Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

Z ane's mind raced as he and Alena hurried back to Kiki's shop, their footsteps echoing through the quiet streets of Misty Vale. He still couldn't quite believe that Dash and Striker had agreed to come along, to hear out this crazy plan about memory bubbles and time travel.

Guess having your mate twist your arm works wonders, he thought wryly. I'll have to thank Amelia and Ruby later.

As they approached the shop, Zane's dragon stirred within him, sensing the importance of the moment. Mate. Protect. The primal urges thrummed through him, tempered by a growing hope that maybe, just maybe, they'd found a way to bridge the gap between their clans at last.

The bell above the door jangled as they stepped inside, the scent of incense and herbs washing over them. Zane took in the unlikely group gathered around Kiki's cluttered worktable: Archer and Brandon, looking wary but determined; Abi, clutching her stuffed unicorn with a knowing smile; and Kiki herself, an unreadable expression on her face.

"Well, I'll be damned," Archer said, his eyebrows climbing as Dash and Striker filed in behind them. "Somebody should take a picture."

Dash snorted, instantly taking a fighting stance. "What the hell are they doing here?"

Zane couldn't help but notice that Smith had joined the bears, too.

"Relax, supposedly this will help us to find some common ground. We don't want to fight."

"Pretty tricky, Zane," Striker said, turning to him.

"Would you have come had I told you they would be here?" Zane asked.

"No fucking way," Striker answered as he eyed Brandon. "Not after the shit he's accused us of."

Brandon was about to say something as he stepped forward, but Archer put up an arm to stop him.

"Keep it cool, Brandon," Smith said. "I didn't come running over here just to get in another fight with them."

"Right," Archer agreed. "Look, everybody just simmer down, okay? We are here at Kiki's request… a neutral party. Let's just see what she has to show us."

"Fine, but I can't say I have high hopes here," Striker grumbled, shifting uncomfortably.

Brandon shrugged. "I am not expecting to be exchanging hugs any time soon, either, okay? But I am willing to give whatever this is a shot."

Zane had to admit, he was impressed so far with the bears' willingness to put aside their differences, even temporarily. Maybe there was hope for Misty Vale after all.

But before he could voice his thoughts, the shop door flew open once more, revealing none other than Byron Livingstone himself. Zane's father cut an imposing figure, his silver hair and piercing blue eyes sweeping over the assembled group with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.

"How the hell did they manage that?" Dash stage-whispered to Striker.

"I may have enlisted Amelia and Audrey's help as well," Zane replied under his breath.

Byron cleared his throat, drawing all eyes to him.

"Let me make one thing abundantly clear," he began, his voice a low, menacing rumble. "I am here only at the urging of my lovely mate and daughters-in-law. Only a fool dismisses the possibility of a peaceful resolution. But I am not what you would call ‘optimistic.'"

He leveled a pointed glare at Zane, who fought the urge to squirm like an errant cub. Damn, that stare gets me every time.

"And if there is even a modicum of trickery or deception," Byron continued, "even a slip of a vibe that isn't being direct and real, I will personally fry every last hair off those ursine hides—human witnesses and consequences be damned. Are we clear?"

A tense silence descended over the room, broken only by Abi's cheerful giggle. "You're funny, Mr. Byron," she said, skipping over to tug at the dragon patriarch's hand. "But don't worry. Rainbow says everything's going to be just fine. Right, Rainbow?" She held up her stuffed unicorn, who seemed to nod in agreement.

To Zane's shock, Byron's stern facade cracked, a bemused smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Far be it from me to question a unicorn's wisdom," he said dryly. "Very well. Let's get on with this… memory bubble business."

Kiki clapped her hands, looking far too excited for Zane's comfort. "Excellent! Now, if everyone could just join hands and form a circle around the worktable…"

Zane reached for Alena's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as they moved into position. He could feel her nervous energy, the slight tremble of her fingers against his palm.

It's going to be okay, love, he thought fiercely. I won't let anything happen to you.

Zane took a deep breath, his dragon coiled and ready for whatever lay ahead.

As Kiki began to chant in an ancient tongue, the air around them shimmered and warped, reality bending to the power of her magic.

Hold on tight, Zane projected to Alena, feeling her grip tighten in response. No matter what we see, we're in this together.

The world fell away in a dizzying rush of light and sound, years and then decades blurring together as they hurtled through time itself. Zane's last coherent thought before succumbing to the disorienting vortex was a fierce, unshakable conviction.

For Alena, for our future… I'd brave a thousand memory bubbles. Bring it on, past. Let's see what you've got.

And with that, Zane surrendered to the pull of history, ready to face whatever revelations awaited them in the mists of times gone by. His dragon settled, too, content in the knowledge that wherever, whenever they landed, they'd have their mate by their side—and that was all that mattered.