Chapter 128 Chapter 128

Chapter 128 Chapter 128


Damon’s POV

The voice from the tunnel was followed by footsteps.

I tightened my grip on my weapon.

"Stay behind me."

Leo scoffed.

"I'm not a baby."

"I didn't say you were."

Kai moved beside his brother.

"We should probably listen to him."

Leo glanced at him.

"You're only saying that because Dad told us to. You always do that."

"I'm saying it because there are footsteps coming towards us."

That shut Leo up.

A group of figures emerged from the tunnel.

They wore dark clothing with silver markings across their shoulders.

Warlocks.

But there was something wrong with them.

Their eyes glowed faintly beneath the shadows.

Damon stepped forward.

"Who are you?"

Nobody answered.

The tallest one raised his hand.

Zyran's eyes narrowed.

"Something's wrong."

"What?"

"Move." He said.

The warlock slammed his palm against the ground and a sharp crack travelled through the earth.

A small black object appeared between them.

It looked like a piece of polished bone, carved with strange symbols.

“A moonfang shard.”

Kai stared at it.

"What is that?" He asked.

"Back!" Zyran shouted this time.

I grabbed Leo and pulled him away.

Zyran reached for Kai.

Too late.

The warlock crushed the object in his hand.

A strange sound tore through the clearing.

The Moonfang Shard shattered and a wave of force exploded outward.

My knees buckled.

I tried to stay standing.

Zyran was already on one knee.

"Damon!"

"I've got them."

I reached for Leo.

My fingers barely touched his shoulder.

Then everything went black.

Leo's POV

My head hurt.

That was the first thing I noticed.

The second was the metal around my wrists.

I opened my eyes.

Stone walls.

Iron bars. And a small lantern hanging outside.

I sat up quickly.

"Kai?"

"I'm here."

He was sitting against the opposite wall.

Damon was beside him and Zyran was awake too.

All four of us had metal cuffs around our wrists.

I pulled against mine but nothing happened.

"Where are we?"

Damon looked at the bars.

"Prison."

"Obviously dad." I said.

Damon looked at me.

I shrugged.

"I meant whose."

"Probably Ares."

Kai examined the cuffs.

"They're suppressing our abilities."

Zyran nodded.

"Try shifting." He said.

Damon attempted it and jaw tightened.

"Nothing."

I tried.

Nothing.

"That's annoying."

Kai looked at the lock.

"Don't waste your strength."

I stared at him.

"Do you have a better idea?"

"Yes."

Kai pointed towards the wall.

"The hinges are on the other side."

"Wonderful."

I stood.

"I'll break the door."

Damon immediately said, "No."

"Why?"

"Because you're six—"

He stopped himself.

We weren't six anymore.

We'd grown up.

I folded his arms.

"Exactly."

Damon sighed.

"Fine. You're nineteen. That doesn't mean you're invincible."

"I know."

Kai stood and examined the bars.

"There."

He pointed toward a small gap where the bars met the stone.

"If we can loosen that..."

Zyran crouched beside him.

"The cuffs?"

"Use the chain."

We worked together.

I tried pulling the bars apart.

Nothing.

Tried kicking the lower section.

Still nothing.

"These things were built to keep werewolves in," Damon muttered.

"And apparently warlocks," Kai added.

Damon looked at him.

"You're enjoying this."

"No."

Kai paused.

"Not yet."

I laughed.

^  ^   ^   ^    ^ 

Then footsteps sounded outside.

Everyone became quiet.

A guard stopped outside the cell.

"Stand up."

Damon didn't move.

"Where's Hayley?"

The guard stared at him.

"Stand up."

"I asked you a question."

The guard unlocked the door.

"Your questions can wait."

Damon rose slowly.

"Touch any of them and—"

"What?"

The guard smiled.

"You're in no position to threaten anyone."

Zyran placed a hand on Damon's shoulder.

"Not here."

Zyran's POV 

We followed the guard.

The dining hall was enormous.

A long table occupied the centre and food had been laid out as though we were honoured guests rather than prisoners.

At the head of the table sat Ares.

He looked perfectly comfortable.

He leaned back in his chair, one arm resting lazily against the side.

His eyes moved over us.

"Finally."

Damon's face hardened.

"Where is Hayley?"

Ares smiled.

"Good morning to you too."

"Where is she?"

"Still charming, I see."

Ares gestured toward the empty chairs.

"Sit."

Nobody moved.

He sighed.

"You travelled all this way. At least have breakfast."

"I'll ask one more time."

Damon stepped forward.

"Where is my mate?"

Ares picked up a glass.

"You're very tense."

Damon lunged.

He crossed the distance in seconds.

Ares moved aside.

Damon's fist struck the table instead.

The wood cracked.

Leo jumped to his feet.

"Dad!"

I caught his arm.

"Stay back."

Ares calmly stepped away from Damon.

"That was disappointing."

Damon turned.

Ares raised one finger.

"Before you try that again, think carefully."

His voice had changed.

The amusement was gone.

"Your mate is somewhere you can't reach."

Damon froze.

Ares smiled.

"And if you make another foolish move, something happens to Hayley."

The room went silent.

Kai's expression became unreadable while Damon's fists remained clenched.

Ares returned to his chair.

"Now..."

He gestured toward the table.

"Sit down."

Damon didn't move.

Ares tilted his head.

"Or don't."

His eyes narrowed.

"Let's see how patient your mate is when she starts paying for your temper."

Damon slowly pulled out a chair.

He sat.

I sat beside him.

Kai and Leo followed.

Ares smiled.

"Much better."

Damon stared across the table.

"Now talk."

Ares picked up his fork.

"Of course."

He took his time cutting into his food.

Then looked directly at Damon.

"Let's begin with why Hayley was brought here."

A pause.

"Because, gentlemen, you have no idea what she's already uncovered.”