Chapter 21

I looked around to see where we were this time.

“Is it weird I feel disappointed that we found nothing at the last four locations?” Paisley asked while looking around.

“No.” Bethany pulled her hair up into a pony. “You’re just thinking like I am—”

“That the guys can’t be as mad if we find a portal?” Kara asked.

“Yeah.” Paisley looked behind us. “We brought our guards this time, so they can’t be as mad.”

“Is anyone else looking forward to this ending?” Daxx looked all around us. “When can we do what we want again?”

Alona nodded. “What are we going to do all day-or night then?”

Crissy tucked a ball into her pocket. “I want a job.” She nodded, “I’ve never had a job.”

“Yeah, they’re going to have to find us jobs.” Bethany went over to the edge of the overgrown road and looked both ways. “I don’t think princess is a job.” She turned and looked at Autumn. “This is where you fought them?”

Autumn nodded, then pointed down the hill. “We had to port down there and run up because the ward thing was messed up.”

Paisley put her hands on her hips. “Let’s see where this goes.”

As soon as we started walking, we were flanked by our guards.

Bethany turned to look at Mac, “where does this lead?”

Mac shook his head. “I don’t know. Guarding the palace is before my time.”

“Is there a lake at the bottom?” Crissy asked.

Daxx stopped walking. “A lake?”

Crissy nodded. “I keep seeing water.” She made a face, “not in a good way.”

“Oh jeeze.” Bethany whispered.

“I have had enough of swimming to last a few lifetimes.” Paisley said her eyes huge.

Autumn nodded. “I don’t know how to swim.”

Crissy looked at her for a moment. “I think we all need to learn how to swim.”

Kara sighed, “is that one of those hints, but not a warning because it would change things?”

Nodding, Crissy started walking again. “I just have to figure out how rocks float.”

Alona looked at Daxx, then started after her. “Floating rocks?”

“Yes.” Crissy didn’t look back, “I asked Victor and he said maybe it was a metaphor.” She glanced back at Alona, “I don’t see metaphors.”

Paisley groaned, “bad water and floating rocks.”

“Do we tell the men this?” I asked.

Daxx shook her head. “They have enough going on right now, better to let them stay on task.”

Crissy stopped again, then her shoulders dropped, “maybe it’s not here.” She stared at the ground. “There’s a woman and a bus.”

“A bus?” Autumn looked around. “I don’t think we have buses over here, do we?”

Alona shrugged, “I have no idea. First thing I’m doing when we have our freedom back is going on a tour of this realm we rule over.”

Daxx nodded, “That. I had to approve a report, or finding,” she shook her head, “I don’t know what it was. Troy was busy at the cells and someone showed up at his office with a clipboard full of papers.” She blew out a breath, “Troy said I did the right thing, but it would be helpful if I understood things.”

“Another reason I can’t wait for Rena to take over all the reports that flood Chase’s desk.” Alona glanced to Daxx, “most of them are trivial and not need to know.” Groaning, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and answered it. “Hey.” She gave Alona a wide-eyed look, then shrugged, “we’re just out for a walk.” She nodded, “yes, all of us—guards included.” She turned and looked up the hill at the palace, “just outside the palace.” She looked at the ground and all around our feet, “how would I know that? Are there markers or something telling us where the ward starts?” She glanced at Bethany, who shrugged in reply. “I am.” She rolled her eyes. “How’s it going over there?” She listened for a moment, then nodded. “There has to be a door or something.” She stiffened, “okay I’ll see you when you get back.” She tucked the phone back in her pocket. “They can’t find anything over there, no visible entrance.”

“Maybe they should have taken us, or at least Reagan so the most likely invisible entrance can be found.” Kara said with a scoff.

Daxx nodded, “Yeah, but they’ll have to figure that out on their own.” She started walking again.

I couldn’t help looking over the countryside as we went. It was a thing of beauty. I decided right then I was staying in Alterealm. Not that I had a choice really, with a dying mate I had to figure out how to help—without letting the rest of the family know. I was here to stay. I stopped so quickly Bethany walked into me.

“What is it?” She hissed.

I stood looking at a group of trees to our left, white haze floated above the ground. “Is there actual mist up here?”

Autumn came over and stood beside me and looked at the trees. “I don’t see any fog or mist.” She flipped her hood back and pushed up her sleeves.

“What color?” Daxx came up quietly.

“White.” I whispered.

“Oh good, not a mage.” Bethany moved past us, Paisley at her side, both of their hands were raised. “Maybe it’s just a cloaking.” She whispered.

“Can you do something with that?” Paisley asked quietly.

Bethany nodded and moved closer, then started to wave her hands around.

The white mist intensified as she did, but when she stopped there was a woman hunched down beside the tree.

The guards went past us quickly, swords drawn.

The woman looked up, her eyes were a pale purple.

“Wait.” Daxx pushed past Tim and Sith, “Wanda?”

“Oh my goodness, my huntress queen.” The woman dropped to the ground in a dramatic display of what I think was meant to be a curtsy. “I am so glad it’s you.”

Daxx waved her hand so the guards would back up. Slumping her shoulders briefly, she went over and put her hand on Wanda’s head. “Get up and tell me what you’re doing here.”

Wanda stood up. Her eyes were no longer purple, but one was blue and the other green. She put her hands over her mouth, then dropped them. “I went into hiding—as you know.” She nodded, “and Clairee said it’s safe now that…” Her eyes filled with the look of fear.

“He’s locked up for eternity in the cells.”

Wanda whooshed out a breath. “Oh good. I went into hiding but if Marcus is apprehended, he can’t harm me now.” She looked relieved, then smiled at Paisley, bowing her head. “Princess, I was at the ball. I still hum that song often.”

Paisley chuckled, “good to hear.” She looked around us. “So, why are you hiding in the trees?”

Her mouth gaped open, “right.” She looked out the ground for a second, then sighed. “I’ve been disguising myself, since,” she nodded and motioned to Daxx, “that happened.” She looked at Paisley for a moment, then back to Daxx, “they tried to recruit me.” She whispered. “I was going to tell Clairee, then thought—” she bit her lip briefly, “what if I find out more information.” She motioned into the trees, “so I followed them, cloaked.” She nodded. “I panicked and came back, that’s when you found me.”

Daxx studied her for a moment, then pointed in the direction she did. “What’s in there?”

Wanda turned and looked at it, “some kind of cave in the hillside. They went in, no one came back out.”

“Should we call the guys?” Alona asked.

Daxx glanced at her, then looked back through the trees. “Let’s take a look first.” She nodded, “I don’t want to drag them here for nothing.” Tim gave her a hard look. “I’ll call them after we look, Tim, relax.”

“I just don’t want another scene like after that apartment.” He grimaced, “our kings are quite fierce when it comes to you ladies.”

Alona made a sound of annoyance. “We’ll protect you from the backlash.”

Sith turned and looked at Tim, then to Alona, “I just don’t want to be on the wrong side of a cell wall.”

Alona grinned, “it will be fine.”

Daxx motioned to one of the other guards. “Keep Wanda with you.”

“Oh,” Wanda piped up, “I could help.” She gave Daxx a sheepish look, “now that I’m not alone.”

Daxx considered it, then looked at the guard again, “anything happens, Felix, you get Wanda out of here.”

“My queen.” He inclined his head.

“Okay,” Bethany raised her hands, bright orange arced off her hands, “let’s go look.”

“Oh, that’s marvelous.” Wanda exclaimed quietly, “Clairee told me you were a natural witch, but to see it.”

“Focus.” Daxx looked at her.

“Right.” Wanda bobbed her head, “of course.”

We moved quietly through the trees until there were only a few scattered about. Daxx squatted down, then looked over her shoulder at me. “Reagan, do you see anything?”

Keeping low, I moved up to crouch beside her and then looked where she pointed. It was a small cave entrance mostly covered by overgrowth of plants. Almost covering the entrance was thick swirling green haze. “Green.” I whispered, “a lot of green.”

All of us crowded around Daxx, staying low to the ground and silent.

Daxx looked over her shoulder, then sighed, “okay, I’m calling.” She turned the other way, “Sith go stand out on the road, then the men can find you.”

Sith nodded, then darted back into the trees.

Daxx sighed again and pulled out her phone. She looked at Alona and rolled her eyes. “Hey. So, we found something.” She dropped her head down, then sighed again, “just listen. On our walk we found Wanda,” she nodded, “yes that Wanda.” She shook her head, “she found a cave and Reagan sees a lot of green…” She glared at Alona, “outside the palace, where Kara shot the arrows that time.” She nodded, “Sith is standing on the road waiting for you.” She held out the phone and looked at it. “I better get bonus points for calling them.” She mumbled and put the phone in her pocket again.

Not much time passed before we could hear the men moving through the trees. Autumn turned and looked at them when they came into sight. “You guys need to practice stealth.”

“Just out for a walk—in full gear?” Rafael looked at Kara’s bow, then at her.

Kara shrugged and offered him no explanation.

Michael gave Autumn a look, then went over and squatted down next to her. He turned to look at me. “You still seeing green?”

I looked at the cave. “Very thick green.”

Quinton was right beside me. “That means there’s some mage crap going on right now.”

Emil was on my other side suddenly. “Let’s go see what they’re up to.”

Quinton nodded, then reached behind him and pulled out his swords. “Better than wandering around some building looking for a door that’s not there.” He mumbled.

Bethany moved back in the group until she was beside Wanda. “Can you keep watch on the entrance? Do something showy if any of them come out?”

Wanda hesitated, then nodded.

“Good, okay.” She turned to one of the guards, “Mac, you stay with her, dial into the group and shout if anyone but us come back out or someone is trying to come in.”

Mac nodded and pulled out his phone.

I watched a few of the others pull out their phones, then did the same as Quinton watched me. Before I put the earpiece in I gave him a look that I hoped told him to be careful. Reaching over, I put my hand on his chest near his heart. His brown eyes searched my face for a moment, then he nodded. Putting the earpiece in, I tapped the screen on my phone to connect. Opening the pouch at my side, I pulled out the surujin, then glanced around to see everyone was ready.

“Stealth.” Autumn hissed into the mic.

I took that to mean for the men to move silently.

Even Daxx nodded and hunched down as she started moving toward the cave entrance.

Bethany held up her hand when we got there. With a quick look at Leone, she stood up and moved her hand down over herself. She disappeared from our sight.

“Just look.” Leone’s voice came through the earbud.

Someone made a gasping noise through it, I glanced around to see it was none of us on the outside.

Bethany reappeared. “There’s about twenty men in there.” She whispered, then looked at Leone, “heavily armed.” She gave Michael a hard look, “there’s boxes and crates all along the one wall.”

“Any water?” Crissy asked.

Bethany shook her head. “No water.”

“Oh good.” Paisley whispered.

I looked at the entrance again, it wasn’t that big. The hillside it was in wasn’t large either.

Kara nodded and looked at me, like she understood what I was thinking.

“Reagan,” I turned to see Michael looking at me, “stay to the back and tell us if you see any portals.”

I nodded.

“And any mages or witches inside.” Quinton said quietly. “Paisley and Beth will deal with them until we can send them to the cells.”

“Are we going through any portals if they’re there?” Daxx turned to look up at Troy.

Troy paused for a moment, “only after we deal with those inside.” He said

Daxx nodded, “got it.” She turned to Alona, “you and Criss get to the portal to make sure none of them escape through it.”

Alona nodded. Crissy bent down and pulled the long blade from the strap on her leg.

Arius came back to the group. “Intake cells are ready.” He tapped his screen and then put the phone in his pocket and zipped it up.

“Fight well, brother.” Chase said.

“Same, brother, no injuries today.” Troy replied.

“Let’s party.” Daxx whispered and started moving toward the entrance.

I went in after everyone else, two guards, Alona and Crissy were with me. The others must have moved with lightning speed because they were all over the large cavern, weapons swinging and the sound of metal on metal rang out all around me. I quickly sought out Quinton and watched as he took on a man his size. They were both wielding only one sword, I glanced around his feet to see his second sword on the ground. I frowned wondering if he’d voluntarily relinquished it or if he wasn’t as fully charged as he led his siblings to believe. I looked around him, checking if his health was bad and felt a small measure of relief when I didn’t see the tell-tale signs. Someone touched my arm, I turned to see Alona motioning in front of us. I’d momentarily forgotten my mission. Nodding, I moved further into the cave and looked all around. It wasn’t hard to locate the source of a high concentration of magic, as the green haze became almost a solid object between two men standing with large axes on either side of it. I pointed.

Alona’s shoulder dropped. “Problem with Criss and I watching the portal. Battle axes.” She said calmly into the mic.

There were a few sounds of annoyance as replies.

“Arius and I will dispatch them.” Victor stated. I watched him weave through the bodies trying to cause injury to each other.

“At least they’re not giants.” Arius said in a breathless way.

“Any mages or witches?” That was Paisley.

I dragged my eyes away from the men fighting against the portal guards to look around the cave. “I don’t see white or any other green.”

“Good.” Quinton grunted into the mic.

“Paize,” that was Daxx, “behind me,” she growled in annoyance, “there’s some man huddled in the corner like a scared cat.” I watched her duck under the swing of some man, then she came up behind him.

“Detain him.” Michael said quickly.

“On it.” Paisley ran over to the darkened area behind Daxx. “Hey, it’s okay. Just stay there.”

“I’ve got her back.” Bethany said.

I tried to see in the corner. “Going to check if he’s—magic.” I said, not knowing how else to say it.

“I’ve got you covered.” That was Kara.

I glanced to see her standing near the entrance with her bow drawn, aiming it in Daxx’s direction.

I ran over, sticking to the outer edge of the cave until I was close enough to make out the man hidden in the shadows. I looked right at him, then around him. “He’s not magic.”

“He’s wearing a stabilizer, Arius.” Paisley squatted down beside the man and was holding his wrist.

“Ours?” Arius grunted.

“No.” Paisley looked at me, then back to the man. He was saying something, but wasn’t loud enough we could hear it.

A motion beside me had me turn, a larger man was heading toward us, I swung the surujin out and wrapped it around his leg. He went down.

“Michael.” Paisley said.

I turned to see her standing in front of the man with her hand out.

“I’ve got him.” Michael came running out, with the box in his hand.

Paisley lowered her hand and squatted back down.

The man disappeared.

“He says they’re holding his wife hostage…”

“Someone’s coming.” It was Mac’s voice. “A man with a woman, her hands are bound.”

“Mac, you engage him.” That was Victor.

“Mac, get Wanda to get the woman and cloak them in the trees.” Bethany hissed out a breath.

“Will do.” Mac replied.

I gathered up my surujin and turned to see Bethany send a man flying back with the fire balls from her hand. Leone grinned at his mate, then used one of the boxes. There was a sound of a grunt, then the cave was silent. Sounds of panting and a sudden quiet were all I could hear through the earpiece.

Troy and Chase both came toward Paisley and I. Paisley nodded to the man and he stood up slowly.

“They have my wife.” He stated, his voice shaking. “If I don’t let them use my place, they’re going to hurt her.”

Troy nodded and glanced at Chase. “Mac?”

“I’m holding him on the ground.” Mac reported.

“I’ll go.” Michael darted for the door.

“Have Wanda, bring the woman in here.” Daxx glanced toward the cave entrance.

“Okay, they’re coming.” Mac said breathlessly.

When they came in the man darted toward them, “Chelsea.” He called as he ran. She jolted and ran toward him, then they collided in a hug.

“His wife.” Paisley said, glancing at Arius.

“You guys need to look in these.” Quinton said.

Everyone turned to see him and Rafael opening boxes. “Enough supplies for an army.”

“Is anyone else annoyed that they’ve been this close to the palace and we never caught on?” Daxx asked as she went over to look.

“I guess they still intended to reside in it someday.” Leone said.

Michael came back, Mac wasn’t with him so I assumed he was standing guard outside. “Sir,” Michael went over to the man with his wife.

“Dean.” The man told him.

Michael inclined his head, “where is your place?”

Dean kept his arm around his wife. “I don’t know where this is.” He looked all around the cave, “but whatever that is,” he pointed to the portal that Victor still stood by, “it takes you out to my warehouse.” He looked at his wife for a moment. “I refinish boats, so I have a large warehouse I work at near the harbor.”

“Water.” Crissy said.

Michael looked at her for a moment. “You’ve seen this?”

Crissy bit her lip, then shook her head. “No, not that kind of water.” She glanced over at Victor, “I don’t think this was a harbor in my head, or the floating rocks.”

“Floating rocks?” Rafael hissed out a breath.

“Focus people.” Daxx went over to the man. “How many are in your warehouse?”

Rubbing his hand across his brow, he closed his eyes for a moment. “A lot. They come and go constantly.”

Troy turned to Michael, “get him pictures of all the top players and see if he recognizes any of them.”

Michael nodded, and pulled out his phone.

Chase turned around and looked at Alona. “Duchess, go back with Sith and get Romulus and Clairee here.” He glanced at Victor, “we don’t want that closed yet, but we need someone to check it out.”

Alona nodded and went over to Sith.

“Are there men or women in your warehouse with different colored eyes?” Bethany asked Dean.

He nodded. “There’s one man,” he looked at his wife, “we thought him to be a bit strange, or wearing colored contacts.”

“A mage.” Quinton said coming back over to the group.

I studied him and saw the faint reddish hue surrounding him. I gave him a look that I’m sure he interpreted the right way, when he scowled down at me, then turned to look at Dean.

“How long have they been using your warehouse?”

“For many months.” Chelsea answered for him.

The twin kings exchange a look.

“Is there any other family they can use against you?” Alona asked with a calm patient tone.

Dean shook his head. “No, it’s just us.”

Chase nodded, then turned to one of the guards. “Bronx, you and Bart take them to one of the safe houses until this is over,” he glanced at Derian, who nodded, “and make sure there’s a guard there.”

“We need people on the other end of this.” Daxx motioned to the portal. “Surround them before the rest of us go through.” She turned back to Dean. “Is the portal always open or is there someone on the other end opening it?”

Dean shook his head quickly, “I don’t see them do anything when they’re in my shop, just walk through the wall then come out here.”

Daxx turned to Victor, “we need guards stationed here, lots of them until we go over,” she turned to Troy, “we’ll need to plan this out.”

Troy raised both his brows and looked at her. “I agree,” he gave her a curious look, “never thought I’d hear those words from your lips, but yes we need to get others in place on the other end.” He pointed to the portal.

Daxx shrugged, “I don’t like going in blind and having no idea what I’m charging into.”

Chase chuckled. “You might be wearing off on her, brother king.”

“Har-har.” Daxx looked from one king to the other. “Less talk. We need the address of this warehouse and to round up the teams.” She nodded her head slowly and turned to Autumn, “then we can kick some butt.”

Autumn nodded, then lifted her hands and waved them around, “what are we doing lollygagging around here? Let’s get moving people.”

Bethany held her hand out, “good use of the word. High five.”

Autumn tapped her palm against Bethany’s, “who would have thought I’d win in a word game.”

Paisley shrugged, “I need to up my game.”