As Calliope climbed aboard the helicopter, Portia was standing below, waving after her with all her strength.


    A prickle of unease for Mavis crept into Portia''s heart. But she reminded herself- Calliope was tough. No way would Callie let anything happen to Mavis.


    When those two got back, she and Calliope would have to teach that jerk Uriah a lesson he wouldn''t forget.


    The helicopter quickly lifted off, slicing through the sky until it was nothing but a speck.


    Portia kept her eyes on it until it disappeared, then finally turned to head back inside.


    She only got a step before someone blocked her path-Nigel. He stood there, gaze trained on the spot where the chopper had vanished. For a long moment, he just stared, his eyes unreadable. Atst, he looked at Portia.


    "That was Callie, wasn''t it?"


    "Where is she headed?"


    "Did something urgente up? Why leave in the middle of the party like this?"


    The reception hadn''t even wrapped up, but Callie was whisked away in a helicopter, as if something critical had happened.


    Portia met his eyes. "Yeah,” she answered quietly. She didn''t have any particr quarrel with Nigel-sure, he was dangerous, but at least he''d never meant Callie any harm. And anyway, Callie had once saved his life.


    "What happened?" Nigel''s tone was icy, all business.


    "Mavis-she''s in trouble. She''s one of our closest friends. It''s life or death, so Callie left to help her," Portia said.


    "Mavis?" Nigel frowned, searching his memory, then his expression shifted. "The quiet girl who''s always tagging along with Uriah?"


    "That''s her," Portia confirmed with a nod.


    "But I thought she was on assignment with Uriah. Wasn''t their destination. Stormgard? That ce


    is a warzone right now-ins


    dangerous. If they''re there for


    Urian''s supposed to be by her side.


    She''s his apprentice. Don''t tell eye.


    Unah canteven protect his own student?" Nigel sounded genuinely incredulous.


    "Is Uriah really that hopeless?" he scoffed. "And now he calls Calliope for help?"


    "Exactly! Useless!" Portia spat, her anger bubbling over. "If it wasn''t for him, none of this would have happened to Mavis... It''s probably his fault she''s in danger at all.”


    "All he can do is ask Callie to clean up his mess," Portia grumbled.


    Nigel''s eyes narrowed. "So Calliope''s heading to Stormgard, all on her own, to perform surgery on Mavis? Was that helicopter sent by Uriah''s team?"


    "Uriah''s team? You''ve got to be kidding me!" Portia snapped. "Callie arranged the whole thing herself Uriah just called us up waiting for his ne would take forever By then, Mavis would be long gone."


    Nigel fell quiet, his expression darkening. "So she set this all up alone. She''s flying


    to Stormgard by herself, just to save someone?"


    "Does she even realize what that hellhole is like? Is she out of her mind?"


    "She''s walking straight into a death trap." he muttered.


    Portia fell silent too. Everyone knew Stormgard was a deathtrap-but with Mavis'' condition, there was no way she could be moved.


    So, Calliope had to go to her.


    Portia fought back the lump in her throat, her eyes burning as she held Nigel''s gaze. "But what do you want us to do just ?it back and let Mavis


    die? I don''t care what happens to Uriah, but I''m not about to give up on Mavis."


    If she thought there was even the slightest way she could help, she''d have gone too. Danger or not-she''d rather be there with her friend than just stand by, helpless.


    Nigel''s jaw clenched. Without another word, he pulled out his phone and dialed. "Yeah. Right now. Get over here and pick me up," he ordered, then hung up. Turning to Lnd, he said curtly, "Get our things together. We''re leaving.”