Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

W e exited Faith's jeep, the surrounding forest alive with the sounds of nature. It was serene, yet the air crackled with the tension of our purpose. The building ahead looked exactly as it had when it was located downtown—imposing and timeless. But out here, in the heart of the pack lands, it felt more grounded, more connected to the earth and the ancient power that coursed through these woods.

The protocols, however, were another matter entirely. Lucinda and Caton loathed the necessity of portaling in while we could simply walk from the pack-owned lands. It was a point of contention that chafed them endlessly, a reminder of the shifting dynamics and their dwindling control.

We passed the invisible barrier that surrounded the chambers, a subtle hum of magic acknowledging our presence. Ascending the steps, the weight of history pressed down on us, each footfall echoing with the legacy of decisions made within these walls.

The moment we stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. The air grew thick with unspoken tension, and I could feel the anger radiating from Lucinda even before I saw her. Her eyes were cold, pure hatred flickering in her gaze as she locked onto us. It was clear she blamed us for something that challenged her authority.

Eve moved slightly ahead, her presence calm and commanding despite the undercurrent of hostility. Faith and Nishi flanked her, their expressions resolute. I followed, my own resolve hardening in the face of Lucinda's ire. We had come too far to be intimidated now. The stakes were too high, and the Temporal Echo was too crucial to let petty politics stand in our way.

"What is this about?" Nishi asked as Carnell leaned forward in his seat.

Lucinda pointed at Nishi. "You attacked a high-ranking member of the empowered community and stole from him. Asham is filing charges against you and your friends."

Nishi huffed. "Is that all? Well, let me tell you what really happened. We were led to his house to retrieve one of Tegan's artifacts and he attacked us when we found his stash house. He has a shitload of contraband, but that is one issue. We left with the artifact we came for and he attacked us again on the street. We captured one of his underlings so we will be interrogating that jerk when he wakes."

Lucinda huffed. "Asham has almost as much money as Carnell. He does not need to trade in black-market goods."

Nishi folded her arms. "You're assuming this has to do with money? He wants to alter time and that could be devastating for everyone, including you. Hell, he may even want to run the council and this town. Who knows?"

"You can't know that," she said with a lot less certainty.

"You are right. I don't know what he plans to do, only that it's an act of war to attack me and Tegan. I know you couldn't care less about Faith or Eve."

Caton flinched a little, and I guessed he wouldn't want to be the one to tell his and Eve's daughter her mother had died. "We need to discuss how to proceed. Obviously, there is more to this story."

Nish grunted. "There always is, but you two like to jump first and ask questions later. Eventually, it's going to bite you in the ass. But I am contacting the SNPD and having Asham detained until we get this sorted."

Lucinda flicked a perfectly manicured hand. "The SNPD is a farce. It should never have been sanctioned. Asham is empowered. There is no way they will get near him."

Nishi smiled at Lucinda as if she were a snake. "You are just pissed you were outvoted. You don't have the power you used to, and it chafes your ass."

Lucinda's eyes flickered, and for a split second, I thought she might attack Nishi. "Who is the warlock you apprehended."

Nishi took out her phone and turned the screen to show Lucinda. She had taken a few pics of him when he was on my couch. "This guy."

Lucinda frowned. "That is Sarn. He used to work for Marco, but Asham lured him away. He is a talented warlock and has never gotten into any trouble with the council or his peers."

Nishi put her phone away. "He is now."

Lucinda put her hand on her hip, accentuating her thin curves. "If Asham ordered him to defend him, Sarn would do so. You can't incarcerate him without cause."

Nishi stepped forward. "It wasn't without cause. He tried to kill me. Faith was forced to kill her attacker when the idiot went after her with a blade." She stepped back. "You know what? Why don't you take him? He tried to kill us. Maybe you will fare better when he wakes up. Should we drop him off at your place or would you like..."

Lucinda's eyes bulged. "We are not a holding facility."

Nishi shrugged. "SNPD doesn't have a cell for an empowered yet. It's either you or Scorchwood. What would you prefer?"

Lucida almost growled at Nishi. "Take him to Scorchwood. At least that is under council control."

Nishi huffed. "You keep telling yourself that. Maybe someday it will be true."

Lucinda glanced at Caton, who was eerily quiet. "We will postpone the vote until we have more information on Asham's activities, but he will not be incarcerated without a trial. He has been an upstanding citizen of our town and it's possible to impersonate another warlock quite easily."

Nishi shook her head slightly. "We will keep you posted." She turned and headed for the door, with us following her silently.

We exited the council chambers in silence, the weight of Lucinda's anger hanging over us like a storm cloud. We walked through the barrier, the subtle hum of magic brushing against us as if sensing our turmoil. Reaching Faith's jeep, we climbed in without a word. The engine roared to life, and we pulled away from the chambers, leaving behind the echo of our confrontation.

There was nothing to say. Lucinda had made her choice, favoring the word of an empowered warlock with deep pockets over ours. No matter what Asham had done, his influence and wealth had swayed her, leaving us to fend for ourselves.

Faith drove with a determined focus, her fingers tapping a rhythmic beat on the steering wheel. At first, I thought she was agitated, the frustration of our failed meeting still fresh. But then I saw her lips curl into a smile, a rare moment of genuine joy breaking through. She was looking forward to seeing Brutus, her five-ton dragon. Her affection for the massive beast was clear, and it made me smile despite the heavy burden we carried.

My stomach flipped as we passed the barrier around the prison. The castle-like walls loomed ahead, an imposing reminder of the power and danger contained within. Faith navigated the vehicle through the single street, and soon, the prison stood before us, its drawbridge lowered in silent welcome.

Faith parked in the roundabout before the drawbridge, the engine's rumble fading into the quiet anticipation of our next move. As we exited the vehicle, a lone figure approached on the drawbridge.

Greyson waved as he passed a cluster of crates, and Faith smiled at him as he walked toward us. But as he got closer, her affection turned to worry, and I could understand why. Greyson looked like he hadn't slept in days. His shirt was wrinkled, and his gray eyes were paler than usual and his skin looked wan. Beads of sweat dusted his brow, but he wiped it away with his arm before he reached us.

"What is going on? You look like you ran a marathon in a fur coat," Faith snapped.

Greyson sighed and kissed her cheek. "I have had to expend a lot of power to keep things operating smoothly. I am beginning to think that someone smuggled in an artifact or something inside the prison that is disrupting my magic. And I have to find the source."

Faith nodded, but I could tell she wasn't happy. "Do you need us to carry the jerk inside the prison?"

Greyson flicked his wrist, and the rear of the jeep opened. The unconscious man levitated from the vehicle and floated over toward them. "That won't be necessary."

Faith kissed Greyson's cheek. "I'm just going to give Brutus a snack and we will head out."

"Sounds good. Call me if you need anything." He walked back toward the prison with the floating warlock trailing behind him.

Faith moved to the side of the jeep and put her hands to her mouth. "Brutus! Momma has snacks."

I glanced at Nishi, who was trying to keep a straight face.

The ground beneath us began to tremble, a low rumble that quickly escalated into a full-blown quake. The jeep's alarm shrieked in protest, piercing the tense silence. Faith's smile only widened, a rare light in her eyes as she anticipated what was coming.

A dust cloud erupted from the earth, far off in the distance, but was rapidly growing closer. The shaking intensified, each tremor resonating through my bones, until it felt like the very ground was alive. We could barely stay balanced, our knees bending to absorb the shockwaves.

The dust cloud barreled toward us like a roaring force of nature. When it was no more than fifty feet away, the air itself distorted and gave way to large red scales. The vibrations in the earth reached a crescendo, and with a final, mighty tremor, the massive dragon slid to a stop in front of Faith.

Brutus was a sight to behold, his scales shimmering like polished armor in the sunlight, his eyes glowing with an intelligent, almost mischievous light. His sheer size was overwhelming, a testament to his power and majesty. He let out a low, rumbling growl that sounded almost like a purr as he nudged Faith with his enormous snout.

Faith reached out, her hand steady and sure as she stroked his scaled muzzle. "Hey there, big guy," she murmured, her voice soft and affectionate. The bond between them was palpable, a deep connection forged through trust and mutual respect.

Faith pulled a pepperoni stick from the inside pocket of her jacket. She peeled back the plastic, and Brutus took it gingerly from her hand. She had told me he used to snatch the snacks from her but had learned her treats were better without the plastic wrap. Faith pulled out two more sticks, and he patiently waited for her to unwrap them before he gobbled them down.

Brutus glanced around and Faith sighed. "I didn't bring the egg with me today. Baby Cal will be here in a couple of days to visit you."

Brutus looked almost disappointed, and I had to wonder if the sole remaining dragon was lonely.

Faith pressed a tender kiss to Brutus' massive head, her lips brushing against the cool, scaled surface. Brutus rumbled softly, a sound of contentment that reverberated through the air. She lingered for a moment, her hand resting on his snout, before turning back to the jeep.

We all climbed inside, the uncertainty of what was to come pressing down on us. Faith started the engine, the jeep roaring to life as she pulled out of the roundabout. Brutus took a few ponderous steps after us, his enormous form casting a long shadow in the low light.

As we drove away, his head dipped slightly, a gesture of farewell that seemed almost mournful. Then, with a shimmer, his form began to blur and distort, the dragon's camouflage blending seamlessly with the surroundings. Within moments, he vanished entirely, his colossal presence hidden from sight, a dragon concealed in plain view.

The road stretched out before us, winding through the dense forest. Faith's hands were steady on the wheel, her expression a mix of determination and relief. The silence in the jeep was thick with unspoken thoughts and plans, each of us processing the events and the challenges that lay ahead.

My stomach flipped as we passed the barrier, and Eve's phone chimed. She pulled it out and glanced at the text.

"Hunter and the pack are back home. Can we pop by and give him an update while we decide on our next move?" Eve asked.

Faith nodded. "I want to have a word with Carnell. He might still be at the council chambers."

The drive to pack lands was quiet, with us all lost in thought.

Faith pulled up in front of the council chambers and we exited the vehicle.

Eve pointed down the road that led to her home. "Text me when you are done with Carnell. Or just pop over to the house when you are finished."

Nishi motioned to Eve. "I will go with her. Text us after you are done with Dumb and Dumber."

Faith and I nodded before we headed toward the council entrance. We passed the barrier and ascended the steps, anticipating the inevitable clash with Lucinda and Caton as we opened the doors.

The interior of the council chambers was dimly lit and not a single member was in their seat.

Faith and I glanced around. "I can't believe they aren't here."

There was a shuffling sound before Elijah emerged from behind one of the massive columns. "I was just cleaning up."

"Hello, Elijah. Are you the only one here?"

He smiled sadly. "I am. Caton asked me to attend the chambers while he and Lucinda take care of some personal matters."

Faith and I exchanged a glance.

"How are your people doing?" I asked.

Elijah frowned slightly. "It was a hard lesson, but we will be alright in time. Our lands are recovering and that is the first step to the well-being of my people."

Faith waved to Elijah and turned back toward the door. "I am sure I don't want to know what Lucinda and Caton are up to, but if it hinders our investigation in any way, I will kill them."

I waited till we had exited the chambers and were back beside the jeep before I spoke. "Let's not jump to conclusions. They may have needed a break. They have to go home sometimes."

Faith huffed. "Sure."

My phone rang, and I picked up immediately when I saw my daughter's name. "Hey, honey."

"Hi Mom. Toga and I are home. I'm sorry I missed you. We were longer than I expected. But the drama class is having a rehearsal in the gym. I totally forgot until Clark texted me. Can I go? I'm supposed to tell you in advance, but I totally gapped. Clark will pick me up and drop me off at home, right after."

"So, your drama teacher will be there?"

"Yes, you can text him if you want. I can send you his info if you don't have it."

Kacey was supposed to tell me about school functions in advance, but rehearsing with her entire class was the kind of activity I wanted her to partake in. "Alright, but let me know in advance next time."

"I will, Mom. Sorry." She hung up, and I turned to Faith.

"Kacey is rehearsing tonight, and Clark is taking her. Is it stupid for me to text Toga to watch her while she is with her friends and her teacher?"

Faith smiled. "No, but I would text Spencer instead. He could show up a bit later and say he wanted to watch her. You know because he is proud of her performance and all."

I smiled at Faith. "That is a great idea." I sent off the text to Spencer, and he immediately replied saying he would wander over to the school in a half hour. He planned to say Toga informed him of the rehearsal and he thought he would pop by to support her.

I glanced at the log home built across the street from the council chambers. It seemed to blend with nature rather than detract from it. As did all the homes on pack lands. "Do you think there is any chance that Asham is being set up?"

Faith shrugged. "I don't know. Magic makes things tricky." She took out her phone and texted Eve we were done at the council and that Caton and Lucinda weren't there. Carnell wasn't either, but Faith would just text him any questions she had.

I nodded. "It does. But I am trying to figure out the motivation behind my mother's death. I assumed it was the artifacts themselves. Them being so valuable and all. But now I wonder if the theft of all of them was to cover the taking of a few particular pieces."

Faith arched an eyebrow. "The Temporal Echo?"

"And the Reality Shard."

Faith blew out a breath. "That's a lot of effort for a couple of artifacts. What do you want to do? What is our next move?"