We made it back to the dorms without incident and returned to our war room.
"Traps," I reminded Kiyo who simply nodded.
"I wanted to discuss them with you first, and where to put them. And since you're better with magicks I will need a little help setting up the barriers to keep him from jumping straight into the dorms."
I simply nodded and dropped into my seat and opened my book, flipping through it quickly and trying to find what I wanted. With a soft sound I nodded, looking up at Kiyo.
"Think this will work?"
Kiyo studied the pages for a moment and nodded.
"Get to work," was all she said.
I nodded, closing my eyes and beginning on the intricate spell under my breath as she made her way outside to set up the perimeter traps.
When the vampires finally returned, we were exhausted, slumped across the table and communicating telepathically while pointing at our maps. But the second they knocked on the door we were on our feet, swords drawn. Until we remembered that we had set the traps, they had clearly gotten past them which meant they were the allies. Only then did we drop back into our chairs and mumble something that sounded like "come in".
My darling Takuma lead the parade, a huge smile gracing his lips as he took in our disheveled appearance.
"We all managed to give out all of the cranes. To everyone we spoke to. The whole party would be loyal to a dragon above all else," he said happily.
I smiled weakly up at him and nodded.
"Good, Kay? You know what to do," I told her.
She nodded, waving the vampires into chairs and snapping her fingers. A large origami crane appeared in the center of the table that looked just like the miniatures the vampires had worked so hard to hand out.
"This message is being broadcast to all who came into possession of a crane tonight. Only you can hear my voice. A new dragon has risen, but she is being opposed by a pureblood. We need your help. If you are still interested, go to the bookstore, "Quills and Ink" downtown tomorrow evening at dusk. This crane will self-destruct in 30 seconds. This message will not repeat," she stated, her voice frighteningly cold. She snapped her fingers again and the large crane vanished once more as her eyes met mine.
"Get some rest Kie, you'll need it," she smiled, her expression softening for the first time all day.
"I'll be fine Kiyo, I promise," I told her, causing her to shake her head and look at Takuma.
"Get her to bed please, I can handle the rest of the strategizing tonight," she told him.
"As for the rest of you, you're free to go," she said, looking around at the others who were also in various states of exhaustion.
Takuma nodded and moved to scoop me up, ignoring my protests, and together we lead a parade of vampires out of the war room.
I sighed, squirming a little in his grasp.
"Would you put me down?"
Takuma shook his head, smiling down at me.
"Nope, not until we get into bed," he laughed.
I pouted, crossing my arms and turning my head away from him.
"Not fair!"
Takuma sighed, kissing my forehead.
"Love, you're exhausted. You need to get some rest."
I shook my head a little, smothering a yawn against his chest before sighing.
"Maybe you're right. Fine. But only a nap," I told him.
I was asleep before he even got me into bed.