He lowered his head and nodded slowly.
“She’s my reason to keep fighting, Serena. I’ve accepted that already. I will get her back.”
Serena breathed out slowly and leaned against her chair with a defeated look on her face.
“Your composure and diplomacy are of better use at Stonewall, Serena. If we can get the Bajangs involved, they will be a tremendous asset,” Draven said, his voice deep. “Bijarki has a point. He’s the most prepared to infiltrate the castle.”
“You should use Stonewall as a meeting place for the alliance,” Jax suggested. “Mount Agrith is out of the question now that the cat’s out of the bag. Might as well use a place with at least some swamp witch magic in it, enough to keep the leaders and their guards safe while we set terms and conditions.”
“That makes sense. Now we just need to find a way out of here without getting ourselves killed,” Draven replied and let out a long, torturous sigh. “There are so many Destroyers out there waiting for one of us to come out.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have chucked those corpses at them,” Serena muttered. “Now they’re likely twice as vigilant and even more pissed off and eager to peel the meat off our bones.”
“They already know we’re here,” Draven raised his chin. “They know who we are. We need to show them what we can do. They can’t think we’re in here, cowering in fear. We’re the resistance. We cannot be seen as weak. You come after us, you pay the price.”
“Four charred Destroyers is a clear message, indeed,” Jax replied. “The Destroyers were going to be vigilant anyway. We’ll have to outsmart them somehow.”
The question of how lingered heavily in the air.
Serena
I racked my brain for possible solutions, but they all led me to the same conclusion, one which Draven voiced rather quickly.
“We’ll need a diversion,” he said. “With four different directions to go and so many Destroyers around, we need to draw their focus away from us enough for a clear opening.”
“We’d need more than one diversion for this to work,” Anjani chimed in. “You’d all have to go out at the same time and spread out to make it harder for them to keep track of what’s happening.”
“Confuse them,” I mumbled, then pulled my shoulders back, feeling my spine crackle. I’d gathered a lot of tension between my shoulder blades.
“So, the final deployment is as follows,” Draven said. “Jax, Hansa, and Jovi will go northwest and take care of the Tritones, the Maras, and Grezzi’s camp. Tamara will go north to Inon, then south to the River Pyros and warn her Lamias. Bijarki will go out and collect the ingredients needed for the invisibility spell, which he will then use to breach Azazel’s castle. Serena and I will go to Stonewall and attempt to get the Bajangs on board. We should also confirm Stonewall as the new meeting spot for the alliance.”
“We’ll use the telepathy spell that the Daughter found,” I added. “We can keep the conversation in real-time, keep track of each other, and confirm our arrival at Stonewall as soon as we get there. That way, we can get clear updates despite our distance.”
Anjani nodded, then stood up.
“I’ll handle one diversion to keep them away from Jovi, Hansa, and Jax,” she said. “I don’t like having to stay here, but I do have an oath to uphold. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t make sure Jovi and my sister get out of here safely.”
Jovi looked up at her, his gaze softened, and a small smile passed over his face.
“Thank you, Anjani,” Hansa replied full of warmth.
“I’ll handle Serena and Draven’s escape route, then,” Field stood up, running a hand through his long, dark hair.
“There’s already a target on your back, Field,” Aida replied, concern etched into her features. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“It’s not like we have a better option right now,” he said gently. “Besides, I’m fast and probably more agile than those flying mules of theirs.”
Despite the horrid situation we’d ended up in, I couldn’t help but smile inwardly as I watched my friends take control and refuse to back down. They were stepping forward to try to make sure we all succeeded across the board. The strength pouring in from them filled my heart with pride and determination.
“No need to worry about me,” Tamara interjected with a smirk. “I’ll slither my way out, undisturbed.”
I suddenly wished I had her abilities so I could shift into a snake and go wherever I wanted. As much as I disliked her and her daughter, I had to admit their abilities were cool.
“What about Bijarki?” Draven asked. “We need to get him out undetected as well since he’s with us at the top of Azazel’s must-kill list.”
“We’ll cover him,” one of the teenage succubi stood up.
Her name was Almandine, and I’d grown quickly fond of her and her sister, Aura, who joined her as Anjani shook her head.
“There’s no way you two are leaving the protective shield,” she said. “No way. You are far too young to deal with Destroyers!”
“Stop coddling us,” Aura replied, keeping her chin up. “I told you before, we can take care of ourselves, and we’re fast enough to keep those abominations at a safe distance!”
“If anything, we’ll be running circles around them while Bijarki strolls out to do his job,” Almandine added.
Anjani wasn’t having any of it, but Hansa raised her hand to silence all three of them, her eyes smiling as she glanced at the teen succubi.
“It’s time for Almandine and Aura to prove their worth. Their fifteenth year is a dire one, but they should do their part,” she said. “Your intentions are noble, Anjani, but the girls are right. We can’t afford the luxury of coddling them anymore.”
Almandine and Aura gleamed at each other victoriously, then gave Anjani a reassuring smile.
“We’ll be careful, we promise,” Aura said.
“Thank you both,” Bijarki nodded his appreciation. “This way, whatever is left of the invisibility spell can stay here in the mansion for the others to use if they need a fast and safe exit.”
“Please be careful, guys,” I pleaded with them, no longer able to contain my fear. “The Destroyers are fast, and their spears are deadly accurate. I don’t know what I’d do if we lost any of you. I’ve grown irreversibly fond of this big, weird family of ours.”
“Don’t worry, Serena.” Field’s eyes found mine. “We’ll kick the hell out of them and get Vita back. They don’t know who they’re dealing with, and they’re clearly in awe of us. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have resorted to such cowardly tactics through Sverik and Aida’s visions of Azazel. They know what’s coming to them.”
It didn’t take much for Field to bring everything into focus for me. He had a point, after all. Azazel didn’t know who he was messing with. Each of us was vulnerable on their own, but together we could be unstoppable if we played our cards right.
“It’s settled, then,” Aida said. “I’ll do my part and try that direct line to Vita – fingers crossed for that one. Phoenix will keep following the young Druids.”
With a clear plan beginning to take shape, I felt more energetic. There was plenty of hope and determination to go around. Although I hated the thought of Vita in Azazel’s clutches, I also had enough confidence in Bijarki to know he wouldn’t rest until he got her back. His feelings for her were unhinged. I could sense the love and the longing oozing out of him.
The Daughter taught us how to perform the telepathy spell. I drew blood from everyone, storing small glass vials in my trustworthy satchel along with the spell instructions and the remaining ingredients in a leather pouch. Phoenix did the same, to keep a two-way communication line open. That way we could reach out to the mansion, and the mansion could reach out to us.
The agreement was to check in with each other every six hours so we could keep track of our movements and make sure everyone was on schedule.
Serena
We were due to leave while it
was still dark. The obscurity of the woods was meant to help with our escape routes, so we moved fast because dawn was several hours away.
Draven and I were in his study, packing everything we could into our satchels. We gathered poisons, healing powders, and the other spell ingredients that we’d collected for the previous mission as well as the handwritten incantations that Phoenix and the Daughter had prepared for us.
We didn’t talk for a while. Draven was probably calculating each step in his mind and analyzing every possible outcome. I was struggling to do the same, but I was unable to focus because my mind kept drifting toward Vita and Aida. I was worried about them. Azazel already had a hold on one, and he was moving to get the other, as well.
The Daughters’ protective shield was starting to feel like a disappointment, given that Azazel had still gotten his hands on Vita. At the same time, it was the only thing keeping him from getting the others. My stomach churned as I contemplated other worst case scenarios. I shuddered at the thought of what our fate would have been had it not been for the shield.
Draven seemed to sense my inner turmoil, and he lifted his gaze from his father’s notebook on the Bajangs. His gray eyes found mine as he came around his desk to take me in his arms. I welcomed his warmth and the golden energy pouring through me, healing everything that felt broken and tender on the inside, particularly my heart. I let my head rest on his chest and allowed his low voice to soothe my soul.
“It will be okay, Serena,” he said slowly. “We’ll get her back, and we’ll end this once and for all.”
“I can’t help but worry about her,” I sighed. “Aida, too, for that matter. Azazel has gained valuable ground. I’m scared he’ll get to her. Then it’ll only be a matter of time before he traps Phoenix, too, somehow. If anything happens to any of them…”
My voice broke as I swallowed back a wave of hot tears. Draven’s hand cupped my face, lifting it so he could look at me. I felt his heart echoing mine.
“I promise you, Serena. I promise I won’t let anything happen to Vita, Aida, Phoenix, or anyone else for that matter,” he replied, gradually filling me with the strength I needed to push through. “You were right earlier when you said we’re a weird family. We are a family, yes. I never thought I’d experience that in my lifetime. I’ve been on my own, hidden in this mansion for a long time. I will stop at nothing to keep you safe, Serena, to keep you all safe.”
I let my hands rest on his hips, my fingers digging into the muscles through the fabric of his shirt. I needed him as an anchor. I’d been battling the feeling of being adrift since Vita’s abduction. He didn’t hesitate to hold me and keep me going.
I couldn’t say anything in return. All I could do was enjoy the momentary bliss that his physical presence and his words brought me.
“All you have to do is keep being yourself, darling,” he whispered in my ear, igniting all kinds of chemical reactions in me. “You’re the glue that holds everyone together, did you know that?”
I tilted my head back, looking at him with surprise.
“You are, Serena. They look to you for guidance, for strength, and for the will to keep at it. You’re the engine that drives us in the right direction because you are sharp, brave, and relentless. Picking the right battles at the right time is the only thing you’ll need to do to help this family move forward and run Azazel into the ground. Knowing when to stop and when to charge ahead is essential at this point,” he said, his gaze drilling into my soul as he pulled my hips forward into him.
“I’m trying, Draven. I am,” I sighed.
“I may not show it, but I’m as torn as you are. Surely you must feel it by now.”
“I do,” I nodded. “I’m trying to keep it together.”
“Keep trying until it feels natural to push all the bad things aside and to step away from the problem and move toward the solution. I’m equally tempted to go after Vita right now, but that won’t solve the root of the problem. We need to bring Azazel down, and there are many creatures out there that have placed their trust in us. We cannot forsake everything because of our emotions.”
I ran my fingers along his jaw, his stubble scratching me slightly. How had I been so fortunate to have him stomp his way into my life? Without any grace or remorse, he stunned me and brought out the best in me, all while driving me up the wall until our first kiss. My whole life changed the moment I felt him open up to me for the first time. Step by step, he weakened my defenses until I found myself helpless under his touch. At the same time, he made me feel invincible against anything that the universe was willing to throw at us.
“I guess you’re the voice of reason in this relationship, then?” I put on a half-smile, which he mirrored perfectly, revealing his square, white teeth. Somewhere in the back of my head, a flashback flickered of those teeth grazing my skin and making me whimper. Oh, how deep I had fallen.
“I think it’s a two-way street,” he replied. “Sometimes I’m the one who explodes, and you’re the one to put the fire out. Then you always start another one, deeper and hotter and a thousand times more delicious.”
He kissed me deeply and sweetly enough to make me forget about everything for a single, wonderful second. I relished the moment, siphoning the golden energy he gave me so willingly and effortlessly. His natural scent invaded my nostrils, and I tasted him, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling myself closer.
We were in for a rough ride, but I knew we could shatter anything that stood in our way. His entire being confirmed it. Who was I to deny it?
Jovi
I stood in the reception area and stuffed a couple of small dry bread loaves wrapped in white cloth into my bag for the road. I knew I’d get hungry early in the morning, especially after such a rough night. I’d burned plenty of calories during our fight with the Destroyers, and we had a long road ahead of us. Having enough energy was essential.
My stomach felt heavy at the thought of leaving Anjani in the mansion. I’d gotten used to being around her all the time, and it didn’t feel right to put any distance between us, especially now. Vita’s abduction had put everything in perspective and pressed that dreaded fast-forward button on everything we had to do to destroy Azazel.
I couldn’t stand the thought of our little fae stuck in that dark castle, surrounded by slithering beasts and a maniac with an unquenchable thirst for power. We had to get Vita back, and we had to protect all the people who had put their faith in us when they decided to join our alliance. Anjani was strong. In some ways, she was stronger than me, though I didn’t feel like admitting it anytime soon. I knew she’d be okay if the shield was here to protect her.
Not that it had worked wonders so far since we were one Vita short and Azazel could still trap Aida in a vision, but it was the best we had given the circumstances.
Anjani came out of the greenhouse carrying a dozen vials and small leather pouches. She shoved them in my satchel. My eyes caught the name written on one of the labels: Death’s Kiss, Sluagh poison. It brought back the sweetest memory, recent yet seemingly from so long ago.
“Did you just raid the greenhouse?” I quipped.
“I most certainly did,” she replied dryly. “I will not have you go out there unprepared.”
“That is incredibly sweet. Where I’m from, the boys bring girls flowers and the girls sometimes gift boys with an expensive watch or cufflink.” I gave her a smirk.
I knew we were in deep trouble, but I couldn’t let that dull everything. We gained nothing from sulking, and I loved her even more when she smiled.
“What’s a watch?” she asked as she continued packing my satchel.
“Oh, it’s a, uh, portable clock. It’s small and comes in many different models. Back on Earth, there’s an entire fashion around them,” I explained, reminding myself that technology here had not yet reached our standards back home. I found that particularly endearing.
“Do you like watches?” she looked at me, her expression firm and impossible to read.
r /> I shrugged, unsure of the direction of this conversation.
“Yeah, I do. I have a couple of cool ones at home,” I said slowly.
A moment passed as Anjani’s gaze continue to hold mine.
“Okay, I have a whole collection,” I admitted. “I could show it to you after we destroy Azazel.”
“I like how you make destroying Azazel sound as easy as running out to get water or cutting down a tree,” she smirked.
I ran my fingers through her long, ink-black hair, following the curved line of her generous curls and enjoying the silky feel against my skin.
“Everything is easy and achievable when you’re near me,” I confessed, lowering my voice enough to make sure she got the weight of it. Given the way her skin began to glow, I’d hit the right spot.
A few seconds had passed before she spoke again.
“Where do you keep your watch collection?”
I blinked several times, slightly confused.
“In my room.”
“I look forward to seeing your room, then,” she hit me with a seductive smile, shattering everything inside of me.
That caught me by surprise. It was the first time I’d heard Anjani imply that she wanted to travel to my world. The implication left room for a plethora of questions, but it didn’t feel like the right time to dig deeper.
My hand settled on the curve of her neck, my thumb gently brushing against her jaw. I took a deep breath, hoping to relieve some of the tension she built in my lower body.
“You will be the end of me, Anjani,” I replied.
“And don’t you forget it,” she shot back. “I need you to come back in one piece, do you hear me, Jovi?”
She made me smile, heating me up on the inside. I was ready to kill Azazel with my bare hands if it meant ending it all so I could hold her in my arms and lose myself in her wildly addictive sweetness.