Page 23

Chapter 23

T alon

I’m halfway down the corridor when Creed’s roar echoes through the facility. The concrete walls vibrate with his rage, and I instinctively check my holster. Dragon temper plus enclosed spaces equals bloodshed. Always has.

“Security management to Operations. NOW!”

Operatives materialize from doorways, their faces tight. Nobody runs—running shows fear—but nobody dawdles either. I fall into step with a group heading toward Ops, keeping my composure despite the anticipation crackling through my veins.

Something went spectacularly wrong.

Good.

The Operations room is a pressure cooker when I arrive. Creed paces at the front, scales rippling beneath his skin. His face is smeared with dirt, one sleeve of his uniform burned into the flesh of his arm. Three agents stand against the wall, their clothes singed, faces ashen. The stench of burned flesh and terror fills the room.

“A fucking phoenix.” Creed slams his fist into the table. The reinforced steel buckles. “A PHOENIX!”

My pulse stutters. Phoenix? Impossible. They’re extinct. Hunted to oblivion centuries ago.

“But that’s not possible,” someone echoes my thoughts. “Phoenixes are a myth. Legend.”

“Tell that to the eight men we lost out there today,” Creed snaps. “Good Syndicate fighters gone. Just like that.” He snaps his fingers. “A complete waste. We’ve come back empty-handed. After everything we’ve invested. The witch isn’t supposed to have found her power yet. And now this, on top of it all.”

“Sir, we couldn’t have anticipated—” begins one of the soot-coated operatives.

Creed’s hand closes around the man’s throat. “You think that matters? We had Dorian Craven. We fucking had him.”

I keep my face impassive as my mind races. Dorian Craven was captured? And now he’s not. Because of a phoenix.

Good.

“Show them,” Creed snarls, dropping the choking man.

The wall screen flickers to life with surveillance footage. A shadowed room. Elena Ross—unmistakable with her dark hair and fierce eyes—wielding magic that makes my skin prickle even through the video. Then a change of scene. They’re outside now, in front of a towering building. Syndicate operatives drag a figure between them. Dorian Craven, bloodied but defiant, in restraints.

Then—fire. Not dragon fire. Something purer, brighter.

A woman walks through flames, untouched. Her skin shimmers gold, her eyes burn like twin suns. The footage distorts as she transforms, wings of living flame erupting from her back.

“Holy shit,” someone whispers.

The phoenix—because that’s what she is—unleashes hell. Syndicate operatives scatter, some burning where they stand. She reaches Dorian, touches his restraints, and they disintegrate.

Then static.

“I want that creature found,” Creed hisses. “I want the other Rossewyn witch. And I want the fucking Heartstone.”

His gaze sweeps the room, landing on me. “Reeve. My office. Now.”

As I follow him out, one thought burns in my mind: I need to get Lila out. Tonight. Sooner if possible. With Creed in a mood like this, there’s no telling what he’s capable of.

Creed slams his office door, every muscle in his body coiled. His eyes glint with barely contained dragon fire.

“We’re taking them on,” he growls, scales flickering across his cheeks.

“Taking them on?” I repeat. “Who, sir?”

“Who?” he barks. “ All of them, you fucking idiot!”

I nod my head, knowing better than to question him further. “Of course, sir.”

“I want everyone in the main hall. Every operative we’ve got.” He yanks open a drawer, pulling out a red phone. “While they assemble, I’m contacting Syndicate leadership. This changes everything.”

I keep my expression neutral despite my racing pulse. “All personnel, sir? That leaves security dangerously thin.”

“You think I give a damn about staffing levels right now?” Creed’s nostrils flare, smoke curling from them. “We have automated systems, lockdown protocols. Our assets will stay put.”

“And Lila?” The question is out before I can stop it.

Creed’s eyes narrow slightly. His expression darkens further. “Emerson believes the witch actively sabotaged our operation. She manipulated the Shard, interfered with our control over Serena Maze.” He slams his fist down. “Even with every precaution, every restraint, she’s working against us. She’s more liability than asset now.”

My blood runs cold. “Sir?”

“We’re cutting our losses. Permanently. I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”

The implication hangs between us like a blade. They’re going to kill her.

“With respect—” I say, my mind spinning as I consider the options.

“Respect?” He laughs, a harsh sound. “I don’t have time for fucking respect, Reeve. The Cravens have Elena Ross, the Heartstone, and now a fucking phoenix. Do you understand what that means? They have the upper hand over all of us. They control everything—every dragon clan, every territory. Centuries of planning, destroyed.”

“I’ll coordinate the assembly,” I say, keeping my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through me. “Full tactical loadout?”

“Everything we’ve got,” Creed confirms, already turning to the communication device. “I want every available operative.”

I exit quickly, my mind racing. The facility will be nearly empty. Security systems at minimal capacity. Creed distracted.

This is it. The chance I’ve been waiting for. And right now, it’s the last fucking chance.

I tap my comms unit as I stride down the corridor, connecting to the facility’s main network. “All personnel to the main hall. Priority Alpha. Full tactical prep. Repeat: All personnel.”

The hallways fill with movement, operatives rushing toward the armory and assembly areas. Away from the detention level. Away from Lila.

I change direction. I need to reach out to Aurora. I don’t care about their revised priorities. They need to fit in with this and right fucking now.

The clock is ticking.

I slip into a vacant monitoring station, securing the door behind me. The room’s dim glow bathes my face as I activate my encrypted comms unit. “Aurora actual, priority channel.”

“This better be critical,” Zoe’s voice crackles through after a tense moment.

“Everything’s changed.” I keep my voice low, eyes on the door. “Creed’s gathering every operative for an emergency assembly. They’re planning something big after a phoenix—yes, a fucking phoenix—just decimated their team and rescued Dorian Craven.”

“A phoenix? That’s impossible—”

“I saw the footage. But that’s not why I’m calling.” I cut her off. “They’re planning to terminate Lila. Today.”

Silence stretches between us.

“Viktor wanted me in place longer,” I continue. “But this takes precedence. I’m extracting her now.”

“Understood.” Zoe’s voice shifts to tactical precision. “Timeline?”

“Minutes, not hours. I need a team on standby at the northeast extraction point. Medical support ready. She’s weak but mobile.”

“And the Shard?”

I hesitate. “Secondary objective. Lila’s the priority.”

“Viktor won’t like that.”

“Viktor isn’t watching them prepare to execute a Rossewyn witch.” My grip tightens on the comm. “I’m moving now. Be ready.”

“We’ll be waiting. Aurora out.”

I pocket the device and check the corridor. The facility thrums with distant activity: boots on concrete, weapons being distributed, orders shouted. All moving away from me.

Perfect.

I move against the flow, nodding at the few operatives I pass. Maintaining an air of confidence. My security clearance keeps questions at bay, but time is against me. Each second brings Creed closer to finishing his call, to giving the termination order.

The detention level grows quieter as I descend. Two guards remain at the checkpoint. Skeleton crew, as expected.

“Reeve.” The senior guard straightens. “Thought everyone was heading to assembly.”

“Special orders.” I flash my credentials. “Asset transfer preparation.”

He frowns. “We didn’t get any—”

“Direct from Creed. You want to call and confirm while he’s on comms with leadership?”

The threat works. He steps aside, buzzing me through.

“You’d better get your ass down to the muster point,” I say over my shoulder as I move away from him. “He’s in a mood.”

The guard looks around for a moment, then gives a nod and sets off in the opposite direction.

Thank fuck.

The corridor to Lila’s quarters stretches before me, sterile and cold. I reach her cell and override the security panel with my clearance code. The door slides open, revealing her sitting cross-legged on her cot, eyes closed in meditation. They snap open at my entrance. There’s a bruise forming on her cheek, and her lip is split, but her eyes hold the same defiance they always do.

“Allard! What—?”

“Talon,” I say, suddenly needing the pretense to be over. Needing her to know me . “My name is Talon Raize. But we can do the formal introductions later. We’re leaving. Now.” I cross to her side, scanning for anything she might need.

“Leaving?” She scrambles to her feet. “Now?”

“Creed’s planning to terminate you. Today.”

Lila’s eyes widen, but she moves with surprising speed, reaching my side as if she’s been waiting for this moment. “There’s a phoenix—”

“I saw. We’ll discuss it once we’re clear.” I take her elbow, steadying her. “Can you walk?”

“I’ll manage.” Her voice is stronger than I expected, determination hardening her features. “What about your mission?”

“That’s you. You’re the priority.”

A ghost of a smile touches her lips. “Never thought I’d hear that from anyone in this place.”

We move into the corridor, Lila’s steps uneven but determined. I explain in hushed tones: “Extraction team waiting northeast. Most security diverted to main hall. We have minutes, not—”

Footsteps echo from around the corner. Heavy, multiple sets. I push Lila behind me as four guards appear, weapons drawn.

“Reeve.” The lead guard’s eyes narrow. “Interesting place to be during a facility-wide assembly.”

I straighten, summoning Allard Reeve’s authority. “Asset transfer. Direct orders.”

“Bullshit.” He raises his weapon. “Creed’s been growing increasingly suspicious of you. Said you ask too many questions, show too much interest in the witch.”

My hand hovers near my holster. “Stand down. This doesn’t have to get messy.”

“Hand her over, and maybe you walk out alive.”

“Not happening.”

The first shot misses my shoulder by inches. I draw and fire in one motion, dropping the lead guard as I shove Lila toward cover. The corridor erupts in gunfire.

I take down a second guard before pain explodes in my arm. Blood soaks my sleeve as a slug wings me. The remaining guards advance, confident in their advantage. I feel scales start to ripple in anticipation of a shift, even though right now, being a dragon in these tight corridors wouldn’t be an advantage.

Suddenly, Lila steps from cover, hands extended. The air crackles with energy as one guard slams against the wall with invisible force. But she’s weak—the effort drops her to one knee.

“Stay down!” I shout, firing again but missing as my target ducks and rolls.

Another guard aims at Lila’s exposed form. I lunge, afraid I won’t reach her in time. We’re outnumbered, and she’s weak.

Fuck! If only I’d had more time to prepare.

More footsteps thunder down the corridor. I brace for reinforcements, for failure.

Instead, Hargen Cole rounds the corner, eyes blazing with power. His left arm is strapped, but he’s moving with speed.

He barrels into a guard with his right shoulder, using the element of surprise to take the man down. I seize the opportunity and put a bullet in the remaining guard, who’d spun around at the distraction. He flies backward, skull cracking against concrete with sickening finality. Blood pools beneath him as silence falls over the corridor.

“Cole.” I keep my weapon raised, uncertain where his loyalties truly lie. “Didn’t expect to see you.”

“Obviously.” He steps over a fallen guard, his eyes fixed on Lila. “You weren’t planning to say goodbye?”

Lila’s face softens. “I thought you were in medical.”

“I was.” Hargen’s jaw tightens. “Until security alerts started blaring about an emergency gathering. Figured I’d get here and check on you first. Looks like I made the right move.”

“What happened to you?” I glance at his shoulder.

“Long story. I’ll live.” He grimaces. “At least long enough to help you out of here.”

I scan the corridor, calculating our dwindling timeline. “We need to move. Now. My team’s waiting, and we have maybe five minutes before Creed realizes what’s happening.”

Hargen nods, helping Lila to her feet. Her legs wobble, but determination hardens her features. Blood trickles from her nose, but otherwise, she’s unharmed.

“Northeast maintenance exit,” I explain, leading them forward. “Three levels up, past the auxiliary generator room.”

We move swiftly through empty corridors, the facility’s attention diverted to Creed’s assembly. Lila leans heavily on Hargen but keeps pace. Each intersection requires careful checking. The automated security systems remain active despite reduced personnel.

At the stairwell, I pause to check my weapon and comms. “Extraction team, standby. Package secure, moving to rendezvous. Two minutes.”

Static crackles back. Bad sign.

“Jammer’s activated,” Hargen explains. “Standard protocol during assemblies.”

“Fuck.” I holster my weapon, turning to them both. “We’ll have to move blind. Stay close.”

We ascend quickly, Lila’s breathing growing labored with each step. The maintenance exit lies just ahead. Our gateway to freedom.

I push the door open, checking the corridor beyond. “Clear. Let’s—”

“Wait!” Lila’s voice cuts through the silence, her hand gripping my arm with surprising strength.

I freeze, scanning for threats. “What is it?”

“The Shard.” Her eyes burn with intensity. “We can’t leave without it.”