Page 28

Chapter 28

Breakfast in Bed

Xavier

Bacon sizzled on the pan. Lily sat at my feet, bumping one of her horns into the side of my leg. She looked up at me with those permanent puppy-dog eyes of hers. I couldn’t resist. I grabbed an already cooked piece of bacon and gave it to her, nearly losing a finger in the process.

“Don’t tell Caleb or Madds,” I said. She scarfed the greasy piece of meat down in one bite. Her tail wagged as she sat back down and reloaded her puppy gaze.

“Nope, I’m not going to keep falling for it.”

As if she understood, she gave him another bump with her horn and stood, sauntering over to the column of morning sunlight that streamed in from the skylight. Bambi had already claimed her piece of the warmth, but our favorite saber-kitty didn’t mind sharing. Lily curled up next to her, the two of them closing their eyes in bliss as they kept me company in the kitchen.

Footsteps sounded from the hall. My little brother entered, holding a book in one hand and his phone in the other. “Making breakfast for everyone?” Warrick asked. He sat down at the small kitchenette table set against the smooth red stone wall.

“There’ll be enough, yeah. Want any eggs, or you good with toast and bacon?”

“Toast and bacon is perf, thanks.”

“What are you reading?” I asked as I turned down the heat before transferring the last slices of bacon onto a large plate.

“Just this new dark romance series I found. Lots of kissing and sleeping together with a dash of stabbing. Not each other. At least not yet.”

I chuckled, bringing over a plate of bacon and fresh toast for my brother. I set it on the table. The potted fern next to him appeared to tilt in his direction, as if it were stretching for a couple of rays of fresh sunlight. “Is it good?”

“Yeah, very. Helps keep my mind off everything.” He took a crunchy bite of the toast. “I’m supposed to be finding out if I got accepted to Wynwood Academy in a couple of days.”

“Oh shit, that soon? I thought there was still more time.”

“Nope. Should be any day now.”

Wynwood Academy was a school made for supernaturals, sitting in the center of Central Park and housing students from all around the world. It was where Marvels went to learn the most advanced spells, fae went to learn how to harness their innate abilities of emotional control, shifters went to learn how to truly master their forms, and vampires went to learn how to be the best of their species. Dragons went too, of course, although they made up the smallest percentage of the student body. There were even some non-supernaturals who—against all odds—made it through the admissions process and got to rub elbows with some of the most powerful beings in the world. Warrick had always wanted to go, but there was never any guarantee. He worked his ass off, making sure he always finished at the top of his classes and building up that resume. He had taken four years off after high school so he could volunteer and intern at various different organizations, all with a focus on helping those who needed help the most. His application had to have been the shiniest out of the bunch.

“Well, I’ve got no doubt you’ll be getting in,” I said, giving him a shoulder squeeze.

He smiled up at me. “I hope so.”

“I get it. That kind of anxiety is rough. I felt it waiting for my test scores, but you’re way smarter than me. I’m sure you’re in.”

“Thanks, X.”

I went back to the countertop, wiping down the pale pine wood and setting the wet towel down on the farmhouse sink. I made up two other plates. “Alright, I’m going to bring this back to Blake. We’re still having that family meeting in a few hours, right?”

“Yup. I think Claire found something.”

“Good, good.”

I left through the arching doorway and walked through the spacious living room, glancing out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the peaceful desert landscape. It had been two weeks since we had left the castle and hunkered down here. Without the tracking app, we weren’t hit with any more surprise attacks. It only proved what we had already figured out.

Cassius’ father was involved with all of this.

I reached the bedroom, entering just as Blake stretched out under the sheets with a big yawn. He sat up, the sheets pulling down to his thighs, smiling through the sleep that still clouded his senses. “I knew I smelled bacon.”

“I know it’s your favorite,” I said, bringing him his plate.

He smiled at me, looking so damn cute with his bed head and bright amber eyes. The curtains were drawn, so my bedroom was washed in morning sunlight. It had a very different vibe than the bedroom back in the castle. This one was all light wood paneling and potted succulents and beige carpets placed on top of each other. An antique mirror stood on clawed legs next to a dresser made from Joshua trees that had toppled over.

I got into bed with him. I enjoyed these quiet morning moments. Normally, I only had a protein shake for breakfast and called it a day, but Blake made me want to go the extra mile.

“How’d you sleep?” Blake asked me.

“Great. I dreamed that we were on a beach somewhere. Dolphins jumping in the water and the two of us naked in the sand. Fucking like rabbits.”

Blake smiled at that. He slept in his briefs, which I noticed looked extra full. “Sounds like a great dream. Maybe we should make it reality one day.”

“I definitely think we should.”

“Have you ever had sex on a beach?” Blake asked.

“Never.”

“So I’d get to take your virginity for something, then. Fun.”

“Very,” I said, leaning in for a nibble on Blake’s ear. “You’re so fucking special. I can’t tell you that enough. ”

“I feel the same about you.”

There was something I wanted to talk to him about. Something I’d been thinking of recently, but I wasn’t quite sure how he’d take it. I felt like now would be the moment to broach the topic. “I think Claire was able to nail down exactly where the lab is. If so, the next few days are going to move fast. We’re going to have to go in like a lightning storm. We can’t give them any more time with that dagger.”

“I know, it’s going to be wild.”

“But speaking about the next few days: Blake, I want you to take a step back from all of this. I want you to stay here, protected by one of my siblings. You’ve been through so much already, and I don’t want to risk anything happening to you.”

Blake’s expression shifted, the warmth from our earlier conversation fading into something more serious. “X, I appreciate that you’re trying to protect me, but I’ve been with you every step of the way so far. I can’t just sit on the sidelines now. I need to be there, with you.”

I felt a knot tightening in my chest. I didn’t want to argue, but the thought of him being in danger again was tearing me apart. “Blake, it’s not just about you being there for me. It’s about keeping you safe. If something were to happen?—”

Blake cut me off, his voice firm. “I’m not just your boyfriend—I’m your partner. That means I stand by your side, no matter how dangerous it gets. You can’t just ask me to step back because you’re scared of what might happen.”

I stared at him, torn between wanting to shield him from harm and respecting his determination. “But this mission… it’s going to be dangerous, more dangerous than anything we’ve faced so far. ”

“And that’s exactly why I need to be there,” Blake insisted. “We’ve been through so much together. We’ve faced death and come out on the other side. I’m not going to back down now, and I don’t want you to try and make me.”

I could see the resolve in his eyes, the same strength that had drawn me to him in the first place. But the fear of losing him gnawed at me, making me second-guess everything. “I just… I don’t know if I can handle it if something happens to you.”

Blake softened, reaching out to take my hand. “Nothing’s going to happen to me. We’ve got each other’s backs, remember? We’re stronger together.”

I sighed, knowing deep down that he was right. “I don’t want to make a mistake that could cost us everything.”

He squeezed my hand, his touch grounding me. “We won’t make a mistake. We’ll go in with a plan, and we’ll come out together.”

Before I could respond, there was a knock on the door. Claire’s voice called from the hallway. “Hey, you two, we need to talk.”

Blake gave me a reassuring look before we got dressed and joined the rest of the family in the living room. The atmosphere was tense, everyone aware of the gravity of what we were about to undertake. The sunlight streamed in through the large windows, casting long shadows across the room.

Claire’s voice was steady. She wore a teal robe, the hood down, the logo of her magic shop stitched onto her chest. “I’ve verified the location of the lab,” she began, her eyes sweeping over each of us. “It’s in a heavily fortified area, deep within the mountains. The entrance is concealed, likely protected by powerful wards and traps. We’ll need to be smart about how we approach this.”

Warrick leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “Do we have any idea what kind of defenses we’re up against? Besides the wards?”

Claire nodded. “From what I’ve gathered, it’s not just magical defenses. They’ve got physical security as well—Shades for sure, and who knows what else. This isn’t going to be easy.”

Dawn crossed her arms, her expression hardening. “We’ve faced worse. What’s the plan to get past all that?”

Claire pulled out a map, laying it on the coffee table. “Good question, babe. We’re going to need to divide and conquer. The lab itself is located at the base of a mountain, but the entrance is through a series of tunnels that wind down from the top. We’ll split into teams. One group will create a diversion at the base, drawing out their forces, while the other team infiltrates from above. We need to move quickly and efficiently. And you guys would need to wear your dragon-scale armor.”

I nodded, feeling a dash of excitement at the thought of putting on the armor. It had been a while. The last time I wore it was for our attack on the rogue vampire queen. It was armor that had been made from scales shed in our dragon forms, giving us the same defensive power in our squishy human skins.

Caleb, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up. “What about the wards? If they’ve got anti-dragon measures in place, we’ll be sitting ducks if we go in unprepared.”

Claire nodded. “That’s where the dragon-scale armor comes in. I’ve been working on enhancing it with additional protection spells. It should help neutralize the effects of the Dragonsbane, at least long enough for us to get inside. But we’ll need to be careful—there’s no guarantee it’ll hold against everything they’ve got.”

Damien, who had been pacing near the window, stopped and turned to face us. “We’ll need to be ready for anything. This is their stronghold. They’re not going to let us waltz in and take what we want,” he said.

“And what about once we’re inside? What’s the plan for retrieving the dagger?” Blake asked.

Claire’s gaze softened as she looked at Blake. “We’ll need to locate the central chamber, where they’re likely keeping the starlight dagger. It’s going to be heavily guarded, so we’ll have to time our attack perfectly. If we can get in, retrieve the dagger, and get out before they know what hit them, we’ll have the upper hand.”

“Easier said than done,” Maddox muttered, but there was a glint of determination in his eyes.

Warrick tapped his finger on the map, tracing the path from the entrance to the lab. “We’ll need to be careful with our timing. If one group is delayed, it could throw the entire plan off.”

“I’ll be leading the infiltration team,” Claire said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Warrick, Dawn, and Xavier, you’ll be with me. Damien and Robby, you’ll lead the diversion at the base. Caleb and Maddox will back you up.”

“What about me?” Blake asked, his voice steady despite the tension in the room.

Claire hesitated, glancing at me. “Blake’s with me,” I said.

Blake nodded, his expression resolute. “I’m ready. ”

“There’s more I found out,” Claire said. “They’ve been running some fucked-up experiments in there.”

“Like what?” Robby asked. He sat next to me on the couch.

“They’ve been trying to fuck with nature. They’ve been trying to create hybrids of different creatures, different people. I couldn’t verify it, but I think they had dragons in there.”

The room collectively gasped. “They’ve caught dragons?” I asked.

“I think so. They’ve been keeping them under control with the Dragonsbane. I don’t know exactly what they’re doing to them, but we need to be careful.”

I looked at a blank space on the rocky wall. “Fuck. Any of them time dragons?”

“No,” Claire said. “If they were, then we likely wouldn’t be sitting here. But if they can capture them, then they can capture you.”

“X… maybe you should stay behind.” It was Maddox who suggested it. Normally, I would have butted heads with him, but the concern was clear in his voice. “We could be delivering you directly to them.”

He had a point. But I couldn’t sit this out. My family needed me, and my powers could be the difference between life and death.

“I understand the concern, but I have to be there.”

“Don’t be selfish.” Maddox started to push the issue, and that’s when my temper flared. “You want your hero moment, but not at the cost of ruining it all.”

“It’s not a hero moment. It’s me wanting to be there to save your ass when you mess shit up.”

“I’m not going to mess any?— ”

“Enough.” Damien’s tone was pointed. He looked between my brother and me. His glare always dumped ice-cold water on whatever argument Maddox and I were having. “It’s Xavier’s choice whether he stays or doesn’t.”

“And I’m not staying.”

“Then it’s decided,” Damien said. “Now, let’s keep figuring out our plan of action. We have to make sure there isn’t any room for error on this.”

As the plan continued to take shape, the room buzzed with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. We discussed the finer details—how to coordinate our attacks, what to do if something went wrong, how to communicate between the teams. Every possible scenario was considered, every potential threat addressed.

But through it all, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing, some crucial piece of information that we hadn’t yet uncovered. And Claire’s discovery about the dragons being experimented on only made me more nervous. I looked over at Cassius, who had remained silent throughout the entire discussion. He sat off to the side, his eyes distant, as if he was lost in his own thoughts. The haunted look on his face hadn’t left him since we found that photo of his dad and the rest of the truth began to unravel.

“Cassius,” I said, drawing his attention. “You’ve been quiet. Do you have any thoughts on this?”

He looked up, his gaze unfocused for a moment before he seemed to snap back to reality. “I… I’m not sure. This plan… it’s good, but… there’s something that’s been bothering me.”

Everyone turned to look at him, the room falling silent as we waited for him to continue .

“What if… what if we’re walking into a trap? My dad… he’s been involved in this somehow, but I don’t know to what extent. He might know we’re coming.”

A heavy silence fell over the room as we absorbed his words. The possibility of a trap had crossed all our minds, but hearing it from Cassius made it all the more real.

“We have to be ready for anything,” Claire said finally, her voice firm. “If it’s a trap, we’ll deal with it. But we can’t afford to back down now. We’re too close.”

I nodded. “She’s right. We go in prepared for the worst, but we go in. We can’t let them keep that dagger.”

Blake reached out and took my hand, his touch grounding me in the moment. “We’ve got this.”

I squeezed his hand, grateful for his presence. “Together,” I said.

The discussion continued, with everyone contributing their ideas and strategies. Despite the risks, there was a shared understanding that this was our best shot—our only shot—at stopping the Time Turners and retrieving the dagger. We couldn’t afford to fail.

As we wrapped up the final details of the plan, I glanced over at Blake, who was deep in conversation with Warrick. Seeing the two of them together, the bond they shared as friends, filled me with a renewed sense of purpose. We were a family, and we would fight for each other until the very end.

With the plan set and the roles assigned, we began to disperse, each of us retreating to our own thoughts as we prepared for what was to come. But as Blake and I made our way out of the living room, I noticed Cassius still sitting there, his expression troubled .

Blake must have noticed, too, because he turned to me and said softly, “I’m going to go talk to him.”

“I’ll be in our room if you need me.”

Blake gave me a reassuring smile and a soft kiss before heading over to Cassius. As I watched them start to talk, I felt a mixture of pride and concern. Blake had become an integral part of our team, and I had to trust that together, we could face whatever was coming next.

As I walked down the hallway back to our room, my thoughts were filled with the plan we had just solidified. The risks were high, but the stakes were even higher. We had to succeed, no matter what. But even as I tried to focus on the mission, my mind kept drifting back to Blake. The fear of losing him, of something going wrong, was always there, lurking in the back of my mind.

Had I made the right choice in bringing him? Should I have fought harder for him to stay?

As I entered our room and closed the door behind me, I took a deep breath, trying to center myself.

For now, I could only hope that our strength, our unity, would be enough to see us through the brewing storm creeping over the horizon.