5. Five

Five

Willow

It's just my imagination. My mind toying with me because I so desperately need him. Them.

"Please, little warrior, say something again, come back to me."

"Till-Tillman is this real?"

"Elementra. It's real. I hear you."

A surprised noise travels up and out of my throat, and I slap my hand across my mouth to smother the sound. It's real.

It's him.

"I don't have much time and I don't know what to do. I'm being kept behind a concealed structure, so that's why you can't find me. CC told me the spell to bring it down, but I don't know if I can. I don't know if I'm strong enough, Tillman, but if I can, I need you to be ready in seconds, minutes max. They're going to move me to the forest."

"The Forsaken Forest? Why are they taking you there? Are you okay?"

I want to tell him everything, but I can't. There's a dangerous tremble to his tone. Even in my mind, I hear it clearly. If I tell him what's happened, he won't think straight. Not that I believe for a second he's thinking properly now, but if he knows the truth, he, they because he'll tell them, will fly into a fit of rage. No. I need Lead Instructor Tillman right now, not unhinged, overprotective, possessive Nexus member.

"I'm okay, but I won't be if they move me. We're leaving in minutes. That's my only opportunity to bring the concealment down for you. If I can't, the forest is where I'll be. You need to get a plan together, and now. There isn't much time. Did Oakly find my blood?"

"Yes, we have it. We're coming for you, little warrior, I promise. Tell me what you can. Structure, number of soldiers, powers, anything you think is important, quickly."

I breathe a sigh of relief when I hear the change in his voice. The tremble has steeled into a firm order he'd give one of his E.F. members and a small, broken, watery smile crosses my face.

"I'm not sure of the number of Mastery here. They've only allowed a select few around me, but this prison is huge. So much larger than the one you were held in and it's in the middle of a clearing. They'll see you coming a mile away once you come through the tree line and cross the wards. There're a lot of hostages, all drugged or subdued somehow, from what I've seen. They plan to move half of them with me, so expect them to be outside as well. Everyone here is gifted and powerful, including a vampire."

"Minute's up. If you don't come out, I'm coming in," Trex yells through the door, startling me out of my mental concentration.

Shit.

"I have to go. I love you so much. Please tell them I love them too."

"No, wait, Will—"

I slam a barrier between us and fortify my own mental block. It had to come down slightly for me to push through to him, but it has to be completely sealed around Trex. Yes, his words from a moment ago do make me look at him a smidge different than the others, but there's no way I can allow him to hear anything going on in my mind right now.

He's still the enemy, just not enemy number one.

The door slams open with the force of a wrecking ball, and I flinch as the loud bang echoes around the small bathroom. Trex's furious face fills the doorway as he scans the bathroom and for a split second I panic, thinking he heard Tillman's and my conversation until he looks down at the ground and sees me. The murderous rage smooths out, and he tilts his head to the side curiously.

"Why didn't you come out when I told you to?" His concerned, more than angry tone causes me to falter while I scramble my mind for an answer.

"I…I just wanted a minute to sit down and catch my breath, but then I couldn't get back up. You said if I didn't come out, you'd come in, so I just waited."

I'm not sure if it's a complete lie because I didn't try to stand, but based on how heavy I feel, it's very possible. I'm sure the way I look sales it as well. I've avoided looking down at the damage done to my body. Even when I reached for some toilet paper to wipe with, I kept my lids shut tight. The only eyeful I've allowed myself to see are my legs.

"You should've just called out." He scoops me beneath my arms and lifts like I'm nothing more than a sack of potatoes.

Thankfully, he sets me on my feet and allows me to walk on my own, but his grip is firm on my arm. My brief reprieve was just a cruel tease that's now causing more problems. After hearing Tillman's voice in my mind, my bond, body, and soul rebel harder against his touch and the last thing I want is the four of them, plus Franklin, to surround me again.

You have to get that concealment down. You have no other choice.

A surprised shriek mixed with both pain and shock tears from me as we round the corner from the bathroom, and someone snatches me forcefully against them by my hair. Instinctively, I throw my hands up, about to release one of my elements, but a claw to my throat stops me in my tracks.

"Don't even think about it." Max growls low in my ear, pulling me firmer into his chest.

"What the fuck are you thinking letting her walk about without the cuffs on?" Donald yells in Trex's face, shoving him in the chest hard.

Trex doesn't budge, just stares at Donald boredly. Rolling his eyes, he replies, "I was thinking she was about to piss herself and personally, I didn't want the stench of her urine all over me, so I took her to the bathroom. What threat is she to me? Look at her, she can't even hold herself up. She's a pathetic little rag doll right now."

There went the small shred of empathy I had toward him.

"You're even more of an idiot than I thought." Donald sneers.

The massive asshole shifter at my back tightens his grip on my hair when I try to take a step back from Donald when he pins me with that demented gleam in his eye. I know him better than these men. At least I know this side of him better than they do. He's not mad Trex let me walk around without the cuffs on. He's pissed Trex allowed me to do anything without his permission first. Even now, with his fake Nexus brothers, he still believes I'm only his to possess.

My whole body vibrates with apprehension and fear when he reaches into his back pocket, and I hear the jingling of chains.

No. I just came up with a plan that did not involve cuffs.

"Donald, please. I did everything he told me—"

The familiar sting to my cheek causes a flood of memories to come roaring to the surface and I seal my eyes tightly shut. Gish's Nexus brother punching me in the face hurt like a bitch, so did Franklin's slap, but his backhand brings forth so much more than physical pain, it's ten times worse.

"Don't fucking speak unless I tell you to. Your manipulative shit may work on him but not me," he whispers dangerously low, taking another step closer, crowding me between him and Max.

A piercing cry belts out of me when he snatches my seared wrist up and locks the cuff on before moving to the other side. The salty streams flowing down my cheeks cause my skin to burn as they soak into the impression of his hand on my chest and that rapidly turns my pain-induced tears into those of rage.

So help me, Elementra, he's going to die for the things he's done to me.

The sound of the other cuff locking into place echoes down the hall like a clock striking midnight and an ominous, intuitive sensation sweeps through me. I know if I don't get these shackles off me, I'll be shackled for the foreseeable future, possibly forever.

"Let's go," Donald commands, turning on his heel and stomping away.

Wearing a stupid, giddy smirk on his face, Bryce immediately follows behind him like a good little lap vampire, and Max forcefully slings me right into Trex's chest, growling as he makes his way down the hall behind them.

With what little strength I have and what feels like one hundred pounds weighing my hands down, I shove myself away from him and lean against the wall to calm my heavy breathing. I'm on the verge of snapping. I'm suffering a tidal wave of panic and everything that lives within me is pushing with all their might against their restraints.

"Don't fucking touch me," I snap when Trex gently grips my arm.

"I didn't mean—"

"Cut the shit," I growl, interrupting his softly spoken words. "I'm over your wishy-washy persona. One second, you don't want to be grouped in with them. The next, you act just like them. At least with those three I know what I'm getting, I know what to expect, but with you, I can't tell if this is a fucking game to you. So just don't touch me, don't talk to me, don't even look at me."

With panting breaths, I turn and start making my way down the hall. I have no other choice, and I mean my words, I don't want him to do anything around or to me. I hate that I can't shake this feeling about him. This stupid-ass inkling his omission brought forth makes me believe that much like myself, he's a victim of his circumstance. The glaring difference between us, though, is he's obviously only thinking of himself.

So boxing him with the rest because of his actions, I use the wall for support and continue my pathetic hobble. With each step, I barely contain a groan of pain, but I also feel my legs strengthening, the tense muscles loosening up enough to provide a bit more balance.

That's until we pass the room I was tortured in and come to stand in front of the first room I was held in. You either go through that threshold or right in front of it up the dreaded stairs that I forgot all about. I was carried down that never-ending flight because of the drug, and now I'm going to have to limp my way up.

Trudging up the first set feels like an enormous victory, then I look over the side and up and see four more to go. As much as it pains me to continue pushing on, I use this as an opportunity to fall deep into my head and observe the cuffs with unfiltered keenness.

I stare at the small hole in my palm and a piece of my mangled wrist, mortified for a moment before blocking the sight out with the cuff, turning them over every which way, trying to find a way to escape them.

"They aren't the same as the others."

"Who's not the same as the others?"

I snap when he scares me out of my concentration.

"Not who. The cuffs. The other set is secured to the table straps. Those won't burn like the others. They just block your magic," he says, gripping one of the cuffs in his hand.

"So the nearly burning my hands off is just for my torture sessions."

"Yeah," he says quietly, rubbing the back of his neck after slowly releasing the cuff.

Just to test his theory, I call forth my air element. Cautiously, I try to send out a small breeze. Nothing that would call attention to him, but just enough to see if something happens. Obviously, if they burn me, he'll know, and I'll know he's most certainly a liar.

As my air sluggishly makes its way from my chest through my arms, hope rises in me quickly when I don't feel the sensation of my skin being seared off, but that hope drains the moment my air reaches the cuffs, and it's halted immediately. I bite my tongue to force away the frustrated tears that are burning my eyes and clench my fist tightly.

"What's going to happen when we get up here?" I ask quietly, trying to see how much time I have to figure this out.

"We'll assemble outside first. The baggage will be transported, then Gish and his Nexus will return to escort us."

"Why do we need an escort rather than just go with the hostages?" I ask, clipped.

I refuse to call them baggage. They're people, for fuck's sake.

"Because of you. You're MVP. That requires extra security and fewer bodies to worry about."

"I highly doubt Franklin, Donald, or any of you see me as a most valuable person. Especially not enough that I need extra security."

"Possession. Not person," he states quite literally.

I grit my teeth so hard I'm surprised my molar doesn't crack. Not a person, a possession. Those three words out of his mouth make me sick to my stomach. He said them so factually, it's like he's read a file on me over and over and that's what they labeled me, nothing more than a thing to be owned.

There's nothing to say back to that. If I can't get my shit together, and quick, that's exactly what I'll become.

What's the point of having so many damn Elementra-blessed gifts, elements, plus magic if I can't use them in a time of need?

"I've told you. Think, Willow."

"You haven't—"

A soft, calming purr flutters from my dragon, and I feel her ruffling her body out, not trying to break free, just…preparing herself. Confidence, readiness, and determination filters from her to me, and I nearly choke on the gasp that wants to burst out of me. They did tell me, just not as directly as I assumed they meant.

"My fire. My dragon's flame."

"Just like you burned it through your veins."

Leaning heavily on the determination my dragon's bleeding into me, I think each move through thoroughly. Subtly, I blow out a small breath and begin merging my fire and the gift of my dragon in my chest. Although slow moving, much like me, they don't attempt to bombard me or take control. They listen to the intentions I set forth and begin interweaving with one another.

This is going to be the difficult part. I can't just burst into flames, or completely burn away the cuffs. Trex may not be a physically abusive asshole like the others, but he has no intentions of helping me, so I see no scenario where he's going to be okay with me busting out a surprise trick and breaking free of my restraints.

Now or never.

Lacing my fingers discreetly to the cuffs, I make it look like I'm cradling the wounds on my wrist and palm closely to my body, and I command my flame to flow through me to my hands. I wait with bated breath when they reach the threshold of where my air element was halted, and when there's resistance, I push harder.

A small cracking noise breaks the silence and has me quickly snatching my flame back some. I don't react whatsoever, and when I peer out of my peripheral at Trex, his eyes have narrowed, but they're not on me. They're still facing forward, so I know he heard it. He's just not acknowledging it.

Okay, so my flame may not draw attention, but these damn cuffs will.

Draw attention…

I don't overthink my decision. I just do it. As we go to step up on the last stair before the final landing, I let my foot get caught on the edge and purposely trip myself up. This is going to hurt, so I force my flame back out as fast and hard as I can without it bursting through my skin and brace for impact.

My body thuds against the concrete landing, drawing a loud yelp from my mouth, one I didn't have to fake, and at the same time, the cuffs split beneath my hands.

Whimpering, I roll onto my stomach to relieve the pain throbbing through my shoulder, hip, and shin, then readjust my hold on the cuffs to secure the broken pieces in my palms. Immediately, I know the block is broken as my magic, elements, and gifts seem to flare to life and travel through me, but I sorrowfully have to command them not to fix any of my injuries, not even my bleeding yet as they all seem to spread to the worst of the worst of my damage.

"Fuck, you are burning up." Trex hisses as he swiftly picks me up bridal style, eyeing me everywhere as if he can spot a new wound amongst the masses.

"Probably some infection from this hellhole. Put me down and let me walk to my death with my dignity," I snark dramatically, trying and failing to roll myself out of his grip.

He hesitates only for a second longer before gently putting me down and gripping both of my arms to steady me. It's shit like this about him that confuses me. Concern contorts his features as he examines every inch of me as if he's about to see a bone popping out somewhere.

"First of all, we can't get infections. Second, you're not dying on my watch. You die, I die, and I've got shit to take care of before that happens."

Ah, there's the cause for concern.

Not releasing his hand from my arm, he steers me down the long, bright stone hallway I came down when I was first brought in, but now all the cells we pass are empty, and a lump forms in my throat because that means they've been moved outside or somewhere else.

The wet slap of my bloodied feet against the concrete slows to a stop simultaneously with his heavy-booted steps as we face the magical illusion wall that leads to the front foyer. Pausing, he stands there, staring ahead before releasing a long sigh. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a healing vial and passes it over to me.

"He's arranged this to scare you, let you know what your defiance will bring you, but don't let the underlings get a whiff of your fear. They have orders. They're not allowed to touch you without one of our permissions, so don't show them any weakness. Just do what the other three say and this will be over soon," he warns so quietly, I can barely hear him.

Nodding at me, his silent instructions to drink the vial, I don't hesitate because fear of the unknown that's about to come my way has me desperately grabbing at any help. I could cry happy tears when the hole in my palm starts stitching itself together, and my blood stops flowing from the cuts.

My newfound energy is zapped once he drags me through the wall and his words start to make sense.

No one's in the empty foyer, but I hear the voices outside. The many, many voices, and I steel myself for what I'm about to walk out there to.

My eyes widen at the massive gathering of Mastery members. There're so many. At least a hundred, if not more. The first few rows of them are so tall, I have to peer between the gaps in their bodies to attempt to see beyond them. My gaze follows the open path in the middle of the parted crowd to where Donald, Max, and Bryce wait for us, with deranged, malicious smiles.

My heart thunders in my ears so deafeningly, it drowns out the sound of their laughter, snarls, and crude comments as we take our first step forward. One bellowing laugh breaks through the storm raging within me, and I follow the sound to where Gish is standing, towering behind Donald. His snide, wholly pleasured smile forces me to fully steel myself.

Lifting my head high, pulling my shoulders back with it, I shake my arm free from Trex so I can walk on my own. Whatever humiliation, torture, or other debauchery they have planned for me, I'll face it on my own two feet.

Until my men get here anyway and wipe everyone out .

Calling my magic forth, I let it swell in my chest with each step I take, feeding, lacing it with my fury, my rage, my hurt and once we're about halfway to them, I release the spell.

Nothing.

My steps falter with the realization the concealment didn't flicker, budge, nothing. I felt my magic leave my body, press against it, then nothing.

It dissolved into the wind.

"On a rough scale, how much power is this spell going to take?" I ask CC nervously, yearning for a promising answer.

"Rough scale, around a pocket dimension. Maybe less, maybe more."

The small whimper I tried to refuse slips out anyway with that soul-crushing news. I was expecting something, but something attainable, achievable, not…not a damn pocket dimension. Creating mine exhausted me, put me on my ass, and I'm currently barely standing on my own.

"It's okay," Trex whispers next to me, completely misunderstanding my distress.

No, you confusing man, it's not okay. Me not being able to bring this concealment down is far from okay!

"Don't think like that, Willow. You can't have any doubt in your intentions when you cast this spell. You have to have complete faith in it and yourself."

The distance between me and the others is swallowed up in seconds, far faster than I'd hoped and needed. Standing face to face with Donald, I see it. The sickly, satisfied look he always has right before he delivers a devastating blow.

"You look stunning like this, Willow. Red is truly your color." His smirk fades from condescending to sinister in a flash. Snatching me by my arm, he spins me to face the crowd that, at some point, had closed the opening behind me.

"Brothers! I'm so grateful you all could join us here today. What a special day it is for our society. Today we will remember and receive our retribution for our fallen brother, Master Mihail," Donald shouts, garnering cheers and howls from the men.

As the noise carries on, he leans down low to my ear and whispers, "You remember Master Mihail, yes? Oh, I mean Michael. You know how the nonmagical realm can be about people with strange names."

My chest falls up and down in an erratic rhythm as the night of Donald's initiation flashes across my mind. It seems like an eon ago my air broke free, killing the man they're all mourning before he could rape me, but that bit of information doesn't seem to matter to them as they all look like they're ready to tear me limb from limb.

"Do you remember what I told you that you should be grateful for that night, dear wife?"

My vision blurs from the tears gathering in my eyes. I remember every word spoken that night. I remember what he really wanted to happen. I'll never forget it.

"Your silence says no, so I'll refresh your memory. There were only sixteen members of our society there that night, and I told you to be grateful the whole society wasn't present. Well, fortunately for you, I still couldn't gather the entire brotherhood, but I rounded up a good bit, wouldn't you say?"

A piercing whistle in my ears drowns out Donald's laugh along with everything that's being said around me, and the sudden hot flash causes sweat to break out across my skin. This can't be happening. Not again.

I have to blink my eyes and shake my head to shove out the darkness trying to take over my mind. So many times I've fallen into that trap that holds me hostage, a prisoner in my own body. And I refuse to allow that to happen now. Not now. Not ever again.

I have far too much to lose. I've been blessed with the most amazing group of men, family, friends, who've helped me heal, grow, and show me a love I never knew was possible.

And they're waiting for my signal to come and find me.

Closing my eyes, I block everything out. The ringing in my ears, the pounding of my heart, the disgusting hands on my body holding me in place. I block it all.

"Ground yourself. Tie yourself to Elementra."

Sinking my toes into the grass beneath my feet, I command my magic to spread to every surface of my body, fill me to the brim with the power I've been blessed with. Dig beneath the surface and mix with the fabric of our creator.

"Time to go bond to your new Nexus, my little whore."

I'm the true Primary to the strongest Nexus in Elementra, and it's time for you to meet them.

With every ounce of strength I have, I seize my power from the ground and shove it full force at the concealed structure.

"Clarity is shown through my knowing eyes,

spread the knowledge to those who are blind.

Crumble the deception of the disguise,

reveal the truth for those to find."

A shock wave travels across the grass, flattening every man in front of me, followed by the smallest sound of glass fracturing. There's a tense beat of silence as I hold my breath, waiting.

Just as my hope starts to dim and Donald's grip on me intensifies tenfold, the entire structure blurs like someone's taken a hammer to its surface. Loud popping rings out far and wide across the clearing as the concealment shatters to pieces. Shards of the crystalized concealment fall from the sky like shooting stars, then sink into the ground as nothing more than wisps of smoke.

One…two…thr—

"What the fuck did you do?" Donald spins me around and bellows in my face, but I'm not focused on him. I can't.

Because I sense her before I see her.

A surprised sob mixed with a laugh bursts from the depths of my chest as my best friend, my sister, tears through the tree line covered from head to toe in blood like she's been right alongside my men, painting the realm red looking for me. She stops so suddenly when our eyes collide, and I see the horror streak across her face as she takes me in.

She composes herself quickly and viciously begins beating her fist against the ward. The Mastery's last line of defense to keep the ones I love from getting to me.

The air is knocked out of my lungs when suddenly, at Oakly's back, an entire army of E.F. members falls out of transports, looking like they've been through hell and back to get here to me.

My entire world freezes as soon as I feel them. There's not a millisecond in time between the moment I felt them to my eyes finding them. I lock on to them instantly, and there's a split second where each of their cruel, determined, deadly masks crumble when they see me, see the man holding me against him.

As one, they move to stand beside Oakly and begin brutalizing the ward. Each connection of their magic chips away at the surface, and the more men who join in, the faster it starts to crumble.

"Backup measures, fortify the ward. MVP team, leave the baggage behind. Time to move," Gish orders out across the field of Mastery members.

Donald's grip on me becomes ruthless and Max steps up as well, snatching my head back by my hair, and a desperate scream rips through me. My plea is answered a second later by a vicious, bloodthirsty roar that forces Max to let go of my hair and shake himself out to fight off the command.

Although Donald isn't a shifter, the sound is startling and his grip loosens just enough for me to pull my arm free. Rearing back, I punch him as hard as I can in his nose. The crack and instant stream of red is satisfying, but I don't allow myself time to savor it.

I push away the pain, the agony racing across every muscle, and pump my legs and arms as hard as I can. Solely relying on the adrenaline to get me where I need to be. I just have to reach them, reach the ward, and they'll get to me, they'll save me.

I keep my eyes locked on my men, bouncing between the four of them as they shred the layers of the ward, both old and new. I'm so close, so fucking close.

A sliver of Caspian's shadows slips through a crack and he screams for me to get to it, touch it, and I reach my arm out for it, willing my body to push hard. Reach him.

Forty feet…thirty…twenty…ten…

Suddenly, I slam into a body that doesn't budge with the force of our collision and I try to shove away, but it's useless. Leaning my head up, I suck in a strangled breath as Bryce and I stare one another down. His eyes bleed red, while mine well with tears.

Gripping my chin painfully, he spins our bodies around so fast I feel sick. The feeling deepens when I see my guys losing their absolute shit only a few feet away from me. They're so close, I can smell them, and I take a deep breath, the deepest breath imaginable, because I know what he's about to do, and he's about to make them watch.

"You have an animal living inside of you. You should know better than to run from a predator. Now I had plans to make you feel pleasure beyond your wildest dreams, but you just don't know how to be good, do you?" He hums, laying a kiss to my neck before sinking his fangs in deeply.

"WILLOW."

I hear them bellowing my name, all four of them, Oakly, her Nexus. They're all screaming for me. I hear the desperation in their voices as the pain of his venom makes me crumble in his arms and bellow out in agony.

My blurry vision steals my sight of them, and I break apart.

"I love you," I mouth out as my body grows weaker and weaker.

I don't have any fight left in me.

"Time to go, my tasty little snack. Seems your rescuers are going to get through." Bryce laughs as his fangs retract from my neck, and as soon as the words leave his lips, the ward comes crashing down with a wave of black, sparks of light, blue flames, and a mountain of power.

Their power.

He moves us from one end of the clearing to the next in under a second and I can't hold back as I fall to my knees, throwing up. There's absolutely nothing left inside of me, but that doesn't stop the acid from burning its way through me.

"That's absolutely—"

Bryce stops talking and spins around just in time to throw his arm up and block the massive black wolf from wrapping his jaws around his neck. It takes me a moment, but as soon as I recognize him, I gasp as I watch them viciously attack one another.

Lyker.

I gawk, horrified as they battle feet away from me. It's so much more vicious than what I witnessed in the Alpha trials and worry pounds at my heart as they trade off blow for blow. I have no clue how Lyker can track the crazy speed with which Bryce moves around, but he does, his keen baby blue eyes following every move.

Out of my peripheral, I see a sleek, black-and-tan body, with teeth as long as daggers slowly creeping up on Lyker's side, and a scream of warning bellows from out of me.

"Lyker, watch out!"

The shrill is loud enough that both Lyker and Bryce falter, turning to see what it is that has me screaming like that. Neither of them has time to react when a…a…fuck, I have no clue what that is.

A beast I'd picture crawling out of the depths of hell, with jaws wider than anything I've ever seen, tackles Max to the ground. They tussle and roll with savage swipes of their claws and their jaws chomp around wildly. Somehow, Max gets the creature on his back and my heart thuds violently.

Protective instincts flood me and with a savage scream, I jump on his back, hands partially shifted, and dig my claws into his side as deeply as I can. He rears back with an agonizing screech and bucks me through the air, sending me flying back into a tree. My breath is knocked out of me and I wheeze, trying to force my arms to push me up and my lungs to work as he stalks toward me. Worrying about reacting to me was the biggest mistake he could've made.

The creature jumps through the air with its jaws hanging so far open, he could fit Max's head into his mouth. The second he locks onto his neck, he turns sharply, snapping the bone in two. When Max's body falls limp, shifting back into his human form, I know with one hundred percent certainty, one of my tormentors is dead.

Frantically looking around, petrified I may be this thing's next target despite their actions, I find myself alone, Lyker and Bryce long gone, and the creature is slowly making its way to me. Its tall, slender black body stands almost six feet tall from shoulder to paw, and his head puts him closer to Tillman's height.

He's not a wolf, or a dog, although his body and teeth have similarities to both. But the large jaw that can easily open at a full ninety degrees is throwing me all the way off. As he continues to approach me, I scoot back, pressing my back to the tree.

Dropping down to his belly, he slowly crawls toward me, and I stop my retreat at the docile behavior. With my magic and everything else in me on the brink of being drained dry, I don't risk calling my dragon back to the surface, but I sense she's not the least bit nervous or concerned.

When the bright light of a shift takes over his form, I come face to face with a handsome man and my chest fills with warmth. His dark brown hair is shaggy, carelessly brushed everywhere, either purposely or from this battle, but when I meet his eyes, I suck in a trembling breath.

"My Aurora is going to love you. We've waited many, many years to meet our boys' Primary," he says, awestruck, gracing me with a huge smile.

"You're…you're one of my father-in-laws," I stutter embarrassingly,

"Here, we call that your Patera-Nexus, but yes. I'm Dyce Vito, your father-in-law."

Overwhelming emotions flood me, and before I can stop myself, I sling my arms around his neck in a huge hug and fall apart as he holds me back tenderly. I soak up the warmth of a caring embrace for a second longer, then pull back and wipe my eyes.

"Will you take me to them?" I ask.

"It'll be my pleasure, Willow. Drink this first. It's the only one I have, and you need far more than that, but it'll help for now."

I swear I could either cry or hug him again when he pulls a vial out of his pocket and pops the cap off. I don't have to taste it. I can smell it and know it's Gaster's healing vial.

Greedily chugging it down, the effects are instantaneous as he helps me stand and get my balance. The healing tonic sweeps rapidly through my blood, knitting the rest of the hole in my palm closed, wiping away my dizziness, and the lingering pain from Bryce's bite finally dissipates.

Then more damaged areas throb, begging for some reprieve as well, but that seems to be all the healing vial has in it. I'm a long, long way from being remotely close to healed, but I don't feel nearly as helpless as I did just a second ago, so with a confident nod to him, he steps away and shifts back into his massive, intimidating form.

Taking a few steps forward, I stop and stand over Max's lifeless body. There's no remorse to be found in me, and honestly, I'm thrilled I got to witness him die. It's a small reward for what I had to endure from him today.

Just as I go to turn from him, the sack tied to his belt loop catches my eye, and the realization of what that is comes flooding back to me.

We need that.

Bending down, I snatch the dagger out of his holster and use it to slice the sack from his belt loop, sparing just a second to peer inside and make sure nothing is broken. To my relief, I find five vials safely intact, so tightly gripping the sack in one hand, I keep the hilt of the dagger gripped in my fist and we start our jog back to the structure.

Peering around, it's only now I'm realizing how far from the structure Bryce moved me. The sound of the battle raging on ahead of us is a distant noise and the only people I see are wolves in their shifted forms running from the tree line in the same direction we are.

The closer to the battlefield we get, the faster my legs seem to push me. Strength purely fueled by adrenaline and need forces me to ignore the pain because I feel them. All four of them, and Oakly.

My bonds stretch out, searching for them, and I finally set them free. The moment they're released, it feels like a tremendous weight has been lifted off my chest, and I can breathe at last.

The sight in front of me as we round the corner of the structure has me stumbling and righting myself all in the same motion. Mastery members are everywhere, and the identifiable E.F. uniforms are the minority, but it doesn't matter. They're ruthless.

Left and right, bodies are being ripped apart by elements, shifters, gifts. War cries ring out with every strike, and the ground seems to tremble a little every time another body falls. There's a black cloud, coating the grass like a fog, and my heart pounds.

My dark and damaged protector is letting his darkness flow freely.

"You need to get out of here. Now."

I scream in surprise as a bloodied Trex steps out from the corner of the building, separating me and Dyce as he clutches both of my shoulders, shaking me.

"What?"

"Willow, you need to go—"

Fierce growling cuts him off as he spins around, blocking me. But it's not me who's about to get their asses mauled. It's one hundred percent him. So I sidestep him and put my hands up to stop Dyce's attack.

"Why are you trying to help me?" I ask.

He doesn't respond, just stares at me intently, desperately, and despite the fact he's been a confusing asshole this entire time, now that my gifts aren't being blocked, I can sense his aura and intentions, and he truly means me no harm.

"I'm sorry, Trex." I mumble before casting us in a ring of my dragon's fire that rises to his head. "Don't touch the flames. They'll burn you to ash and your water element is null against them. But no one will be able to get in to you, so you'll be safe."

Stepping back out of my flame, I reach through its barrier and lay the sack of vials and dagger down, barricading them from him so he can't destroy them, then turn to Dyce. He's pacing around the ring feverishly, and when he sees me, he bounds toward me, sniffing all around like he's checking to make sure I didn't get burned before nudging me forward with his head.

We seem to come in on the side of the Mastery, and he springs in front of me without any hesitation and literally starts biting heads off. I'm either completely desensitized at this point or my dragon's bloodthirsty nature makes me comfortable with such a vicious death because as he drops headless corpses, I leap over them and let my fingers flow through the shadows swirling around my legs.

A beacon of light shining brighter than the morning rays directly in the center of the chaos catches my eye, and my feet have a mind of their own as they veer from the security of Dyce toward it.

My body and bond are fully in control as I maneuver my way to him, and as soon as I'm within a few feet, I launch myself at him. As if he could sense my approach, he turns just in time to catch me.

"Corentin." I sob into his neck as he holds me so tenderly like I may shatter if he squeezes too tight.

"Little wanderer," a deep, broken growl says from behind me, and a purr of longing bubbles out of me, beckoning him closer.

"Where are the others?" I ask.

"Looking for you. We need to finish this and get you home," Corentin says gruffly, slowly lowering me down and placing me in Draken's arms.

"Tillman."

I've been avoiding using the mind connection, not wanting to distract him in any kind of way, but I need him to know I'm safe. I need to lay my eyes on him and Caspian.

"Will, where are you?" he frantically shouts.

"In the center with Corentin and Draken."

He doesn't respond, but moments, seconds later, he and Caspian appear right behind Corentin, and I run straight for them. I'm immediately crushed between their embraces, and my muscles scream out in agony in both the best and worst way. My chest swells with their love, their devotion, their immense relief that I'm in their arms, but it's so painful to be held this tightly, everything hurts.

Slumping forward, Tillman catches me easily and turns me to hold my back to his chest. When I straighten myself, letting my head lull back against him, a deep, threatening growl leaves Draken, Caspian's shadows shoot out everywhere, and Corentin struggles to keep his light from blinding everyone around us.

Stretching his trembling hand out, Caspian hovers it right at my chest, and I whimper when I realize what they see. His shoulders heave heavily, and his eyes bleed unfiltered, pure, deeply rooted hatred until they're completely black. He holds my gaze for only a second before his shadows shoot out of him in every direction, carrying his body with them. He's nothing more than a black cloud that floats through the air, snatching enemies in his shadows with him, then spits them back out as mangled, unrecognizable corpses.

Draken can't make a sound as he stands tensely, shaking like a leaf as he tries to fight for control over his dragon. When my watery eyes meet his, that's the straw that snaps his restraint, and Tillman scrambles us back to give him room for his shift. Bellowing a thunderous roar, he shoots off into the air, circling the structure and easily picking Mastery members off the ground. With an easy toss, he has bodies flying and burning in one smooth motion.

Corentin doesn't spare me a glance as he disappears into the light, weaving in and out of bodies. I can't track his movements he's so fast, only appearing long enough to kill someone, then he's gone again.

Tillman keeps me pressed to his chest protectively, sending his element out and attacking any who get close to us as the others continue to annihilate every Mastery member they can get their hands on. As the numbers start to dwindle, a protective ring begins to form around us, starting with my best friend and her Nexus. A sob escapes her as she runs up to me, stopping short just a foot, and grasps my face between her hands.

No words pass between us as she traces every marking on me. I want to reach out and hug her, tell her I'm okay, but that'd be a lie. If Tillman wasn't holding me up, I'd be nothing more than a heap on the ground right now.

"Jamie will heal you as soon as they're done." She quivers, wiping the tears from her face and collecting herself.

Nodding, not trusting my voice to speak, I turn back to focus on what's happening around us. I can barely see through the shadows covering the ground as my god of darkness continues to lay waste to anyone he can get his hands on. As I scan the remaining Mastery members, a familiar streak of silver hair running in the opposite direction catches my attention, and I instinctively try to step forward.

"What is it?" Tillman asks, halting me.

"Franklin, he's getting away. He can't, Tillman."

"Who?"

"My father."

I internally start to panic as I watch him limply run closer and closer to the tree line, and I know if he escapes now, it's going to be damn near impossible to catch him.

"Draken!"

A resounding roar travels through the air, and Draken's dragon turns on a dime, flying back toward me at the speed of light, and I could laugh, cry, scream with joy, knowing he heard me.

"On the east side of the structure, a man with silver hair is making a run for it. I need you to stop him. Don't kill him. We need him alive, but don't let him escape."

Another responding roar pierces my ears, and I stare mesmerized as he flips his body over midflight, changing directions. With two beats of his wings, he's swooping down, snatching Franklin off the ground with his claws and flying back to me.

"How did he—"

"We have a mind connection too."

Almost as if this signs the end of this battle, when Draken drops Franklin from about fifteen feet in the air, right in front of me, the battlefield goes silent. Everyone glances around for a moment, checking on each other before the E.F. teams erupt in victory.

I want more than anything to celebrate with them as well. I'm safe. I'm in the arms of one of my men, and the other three are hastily making their way toward me, but I can't shake this feeling of being watched. Tillman feels my apprehension and nervousness, and he coils his arms around me tighter as we both scan the tree line.

"No," I whisper, my body shaking with angry tremors.

Standing tall with their eyes trained on me, Donald, Bryce, Gish, and his Nexus stare at me with deranged smiles, like they're pleased I finally showed my true hand. Their appearances prove they didn't skirt through this fight unscathed, but they're still alive nonetheless.

Just before they transport themselves away, they each give me a mocking wave and a smile that promises this is far from over.