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The efficient way we dismantled three prepared mages was a testament to how mates enhanced their abilities.

Father’s eyes met mine, and I saw understanding in his eyes.

Rod and I needed to complete our bond, not for personal happiness, but because together, we could channel a power greater than either of us could access alone.

“Are there more?” Hro asked, sheathing his sword.

I pressed my hand to the wall, following the trail to Grandfather’s position. The ability came easier now, but I still felt like it was working through me instead of me using the earth magic. “No more living guards, but the path is lined with defensive….”

A surge of awareness hit me, not painful, but insistent.

“Cinaed!” Roderick called. “What’s happening?”

I held up a finger to silence everyone while I sorted through the sensation. The area around my grandfather had shifted. Where I once saw the space clearly, it was now hazy. “There’s someone or something with Grandfather. I can’t see it clearly, but it’s there.”

“It takes a powerful mage or spell to confuse earth magic,” Cael said. “It could be Blackstone.”

“Can you show me?” Roderick asked. “I’ll share what I see with the others.”

Rod’s mind slotted easily into my thoughts. Together we retraced my path to Grandfather. The distorted area hadn’t changed, but Rod manipulated the magic to give us a better view.

“Whatever it is, it’s close to Ailpein,” Rod said. “I can’t say for sure it’s Blackstone, but it would make sense. If he’s going to make a last attempt to bring down the Ward, he’d need to be near Ailpein. What I can’t tell is if he’s alone or if there are others with him.”

“I think we should assume he’s not alone,” Bart said. “He doesn’t get involved until his lackeys fail.”

“That sounds accurate,” Rod said. “I suggest we stick to the plan. We didn’t expect there’d be no resistance.”

Everyone nodded, but before we left, Eldwin and Hro collected the downed mages’ stones. They put the three together, and a pink light engulfed them. When the light faded, the three gems were fused into one crude rock.

“We don’t need armed mages following us,” Hro said.

“You’re better beings than me,” Father said. “I’d have killed them for their treason.”

No one commented, so we renewed our mission. As I’d seen, there were more spells blocking our way, but Rod had seen them when we were linked. He and Eldwin defused them before they could hurt us.

“How much farther?” Father asked after we’d moved past the third set of defenses.

I’d kept track of our progress and knew we were close. Checking to get a more precise distance, I felt Grandfather’s fire. He was alive, conscious, and angry. “Maybe a hundred yards,” I said. “Whatever Blackstone was doing to Grandfather, he’s resisting.”

Those hundred yards felt like miles as we once again were met with magical resistance. Finally, we cleared the last line of defense between us and Grandfather.

No one celebrated. We knew Blackstone had a trap waiting for us.

I steeled myself for what we’d find and led us the last few feet.

The passage ahead opened into a small room and I froze.

Every inch of rock was covered in sigils that hurt when I looked at them.

In the center, sitting in a cage, was my grandfather.

Father moved forward, but Bart held out a hand. “Those runes can permanently kill a phoenix.”

Bart’s purple tourmaline flared as he examined the nearest symbols. “Some of these prevent Ailpein from shifting, while others attack his inner fire.”

My inner fire recoiled at the sight of these glyphs. They’d been carved deep into the stone and filled with dark metal that absorbed light. Grandfather couldn’t shift, couldn’t walk on the floor, and couldn’t escape. This was how Blackstone wore down his spirit.

Using my enhanced sight, I saw what had clouded my vision. A column of corrupt energy surrounded the cage. It was dark and foul.

“Sweet Mother Earth,” Father breathed beside me, his voice thick with grief and rage.

As if sensing our presence, Grandfather’s eyes opened. They found mine across the horrific space, and for a moment, the years of resentment and hurt fell away. I was just a grandson looking at his grandfather, seeing the pain Blackstone had inflicted on someone I’d once loved without reservation.

Recognition flashed in those amber depths, followed immediately by something else—fear.

“Run.” His mental voice was weak. “It’s a trap.”

“We know, Father,” Dad said. “We won’t let him kill you.”

“Not me,” Grandfather said wearily. “Save the ward.”

“Hold on, Ailpein,” Hro said. “We’ll free you before he can release your life force.”

The column of energy pulsed, and I felt rather than heard the laughter echoing through the cavern. A dozen wizards stepped through side doors, their dark stones shining in the dim light. Instead of denying us our prize, they fanned out behind Grandfather. Missing from their number was Blackstone.

“Thank you all for coming as we’d hoped,” a man I recognized as Thomas Reid said. He had the regal tone of a British aristocrat. “For a time we feared you’d figured us out. But you came and brought Bartholomew with you. So very kind of you.”

My heart hammered in my chest. They wanted us here, and we obliged. I looked at my grandfather, his eyes pleading with me to go. I replayed his last words and understood. We’d been duped.

“Blackstone never needed Grandfather,” I said. “It was a ruse to get us down here.”