Chapter 34

I kept looking around the building, even though I knew we were well concealed. I glanced behind me to the witch who was keeping us cloaked. I didn’t know who had come up with the idea but was glad they had. It allowed us to be much closer to the building.

“I’m staying with Kara. To carry her arrows. There’s a lot of them.” It was Crissy. “Oh, right, Bronx is staying too. Derian is going to help guard the door.” She mumbled something. “The one with the portal.” 

“Have care, heart.” Victor said.

“You too, Vic.”

“Ward is up.” Leone announced. “I wouldn’t want to cross it.”

I frowned and looked behind us wondering what that meant.

“Do not go outside the perimeter we discussed.” Victor told us plainly.

Daxx looked at me and raised her eyebrows but made no comment. 

“Light two out of commission.” Kara reported.

“Knew you could do it.” Paisley said.

“It’s not easy.” Kara sounded like she was running. “I have to hit the metal part with the suction tip and not the light part.” She paused. “Then it sends a burst of power through it and fries the wiring.”

“Did you bring spare arrows?” Rafael asked.

“Two extra.” She said in a whisper. 

“You’ve got this.” Bethany said.

“Shh.” was the reply.

The line went quiet. 

“Third light down.” Crissy announced in an excited tone.

“Where do you want me when I’m finished?” Kara asked.

“Corner by the first light, there’s two exits visible.” Rafael answered her.

“Sounds good.” She replied.

“Watch out passing by any windows.” Alona said. “Every movement is visible out here. They can see you once you’re not cloaked.”

“Oh yeah?” Quinton asked, “can you see how many are inside?”

“With the binoculars Chase got me I can see the rocks on the moon.” Alona told him. “I’ve seen at least twenty inside. There are others at tables doing something, but I can’t make out what.”

Someone chuckled. “I wanted you to be able to give the Elders a heads up if anyone got away.”

“If the ward works as planned,” I recognized Elder Drusla’s voice, “it won’t be much sport for us while they’re laid out on the ground.”

“You never know.” Troy commented, “there may be some that aren’t affected.”

“I do not care if they’re on the ground or flying, we are ending this.” I recognized Elder Sego’s voice.

I glanced at Detrick, who shrugged, he had no idea either what the warnings were about.

“Last light down.” Emil reported. “Kara and Crissy are at the corner with us.”

I frowned and focused on the ground. Just hearing his voice, even as we were walking into battle caused my stomach to tighten. I had to get a handle on this. There was no room to think of anything other than the fight right now.

“Shall we get this going?” Chase asked. 

“Time to party.” Daxx nodded and started moving toward the building.

“Call out when you’re in place.” Rafael ordered.

“Fight well brothers,” Emil said, “and sisters.”

“Always do,” Daxx answered for the women.

I turned to see the witch was moving with us as we went.

“I could get used to going in unseen.” Reagan said.

“You should stay outside with the witches, Rea, in case we need a medical assist.” Quinton said.

“I’m sorry, who are you and what have you done with my mate?” Reagan said sounding amused.

“Just—go with it.” Quinton didn’t sound amused.

“Oh, I will.” She agreed.

“I think he’s fond of your hair streaks.” Alona said softly.

“I’m fond of her intact and whole. These assholes have guns, so we may need her help.” Quinton said gruffly.

“In place.” I announced.

“Same here.” Leone confirmed.

“Ready on this side.” Emil said softly.

“We’ve got the portal side covered.” Michael said, almost inaudible. “Five right by the window near the portal.”

“We’re in place. Babe, you and Beth cover the portal.” Arius whispered, “stop anyone from coming or going through it.”

“Will do.” Paisley answered 

“Try not to fall into it.” Leone said.

“Shush.” Bethany whispered. 

“On three people.” Chase whispered. “One.”

I pulled my blade free and moved closer to the door.

“Two.” 

“Three.” Daxx said quickly and burst through the door when Tim pulled it open.

I was right on her heels.

We didn’t have to go seeking, there were four men right inside the door. Daxx tackled one, knocking him away from the others. I engaged the next closest and was relieved he was using a blade and not a gun.

“Jackpot.” Chase’s voice came through the call. “So many naughty slags.”

Someone chuckled. “So, you’re the one that borrowed my dictionary.” Kara said, like we were sitting around a table and not in a fight.

I spun to deflect a swing from the man in front of me and spotted another out of the corner of my eye. Kicking the first one back I saw he was frozen in mid-swing.

“Port him, Daxx.” Paisley said.

“One,” Daxx growled, “sec.”

Bethany knocked back my second opponent with one of her energy balls.

“I’ve got him.” Detrick stepped in front of me. “Get the princesses to that portal.”

“It’s like they’re lining up for recess,” Chase said, “so easy to take out.”

“Speak for yourself, brother.” Rafael grunted.

“Letting one with a pistol go out the door.” Victor said calmly.

“We’ll get him.” Kara said.

“I’ll port any that they take down.” Michael said hurriedly.

“Another with a gun near the portal.” Arius said quickly.

“We’ll take him out.” I told him. I grabbed a serving tray on my way out of the kitchen. I had no idea what it was made of, or if it would stop a bullet.

We rounded the corner and ran down the empty hall to the door at the side. As we darted through the entrance, I skidded to a stop and sent the tray flying at the only man standing there. It hit him in the head, and he crumpled to the floor. A gun fell from his hand.

“I thought you were going to try to deflect bullets with that.” Bethany said with a smirk.

I shrugged, “I’m improvising. We need a port here.” I pointed my sword at the man on the floor and watched him.

“On my way.” Leone said.

“Portal is guarded.” Paisley said.

“Three headed out the front.” Troy said in a clipped tone.

“You could let one try the barrier, Kara, I’m curious.” Alona said.

“You may get your wish; he ducked my shot.” Kara sounded annoyed. “Garrett, he’s headed your way.”

“I see him.” A male voice said.

Leone skidded around the corner and dispatched the unconscious guy to the cells. He straightened and looked at the tray on the floor, then smirked at me. “Ladies.” He gave Bethany and Paisley a quick salute and headed down the hall again.

I looked to Paisley, silently asking if they were good. She nodded and went off following Leone.

“He’s down.” Garrett informed us.

“I feel like I’m doing laps out here.” Michael said.

“Good cardio.” Autumn retorted without hesitation.

The main area was mayhem. There were a lot more people here than we had anticipated. I quickly noted several were in winter garb. Rafael was trying to beat back two at once, I didn’t pause but rushed over to lend him a hand. I blocked the one’s swing and dropped down and kicked the side of his knee out. He stumbled back. I used his recovery against him and advanced until he had nowhere to go.

In a move I didn’t anticipate, he busted the window with the handle of his blade and rolled through to outside.

“Four got out at the back.” Daxx said, annoyed.

“Three at the side.” Quinton growled.

I didn’t stop to announce another had gotten out, just dove out the window and rolled to my feet. I looked to see which direction he’d gone and followed him. “Chasing one toward barrier.” I said quickly. How this man was running that fast after the kick to his knee, I had no idea. Desperation was great for an adrenalin boost.

I was closing the distance between us when he fell to his knees and started throwing up. I stopped abruptly. “I think he just went through the ward.” I stared at the man, almost feeling bad for the way he was retching.

“I will come dispatch him.” Elder Drusla said in a leisurely tone.

I looked at the man for a moment more. “Yeah, he’s not going anywhere.”

“Need a hand,” that was Kara, “they’re coming out like ants in a colony.”

I jolted and started running back. I could see there were at least fifteen running in different directions. “Where did they all come from?” I ran faster.

“Basement.” Leone huffed.

“There’s a basement?” Alona asked.

“Yeah.” Rafael growled, “Rea need you down here to look.”

“On my way.” She said quietly, “I’ll be invisible.”

I intercepted a man heading back to the building and tackled him to the ground. He landed on his face. I put my knee in the middle of his spine and looked around. “Need a port here when you can.” I watched Michael run around the corner.

“Could use a hand here, brother.” Michael sounded out of breath.

“Trying.” Leone sung back.

“On my way.” Victor said.

The guy under my knee tried to get up. I scowled at him and tapped the back of his head with the handle of my sword. “Stay down.” I warned him.

“I’m out of knockout tips.” Kara said.

“Use anything you have.” Rafael said loudly.

“Fine.” She answered, “but I’m only taking out legs, not killing.”

“Arms, legs, an ass or two, it all works.” Chase sounded amused.

Leone came running in my direction. When he was almost to me, I stood up and he dropped down and ported the man to a holding cell. Standing, he turned and surveyed how the others were doing.

“Building is empty.” Troy announced.

“Stay at the portal, babe.” Arius said quickly.

“We are.” Paisley replied.

“There’s no haze in the basement.” Reagan informed us. “I think they were resting down here.”

Leone jogged away in the direction of bodies scattered on the ground. I glanced to where Kara stood and decided they’d been her targets.

“There’s sleeping bags stacked in the corner.” Reagan said.

“Drop the ward.” Victor announced.

I started walking toward the others as they came out of the building.

“Are we closing the portal?” Daxx asked.

“Can we lock it from this side so it can’t be used?” Paisley asked.

“Elder Marinus, please bring Romulus to the building.” Victor ordered.

“On our way.” The elder replied.

“All guards port back and grab some rest. Report to the yard after breakfast.” Rafael said.

I paused in step, not sure if I was included in that order or not.

“I’m going to see if Abe has heard from the team.” Quinton said. “If they’ve confirmed the location, we’ll need to start programming porters.”

I stopped by Daxx. She looked quite pleased with the results. We both turned and watched the Elders, Alona and Romulus come toward the building.

“Everyone else go get some rest. The meeting is after breakfast.” Michael said.

I looked at Emil as he came around the corner, assessing quickly that he was uninjured. When I reached his face, I concluded he was doing the same to me. “I’ll see you at breakfast.” I said and then used my porter to take me to the palace.