Chapter 23

“No heroics.” Arius’ voice came through the earpiece.

“Follow your own advice, babe.” Paisley said.

“Someone tell me again why we got left over here in the empty cave?” Daxx turned to glance around at the other women.

“You’re coming through the portal.” Troy said.

Daxx nodded. “I know, but I wanted to be on the team to breech the warehouse.”

“They’re just sore because we found the cave and they couldn’t even find a door at the asylum.” Autumn moved over and stood in front of the portal. Tim and Bronx stood guarding it. “Just shout when we jump in this portal.” She said impatiently.

“To clarify,” Alona glanced around, “I’m to stay in this empty cave with Sith?”

“We need someone there in case the cowards try to escape.” Chase said quietly.

“Wait for our go, ladies,” Rafael said in a hushed voice, “we’re just going to go in and take a peek in case the numbers are insane.”

“I haven’t seen any enter since I got up here.” Crissy reported. “I think I want to try sailing, Vic.”

“Mm, we’ll discuss it at a later date, heart.” Victor replied quietly.

“Okay.” Crissy said quickly.

“Fight well, brothers—and warrior women.” Chase said.

“Better than you, brother, now get the damn party started.” Daxx growled.

“What she said.” Paisley moved to stand in front of the portal with the rest of the women.

I followed her and stood ready, my surujin in hand. My task was one main thing, find magic. Of course, no one else knew I had a secondary to-do—keeping my mate from injury or worse.

“The gang’s all here.” Leone whispered.

“All, all?” Daxx asked looking more excited.

“Don't see Willis, but there are a lot of big names here from the guest list we’ve been accumulating.” Michael reported.

Daxx and Alona exchanged a look. I was guessing they weren’t aware of this list.

“Office is heavily guarded.” Quinton said softly.

“Maybe Hubert's in it?” Bethany asked.

“Rest of the team is outside.” Arius told us.

“Then we're ready.” Chase said.

“Daxx, give us sixty seconds to be well inside, the portal is a busy place, let us draw their attention away so you can get through.” Troy said quietly.

Daxx nodded, “We'll give you seventy seconds, chief, ‘cuz some of you are slower than the rest.” She said with a smirk. “Starting,” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and tapped the screen, “now.”

“I've never gone into battle with a time limit before.” Chase blurted out.

Autumn stared at the phone Daxx held in front of her.

The sounds of fighting came through the earbuds. Autumn nodded her head and faced the portal again.

Daxx put her phone in her pocket and pulled one of the blades off her back.

“Ready or not, here they come.” Alona sang out.

Autumn and Daxx went through together, Paisley and Bethany were next. Kara and I went through, followed by the guards. There were men all over the place fighting. Ours were easiest to spot as they were all in black. I doubted that was why they chose to dress that way. Not that I really cared, they all looked like gods of war.

Bethany stopped and pulled out her phone, as she did Paisley held her hand up and looked all around them. When Beth was finished, they reversed roles.

“Connect. I'll cover you.” Kara said with her bow up and arrow drawn.

I took out my phone and tapped to rejoin the group call. Tucking it away, I stepped in front of Kara so she could connect. By the time she was done, Bethany and Paisley were nowhere to be found.

The guards behind us were flanking us now. Kara turned and looked at one, “get out there and help them.”

I turned and motioned to the ones near me, “go.” With reluctant looks, they moved out into the commotion.

“If I'm to be left guarding dismal caves, I want body cams so I can see what's happening.” Alona said.

“It's chaos.” Crissy said. “I can't even see what is happening.”

“Watch,” Victor grunted, “the entrances, heart.”

“Yes. Okay, Vic.” Crissy said quickly.

“Is Daxx on the call?” Troy sounded out of breath.

“I don't think she or Autumn paused when they came through.” Bethany said.

“Need a port box.” Paisley said.

“Any magic in the building?” Quinton's voice brought me back to the reason I was here.

“Checking.” I told him and moved away from Kara.

“I've got your back, Reagan.” Kara's soft voice came through the earpiece. “Rafael, watch yours.” She said with a note of urgency.

I glanced over to see Rafael standing over a man lying on the floor.

“Thanks, honey.” He grinned at her as Leone slid in with a box and the man vanished.

I ducked when Derian and another man fighting got too close. That made me realize I didn't have time to gawk around at my leisure. It also brought back memories of being too close to battles during the wars. I looked to the end of the building near big doors, then tried to not get distracted by Quinton going one on one against a large man. He was using two swords and quite vigorously, I noted and then looked away to check for magic. There was a door at the far end and green haze surrounding it. “Door at the far end from the portal. There's green haze outside it.”

“Mage.” Quinton growled.

I was suddenly knocked into some stacked crates. The man Derian was fighting stumbled into me.

“Rea?” Quinton said.

I scowled. “I’m fine.” Getting up, I swung the surujin and flung it toward the man my guard was fighting. I jerked it and he landed on his face. Rushing over, I kicked him in the face when he tried to get up. “Port box.” I growled into the mic.

“Rea has bite.” Chase sounded amused.

“Paize, babe, hold the office door shut.” Arius went running by me.

“On it.” Paisley left Bethany and rushed to the other end.

“Let him be in there.” Chase ground out through his teeth.

“Kara, honey, can you go listen by,” Rafael made a fierce sound, “that door.” he finished in a huff.

“Read my mind.” She said quietly and started moving that way. As she went, she released an arrow and a man in her way dropped to the ground. “present for someone with a port box.”

“I like cleaning up after you.” Michael said and appeared by the man to dispatch him with the box.

Later, I had to ask her what sort of arrows she used that rendered her targets unconscious.

A noise had me turning to see a man rushing toward the portal. I lurched in his direction, the surujin swinging. Releasing it, I tugged when it connected and pulled his leg out from under him. Victor stepped into my sight and used his box on the man. He rushed back into the fray before I could blink.

“Daxx is down.” Bethany said.

I looked, then spotted her across the room. She was on her knees hunched over holding her arm against her stomach. “I've got her.” I told any listening. Bethany stood over her, with her hands out and large bright arcs of orange and red coming off them. I'd seen her knock a man down with small balls, so I could only believe anyone getting too close would be knocked to Timbuktu, or further.

By the time I weaved through the crowd of bodies, Troy was taking on any man that got too close. I nodded to Bethany as I knelt down. She gave me a worried look and moved further away. Pulling off one of my gloves I tried to assess what was wrong. There was no blood.

“A damn pipe.” Daxx growled, “he whacked my shoulder with a damn pipe.”

Troy glanced over his shoulder at us, his eyes were red as he checked over his mate.

I struggled to get the jacket undone and expose the flesh, Daxx hissed out a breath trying to help me.

“Get me back in the game, Reagan.” She said breathlessly.

“I'm going to try.” I placed my hands around her shoulder and exhaled slowly. “It's not broken.” I could tell by the draw against my hands.

“Troy. Find that jerk with the pipe and hold him for me.” Daxx barked.

“Sorry, sister,” Rafael said, “I think Leone just sent him to the cells.”

Daxx hissed in annoyance. “I’m still smacking him with a pipe.”

“I can't keep up with whatever this mage is doing.” Kara said in a panicked tone.

“My love, has Romulus arrived at the cave?” Chase asked.

“He has.” Alona replied.

“Shove him through the portal, a guard will be there to greet him.” Chase said quickly, then ran past where we knelt.

“Reagan.” Quinton's hard tone vibrated in my ear.

I lifted my hands away and blew out a breath. Daxx lifted her arm and nodded.

“I'm good to go.” She started to get up.

“Better connect to the call.” I told her as Troy hovered over her.

She rolled her eyes and quickly did so.

I picked up my surujin and then a hand appeared in front of me. Pulling one glove on, I took Quintons hand, stood up, then quickly put the other one on.

His gaze moved over my hair, then face. “You good?”

I nodded. “It was just bruising mostly.” I looked above his head, then connected with his eyes again. “You good?”

He smirked. “Of course.” He motioned with his head, “go cover Kara while she listens in on that mage.”

I nodded and went that way.

“Getting tired of staring at the door.” Paisley said in an annoyed tone.

“Romulus is here.” Rafael said, “Kara, mute your mic so you can relay to Romulus the words you catch.”

“Okay.” Kara replied.

I went over and stood beside Paisley, my back to the door and watched that no one came close to either one.

“Truck pulling up by the big doors.” Crissy said with concern.

“They’re not here for the boat refinishing.” Leone said in with a shortness of breath.

“Quinton, Arius, cover the doors.” Victor said in a flat tone. I glanced over to see if he was even fighting as he didn't sound out of breath. He was with calculating control and I felt sorry for anyone going against him.

“On it.” Arius said.

Kara's voice came back over the earpiece, “the casting thoughts have stopped.” she was quiet for a second, “I think there's someone in there that interrupted him.”

“Oh, let it be Willis.” Michael said in a lethal tone. “Bethany, Rafael, get on that door.” Michael grunted a few times, “wait for Victor and me to get there, Paisley, then release it.”

“Romulus is ready. Said there was some spell on the door, he took it down.” Kara reported.

I glanced back to see she had her bow ready again and raised toward the door.

“Reagan and I will watch your backs.” Daxx came running over and stood by me.

“Sparky, when I say, blast that door with all you have.” Chase said.

“My king, keep your ass away from that door.” Alona said.

“What she said, Troy. You and Chase need to be clear of it.” Daxx said.

“What?” Chase didn't sound happy.

“They're right, my brother kings.” Victor sounded commanding. “You cannot be anywhere near Arwan.”

“Come help us.” Arius said. “Fresh bodies have arrived.”

There was a growl of annoyance, but no verbal rebuke.

I watched the kings go toward the door where Arius and Quinton were fighting five men. I was silently relieved they went to help. Taking a deep breath, I searched to see if I could feel if Quinton was fatigued. I felt something but couldn’t be sure. I saw a slight hue around him, but not enough to warrant any intervention.

“Okay, Paisley, on three.” Michael said.

I wanted to turn around and watch but didn’t want to leave Paisley's back open to anyone attacking her.

“One.” Michael's tone was hushed, “two.”

“I'll freeze anyone inside.” Paisley said and moved behind me.

“Three.” Michael growled into the mic.

I stepped back so I could watch both the people on this side of the door and anyone nearby. I caught Bethany flinging her hands toward the door and the sound of shattering wood echoed in my ear with the earpiece and the one without. There was a rush of bodies at the door, I wasn't able to see what was in the room.

A shout beside me had me turn in time to see one of our guards rushing at a man running for the portal. With fast steps, I headed toward him and released the chain my hand. Jerking on it, the man only stumbled for a second, but I'd bought the guard enough time to get himself between the portal and him.

“He just vanished.” Daxx's voice had me glance back to the office.

“Had to be a porter.” That was Kara, “mages can't just vanish right?”

I looked at the mage beside her. Romulus was nodding.

“Brothers,” Victor voice was loud, “I just dispatched Willis Hubert to our cells.”

“Yeah.” Arius cheered, “just the celebrity I've been wanting to entertain.”

“Arwan?” Quinton asked.

“He ported out.” Daxx stated.

“Shit.” Quinton again. “We could use a hand cleaning up the last few.” He didn't sound amused.

I turned to see four men left and most of those looking in the direction of the door Bethany had blown off its hinges. The trace around Quinton was getting brighter. Ignoring my own light-headedness, I rushed in his direction with the chain spinning. When I was close enough, I sent it flying at the ankle of the man trying to chop him to bits. I jerked on it and the man went down, meeting Quinton’s knee as he raised it in anticipation of what he knew I would do. The man bounced off it and slumped to the floor.

“Port box.” Quinton said breathlessly.

I looked him over, he even looked exhausted now. I nodded to him, and hoped he'd step back and let his brothers finish up. A slight dizziness had me put my hand to my head.

Quinton scowled and came over immediately. “You all right?”

I nodded. “Too much excitement after helping, Daxx.”

He made a sound of annoyance. “I'm taking Reagan back over, she hit those crates pretty hard.”

“We'll see you at the dining room shortly.” Troy said.

“Quick snack then to the cells.” Arius stated.

Daxx came over to me. “Thanks for getting me back up.” she looked at my hair. “You'll be okay?”

I pulled a section of my hair to where I could see it. It was barely streaked. I nodded. “Yes. It's nothing a hot tea and biscuit won't fix.”

"Duchess, we've decided to leave the portal open for the time being. If Arwan doesn't close it we may catch a few strays wandering through to the cave.” Chase said.

“Leave Sith here until a watch arrives?” Alona asked.

“Yes. Derian is coming to keep him company.” Rafael said.

“Cristy. I'll see you at home.” Victor said.

“Okay, Vic. Porting home now.” Crissy told him.

Quinton paused to watch Michael look in the boxes stacked up along the wall. “Send a team to bring that home, Michael.”

Michael turned around and nodded. “My thoughts exactly, there's food here and other items we can distribute.”

“I'd like some of it to go to shelters on this side.” Paisley said.

“As you wish, babe.” Arius nodded to me as he went over toward her.

“Ready?”

I looked up at Quinton and nodded as I stepped closer to him and put my hands on his arm.