Page 30

Chapter 30

T alon

I shift in my seat in the Outpost’s war room, struggling to maintain my human form. The dragon inside me wants out—wings unfurled, teeth bared, fire ready. The strategic part of me knows better. We need words first. Then teeth.

Viktor stands at the head of the table. The map projection between us shows Seattle from above, Craven Towers marked in red at its center.

“The diplomatic approach remains our best option,” Viktor says. “We approach through official channels. A meeting on neutral ground, with full security protocols.”

Tabitha nods, silver hair catching the light. “The Cravens respect tradition. Formality. It will give us a chance to negotiate.”

Lila moves restlessly beside me, her shoulder brushing mine as she leans forward. The contact sends heat through my veins, heightening my awareness of her in ways that make the dragon stir.

“With all due respect,” she says, her voice steady but edged with steel, “my daughter isn’t a bargaining chip in your alliance strategy.”

“No one is suggesting that,” Viktor counters. “But moving too quickly, too directly—especially now—puts everyone at risk.”

Hargen clears his throat. “What’s the timeline for this diplomatic approach?”

“A week of preparation. Security sweeps. Background work.” Viktor gestures to the tactical display. “The Syndicate’s still actively hunting for Lila. The Circle has doubled its presence in Seattle since the Tower incident. Word is that Steele is hunting the Shard. Walking into Craven territory without proper protocols is foolish.”

“A week?” Lila’s voice rises. “I’ve been separated from my daughter for most of her life while that bastard Creed kept me locked away. And now you want me to wait longer?”

“I understand your urgency,” Viktor says, though his tone suggests otherwise. “But Elena is safe with the Cravens. Caleb’s protection ensures that. What we’re proposing isn’t just a reunion, but a strategic alliance that protects all parties involved.”

I place my hand over Lila’s, where it rests on the table, feeling the tension radiating through her.

“She’s not asking for permission,” I say quietly. “She’s telling you what’s going to happen.”

Viktor’s expression darkens. “This is bigger than a family gathering, Talon. You know that. We have a rare opportunity to align three powerful factions against common enemies. The Cravens, Aurora, and now the Rossewyn line.” He focuses on Lila. “Your abilities, combined with your daughter’s connection to Caleb Craven, could reshape the balance of power. It could change everything.”

“I don’t give a damn about power balances,” Lila says. “I care about my daughter.”

“Who is perfectly safe,” Tabitha interjects. “Our intelligence confirms the Cravens have doubled security protocols at the Tower. The mate bond between Elena and Caleb ensures his absolute protection. And now there’s a phoenix in the mix. She couldn’t be better defended.”

Lila’s jaw tightens. “And when the Syndicate comes for her? Or the Circle? You think stone walls and a few guards will stop Creed? Stop Malakai?”

“Which is precisely why we need a coordinated approach,” Viktor insists. “Not an emotional reaction that puts everything at risk.”

The tension in the room builds as Lila stares him down, neither willing to yield. I feel the dragon in me responding to her defiance, to the fire burning beneath her skin.

Mine , it whispers. Ours .

“Fine,” Lila says finally. “You have one week to make your preparations. Then I’m going to my daughter, with or without your blessing.”

Viktor studies her, centuries of calculation visible in his gaze.

“I’m glad you’re willing to see reason,” he says.

The meeting continues, tactical details discussed, assignments distributed. I watch Lila throughout, noting the tightness around her eyes, the way her fingers occasionally drift to the outline of the Shard tucked in her jacket. She didn’t return it after her visit to the vault this morning, and I know Viktor’s not happy about it. When he learned of it after we came up from the vault, the top of his head almost blew off. Not that Lila seemed to care one bit.

Now she sits rigid beside me, playing at cooperation while I can practically feel the defiance radiating from her.

As the meeting wraps up, Viktor approaches us. “The Shard remains unauthorized,” he says to Lila, eyeing the subtle bulge in her jacket. “It belongs in the vault.”

“It belongs with me ,” she replies, unflinching. “It’s my birthright. You know that.”

“It’s dangerous,” Viktor presses. “Especially with your connection to it. The power it channels—”

“Is mine to control.” She stands, matching his stare. “I’ve earned the right to carry it on my terms.”

Viktor’s mouth thins, but he doesn’t press further. His gaze shifts to me. “Keep her safe, Talon. And keep her here until we’re ready to move.”

I nod, not quite a promise.

After he leaves, Lila turns to us, voice dropping. “I’m not waiting a fucking week.”

“We know,” Hargen says, exchanging a glance with me. I’m not surprised he picked up on the same cues that I did. I already know enough about this woman to know that she’s not one to sit around when she wants something.

And I love it.

It’s not the only thing I love about her.

“Viktor’s not wrong about the danger,” I tell her. “The Syndicate and Circle forces—”

“I know exactly what the Syndicate is capable of,” she cuts in. “But every moment I’m away from Elena is another moment lost. Another moment I can’t get back.”

The raw pain in her voice strips away any argument I might make. Instead, I squeeze her hand.

“Then we go,” I tell her, not sure how we’ll do it, but knowing that I’ll make it work if that’s what she wants.

Relief softens her features. “Thank you.”

“We’ll need tactical support,” Hargen says, already planning. “Transport. Weapons. A clear extraction plan.”

“I’ll handle it,” I reply. “Two hours. Meet at the service tunnel entrance on level two.”

They nod, and we separate to prepare, gathering supplies, studying maps, memorizing access points. The Outpost hums with activity around us, oblivious to our plans.

Two hours later, we reconvene with packed gear and grim determination. Hargen brings medical supplies, plus the tactical knowledge from years inside the Syndicate. I secure weapons, communication equipment, and Viktor’s security codes I copied months ago as insurance against exactly this kind of situation.

Lila arrives last, the Shard now hanging from a thick chain around her neck, hidden beneath her shirt.

“Ready?” I ask.

She nods, determination hardening her features. “Let’s go.”

The service tunnel is exactly where I remembered—a narrow passage used for maintenance access to the external air filtration systems. The security panel flashes red when I swipe my credentials.

“They’ve revoked your access?” Hargen asks, tension lacing his voice.

“Standard protocol for non-compliance. Looks like Viktor doesn’t trust me,” I mutter, pulling out a small device. “Good thing I came prepared.”

I connect the device to the panel, watching as it cycles through override sequences. The seconds stretch, each one bringing us closer to discovery.

“Hurry,” Lila whispers, glancing down the corridor. “Someone’s coming.”

Footsteps echo, growing louder. I press the device harder against the panel, willing it to work faster.

“There,” I breathe as the light flashes green. The door slides open and we slip through just as voices round the corner, the door closing behind us with maddening slowness. We hold our breath, listening. The footsteps continue past without pausing. Relief washes through me.

“That was close,” Hargen says.

The tunnel stretches ahead, dimly lit and rarely used. We move quickly, following the slight upward incline toward the surface. After twenty minutes of careful navigation, we emerge onto a snow-dusted landing pad where emergency transport helicopters wait.

“Which one?” Lila asks.

I point to the smallest, fastest of the fleet. “That one. Less traceable.”

“You can fly a helicopter?” asks Hargen.

I roll my eyes at him. “I’m a dragon, Hargen. I can fly fucking anything.”

I’m halfway through pre-flight checks when the door to the hangar slides open. Zoe emerges, walking directly toward us with purpose in her stride.

“Shit,” Hargen mutters, reaching for his weapon.

“Wait,” I caution, holding up a hand.

Zoe stops several feet away, her expression unreadable in the dim light. “Really, Talon? Stealing a helicopter? That’s your exit strategy?”

“Not stealing,” I correct. “Borrowing.”

She sighs, then reaches into her jacket. Instead of a weapon, she pulls out a small device.

“Scrambler,” she says, tossing it to me. “It’ll buy you an hour before they can track the chopper’s signature.”

Surprise ripples through me. “Why?”

Her eyes meet mine, years of shared missions and quiet trust reflected there. “Because I was there when we found the intel on what the Syndicate did to her. And because Viktor’s timetable doesn’t account for human emotion.” She glances at Lila. “And I’m a mother too.”

“Thank you,” Lila says, genuine gratitude in her voice.

Zoe nods once. “I was never here. And Talon? Viktor’s going to nail your hide to the wall for this.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” I reply with a grim smile.

She melts back into the shadows as silently as she arrived.

“Let’s move,” I say, finishing the pre-flight sequence. “We’re on borrowed time.”

The helicopter lifts into darkening skies, banking sharply away from the Outpost, heading toward Seattle. Toward Elena. Toward whatever waits for us there.

“Think they’ll follow?” Hargen asks as the Outpost disappears behind us.

“Eventually,” I reply, checking the instruments. “But the scrambler should buy us enough time to reach the city.”

Lila sits beside me in the co-pilot’s seat, her face lit by the instrument panel’s soft glow. Her fingers trace the outline of the Shard beneath her shirt, expression distant, thoughtful.

“What will you say to her?” I ask, voice soft enough that Hargen can’t hear over the engine’s roar. “When you see her?”

She turns to me, vulnerability breaking through the determined facade. “I don’t know. What do you say to a daughter who grew up without you? Who might hate you for abandoning her?”

“You didn’t abandon her,” I remind her. “You saved her. Gave yourself to keep her safe.”

“She doesn’t know that.” The pain in her voice is raw, unfiltered.

I reach across, my hand finding hers. “Then you tell her the truth. All of it. And give her time to understand.”

She nods, fingers tightening around mine. Yet again, her touch sends fire through my veins, the dragon in me rumbling with satisfaction. What is this pull between us? This connection that feels ancient, inevitable? I’ve fought it since I first saw her in that Syndicate facility, but each day, each moment in her presence weakens my resistance.

And now… Now I don’t want to resist anymore.

The mountains give way to farmland, then scattered suburbs as we approach Seattle from the east. Lights glitter below us, the city spreading out like a web of stars against the darkening land.

“Thirty minutes to Craven Towers,” I report, checking our approach.

Hargen leans forward from the rear seat. “Direct approach? Or perimeter landing?”

“Perimeter,” I decide. “Less visible. We can approach on foot, see what we’re dealing with before making contact.”

Lila suddenly gasps, her body going rigid beside me. Her hand flies to her chest, where the Shard rests beneath her shirt.

“Lila?” Alarm spikes through me. “What is it?”

The Shard glows visible through the fabric of her shirt, pulsing with crimson light. Her eyes unfocus, staring at something none of us can see.

“Elena,” she whispers, voice tight with fear. “I can see her. Feel her. Something’s wrong.”

I keep one hand on the controls, the other steadying her shoulder. “What do you see?”

“She’s running. Not in the Towers anymore.” Lila’s breathing quickens, her pulse racing beneath my fingers. “Harbor district. Abandoned warehouses. Metal and rust and water.” A shudder runs through her. “Caleb is with her, and the brother—Dorian. They’re in trouble.”

“Circle forces?” Hargen suggests, already pulling up tactical maps on his device.

Lila nods, swallowing hard. “Malakai Steele. I can feel him. He’s hunting them.”

“How many?” I ask, tactical mind already calculating.

“Too many.” Fear gives way to fierce determination in her eyes as she focuses on me. “We need to hurry, Talon. They’re in danger. Right now.”

I bank the helicopter sharply, changing our trajectory toward the harbor district. The engines protest as I push them beyond recommended limits, urgency overriding caution.

“There’s no way Viktor would have known about this,” Hargen says, his voice grave. “The timing…”

“Doesn’t matter now,” I cut in. “How far to their location?”

“Twelve minutes at this speed,” he answers, consulting the navigation system. “Assuming the coordinates from Lila’s vision are accurate.”

“They are,” she says with absolute certainty. “I can feel her. Through our blood.”

The helicopter races across the night sky, Seattle’s downtown core giving way to industrial zones, then the sprawling harbor district. Below us, abandoned warehouses and stacked shipping containers create a maze of metal and shadow.

“There,” Lila points suddenly. “That cluster of buildings. I can see flashes of light—magic, fire.”

I scan the area, dragon senses extending beyond human capability. Movement catches my eye, figures darting between structures, the distinctive glow of partial shifts illuminating the darkness.

“I count at least fifteen hostiles,” Hargen reports, scanning through thermal imaging. “Surrounding three heat signatures in that central warehouse.”

“Elena,” Lila confirms, the Shard now pulsing visibly through her shirt. “And Caleb and Dorian. They’re trapped.”

I begin descent procedures, aiming for a flat rooftop two structures away from the conflict. “We go in quiet. Fast. Get to them before—”

The missile hits without warning.

The helicopter lurches violently, alarms screaming as the tail section erupts in flames. We spin, the world outside becoming a dizzying blur of light and darkness. I fight the controls, muscles straining against forces intent on tearing us from the sky.

“Brace!” I shout over the shriek of tearing metal.

Impact comes with a bone-shattering jolt. The world goes black, then snaps back into focus with jarring clarity. Smoke fills the cabin. Blood runs hot down my temple. Pain flares across my ribs where the harness dug in during impact.

“Lila!” I cough her name through the thickening smoke.

“Here.” Her voice comes from my right, strained but alive. “Hargen?”

A groan from the back confirms he’s conscious, at least.

“Exit. Now.” I slap the emergency release for the door, which falls away with a metallic screech.

We stumble from the wreckage onto rough concrete, the night air cool against smoke-heated skin. The helicopter burns behind us, casting everything in wavering orange light. We’ve crashed onto a warehouse roof, the impact punching partway through aging concrete.

“Anti-aircraft weapons,” Hargen says, coughing blood onto his sleeve. “Military grade. They knew we were coming.”

I scan our surroundings, senses extending beyond human range. “Circle operatives. Moving toward us. Six, maybe seven.”

“And more surrounding Elena,” Lila adds, the Shard now glowing visibly beneath her shirt. “She knows I’m here. I can feel her reaching for me.”

“Move,” I order, helping Hargen to his feet. “That fire’s a beacon. We need to get clear before—”

The first attack comes from behind—a blur of motion and gleaming scales. I spin, catching the full weight of a partially shifted dragon against my chest. We tumble across the rooftop, his teeth snapping for my throat. Training takes over. I drive my knee into his gut, then slam my elbow into his temple. He falls away, momentarily stunned.

More shapes emerge from the darkness—Circle operatives moving with lethal purpose. Hargen fires twice, dropping one attacker, then ducks behind a ventilation unit as return fire pockmarks the concrete around him.

Lila stands exposed in the center of the roof, pulling the Shard from beneath her shirt. It blazes between her palms, casting everything in blood-red light. Her eyes glow with inner fire as she extends her hand toward our attackers. Two operatives stumble mid-stride, their partial shifts reversing involuntarily, scales receding beneath skin.

“The witch!” one shouts, voice cracking with fear. “Take her down!”

I move without conscious thought, body shifting as I launch myself toward Lila. Scales erupt along my arms, my back, strength surging as the dragon emerges partially. I reach her just as gunfire erupts, spinning us both behind cover.

“We’re surrounded,” Hargen calls from his position. “No clear exit.”

I assess our options with cold clarity. The burning helicopter blocks one side of the roof. Circle operatives converge from two others. The fourth side overlooks a narrow alley, a forty-foot drop to unforgiving concrete.

“There,” Lila points across the gap to the next warehouse. “Elena. They’re in that building. I can feel her.”

So close. Too close to fail now.

A decision forms with brutal simplicity. I know what I have to do.

I grab Lila’s shoulders, turning her to face me fully. “Listen to me. You and Hargen need to make that jump. Get to the next roof. I’ll hold them here.”

“What? No—”

“There’s no time to argue.” I grip her tighter, willing her to understand. “Your daughter needs you. Right now.”

She shakes her head, stubborn even with death closing in. “We go together, Talon. Both of us.”

“Look at me,” I demand, letting her see the truth in my eyes. “This is the only way. I can shift fully—hold them off long enough for you to reach her.”

Understanding dawns in her expression, quickly followed by refusal. “I won’t leave you to die.”

“I’m not asking permission.” I look past her to Hargen, who nods once, already grasping what needs to happen. “Get her to Elena. No matter what.”

More gunfire peppers our position. I feel the dragon pushing to emerge fully, wings straining against human flesh, fire building in my chest.

“Talon—” Lila begins, her free hand rising to my face.

“I should have told you,” I interrupt, words rushing out before courage fails me. “What you are to me. What this is between us.”

Something shifts in her eyes—recognition, fear, longing. “Tell me when I see you again,” she whispers fiercely.

I want to believe it. Want to promise her I’ll survive this. But I won’t lie to her, not now.

The decision to claim her as mate drifts away like smoke. Not my choice to make anymore. Maybe it never was.

“Go,” I say instead, pressing my lips briefly to hers. One kiss. Not enough. Never enough.

Before she can object further, I push her toward Hargen, who catches her arm and pulls her toward the roof’s edge.

“Hargen, don’t you dare—” she starts, but he’s already moving them both, the Shard’s light trailing behind them like a comet.

“On three,” I hear him say. “One… two…”

They leap across the gap to the adjacent warehouse, landing hard but safely on the other side. Lila turns back toward me, her expression ravaged by conflict.

I force myself to look away from her. To focus on what comes next.

Circle operatives swarm onto the roof, weapons raised, partially shifted forms gleaming in the helicopter’s dying firelight. I straighten to my full height, feeling the last restraints on my dragon form fall away.

“Come on, then,” I growl, scales erupting fully across my skin, wings pushing through flesh and clothing in a cascade of golden light.

The transformation completes with a roar that shakes the very air around us. Fire builds in my chest, ancient and terrible. My thoughts simplify, clarify.

Protect mate. Hold the line. Buy time.

Through dragon eyes, I watch Lila and Hargen disappear across the adjacent rooftop, moving toward the warehouse where Elena waits. Safe, for now. That’s all that matters.

I turn back to face the Circle operatives, who hesitate at the sight of a fully transformed dragon rising before them. Wingspan stretching wide, fangs bared, claws digging into concrete.

In my mind, Becca’s face fades, replaced by Lila’s. This time, I didn’t fail. This time, I saved what matters most.

It’s enough.

“For Lila,” I rumble, the words distorted through dragon vocal cords. “For her.”

And I charge into impossible odds, wings unfurled, fire blooming in my throat, knowing I’ll never see her again but fighting, anyway.

For Lila. For freedom. For redemption.

Fire erupts from my jaws, and the world disappears in golden flame.