…” He cleared his throat, which again, looked odd, as the bear raised its paw to its mouth to do it. “…and the residence halls.”

“The learning institution,” I breathed numbly. “Residence halls. You mean––”

“The school,” Alaric said from behind me.

Alarm reached his voice more audibly than mine.

He’d gotten out of bed, so his voice came from much nearer than I expected. He dropped his weight heavily into the couch next to me, but I continued to stare at the bear.

“They raided the school,” Alaric repeated. “How?”

The bear looked at him, then aimed its somber stare at me.

“I suspect Ms. Shadow knows the answer to that,” he said, quieter.

I didn’t answer, but yes, I did know.

Bones phased into the Sanctum Occulus. Then he used his magic to blow out several of the windows and walls, shredding the chimaeric protective layers in the process, and leaving the way open for the rest of the Dark Cathedrals to flood in behind him.

“Archie,” I said under my breath.

I looked up, not sure I wanted the answer.

But the bear, and Forsooth, already heard me.

“Yes,” Forsooth said sadly. “I’m sorry, Ms. Shadow. It appears their attempt was successful this time. Your brother was not found among the residents after they left.”

I stared at him. My mind was so lost in Bones, in trying to claw back what I remembered of the night before, I could barely make sense of his words.

“Bones took him. Bones took Archie and gave him to Malefic.” My voice came out in a whisper. I stared at the golden bear, at the dark eyes shining from the translucent outline of its face. “Is he still alive?”

Forsooth winced, but didn’t wait to answer.

“We don’t know.”