“Mallory’s got the bait,” Catcher said as we rode to Soldier Field. She was in the van with Jeff, my grandfather, and the crucible she’d use to lure the dragon toward us.

“I’ll be standing by, in case the weapons need a boost, or we need to use fireballs to keep the dragon inside the stadium. Mallory will set the bait and join me, and the field will be yours.”

Ethan nodded. “Let’s finish the mission and win the game.”

• • •

CPD cruisers and National Guard vehicles formed a perimeter around the stadium parking lot to keep curious humans away from the battle, and deflect the dragon, if necessary, back toward the stadium, at least when the dragon arrived.

In the meantime, it had roamed as it pleased. The National Guard had held its fire this time, fearing that loosing more mortars and missiles on the city would only wreak further destruction. I wasn’t sure they could have done any better.

The stadium glowed with light, sending up a yellow haze over the city. I wasn’t sure whether the dragon was attracted to light, but it couldn’t hurt in getting him to the right place.

Brody pulled the SUV up to the service entrance, where CPD officers waited for us. We climbed out with our quartet of magicked swords. The Ombudsman’s van pulled up behind us. Mallory hopped out, took the pitted ceramic pot that Jeff handed her, followed by Jeff and my grandfather.

Pierce and Wilcox walked toward us. For a moment, I was afraid the mayor had reneged on her promise, and we’d have to arrange our battle within their rules and parameters. That fear dissolved quickly enough.

“Everything should be ready,” Wilcox said, offering Ethan a hand. “The ops plan looks good.”

“I have a very capable team,” Ethan said, returning the greeting.

The rest of us exchanged the appropriate hellos.

“The helicopter’s waiting in case anyone needs an evac,” my grandfather said.

“Good,” Wilcox said. “We’re on standby out here, with guns ready in case the dragon needs to be pushed back toward the stadium.” He looked at my grandfather and Jeff. “You’ll be coordinating that from the van?”

“We will,” my grandfather confirmed.

Wilcox nodded and looked at our swords, brow lifted. “You sure that’s enough firepower?”

Ethan’s smile was thin. “We’re sure. You let us do what we do best, and we’ll end this tonight.”

“Understood,” Wilcox said.

“And if this doesn’t end tonight,” Pierce began, “what’s the backup plan?”

“There is no backup plan,” Ethan said. “We fight the dragon until it’s dead, or we are. It’s that simple.”

Her eyes widened, but she nodded. “Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Good,” he said. If only they’d done that in the first place . . .

I put a hand at his back. They’ve done it now. So we’ll do what we can.

• • •

The law-enforcement types stayed outside the stadium. We walked through the dark tunnel toward the playing field, and I bet our sense of anticipation wasn’t much different from what the professional athletes felt on their way to a game. Excitement, nerves, adrenaline, and a killer instinct.

“You ready?” Mallory asked me.

“I absolutely am.” I felt calmer than I had in days. I knew how to use my sword, my sword had been charmed for extra power, and I had two very good fighters at my side. This was, literally and figuratively, what I’d trained for.

“Get it,” Mallory said, and we bumped knuckles.

We walked onto the field, the lights glowing above us, the seats stretched in an oval around us.

“Lions in the coliseum,” Catcher murmured.

“Better than gladiators facing lions,” Ethan said. But he held back when Catcher, Mallory, and Jonah walked into the middle of the field, turned to me.

“This is my last opportunity to request that you don’t fight tonight.”

I lifted my brows at him, irritated that he was going to start an argument before a battle.

“But I won’t make that request,” he continued with a smile before I could object. “Because I know you. And because I cherish who you are.” He put a hand against my cheek, rubbed his thumb along my jaw. “You will fight for the city, for the people who cannot fight for themselves. There is no better reason to fight fiercely.”

I smiled at him. “You’re a pretty good reason.”

He smiled, touched his forehead to mine. “I love you beyond reason.”

“Same goes for me. Otherwise, I’d have locked you away in the House a long time ago.” I leaned up, kissed him on the lips. “Go make me proud, Sullivan.”

“Same for you, Sentinel. Stay safe.”

• • •

I’d never been in Soldier Field without people. It was odd, to be in such a large and empty space. It wouldn’t be empty for long, and I had a sinking suspicion it wouldn’t feel very large with a dragon in it. But we’d cross that bridge when we came to it.

“Mallory,” Catcher said as we unsheathed our swords, left the scabbards by the entrance tunnel. “You’re up.”

She blew out a breath, nodded, and carried her pot into the middle of the field, right on the fifty-yard line.

She put it down, then looked back at us, held up a finger. “One thing first,” she yelled as we walked toward her, and then leaned down and did a tidy cartwheel across the grass, followed by a front handspring.

When she came up, she pulled down her shirt, pushed her hair out of her eyes. “I’ve always wanted to do that,” she said with a grin. “Figured I’d get it in now in case I don’t get another chance.”

“You are medal ready,” Ethan said with a grin.

We took the positions we’d agreed upon—four roughly cardinal points around her, fifteen feet away.

She pulled out a can of white spray paint, grinned as she shook it up, the metal bearings rolling around inside.

“I’ve always wanted to do this, too,” she said, and began to spray white symbols around the crucible, symbols of alchemy.

When that was done, she tossed the can away, pulled a vial from her pocket, and emptied it into the crucible.

“What is this, exactly?” Ethan asked.

“A little river water, a little scraping from Sorcha’s alchemy, a smidge of grass from Wrigley Field, and sand from Oak Street Beach, and a few other odds and ends, combined with a little magic of my own. Like calls to like,” she said, straightening again. “Or at least that’s the theory.”

She pulled a box of matches from her pocket and took one out, holding it up while she waited for our nods.

“Ready,” Ethan said, and she nodded.

“And away we go,” she said, and whipped the match against the side of the box, sparking sulfur into the air.

She dropped the flame into the crucible. Almost immediately, thick white smoke began to rise from the vessel’s top, streaming upward in a column toward the sky and spilling the Egregore’s scents into the air. Smoke, earth, and water, carried by magic.

The smoke rose like a signal fire over the stadium and seemed to glow orange in the lights. Mallory took a seat on the ground.

“While we have a moment,” I said, “how’s Margot?”

Jonah looked startled by the question. “I’m not— Why do you ask?”

I gave him a bland look.

“That was a setup?”

“It was supposed to be. No spark?”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to discuss this with you.”

I narrowed my gaze at him, but the harsh look didn’t work. I’d have to talk to Margot later.

“The dragon’s moving,” said Wilcox in our ear. “He’s off the lighthouse and headed your way. ETA three minutes.”

“Lighthouse still intact?” Jonah asked.

“It is.”

“Good,” Jonah said with a nod. “That’s something, anyway.”

Some nights, you took the victories you could get.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CONSEQUENTIALLY