Page 63 of Beastkin
“Where exactly are we going?” I asked, following Atlas and Caden toward what looked like a solid stone wall.
Atlas pressed his palm against a seemingly random stone, and the wall shimmered and dissolved, revealing a narrow tunnel. “Somewhere nobody would never think to look for you,” he said over his shoulder as we stepped into the passage.
The tunnel was longer than I expected, sloping gently upward. Our footsteps echoed in the darkness, and I could smell fresh warm air ahead. When we finally emerged, I found myself staring at something that made my jaw drop.
“Holy shit,” I breathed.
We were standing in what had to be the most beautiful mansion I’d ever seen, but it wasn’t like the stuffy, oppressive estates I’d seen in textbooks. This place felt alive, warm, and welcoming despite its obvious grandeur. Moonlight streamed through massive windows, illuminating rich wood and stone that seemed to pulse with their own inner light.
“Welcome to our house,” Caden said with obvious pride. “Elias’s grandmother built it with her triad, and we’ve inherited it. There are more wards here than I could ever count.”
I turned in a slow circle, taking it all in. “This is incredible. How is it hidden?”
“It’s in the middle of the Veil,” Atlas explained. “We’re literally onan island in the middle of the river of death.” He pointed up to the windows where the moon and stars shone. “The windows are an illusion to make things seem more like home. Outside it’s just gray and endless.”
“The Purity Front did manage to break in last year,” Wild added as he stepped into the house behind us. “Well… weletthem in so we could corner them. They did not have a good time.”
I turned to Atlas. “They broke in? Why?”
“To kill us, of course,” he said nonchalantly. “But after Damien Cromwell, they didn’t pose too much of a challenge.”
“And now the mansion answers to us,” Elias added, his hand lacing with Wild’s. “Our magic is part of it. But make sure you stick close to us. The ethereal servants are helpful, but the house changes constantly. Getting lost here would be a bad idea.” He made a nervous glance over at Caden. “I’m not completely sure we’ve removed all the booby traps yet.”
“Booby traps?” I repeated, feeling my pulse quicken. “What kind of booby traps?”
“Oh, you know,” Wild said with an airy wave of his hand, “the usual death-trap stuff. Floors that fall away into bottomless pits, walls that crush you, poison darts. Very Indiana Jones.”
“He’s exaggerating,” Elias said quickly, shooting his mate a warning look. “Mostly.”
I didn’t have time to worry about possible death traps. Every second we spent here was another second Phoenix was in danger. My claws extended again, digging into my palms as I struggled to maintain control.
“Can we please focus?” I growled, my voice rough with barely contained panic. “We need to get to the Emberwood Estate now.”
Atlas placed a heavy hand on my shoulder, his golden eyes meeting mine. “We will. But rushing in unprepared will only make things worse. Give us five minutes to gather what we need.”
I wanted to argue, but the rational part of my brain, the part that wasn’t consumed with terror for Phoenix, knew he was right. Inodded stiffly, my entire body tense as I watched them part ways to gather supplies.
Atlas disappeared for a few minutes, leaving just Lila and I in the entrance hall. I stood silent, gritting my teeth in an attempt to keep myself calm. It was taking every ounce of strength I had not to let my anger control me or let the magic burst out of my body.
“It’s gonna be all right, you know?” Lila said, her small hand coming to rest on my forearm. “We’re going to get him back.”
The gentleness in her voice nearly broke me. Suddenly my chest wasn’t filled with anger but was tight with sorrow. Tears threatened at the corners of my eyes as I turned away from her.
“He must be so scared…”
“He won’t be for long,” she replied. “We’ll get him out of that house and free of his parents forever. And the two of you are going to live a long, happy life together.”
I glanced back at her, my eyes burning. “Do you promise?”
She nodded confidently. “I promise.”
A small grin spread over my lips, but I was still terrified.
“Oh, and Karrick,” she added, catching my gaze. “I know you’re holding back right now, that you’re trying to be strong. You’re doing the same thing all Beastkin are taught to do, to bottle it all up so you don’t hurt anyone. But do me a favor.” She leaned closer, her eyes burning with dark flames. “When we get in that house, you let that beastfree.”
I nodded, feeling the fire already burning in the pit of my stomach. Phoenix had been stolen away from me and regardless of who they were, his parents were going to fucking pay.
Chapter 25