Brighid's Flame by Cate Morgan

pole, and her maneuverability. “What are you thinking?”
    â€œI’m thinking they should have left my hands tied in back.”
    Tara wiggled her hands around in her bonds until she could grasp the pole between them and slide them over her head. Then she kicked her legs up, tucking a finger in her boot and hooking it in the loop of her knife. She pulled the weapon out and let it swing down on her curled knuckle. She cradled the knife’s spine in her hand as she lowered her legs once more. She sliced open her bindings, then freed Stephen.
    The sound of hands clapping swung their attention around. The history teacher was back. “Not bad,” he said, grinning. “Now take a seat, please.”
    It’d gone quiet outside, the curious murmur softening to nothing.
    The historian turned as another someone else entered the cabin, stepping through the missing doorway. Tara’s heart stopped when the dim lights illuminated their—her—face. Stephen’s hand gripped Tara’s wrist.
    It was Gwen.

Chapter Five
    Julien strode through Vincent’s office door, his chest twinging slightly with the pull of injured muscle. “We need to talk.”
    Vincent looked up from where he studied the latest plans on the Lady Liberty restoration. “We’re almost there,” Vincent said with satisfaction evident in his tone. “I gather the torch gave Stephen some trouble, but he wouldn’t be the first.”
    Julien paused a few feet from Vincent’s desk, hands in his pockets. He wasn’t here to discuss Vincent’s pet project. He wanted one thing only. “Where’s Tara, Vincent?”
    Vincent scrolled through image after image on his desktop video frame. “Haven’t the foggiest,” he said cheerfully.
    Julien’s mouth curled on one side, just the polite side of a sneer. “I really think I have the right to know.”
    â€œI’m certain you do, son. But I honestly don’t know. You know our girl when she’s on the hunt.”
    â€œCarson tells me Stephen left in a hurry,” Julien tried. “And in something of a panic, apparently. Tell me she’s not in trouble.” He paused for effect. “You know our girl.”
    â€œIndeed I do.”
    Another pause, as Julien considered his next move. “Gwen’s missing as well.”
    â€œIs she?”
    â€œI suppose you have no idea where she is.”
    â€œNot a clue.” Vincent flipped through a few more images, until Stephen’s detailed blueprint of the torch turned up. “But Gwen hardly consults me in every aspect of her job. In fact, she rarely does—a magician’s tricks, and all that.”
    â€œAnd so I’m to expect the same from Tara?” Surely Vincent must be joking.
    Vincent leaned back, head cocked. “I’m not sure what you expect from her.”
    â€œMy relationship with Tara is…progressing.”
    â€œThat’s unfortunate. I do hope you get over it. I’m sure she will.” Vincent went back to work.
    This time, when Julien paused, it was due to abject shock. “Excuse me?”
    â€œWhile it’s true I’ve no idea where Tara is at the moment, I do happen to know who she’s with, and what her activities are.”
    â€œAnd that would be?”
    â€œWith the Underground.” Vincent checked his watch. “Learning what she is.”
    It was the first time Julien had ever heard Vincent refer openly to Tara’s identity. He knew damned well Vincent and Gwen were in on the secret, when not even Tara herself was. He also knew they would tell her when her training was deemed complete. When she was ready, Vincent and Gwen would let them in on the plan that had, so far, remained unspoken. Tara trusted them enough to wait, possibly with the entirety of her otherwise limited patience. Julien wasn’t sold.
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘what she is’? And what in hell is she