Chapter 35

“Zane, we gotta move fast,” Dylon said. “Colton and I will be first, followed by Remy and Sawyer.”

Nodding, Zane grabbed Dylon’s and Colton’s hands and said, “Just like before…on the count of three, we move.” After hearing their ‘okays’, he said, “One…two…three…ghost walker.”

Emerging from the wall, Dylon quickly scanned the room, muffling a cry when he saw Frank lying in a heap, face down, on the floor. Hastening to him, he gently rolled his father over, swearing under his breath when his bruised and swollen face appeared. “Colton!”

Kneeling beside Frank, Colton quickly checked his vitals. “He’s alive…but not for long if I don’t use my power on him.”

“Remy,” Dylon said, “get us out of here.”

“In a second,” Remy muttered, bending down and touching the iron collar around Frank’s neck. With a spark of magic, it broke apart along with all of the restraining chains.

Suddenly, a wailing siren filled the air, then pounding footsteps could be heard approaching the room they were in. “Fuck!” Dylon snarled, quickly lifting his father up and holding him tight to his body. “Remy, now!” he ordered, as the door began to swing open. Before Dylon could say another word, he and the others were standing in the hallway outside Colton’s office, still cloaked until Sawyer murmured his words and they all became visible again.

Colton wasted no time, taking Frank from Dylon, after which he kicked open the door to a hospital room and set his patient gently down on the bed. Without waiting for Ian, he reached out his fingers and touched Frank’s chest. Calling on Raphael to help him, Colton felt power surge through his body, exiting through his fingers into Frank. As a blinding green light filled the room, he could feel the familiar warm buzzing in his fingers. After the light and the tingling faded, Colton lifted his hand and waited.

Frank, who’d been staring into the face of Death, suddenly felt a surge of power infuse his body, saw a green flash of light, and then felt his bones snap into place and heal along with his organs, muscles, and bruised skin. He was amazed that he could actually see, in his mind, what was happening to him. When he was finally free of the injuries that had nearly ended his life, he took a deep breath.

Colton had watched Raphael’s power at work, smiling as he saw Frank’s face return to normal, leaving no evidence of the multiple beatings he’d endured. “Frank…can you open your eyes?” he asked.

“Dad? Can you hear me?” Dylon asked, waiting for a sign his father was back with them.

Walking into the room, Jackson asked, “How is he?”

“Good…we got him just in time for Colton to use his power,” Dylon replied.

“Is he awake?” asked Jackson.

“Of course I’m awake,” grumbled Frank. “Who can sleep with all that racket?” Opening his eyes, the first face he saw was his son’s hovering over him. “So you found me, huh?”

“I almost didn’t,” Dylon replied. “It would have been quicker if I’d known you had a tracker. ”

“Lizzie gave you the box, didn’t she?” Frank growled. “I’m here…so my plan worked, right?”

“Dad, I’m not kidding…you were nearly dead when we found you,” Dylon replied. “Next time…”

“There won’t be a next time,” Frank said. Then, turning to Jackson, he asked, “Can we talk…alone?”

“Sure. Dylon, why don’t you tell your mother the good news and, Remy, Carson’s waiting for you outside. Zane, David needs you. And Colton, why don’t you bring Ian up to speed on Frank’s condition because I know he’ll want to do an examination as soon as Frank and I are through. And Sawyer…Alex and Glenn are waiting for you.”

Frank watched as everyone left and, when he was finally alone with Jackson, he said, “Raphael’s Power…that’s a mighty rare gift the gods have given your brother. And please don’t bother denying it. I remember everything including the bright green light, the buzzing, and Colton calling for Raphael to help.”

“I knew you would…it was the same when he used it on me,” Jackson said. “Rudy really did a number on you, Frank, and it was sheer luck Dylon got to you in time.”

“Was I worse off than my son was when you found him?” asked Frank. And when Jackson didn’t answer his question, Frank sighed. “I had hoped Rudy was just trash-talking when he told me about beating up Dylon, but since you’re not answering my question, I’ll take it as a yes.”

“You can take it any way you want, but if you want to know the truth, then ask Dylon.”

“Fair enough. Where’s Rudy? Did you kill the bastard? ”

“Nope. I sent Dylon and the others on a rescue mission. Saving you was my first priority, especially since the High Council kept word of your kidnapping from Lizzie and Dylon for hours…hours we could have used to rescue you sooner,” Jackson said, barely keeping his anger under control. “Maybe you can tell me why the High Council did that. Or why they didn’t attempt to rescue you sooner. I find it hard to believe they didn’t know about your tracker.”

Sighing, Frank replied, “I can’t give you the answers you’re looking for.”

“Can’t? Or won’t?”

“Can’t,” snapped Frank. “Not until I conduct my own investigation and find out who else was involved other than Rudy.”

“Fifty prisoners escaped along with Rudy, and among them were three enforcers who worked for him at the Silver Point Pack,” Jackson said.

“Shit!”

“Frank, I’ve seen the security at the prison, and there’s no way Rudy could have escaped without inside help.”

“I know that,” Frank replied, pausing for a moment before continuing, “I suspected there was a leak last year, so I authorized an investigation, but no one was ever identified as the source. Whoever it is has hidden their tracks very well. However, during the investigation, I found weaknesses in our security protocols…”

“The prison had an issue, right?” asked Jackson.

“Yes…but the High Council refused my request to fix it. ”

“Who was involved in the investigation?”

“Me…and people I have worked with for a long time…ones who’ve earned my trust.”

“I need their names,” Jackson said.

“Why?”

“Because one of them betrayed you,” Jackson growled. “And their action has also put my pack in danger.”

“The High Council won’t…”

“Fuck the High Council! They lost my trust when Josiah murdered my family, and they sat on their hands even after they knew what he’d done. Rudy is just as sadistic, if not more so, than Josiah, and I refuse to sit here, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the Council to find him. Whether you want to hear this or not, that asshole is a danger to me, my brothers, and our pups. And yes, it includes Jake and Jessica. I won’t let that happen. If you won’t give me the names, that’s your choice, but mark my words, I will find who helped Rudy escape.”

Frank studied Jackson carefully, before asking, “You have the power to force me to comply, why aren’t you using it?”

“That’s not my way,” Jackson replied. “You should know that by now.”

“Do you know the high regard Dylon has for you?” Frank asked. “I bet you don’t, but I do. He took me to task for playing my games with you the first time Lizzie and I came to visit your pack. It surprised me so much that I agreed with him that it was a dumb thing to do. I knew right then that you were special…an Alpha my son not only respected and protected, but liked.” Frank sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed before ho lding out his hands to examine them. “Rudy swore he was going to kill me, and he nearly did. Every bone in both my hands were broken along with others in my body, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of dying.”

Looking up at Jackson, he continued, “All I had to do was hang on because I knew you’d send Dylon to save me…just as I knew the High Council wouldn’t do shit to find me. And during those long hours of lying in my own filth while trying to survive until my son arrived, I made several decisions…one of which was tendering my resignation to the High Council immediately. I can no longer be part of the problem, but I also cannot betray the oath I took when I became the Vice-Chair. So, after I do that, I’ll answer your questions about the people who were involved. Is that acceptable?”

“Absolutely,” Jackson responded, just as Lizzie burst into the room.

Stopping short, Lizzie cried, “Oh Frank…you’re okay!” Then rushing over to him, she smiled while tears filled her eyes, before cascading down her cheeks.

Slowly following his mother into the hospital room, Dylon stopped next to his Alpha. “Sorry about this, but she needed to see for herself that he was okay,” he muttered.

“No problem. Just a heads up though…Rudy told your father about the beating he gave you,” Jackson murmured. “Frank asked me if it was true, but I told him to talk to you.”

“I’m not surprised…Rudy loves bragging.”

“Bullies always do,” Jackson replied. “Any problems with the mission? ”

“Only one…when Remy used magic to free my dad, an alarm went off.”

Jackson quirked an eyebrow. “There’s a magic user who’s with Rudy?”

“Not for long…Remy and Carson are taking care of it now,” Dylon said, softly. “You might want to join them.”

“I definitely do,” Jackson replied, grimly. “See me after you take care of your parents.” Then, catching Frank’s eye, he gave him a nod of understanding before leaving the room.

~/~/~/~/~

Slowly circling around the light sphere, Remy ignored the phony claims of innocence the warlock was making and focused on the poorly concealed fear oozing out of his captive. When he reached Carson, who was standing in front of the sphere, he said, “This one barely qualifies as a second-tier magic user.”

“Maybe someone was bribed to give him that ranking.”

“That makes more sense…especially after what Mystia learned about the numerous bribes Zohar took.”

“Let me out of here! You have no right to hold me! I did nothing wrong! Let me go!”

Moving his hand slightly, Remy made the light sphere sound-proof and opaque before saying, “It’s alarming that there are so many dumb magic users in my realm.”

“Lies are always the first defense someone guilty uses,” Carson said. “Only you can make a light sphere, and he knows it, but pretends he doesn’t know who you are.” Hearing the door open, Carson glanced over his shoulder before turning back to his mate. “It’s Jackson. ”

“Just in time for the fun,” Remy murmured.

Walking up to the floating opaque light sphere, Jackson looked at it carefully before asking, “Is it all right if I touch it?”

“Sure,” replied Carson.

Pressing a finger against it, Jackson grinned as sparks of light from the sphere surged and coalesced as his fingertips intersected with the surface. “That’s amazing,” he murmured before lowering his hand and walking over to Remy and Carson. “Dylon told me Rudy is working with a magic user.”

“Was working with one,” Carson corrected. “Right now, he’s in the light sphere.”

“That was fast,” Jackson replied. “Can he hear us?”

“No,” Carson said. “Nor can he see us, for now.”

Nodding, Jackson glazed at the light sphere for a moment before looking back at Remy and Carson. “Can you find out what Rudy is planning?”

“I can, but only if the magic user knows,” Remy replied. Flicking his fingers, he restored the warlock’s ability to see and hear him. “What’s your name?”

“Osrum.”

“What crime did you commit?”

“I killed someone.”

“Who?”

“Garington.”

“Why did you kill him?”

“He refused to give me his magic. ”

“Why did you want his magic? You already have some.”

“But not enough to join the army.”

“What army?” asked Remy.

“Just the army.”

“Who’s the leader of this army?” asked Remy.

“I don’t know his name.”

Frustrated, Remy flicked his fingers, making Osrum’s light sphere opaque once again. “Do you know anything about an army?” he asked Jackson.

“Only that Rudy shot the prisoners who refused to join the army.”

“And what happened to those who did?” asked Carson.

“Those prisoners escaped with Rudy, as far as I know,” Jackson replied.

“That would explain how a warlock ended up with a wolf shifter,” Remy said.

“It might not be the same army that Osrum wanted to join originally,” Carson replied. “When Rudy gave him the chance to join the army, I bet Osrum didn’t ask any questions and just assumed it was the same one.”

“Okay…if we go with that assumption, then Rudy’s isn’t connected to the army Osrum originally wanted to join,” Jackson said.

“Rudy probably got the idea of forming an army after talking to Osrum and other inmates,” Carson said.

Nodding, Jackson said, “That sounds like Rudy…doesn’t have an original thought in his head. ”

“Do you want me to ask him what Rudy is planning?” asked Remy.

“Yes…he might not know the entire plan, but I’m sure Rudy told him the basics of what they would be doing.”

Moving his hand slightly, Remy restored Osrum’s ability to see and hear him. “What is Rudy planning?”

“He wants his title back,” Osrum replied, nervously glancing between Jackson and Remy.

“What title?” asked Remy.

“Alpha. Once we help him get it, then he’s gonna make the High Council pardon all of us.”

“Oh fuck,” Remy muttered under his breath to Carson, “I swear I’m going to find out those responsible for the poor state of the education system in the Mystic Realm and condemn them to a lifetime of hell.”

Chuckling at his mate’s threat, Carson asked Osrum, “How is he going to get his title back?”

“We’re gonna kill the one who stole it.”

“When?”

“I don’t know exactly the time, but I know it’s gonna be soon. That’s why you have to let me go so I can help him, otherwise I won’t be pardoned.”

That did it for Remy. With a flick of his fingers he sent Osrum and the light sphere to the jail in the building housing the Witches’ Governing Council.

“Where did he go?” asked Jackson.

“He’s in a cell in my realm. I have to confer with Brady about our laws regarding the rights I have to pass sentence on him…and there’s also the matter of his…his… ”

“Lack of knowledge regarding everything?” offered Jackson.

“Yes…if Osrum lacks the ability to know right from wrong, then I have to take that into account before I act,” Remy explained.

“Good decision,” Jackson said. “I know you’re eager to get back to your brothers, but I have one more request.”

“What is it?”

“Tristan will need my enforcers, so will you use the Magic Carpet to get them there?”

Bursting out in laughter, Remy nodded. “Did you come up with that name?”

“Nope,” Jackson replied, smiling. “That honor belongs solely to Miss L.”