Page 78 of Twist of Fate

Igneous, Balthazar, and Fred led them into the corridor.

The gargoyles had learned what the structure in the warehouse was designed to contain.

It was time to hear the answer.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The corridor widened as they approached the king’s council chamber. Two Unseelie guards stood outside the doors, but neither challenged their approach. The doors opened before Connal reached them. Power filled the chamber beyond, familiar now but no less commanding.

Silenus waited near the center of the room with Cosmo at his side. Zer, Keir, and Asterius had already gathered around them, along with Tyson. Avaneel sat on Zer’s shoulder, one hand tangled in his long dark hair.

Connal’s brothers had arranged themselves around the king without appearing to do so. Zer stood nearest Silenus, while Keir watched the chamber from the opposite side. Asterius had chosen a position near Tyson that served no defensive purpose Connal could identify.

Connal entered with Luke beside him. Their joined hands drew a brief glance from Zer, followed by the slightest lift of his brow. Connal ignored it.

Silenus turned his attention to them.

Connal released Luke’s hand to place his fist over his heart and incline his head. “My king.”

Luke offered his own respectful bow. “Your Majesty.”

“You have both recovered?”

“Yes,” Connal answered.

Luke glanced at him. “Mostly.”

Connal resisted the urge to dispute the qualification in front of his king.

Silenus’s gaze moved over them before settling on Luke. “Asterius and Keir provided their accounts of the warehouse last night. You will have an opportunity to add anything they did not witness.”

Luke nodded. “Understood.”

“The meeting was delayed so we would not be limited to speculation.” Silenus looked toward the gargoyles. “Igneous, give us your findings.”

Igneous stepped forward. “The containment structure had been installed inside the warehouse. Whoever created it used the foundation and support columns as anchor points.”

Keir frowned. “We found no visible wards.”

“You were not meant to,” Balthazar explained. “The markings were concealed against the concrete, and the anchors remained inactive until the structure was triggered. Before it closed, there was nothing visible to identify it as a containment structure or reveal what it was designed to do.”

Connal remembered the pressure forcing him to one knee and the grid of magic sealing the warehouse around them. He had sensed the unnatural stillness before entering, but nothing had warned him what would happen once he crossed the threshold.

“What caused it to activate?” Silenus asked.

“We cannot determine that from the residue,” Igneous said. “It may have responded when sufficient magic crossed its boundary, or someone outside the structure may have triggered it.”

“Outside?” Asterius asked.

“The structure was designed to close around its targets,” Balthazar said. “Anyone controlling it would have been safer beyond its reach.”

Luke pressed his shoulder against Connal’s.

“What was it designed to contain?” Luke asked.

“Magical beings,” Igneous answered. “The structure would not have activated for an ordinary human. Once it recognized magic within its boundary, it sealed the space and suppressed the power of whatever had triggered it. Anyone caught inside would have been unable to leave, but the restraint itself was designed for magical beings.”

Asterius folded his arms. “It did more than seal Connal and Luke inside.”