28. Twenty-Eight

"We have E.F. training this afternoon. He's not going to make us join this morning class too, is he?" Oakly asks me quietly as Tillman gives the entire gym their orders for the day.

"Sure as shit hope not. He had me work out enough yesterday." I whisper back with a saucy grin.

"Fucking gross." She gags.

It wasn't even a real gag, but the noise is loud enough to draw not only Tillman's attention, but the rest of my Nexus's and hers. Their raised eyebrows and Ry's look of disapproval silences my giggle, but I keep my playful smile plastered on my face.

Her question is a legitimate one, though, because the last thing I care to do, even though I know I should, is work out now and this afternoon. I want to hang around for this morning class doing fuck all nothing. I was so exhausted last night, mentally, but also physically as my body deliciously ached. I couldn't even open my eyes to eat, which infuriated Corentin to no end.

I don't exactly remember what he said when he tried to force me to wake up for dinner, but I do remember swatting his hands away, murmuring to not interrupt my beauty rest again. Followed up with soft laughter that soothed me right back into a peaceful sleep.

I ate my body weight for breakfast, though, since I woke up starving. Now I'd like to just sit in the command room with Oakly and do nothing but drink coffee and relax.

"The students will be arriving any minute. Everyone to their assignments and post," Tillman orders, dismissing the small army of E.F. members.

"You two just can't be quiet and listen for five minutes," Ry scolds, semi seriously, swooping Oakly up around the waist.

"We were talking about class this morning. So we were at least paying attention." She chuckles.

"Don't worry, I won't be making you both work out this morning, but I'm not gonna hear any excuses this afternoon. The two of you forget your thoughts are sometimes as loud, if not louder, than your mouths," Tillman remarks with a know-it-all smirk.

"Wonderful, so the plan is for me and Oakly to be lazy, while the rest of you work," I cheer. As if the word plan was Corentin's cue to cut in, he snatches me up in a hug and sweet kiss.

"Yes, the two of you can do nothing this morning. In here or my office. I have paperwork and a couple meetings on my communicator I have to attend, so that's where I'll be. Caspian and Draken need to get to Rebel Castle, while Tillman teaches his class and works with the fresher E.F. members. So choose where the two of you will be," he orders.

"In here," me and Oakly say simultaneously.

No offense to Corentin, but the two of us sitting in his office while he works, having to be quiet and watch our mouths, sounds like a boring free morning.

"Okay, princess. I'll see you in a few." He chuckles against my lips then passes me off to the next awaiting arms.

"We'll be back soon, little wanderer," Draken says, spinning me around.

"Be good." I laugh as he places me on my feet and hits me with a dizzying kiss.

"You be good, Primary. No trouble while we're gone," Caspian says low from behind me, pressing me closer to Draken.

"I'm always good."

The touch of his lips on the back of my neck sends goose bumps across my whole body. His icy touch, mixed with Draken's searing skin, is an overwhelming concoction. One I'd get drunk on all day every day if I could.

"We'll be back soon," he swears.

With a wave and a wink from Draken, and a dark, delicious look from Caspian, they walk out of the command room and through the gym, just as the students start piling in.

I honestly can't believe Tillman's willing to just leave the two of us in here all morning class rather than make us join them outside on the training fields. There's rarely ever a time I'm not in someone's sight or earshot.

"You definitely won't be in here alone. Ry is running simulations in the gym today, so he'll be able to see right in here," Tillman states, as always eavesdropping on my thoughts.

"So we'll be babysat from a distance," I say teasingly.

"Yes," he and Ry declare.

There's nothing I can say or do but grin. I should've seen something like that coming, but I don't mind their overprotective planning and watchful eyes.

"I'll be on the fields if you need me," Tillman says, giving me a kiss on my forehead, then he and Ry leave the two of us.

"Damn, too bad Gaster isn't here with some food. I mean, Jamie just fixed a feast for breakfast, but those little pastries with some coffees are a morning must now," Oakly says as she walks over to the kettle to start making our drinks.

"I knew you'd say something about them." I laugh, going over to my bag and pulling out a box of the pastries.

The kitchen made them this morning as per my request and although they're not as perfect as Gaster's, they're still pretty damn good.

"A girl after my heart," she teases.

Plopping down in my seat, I grin at her as she makes her way over, expertly carrying two mugs of piping hot coffee in one hand and a whole kettle in the other. She would've made a fine waitress.

I can't help but laugh at the imagination in my mind of her catering and delivering food to the snobby rich back in the nonmagical realm. She wouldn't last a day without cussing someone right the fuck out.

"So, tell—"

Her words are cut off when a small tremor passes through the command room. It's enough to make the table vibrate and dishes rattle, but nothing massive. It feels and seems like one of the students outside just let their earth element loose.

"Weird… So anyways, tell me about—"

Again, she's silenced when an even bigger quake shakes the gym far more forcefully. This time, it's enough that some of the equipment falls from their racks on the walls.

Loud wailing begins blaring through the small, isolated room, causing both me and Oakly to jump up from our chairs. The coffee mugs and kettle go flying, smashing against the floor when yet another earthquake shakes the entire foundation. Me and Oakly tumble violently before jumping up and charging for the door.

When the command room door is shut, a silencing and blocking field lock into place, keeping the noise, gifts, power from the gym out and our words, our power locked in here with us. It'll only disable if someone with clearance commands it too, which I didn't this morning. Figuring it would give us some privacy and we wouldn't be bothered with the grunting and groaning going on from the E.F. members.

Now that I've slung the barrier open, the noise from the gym is deafening. Everyone's running around, getting into a position. Ry is shouting orders left and right, while a group of E.F. members are trying their hardest to get the gym doors open.

"Ry," Oakly shouts, running toward him.

"Oakly, get back in the command room now. Both of you," he yells.

His tone causes her to stop dead in her tracks. She's always one to push back, argue when he tells her to do something, but we both know, that tone of voice he just used wasn't him blatantly ordering her around.

Something bad is happening.

No. No. No.

Anger and fierce protectiveness surge through my chest, to the point I have to take a deep breath and attempt to block it out a little bit. Tillman. His emotions hitting me and the chaos already commencing around the gym is a clear fucking sign… It's starting.

I quickly search my other bonds and know by Draken's light, happy, loving vibe he's giving off, he nor Caspian know what's going on yet. Checking on the last of my men, anger, fear, and determination pulse back at me with the force of a tornado.

I can always feel Corentin, but never so strongly, never so keenly. I feel him as sharply as I would if we were already bonded. That's how furious he's feeling.

I lock my bond, mind, and emotions up tight so they don't trickle through to the guys. They need to be focused on what's going on outside of this gym, not on me.

"Oakly, come here right now. Come here," I frantically shout when I finally focus back on her and see she's way too far away from me.

Her wide eyes meet mine just as transports open up and piles upon piles of Mastery members start flowing in.

"Ry," she screams at the top of her lungs when one of them encases her hands and feet in stone faster than she can react. The man snatches her up beneath her knees and hoist her over his shoulder.

"Oakly." The sound of her name is a war cry falling from Ry's lips. The petrified pitch of it snaps my ass out of my momentary shock.

I don't think. I don't breathe. I just react.

Calling on my earth element, I shoot out a vine just as Tillman's done and showed me a million times and wrap it around the man's neck.

With all my strength, calling my dragon forth to aid me, I pull as hard as I can.

The thunderous crack rings through my ears as I watch him fall lifelessly to his knees, landing hard on top of Oakly. Sprinting forward, I use my air to blast a path from me to her. Bodies fly everywhere out of my way until I reach them. Kneeling down, I shove the man off her and command my earth to let her free. She's conscious and doesn't seem badly hurt, but she's freaking the fuck out. Understandably.

"Oakly, get up. Come on," I demand, pulling her up by her elbow, not giving her a chance to freeze.

"No, Ry. We have to help him," she screeches, trying to pry my hand off her.

Looking over my shoulder, I gasp. He's taking a beating from hell, but he's giving it all he's got. There are at least eight Mastery members coming at him all at once. No matter the amount of strikes he throws out with his own earth element, they're striking right back.

"I will, Oakly. I will," I swear, forcing her back into the command room and swallowing down the bile trying to rise up.

"No, no. What are you doing? We have to get to him, Willow," she screams at me as I slam the command door shut.

"Listen to me—"

"No, I'm not fucking listening. One of my Nexus is about to die. Get the fuck out of my way," she yells.

"Oakly, calm down now," I purr.

Just as yesterday on the guys, my purr travels down my chest through my bond to her. Her shoulders slump slightly, and I can see her panic lessen.

"Willow." She sniffles.

"I know. I'm going to save him, I promise. I promise I will, but I need you to listen to me, Oak, and listen good," I demand. Her small nod is all the acknowledgment she gives me, and I'm one hundred percent certain it's because I have her subdued.

I feel awful commanding her feelings like this, and I would never do this without her consent in a normal situation, but this isn't normal. She'll just have to forgive me later when my purr wears off.

"Transport to the secret room. I need you to transport there and do not come out until Gaster comes to get you. Do you understand me?" I ask.

"What? No. Why would I—"

"Oakly, you're the strongest fucking tracker I know. Well, the only tracker I know, but I'm pretty sure you're the strongest tracker in Elementra. If they take you, we'll have no way of finding you. If they take…anyone else, you'll be able to find them," I tell her.

"Willow, what do you—"

"Stop asking questions, Oakly, and do as I say, damn it," I yell, shaking her a little as I lose what little composure I have left. I can feel the tears starting to burn my eyes.

My vision. My stupid fucking vision.

I had no clue it would happen this soon. I'm not ready. I'm not prepared. This is about as far into the planning process I reached the first time I saw it, then again yesterday, I saw what had to happen, what I'm supposed to say and do, but not what happens afterward.

"Okay, okay. Go to the secret room and stay there until Gaster comes to get me," she whispers.

"Yes. Do not leave that room for any reason until he's there. Swear it to me, Oakly," I demand.

"I swear," she says, pulling me in close for a hug. "I don't know what you've seen or what you're about to do, but I love you. I know you'll save him and everything will be okay."

"I love you too. Go, Oakly."

I can't bring myself to look at her. My chest is already splitting open with guilt and fear. If I look her in the eyes, it'll be my undoing.

I feel her transport out and release my shaky breath, eyes still locked onto the floor. Then I check on my bond once more. Corentin and Tillman I can tell are fighting. Fighting fucking ruthlessly by the deadly feelings they have throbbing through them, but Draken and Caspian aren't. Caspian is bored, and Draken is cheery, as always.

Why aren't they here yet?

Locking everything within myself back up, I shake my body out, wrapping my hand around my necklace, knowing I can't wait any longer. There's no putting off what's about to happen. Now or never.

"Conceal."

As soon as I see the spell is active, I take a shaky breath and latch on to the bracelet around my wrist, staring at it, begging for it to give me strength.

"Conceal my possession from curious eyes. Only to me, you reveal its disguise."

Turning my wrist around, I observe the disoriented outline of my beautiful gift. With the nerves coursing through me, I can't help the tremors in my hands, but still… I ball my fist, lift my head and pull my shoulders back. Counting back from five, I gather all the courage I have and on one, I sling the command door open.

"Stop."

My command ricochets off the walls, its power slicing through the air like a sword. Any Mastery here who's a shifter does just as the order demands, and those who aren't, turn their heads, searching for the source of shift in energy.

"Well, well, just the woman we've come to collect. Willow, correct?" asks a fucking monster of a man as he steps through the parting crowd of Mastery members. He's absolutely huge, bigger than Tillman.

I gulp and hold in my flinch as he drags along a barely conscious Ry by his hair. I know it's him although his face is bloodied and beaten to the point it's barely recognizable. It's his clothes. His uniform matches Tillman's almost to a T.

"And who the hell are you?" I ask boredly, calling on my inner Caspian.

"Master Gish, at your disservice," he says with a condescending-ass bow.

Sneering at his little show, I peer out of my peripheral where I see some of the Mastery members getting into position to surround me. I know they plan to ambush me, capture me, and take me with them, but I can't let them take anyone else.

"If anyone takes one more step toward me, I'll transport out and you won't find me. You'll have to go back empty-handed and explain that to whoever ordered you to come collect me," I bite out as they continue to approach me.

"Stupid girl, if you think you can—"

Calling forth my air, I send all the Mastery members closing in on me flying into the walls, and I hold them there. My arms tremble with the effort it's taking to hold them in place while they all try to fight off my element with their own, but I don't relent. I let my anger fuel me. Power me.

"I won't repeat myself again. One more fucking step," I growl, holding Master asshole's gaze, daring him to try me.

All the members who are around him and in my line of sight pause their steps, looking at him for direction.

"This isn't going to end up in your favor, girl. You're property of the Mastery and we have our orders to bring you back with us. You leave and we'll continue to hunt. The whole brotherhood was informed of you, but only a small group of us were assigned to you until the shit you and that group pulled in Terravile. Now every one of us knows your name, face, element, and gift as a shifter. We'll find you," he says knowingly, but he doesn't truly know everything.

"What have you done to the gym doors?"

"You noticed that, did you? Locking enchantments. Only I or one of my men have the ability to allow people in or out," he boasts.

Like the prison cells but without the blocking of gifts and elements.

Idiot.

"How many of you are outside this gym?" I ask. I already know the answer. I know the chaos going on out there, but I need time. I need time to think.

"An army."

"Call them off. Call them off and let every student and E.F. member go, and I'll go willingly," I swear.

My words cause Ry to thrash around and I can't help but finally take a good look at him. There's blood pouring out everywhere. One of his eyes is swollen shut. I can't even see it, but the other is furious, peering at me like I've lost my mind.

"You have no room to order or ask for anything. We won't be doing that."

"Then I'll be going now," I announce, dropping all the men pinned to the walls on their asses, and take a step back.

"Wait," he shouts, shooting out a whip of water that I swat away with my air.

That was close.

I thought he was just going to let me leave there for a second.

Discreetly, I blow my breath out and pause, thinking about the next few things I need to say and do to make this work.

"You'd really be willing to just leave and allow us to take all these students, kill all these E.F. members, when the only reason we've attacked this academy so soon is because of you?" he asks smugly, pointing his finger at me.

The thought makes me sick.

No.

There'd be no way I could do that, but he doesn't know that. At this point, I don't know what he knows honestly. I've been trying my hardest to hear into his mind, pick up the plans he's forming, but to no avail. There's a block, one I'm not sure if he put there or his rune did, and I can't run the risk of his heart falling out right now. If I kill him, so many others die. The entire army he brought with him would retaliate instantly.

Ry would die. And my best friend's heart would break. More than that, her soul would splinter.

"Maybe, maybe not. Are you willing to show up wherever the hell you're going without me when you had the chance to take me but chose students instead? This is obviously your mission. What will that do for your rank?" I ask just as smug.

His eyes narrow on me, knowing good and well I hit the nail on the head. That's all these sick, delusional people care about. What they can do to move up in their twisted society.

"Fine," he grits out.

"I'm going to need a little more than fine. Release all the E.F. members in here and send the one you're holding here to me," I demand.

"This one is nonnegotiable. He dies."

The air in my lungs freezes. This was not a part of my vision.

Fucking sight.

In Master Asshole's free hand, a frozen dagger takes shape. It's sleek and sharp, shimmering in the bright gym lights. One slice from the icy weapon will paint the floor red.

Panic grips every one of my nerve endings and my eyes grow heavy with the tears threatening to fall. My body freezes like water on the coldest winter night with the fear pulsing through me.

Master Gish's lips twist into a sick smile as he jerks Ry's head back forcefully and lowers the blade to his throat. My ears are ringing so loud, I can't hear what he's whispering to Ry, but I know he's taunting him, talking shit. And that pushes me over the edge.

Just as the first tear slides down my cheek, I command the air in his lungs to come to me.

As fucked up as it is, I release a relieved breath as he gasps for air, halting his hand. Corentin taught me how to push air into the lungs but not pull it out, so this was trial and error.

"You slice one mark on him, and I suffocate you. Drop the fucking dagger and let him go." I tremble out.

I have no shame of the tears falling down my face. He'd be ignorant to believe they're a sign of weakness when I literally have his life in my hands. These are tears of fear, tears of anger, and if he pushes me, they'll be tears of guilt that I took yet another life. But I'll get over that guilt quickly enough.

Killing him would cause so much devastation, so much destruction on the academy, the students, and it would alter the results of whatever it is I'm supposed to do, but it's a risk I'll take to save Ry's life right now.

If looks could kill, I'd be dead where I'm standing. When a small dribble of blood trickles down Ry's throat, I tighten my hold on Gish's lungs until he grunts painfully.

He forcefully slings Ry to the ground in my direction, then grabs at his own throat. When Ry makes a few struggling crawls toward me, I push a small amount of air back into Gish so he doesn't die. I'm not going to let him get a full breath in until all my demands are met, though.

"Now, send someone outside to call all your members off. I want every student and E.F. member they've captured left right there on the training yard, then I'll come with you," I order as Ry finally makes it to my feet.

"Go," Master Gish chokes out to the man on his right.

Kneeling down to Ry, I gently tug him into a hug. I keep my eyes locked ahead of me but hide my mouth at the junction of Ry's collarbone and shoulder.

"Ry, listen to me—"

"I can't let you do whatever it is you have planned, Willow. It'll kill them," he cuts me off to whisper. His words are clipped, and I know it's taking him a lot of energy to get them out. Stubborn as shit, just like Oakly.

"Just shut up and listen to me, please. When all the Mastery members leave, the guys need to get Gaster here. I told Oakly to hide and stay in the secret room until he comes and gets her. She won't come out until then."

He lets out a choked sob that takes me by surprise. His loud and overwhelming thoughts filter through my mind and it's only then I realize he didn't see me get to her in time. He took a beating from hell thinking this whole time they took her.

"She's safe, Ry," I reassure him. He squeezes my shoulder tightly and I know it's a mixture of thanks and concern.

"I can't let her do this. Tillman will kill me. She only knows surface level of what these sick fucks do to people. There's no telling what they have planned for her."

His grip on me tightens just as the thought crosses his mind like he really plans to stop me in the condition he's in.

"Ry, I don't know why I have to do this, but it's what's supposed to happen. I know and have lived through far more than you know. I'll be okay, but I need you to remember what I'm telling you. Gaster gets Oakly, then I need you to tell Oakly not to waste it."

"Waste it? Waste what?"

"She'll know," I whisper and stand back up as the man Master Gish ordered out comes back.

"Well?" I ask, arching a brow.

A flood of Mastery members begins popping out of transports, filling the space of the gym in seconds. By the looks of them, they've been fighting tooth and nail out there. Fighting the students, the E.F. members. My men.

I accidentally, sort of, squeeze the air back out of fuck face's lungs as I use it to slide Ry behind me and into the threshold of the command room. There are far too many of them in here now. If they want to take me and the remaining E.F. members in here, they can.

As Gish's face begins to turn a little blue, I slowly release my strangle on his lungs and let him take a deep breath.

"All of you return to camp. Follow the original drop plans," he orders and all but twelve leave the gym.

"Happy, girl? Now it's your turn. You try anything crazy, every member left in here dies and I call in more reinforcements than you can imagine." He snarls at me.

"Willow," Ry pleads.

"Do as I told you. Please," I say with one last look over my shoulder at him.

Holding my head high, I try my best to choke down the fear that's filling every cell in my body. Fear of the unknown of what I'm walking into. Fear of what they plan to do to me. Fear of how my men, my friends, will feel about me when they find out I knew this was coming and could do nothing to stop it. I just had to let it happen.

I never promised any of them I wouldn't sacrifice myself again because I knew that was a promise I couldn't keep.

I just didn't know it'd be so soon.

The distance between me and the colossal monster of a man grows shorter and shorter as I calmly make my way to him. My mind is moving far faster than my feet, running through every scenario, trying to find a way out of this.

But there isn't one.

Once I'm just a few feet in front of him, another man steps beside him and sends out his earth element to encase my hands and feet in stone. The weight of them pulls me down slightly before I force my back to straighten once again.

Mentally, I smile with smug satisfaction knowing none of them saw me use my earth element earlier. I hate that poor Ry was the distraction for that, but at least I know I can break out of this if a plan comes to mind.

I shriek as Gish snatches me by my hair and drags me so close to him, the air from his nostrils fans my bangs from my face. The pressure on my scalp intensifies as I thrash and try to push off him.

I want so badly to burn his ass away from me, get his fucking hands off me. But I know I have to go. Why? I don't know that.

"You're going to pay for that stunt and for putting me in this position, you little bitch. I can fucking promise you that," he growls in my ear, and I gag as his saliva splatters on my cheek and earlobe.

Other than it just being vile, it sends discomfort and repulsion down my bond.

I keep my own emotions coiled tight, but the need for me to feel my men once more, one last time, has me reaching my bond out. I don't know where they're taking me, how long I'll be gone, if I'll be able to feel them from wherever I'll be. So I just need one more dose of them, bad or good. I need to feel them.

I almost sob when I feel that they're all here, and not just here, but closing the distance between us quickly. They're all a raging mixture of pissed the fuck off, panicked, confused. And they're coming for me.

They won't make it, though.

I know that.

Tillman pounds on the barrier of my mind just as pounding on the door starts. I grit my teeth and bear it, shutting him out, locking him away as hard as I can. The action causes the sob I've had buried in my throat to bubble out.

Master Asshole is shouting orders to his men, but I don't hear his words. My eyes are locked on the door. The way it's rattling powerfully, shaking so hard, any minute now the hinges are going to pop off.

The hand he has in my hair tightens as the locking enchantment explodes and the door bursts to nothing. A bright silhouette explodes through the shadows veiling the door, followed by a roar so booming, the entire foundation jolts. Vines and shadows shoot out in every direction, but it's no use. The Mastery members transport out at the speed of light.

Just as the four of them fully enter my sight, I get one small look. One small glimpse of my men. Their faces. The rage, the panic, the fear, the love.

Just one.

Then all there is, is darkness.