Before the Fall by Sable Grace Page A

fort from Matanzas Bay—then cut the engine.
    Zach was immediately relieved at the sight of the Order’s sentinels patrolling the bastions. “I need to answer my summons. Get clearance to bring you in.”
    For the first time since all this had started, he felt a tiny bit of the tension drain from his neck and shoulders.
    He stepped out and waited for her to insist on coming with him. When she didn’t, he knew without a doubt that she was approaching her breaking point.
    â€œDon’t get out until I come back for you. And if anything happens, take off. Do not stop. Got it?”
    â€œYeah. Got it. I get scared, I leave you. Sure.”
    Even her sarcasm sounded tired.
    â€œJust do it. I’ll be right back.”
    She grabbed his hand. “If something does happen, get your ass back here.”
    He smiled before closing the door. When she locked it, he turned and made his way across the old wooden bridge. Before his feet touched the crushed coquina leading to the now-working drawbridge, two sentinels appeared out of nowhere to block his path.
    â€œI’ve been summoned.” He turned slightly, allowing them to see the sword strapped to his back. “I’m retired Order.”
    â€œReveal your beacon.”
    Zach dug beneath his shirt and dragged the chain out, cursing when the small sphere didn’t appear, too. He must have lost it along the way.
    â€œIt’s gone.”

 
    Chapter Nine
    10:40 p.m.
    1 hour and 20 minutes before the fall . . .
    S ensing the sentinel was about to deny him access, Zach glared. “Look. I’ve been through a lot of shit trying to get here to answer Ares’s summons. The beacon must have gotten ripped off my damn neck when I was slaughtering Dark Breeds. How would I know all that shit if I wasn’t one of you?”
    The sentinel shrugged but didn’t budge. “No beacon, no entrance. You’ll have to wait for verification.”
    Zach was tempted to slide out his sword and force the issue, but he wasn’t stupid enough to try it when there were so many others to watch the sentinel’s back.
    Ares would have to make an appearance before midnight. He’d be right in the thick of things when Hell finally finished unraveling. All they had to do was wait, and Zach would be cleared.
    â€œI have a human with me. I need to get her to safety.”
    Though the guard’s stance didn’t relax, his tone softened. “If you’ve truly been summoned, you’ll be given access soon enough. Your friend can enter with you when the Witches and Mystics have finished casting their spell on the entrance. Till then, rest up, my friend. We’ve a long night of battle ahead of us.”
    â€œSpell?”
    â€œTo make certain all those who look human when we let them in truly are.”
    â€œHow long?”
    â€œBefore midnight. They have to prepare the fort’s foundation for the shattering first. Then they’ll complete the entrance magic.”
    Lovely. They’d finally made it and were being turned away.
    Zach named off several sentinels he’d served with who might be around to vouch for him, but none sparked a glimmer of awareness in this one’s eyes. It wasn’t surprising. Sentinels tended to serve ten to fifteen years within the Order, max. Being human, they could only take so much pain and injury before being forced into retirement.
    Like Zach had been.
    The guard jutted his chin toward the SUV. “That yours?”
    Zach nodded. “Yeah, the woman’s inside.”
    â€œFetch her. Bring her to the Ravelin. Since it’s not technically inside the fort, I’ll see to it that you can stash her safely in there until you get clearance. It’ll be dark, but it should only be for a short while. At the very least, it will keep her safe and warm while you wait. I truly am sorry, but we can’t allow anyone in without clearance. This is all I can offer. Well,