Chapter 262: Keep your distance

Lia

When Matt told us, I panicked.

The twins must’ve heard us, so we ran out and decided to split up.

“They ran, Rain,” I snapped as we hurried down the corridor. “This wasn’t a game or some moody stroll. They ran.”

Rain jogged beside me, slightly out of breath. “Okay, yes, I got that from the running part. I’m just saying—maybe they panicked.”

“Or maybe they finally snapped,” I muttered. “It’s been building.”

“You think?”

“They’re kids, Rain. Scared, powerful kids. And now they’re out there alone.”

“Well, technically, they’re out there together. So… half a point?”

“Rain.”

“Okay, okay, zero points. I’m just trying to keep it light.”

I stopped, turning sharply into another hallway. “Why do you always do that?”

“What?”

“Joke when you’re nervous.”

He blinked. “Because if I don’t joke, I scream. Want me to try that instead?”

“No. I’d rather not echo through the halls like a haunted kazoo.”

He grinned. “See? That was kind of a joke. You’re learning.”

I didn’t smile.

Rain’s face sobered. “You think they’re okay?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I’m not waiting around to find out.”

He nodded, quiet for a second. Then, “So what’s the plan?”

“We split. You check the gardens and west paths. I’ll take the woods.”

“You’re sending me into the woods alone?”

“You’re a werewolf.”

“Exactly. That’s like sending a fish into shark-infested water.”

I glared. “Fine. Rock, paper, scissors for the woods?”

He groaned. “No. You always cheat.”

“I’m just good.”

“Uh-huh. And I’m just going because if we stand here bickering, they get farther.”

I grabbed his arm before he turned. “If you find them, don’t push. Don’t interrogate. Just bring them back.”

Rain’s voice was softer than usual. “You think they’ll come?”

“I think they’re scared. But if it’s you or me who finds them, maybe… yeah.”

He gave me a small, serious nod. “Then I’ll bring them back. Or die trying.”

“Don’t joke.”

“I wasn’t.”

For once, I believed him.

He hesitated, eyes scanning my face. “What if they don’t want to come back? What if they’re running from us?”

I hated that thought. Hated that it felt possible.

I didn’t answer right away. My voice was low when it came. “Then we find out why. We listen. We fix it.”

“And if we can’t?”

“We try harder.”

Rain exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “You ever wish we weren’t the responsible ones?”

“Every day.”

He gave me a crooked smile. “Okay. Then let’s be responsible idiots together.”

“Deal.”

I watched him disappear down the corridor, and then I turned toward the woods, heart pounding like a war drum.

The corridor echoed behind him as Rain vanished around the corner. I hesitated a beat longer than I meant to, my hand brushing the wall for balance. The silence pressed in like a weight.

Then I bolted for the door leading out to the trees.

The cold hit me like a slap—wet, sharp, full of the promise of rain.

Branches clawed at me as I moved, the path half-forgotten in the dark. I called their names once, twice—no answer. Only the wind.

Then a voice crackled through the comm in my ear. Rain.

“Hey. Found footprints on the west trail. Two sets. Fast, erratic.”

“Heading?”

“Toward the ravine.”

I swore. “That’s near the old wards. They could break something.”

“They could break themselves,” Rain said. “Want me to intercept?”

“No. Just track them. Keep your distance.”

A pause. “You’re afraid they’ll bolt again.”

“I know they’ll bolt again.”

Another pause, then, “One of the prints is smaller. They weren’t running evenly. One of theme’s hurt.”

That twisted something deep in my chest. “Keep eyes on them. I’m cutting through the ridge.”

“You’ll have to climb.”

“I’m aware.”

Rain let out a breath. “Try not to fall off anything, okay?”

“Can’t promise. But if I die, avenge me by destroying every frozen dinner in your fridge.”

“Now that was uncalled for.”

I smiled, grim and fleeting. “Keep talking. I’ll let you know when I’ve got visual.”

Static crackled briefly, then his voice came through softer. “Hey. We’ll get them back.”

“You don’t know that.”

“No. But I believe it.”

I didn’t respond. Just picked up speed, boots slipping in the soft moss as the trees thickened. My heart beat harder with every step. My muscles burned. And still I ran.

Because believing wasn’t enough.

We had to prove it.

We had to bring them home.

It took two hours for us to find the twins. I was a wreck, but once we finally found them, I fell to my knees and pulled them into a tight hug. Snuggling them close, I realized that they were mumbling sorry, but I didn’t need that.

“No, you don’t have to apologize,” I cooed to them, taking their faces in both my hands and kissing the top of their heads. “But I would like it if you could explain to Mom and Papa Rain why you ran away.”

Rowan and Gemma shared a look. Then Gemma stepped forward.

“We heard what the witches said and then had a dream,” she whispered. “Solen wants to take us, Mama.”

Rowan nodded. “He wants to be us. To possess our minds.”

“He’s whispering to us lately,” Gemma added, whimpering as she placed her head in her hands.

I stared, clenching my fists.

“I’ll be damned if I let this creature try to lay one hand on you.”

“I can help.”

Rain screamed when a portal appeared.

The little girl from before, followed by the Spiritborn, stepped out.

“Oh god, it’s that thing again,” Rain moaned.

The girl blinked slowly. “This thing, as you say, is the reason the twins stand a chance. But understand the Spiritborn is merely a guardian, a neutral guardian that gives powers to those who pass the trials.”

I swallowed hard. My stomach clenched, and I felt the pulse of old magic stir beneath my skin. “Please don’t tell me it’s about to give me more trials.”

The girl shook her head. “No. You have already proven yourself worthy.” She stepped closer, her eyes suddenly heavy with gravity. “It wishes to offer you something else: a ritual. One that will anchor the twins’ souls to your own—so that they cannot be stolen.”

I stared, speechless.

“And once that is done,” the girl continued, her voice low and sure, “I will give you an ancient binding spell. But know this—it will require all your power to complete. Everything you are. Everything you have left.”

Silence fell, thick and humming with magic.

And I knew, in that moment, there was no turning back.

The girl gave us the spell. Then so did the Spiritborn.

I wasn’t sure anything happened afterwards. I sat with the kids afterwards, before bringing them back home. They were good kids. But they were having this burden forced upon them that pissed me off. I hated that.

All of us slept in the living room for the time being, wanting to be together for when Solen attacked. It was going to be soon. The twins kept saying they could feel it.

I didn’t want to think of my precious babies doing this. They were still only three years old, but I didn’t see any other choice right now. This was going to happen whether I liked it or not.