7. Bexley Blackforge
Chapter 7
Bexley Blackforge
"This sphere will act as an explosive. It will detonate on the lock and work much more efficiently than trying to make some damn key that may or may not work—especially since we can't get eyes on the inner mechanism," Moloch reasoned. "Of course I could have made a shapeshifting key, but the witch who created the lock probably thought of that and found a way to ward against it. Too risky."
"So brute force," Breaker said. The witch nodded and handed each of us a sphere, their light blue-to-black ombre contents swirling as if they contained shimmering liquid. The spheres were small, but the magic radiating from them gave no doubt that they were powerful.
"How do they work?" Gage asked. "Similar to grenades?"
"And how do we know they're strong enough?" Jagger asked.
Moloch's serious expression turned amused. "First, it's not truly just brute force—they contain an agent that will neutralize wards once they are destroyed, so they can't be rebuilt in the same place. Oftentimes a ward can be blasted through, but then will rebuild and seal on its own. This will ensure that doesn't happen. Secondly, there's nothing stronger in terms of explosives like this. If they don't work, then nothing will. Especially with how they're triggered."
"I definitely want to know that," I said. I didn't consider myself particularly clumsy but…better safe than sorry. I was hoping I couldn't detonate it by accidentally dropping it or tripping while I held it or something equally as ridiculous.
I was leaning against Jagger, my back to his front and his hands resting on my hips. Breaker and Gage were on either side of me and had been most of the morning. I had no doubt they were trying to be mindful of how Jagger would be today with our newly formed mating bond, but they were always right within reach.
I could also feel a sense of newfound contentment between all of us—as if we were finally exactly how we were meant to be.
When I'd woken up this morning, gray light filtered through the windows, announcing that it was still very early—dawn at most. Before I'd even had a chance to check the time and confirm, a knock on the door woke all of my mates. Jagger was wrapped tightly around me, his head on my stomach, and the other two were on either side of me. They must have slipped into bed sometime after I'd fallen asleep.
At the knock, Gage had roused himself from bed, returning to tell us that Moloch had arrived. His solution to our lock problem was ready.
I had to admit I'd felt a sense of relief. While I loved the little break we'd had, I was anxious to free my parents and get back home. There was no true relaxing when you knew there was a war waiting for you.
"There are two ways to trigger it," Moloch explained. "The first involves charging it with your power—mostly easily done while traveling through the portal. Because of the high combustion of power that occurs during portal travel, the sphere should light up with enough power to turn silver. At that point you place it where you want it and surge magic through it from afar, similar to any other explosive."
Okay, that seemed pretty easy and not too dangerous.
"And the other way?" Gage asked.
"The other way requires a bit more coordination. If the portal travel doesn't do it, then the four of you will need to fill the reserves up yourselves. It would take longer, of course, so it may not be the best solution. If you could find a way to bring your powers together into one blast, you would do that and direct it toward the sphere. From there it functions the same."
It was completely possible for them to bring their powers together—I had seen it in action, but as I rolled the small sphere in my hand, I had to wonder if it would be powerful enough.
"Just how explosive are these?" Jagger asked, holding his ball up between thumb and forefinger. "If the cages are underground, we don't want to bring down everything on us." I winced at the thought.
"Don't use more than one at a time and you should be okay," Moloch said after a long moment of thought. "Outside of that, the blast radius is concentrated and direct enough that it should have the intended effect. Trigger it from at least fifty feet away also, if possible."
"Understood," Breaker said. "We'll get ready and leave your family be, then."
"Thank you for letting us stay the night," Gage added, Jagger nodding before placing his chin on top of my head, pulling me closer.
Moloch shrugged. "Just remember to pick up the phone when my dad inevitably calls you."
"Of course," Jagger agreed.
"Right." Moloch walked back towards the door. "I'm going back to bed—good luck with everything, and please see yourselves out."
"Thank you!" I called as he walked out, leaving us to get ready.
Deciding I didn't need a shower, I left the boys to pack up as I quickly got dressed, pulling my hair back into an intricate braid and brushing my teeth. Slipping on a pair of dark sparkly leggings and a soft sweater tunic that fell to mid-thigh, I tugged on my jacket and shoes from yesterday. When I opened the bathroom door, I was unsurprised to find Jagger standing there.
My eyes ran over the scale pattern of my mark on him, and my fingers rose to trace the mark he'd placed on my neck. A deep rumble left his throat. My head tilted back as he approached, slipping an arm around my waist.
"You ready?"
"To find my parents?" I felt a rush of excitement and nervous energy. "I hope so…last night I had another dream of where they are. Their exact location. I have no doubt about it now; we just have to figure out how to get there."
"We've got that part covered. And remember, your friend and the Clanguard brothers will be there to help us." He led me to the door of the guest house where the other two were waiting. As we stepped outside, I pulled my jacket tighter around me, shielding myself from the crisp breeze. I nervously put my sphere in the inside pocket, wanting to keep it hidden but within reach. Our group was comfortably silent as we set off down the main street, the neighborhood peacefully still as everyone slept.
Intertwining my fingers with Jagger's on one side and Gage's on the other, I watched as Breaker walked ahead of us, scanning the route, his golden hair damp from the drizzle of cold rain. It wasn't long, though, before I couldn't take it anymore and broke away from Jagger and Gage to pull up his hood…well, try to pull up his hood. He had to bend slightly to let me do it, but I felt much better afterwards. When I turned back to check on the others, Gage was on his phone, typing away.
"Any updates?" I asked.
"No." He frowned. "I wanted to give our parents a heads up that we'll be returning to the area, but they haven't responded or picked up my calls. But they'll be able to feel the portal being used, so hopefully that will suffice."
"I'm worried that we don't know what we're walking into. Or that we were wrong and Clanguard decided to stage an attack," I said, my voice pitching higher than usual with panic. "Do we know if he's moved to the Silvershade estate? We know the clan leaders are safe, but outside of that, we don't know anything."
"We're almost positive he's moved to the estate. The last update we received said specifically that. Of course it's sending the entire territory into panic considering the towns within the Silvershade lands that could be affected, but it also serves our purpose."
"Allows us to know exactly where he's at and to keep eyes on him in a place where we know the land and have plants already placed," Jagger said. "Even if our portal is something he senses, he won't have time to make it back before we've already left the area. Plus, once we get back into Trabea, we'll wait to get confirmation to ensure that we can safely move about—that we have his exact location before leaving city limits."
"I hate that he's taken your home," I said, my throat thick with emotion.
"My home is with you. Don't worry about it, little treasure." His words normally would have had me smiling, but this time I couldn't muster it fully. It didn't change the fact that Clanguard had taken something from my mate. I'd help him get it back in whatever way I could.
As we traveled down the path toward the portal, my three mates talked casually about what Moloch had told them about the realm, but my attention was only half on their conversation. Instead, I was focused on how we'd gotten to this point.
Only weeks ago I was content in a bubble, believing that I would only have Gage at the academy—that I was barely a shifter. Now I not only was a storm dragon, but also a storm dragon heir with three mates. I had an entire history I'd been forced to forget, and I had parents that I now knew were still alive.
It was almost insane to consider, and I was so incredibly glad my mates were by my side through this. I wasn't sure I would've been able to do any of this without them, especially considering Clanguard's intentions for me.
"I love all of you," I said, practically blurting the words out in a rush, needing to say them. I didn't understand why it suddenly felt so essential but it did. Their conversation came to a halt as they all turned to me, a blush warming my cheeks.
"And we love you," Gage said, squeezing my hand.
"When all of this is done, I promise we'll have some normality and be able to fully enjoy it," Breaker promised.
"It's going to be amazing," I agreed, looking up into Jagger's gaze and melting at the love shining there.
It felt right to tell them that I loved them, especially before we stepped into Trabea again.
The portal felt different this time. As soon as I stepped in I wanted to turn around. My magic felt like it was being directed back into me rather than expanding out the way it usually did. A spark ignited against my chest, making me know it had to do with the sphere in my pocket. My eyes shut for a singular moment, stunned and overwhelmed by the magic around me, before fresh air slammed into me—my body flinging forward and collapsing to the ground… almost .
Breaker caught me in his arms as a lethal sound resonated from his chest, so incredibly deadly that fear spun within me even though I knew without a doubt that it wasn't directed toward me. I could feel Gage and Jagger nearby, and when I opened my eyes, feeling disoriented, I found them standing in front of Breaker and me defensively.
"Well, well, who do we have here?"
My metaphorical hackles rose at the voice I unfortunately knew very well now.
Linan. Clanguard.
Straightening myself up, I looked past my two large mates to find the man standing feet away, arms crossed and a cocky smile on his face. That alone would have been enough to make me furious, but behind him I could see that Rachel and her two mates—Linan's own sons—were slumped unconscious against the wall. Metal cuffs restrained them, and their faces were marred by blood, cuts, and darkening bruises.
"Rachel," I cried, hoping she would open her eyes, but the effort was useless.
"She was the first to pass out from the pain," Linan sneered. "What a weak mate my sons chose—unsurprising, though, considering how their mother turned out."
Before I could stop myself, I surged to my feet, only to be stopped by Gage who caught me around my waist and refused to let go. A growl erupted from between my clenched teeth, and I saw Linan hesitate for just a moment before plastering on another amused expression.
"Smart of you to stop her. I have people everywhere."
"Clearly you have spies everywhere as well," Gage observed. "I should have guessed you'd figure it out."
"I'm surprised you didn't follow us," Jagger admitted.
"Why would I do that when all of Trabea is under my control now?"
I tensed and narrowed my eyes. "You don't have control over any?—"
"Sure I do," Linan interrupted, silencing me. I fought the urge to let my dragon break out, his disrespect weighing so heavily that it was almost impossible to stay safely still. "All of this was orchestrated perfectly. I don't know what help you assume you found in the other territories, but I can assure you it will be completely and absolutely useless. The only thing you managed to do was get yourself, your mates, and my sons all in the same area. You made my job easier for me, Bexley."
I stayed silent, refusing to rise to the bait.
"Obviously you aren't as smart as your own parents were."
I was on my feet before I even realized it, breaking free from Gage's hold, but before I could reach Linan an electric shock slammed into me. I gasped, dropping hard as I began to convulse, and I heard the buzz of electricity hit my mates before it struck me once again. Linan's men ambushed us with their tasers, my eyes closing as I twitched and power was leached from my body.
A roar broke out as one of my mates tried to shift. I tried to speak, but my voice cracked, so I redirected my efforts into communicating through our bond. Don't. Don't shift. Not yet. It was all I could manage before consciousness all but slipped away, leaving me in a haze. Only distantly aware of the world around me.
I came to moments later as another roar sounded, shaking the floor. One of my mates had been hit again. Gathering just enough energy to move my arm, I wrapped my arms around myself protectively, whimpering as something cold and metal collapsed around my wrists. Tears slipped from my eyes, and blood dripped from my nose as another electric shock hit me.
My body was numb at this point.
Linan's hot breath assaulted my ear, his voice unhinged. "Don't you worry, Bexley. We'll make sure you're locked up and able to get well acquainted with my son, even if we have to keep you in here until the next Black Moon."
The sound of a metal grate opening was the last thing I heard before I was overcome by darkness, suffocating any light, noise, or air.