Page 30

CHAPTER 30

brIAR

“Y ou can say that again,” Saint mutters as all of us stare in horror at the hidden city.

It’s not just occupied by Knights. It’s a freaking Knights of Aeneas fortress.

The entire city is surrounded by thick stone seawalls topped with ramparts and guard towers. Knights are stationed all across the walls. I can see a few of them running back and forth from here. On top of the towering stone structures are massive machine guns and other artillery.

Docked in front of the walls are modern-day battleships kitted out with giant naval guns that can shred anyone even trying to approach. Some of the Knights are loading cargo onto one of the ships docked closest to port.

“Can they see us?” I ask frantically, so not wanting to get shot. It hurts like hell with a regular gun, so I can’t imagine how much damage any of the massive artillery pieces would do to us.

Jad huffs a small laugh. “No. The veil moves with us and keeps us obscured from the Knights.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief. Then I see shimmering brown magic encasing the city and its ships. “Please tell me that isn’t a defensive dome, Saint.”

He winces. “I wish I could, little shadow, but that’s definitely a defensive spell that will alert them if we get too close.”

I groan.

Lovely.

So not only is Dido’s burial place guarded by the very best modern weaponry humans have to offer, but it’s also protected by good ol’ fashioned magic, something the Knights really shouldn’t have.

Xander shoves an agitated hand through his hair. “How the fuck are we supposed to get inside the walls?”

A hysterical giggle bubbles up because I would like to know the same thing. When Xander looks at me in concern, I wave him off. I’m not going to fall apart, just internally scream at how impossible this whole thing feels.

“I think our only option is to try to launch a surprise attack. I doubt laying siege would work with the mage ability to portal in and out,” Malachi comments after a long pause.

My eyes widen at his suggestion. “How exactly would we do a surprise attack? They have visibility in every direction, not to mention more artillery than anyone really needs.”

Bastian nods in agreement. “The howitzers are excessive but hella cool. They’ll definitely be able to mow down our forces before we even get close.”

I blink at him because I really don’t know what a howitzer is, but whatever floats his boat.

“My thought was that we would portal in,” Malachi explains. “We can have the mages kill the defensive spell, then portal in behind the walls.”

“You cannot portal through the veil,” Jad interjects. “I will have to guide your forces through the veil, after which they will be able to portal within the confines of the boundary.”

I tilt my head in confusion. “How did the Knights get through if you have to guide people?”

Jad shrugs. “Supernaturals can get through the veil without my family’s assistance, but it is excruciating. The pain is so debilitating, most that try end up drowning before they can reach the city. It is a wonder how they managed to get all of these people here.”

Well, that’s one way to keep people out. Gruesome but effective.

“The only problem with portaling after Jad brings us all in is that none of them know what it looks like,” I point out. Mages can only transport themselves to somewhere they’ve seen before or have a picture of.

Malachi lifts one shoulder nonchalantly. “Then we need to get close enough to take a photo.”

I roll my eyes at him acting like it’s so easy to get a picture. He seems to have forgotten the defensive spell and all the Knights swarming the city. “We can’t get past the defensive spell without alerting all of those heavily armed Knights that someone is here.”

No one says anything for a long moment as we try to figure out what to do. Jad interrupts our contemplative silence to reluctantly add, “The veil can allow people it forms a connection with to pass through earthly magic like the mage spell.”

“Who does it have a connection with?” I ask warily, pretty sure I already know the answer but hoping I’m wrong.

Jad stares me down for a moment before tipping his chin at me. “You and I are the only ones it has a connection with. I have to assume it recognizes you as the heir to the city it has guarded for so many years.”

I close my eyes in resignation because that’s what I figured. By the way both Jad and I enjoyed going through the veil while the guys were uncomfortable, I already knew the veil acted weirdly toward me.

Yay me.

I’m going to have to go alone into the city and snap photographs without any of the Knights realizing I’m there. I’m sure nothing could possibly go wrong with that plan.

While Jad also has a connection to the veil, I don’t think he’ll be able to make it very far. He no longer has the fitness of youth, and I’d worry about him getting hurt if he did.

It takes a moment for what Jad said to sink in for my mates. Then the boat erupts with whisper-shouted protests from all four of them. When their voices start rising to yells, I hiss, “Quiet!” My luna power and magic infuses my voice, silencing each of my mates. “I know none of you are happy with this plan, but I don’t see any other way.”

Malachi opens his mouth to say something, but no sound comes out. I sheepishly say, “You guys can talk now.”

“No fucking way are you venturing into a city that’s overrun with people who would love nothing more than to torture and kill you all by your fucking self,” Malachi growls.

“Give me an alternative, Malachi.” My voice is almost pleading. “Please, I would love something that doesn’t involve me walking into a Knights stronghold.”

He clenches his jaw but doesn’t offer another solution because we both know there isn’t one. If we try to attack the Knights from the water, we’ll all be mowed down before we can get close enough to climb the walls. The only shot we have is to portal in behind their defenses.

Bastian shakes his head back and forth, his green eyes filled with fear and a hint of pleading. “I’m sure we’ll think of something else. We just need time, pretty girl.”

I give him a sad smile. “We don’t have time. It’s already been weeks since you guys rescued me. In that time, Ryker could’ve already figured out how to extend the curse to all wolves and shifters. If we lose our wolves, we’ll be no match against the Knights. I also don’t think there is another solution.”

Xander clenches his jaw and balls his hands into fists. “It’s not worth it, sweetheart. It’s too damn dangerous, and your life is more important than losing our wolves.”

I reach over and grab one of Xander’s hands, gently uncurling it and lacing my fingers with his. “I’m not suggesting handing myself over to them. While sneaking in there is dangerous, it’s not a death sentence. And give me a little credit. Sneaking around is something I got very, very good at living with Patrick.”

If I have anything to thank that horrible excuse of a man for, it would be all the practice I’ve had creeping around to avoid the beatings.

“Is there any of your other realm magic you could use?” Saint asks Jad as a last-ditch effort, but I can see reluctant acceptance in his expression.

Jad stares at Saint for a beat before reluctantly shaking his head. “None of my magic will help me swim the distance, climb the walls, and walk without my cane through the city. If I were a century younger, I would do it for my queen without hesitation. Now, however, I fear that I will get caught, announcing our intentions.”

“There’s no way we can go with her?” Malachi presses.

“No,” Jad replies apologetically. “As soon as you pass through the mage magic, the Knights will be alerted to your presence. It will be safer for Briar and Dido to go themselves. Trust my queen to take care of her daughter, wolf.”

Jad’s vote of confidence makes me feel a little more like I can successfully do this. And even though I won’t have my mates with me, I won’t be truly alone. Dido will be there to help me in any way she can.

Scrubbing a hand over his face, Malachi sits rigid with his eyes pinched tightly shut. When they open, they’re the amber color of his wolf. He shoves to his feet and marches the few steps to where I am on Saint’s lap. Placing his hands around my waist, he effortlessly hoists me up into his arms.

Crushing me against his chest almost desperately, Malachi rasps, “I swear to God, Briar, if even a single hair on your head is harmed, I will tie you to our bed and never let you go anywhere again. Do you understand me?”

I let out a watery laugh at his overprotectiveness and press a kiss to his neck. “I understand, Malachi. I’ll be in and out before you even have a chance to miss me.”

I know how hard this is for him to let me go on my own. While I’m trying to work with my mates more, some things about this prophecy demand that I do stuff on my own. All while my mates have to sit back and hope nothing horrible has happened to me.

It makes my heart skip a beat knowing that Malachi trusts me and believes in my abilities enough that he’s willing to let me go. I’d go with or without his permission if I had to, but I much prefer to be in agreement with him.

He huffs a laugh. “Impossible. I miss you the second you aren’t in my arms, baby girl.”

Butterflies swirl in my stomach at his sweet words. I flash him a small smile before Bastian and Xander smush me in a hug at the same time. I wrap one arm around Bastian’s neck and turn to the side to put an arm around Xander as well. “I’ll be fine, guys. Promise.”

“You better be, sweetheart,” Xander mumbles into my hair. “You don’t want to see how overprotective and controlling I can be when the circumstances are right. Trust me.”

My lips tilt up in a small smile. I shake my head in amused exasperation with my mates.

“I don’t have any threats. Just please come back to me.” Bastian’s emerald eyes are swirling with a potent mix of fear and helplessness. I wish I could make it all better somehow. But the only way they’ll feel better is for me just to get this over with and come back safe.

“I will, Bastian,” I vow.

The twins hold me for a moment longer before reluctantly letting me go. Saint steps up behind me and wraps his arms around my front. He hugs me to him and rests his chin on top of my head. “I know you can do this, little shadow. Stay alert, don’t take any unnecessary risks, and get out of there as soon as there’s any trouble, okay?”

I soak up his comfort and confidence in me for as long as I can. “I can do that,” I whisper before pulling away from him. “So how do I do this?”

“You need to swim to the defensive wall, climb up it, and then take the photographs your mages require. I will exit the veil with your mates to let it focus its powers on hiding you. Once you get what you need, you will have to swim back to us. I would be hesitant to use mage magic while you are there to portal back because it may alert their defenses.”

I manage to hold in my groan at the prospect of having to swim two miles there and back. While I’m physically capable of swimming four miles through rough ocean waves, it’s not my ideal way to spend an evening.

Hanging my head, I walk to the edge and peer into the inky depths of the water. Then I realize a problem. “How am I going to keep my phone dry without using any magic?”

While my phone should have some water resistance, I doubt it will survive the trip there and back in the salt water.

Without saying anything, Jad reaches into a compartment on his leather belt cinching his tunic in. He pulls out a deep blue roll top pouch. Opening it, he pulls out his phone and holds the bag out for me. “This is a dry bag. It will protect your phone. I would wear it around your neck so it does not escape your pocket.”

I don’t know why I’m surprised to see the old man with a modern piece of technology, but I am. Shuffling the few steps over, I take the offered pouch. “Thanks.”

Digging my phone out of my pocket, I drop it in the bag and roll the top tightly closed. After fastening the multiple buckles that hold it in place, I slide the black cord dangling from the top around my neck.

Walking back to the edge of the boat, I take a deep breath and jump in, hoping I’m not making a colossal mistake.