I stared at the moon from the window of my bedroom and wondered whether Rafe and Aiden were okay. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see were the flames that engulfed them before Markolf and I disappeared. I did not have any reason to believe that anything had happened to them in that fire but, similarly, I had no way of knowing that they made it out safe and sound either. All I could count on was my gut feeling which was telling me that they were alive. Still, I did not know how much I could trust it in this supernatural world where even the impossible was possible.

My mind also wandered off thinking about Lucien and Anna, as well as my parents and Scarlett. I missed them all dearly and I knew that they were probably worried sick about me. Yet, as unbelievable as might have sounded, I was actually okay and things were under control. Sure, I was Markolf's prisoner but I was biding my time to strike and I could feel it in my bones that the right moment was not too far away.

That didn't mean that I wanted to spend much of my time with the cambion though. I spent the whole day exploring the mansion, familiarising myself with every corner of the place so that Markolf couldn't catch me unprepared when I needed to take him out. Of course, he tried to get me to have lunch with him, then dinner but I refused on both occasions. I did not want to see him after what happened the previous night, even if Cyrus' demise was his own doing. Surprisingly, the cambion did not insist or order me to join him, which was unexpected. Maybe he had finally understood that he and I were never going to be a team? One could dream.

The soft knock on the door brought me back to reality. I turned towards it and I saw Michelle's kind face appear. I had grown attached to her even after the little time I had spent with her and it wasn't even because she was Rafe and Natalia's mother, even though that automatically made her someone I cared for. Yet, beyond that, Michelle was just one of these people that you loved the moment you met them- she was so kind and caring, and one could immediately feel it. For a second, I wondered whether she spent time with my parents when they were all younger.

"Something has you smiling, dear," she spoke softly as she walked toward me. "Thinking of someone special?"

My grin grew wider at her words. "Family. I'm thinking of my family."

"Family," she whispered and I could see that the simple word was loaded with so many emotions for her. Despite telling me that her job and this place were her family now, the longing and sadness in her eyes were evident. Even if she did not remember her family, their absence affected her without her even realising.

Michelle grabbed the empty dinner tray from the table and then just stood there, lost in her thoughts.

"Michelle, are you okay?"

In an instant, she returned to her calm, happy self as if a switch got flipped inside her. "Sorry, dear, I got carried away. Did you enjoy your dinner?"

"I did. Please send my compliments to the chef. And you really didn't need to get this- I was happy to drop it off in the kitchen myself."

"Nonsense, dear, you are a guest here. By the way, Mr Mark is in the garden having his digestive, if you would like to join him." Her invitation meant well but I had no intention of getting anywhere close to that man.

"Oh, I would love to, really," I said with so much fakeness that if I were Pinnochio, my nose would be two feet long by now. To add to it, I decided also to try my acting talent as I grabbed my forehead, feigning illness. "But I just got this sudden headache. What a shame."

Michelle smirked as she evidently didn't buy my performance but she was kind enough not to bring it up. "Get some rest then, dear. If you need me, don't hesitate to reach me anytime. Good night, dear."

But before she walked out of the door, a loud thud echoed outside. Then I heard it again, and again. It almost sounded like rumbling thunders during a storm. Yet, this was no storm. The sky outside was perfectly clear, not a cloud in sight. The full moon illuminated the gardens and everything seemed perfectly peaceful, aside from the thuds that were getting louder.

That's when I finally noticed a commotion in the distance. Were those security forces? How had I not seen them until now? Or maybe Markolf intentionally kept them away from the estate?

I couldn't explain why but my heart started beating faster. It was like my body was anxiously anticipating something and yet I was perfectly calm. I looked again out of the window in the direction of the noise. While I stared in the distance, I noticed a shimmer in the air, which was absurd- the air could not shimmer. Yet, there it was, right in front of me until the shimmer slid down the outline of what seemed like a dome covering Markolf's estate. Suddenly, beyond the gardens, I could see a shore and the sea in the distance. I should have known that this place was probably disguised with magic. But why was it all crumbling now? Unless.....could it be?

I turned around and saw Michelle's confused and scared face. She had no idea what was going on but she knew that something was happening.

"Michelle, promise me that you will stay here until I come and get you. Please."

The older woman did not seem keen on the idea.

"You can't go out there, dear. I don't know what's happening but it doesn't sound safe. Stay here with me, Mr Mark will sort it out. He will protect us."

Her words made me wince. Markolf was not the good guy. The good guys were coming for us and one of them was her son. Shit, how was I going to explain it all to Rafe? Yet, I had to worry about that later.

"Don't worry for me, I do this for a living," I gave her a reassuring smile. "Please stay safe here- I will be back soon, I promise."

My arms instinctively wrapped around her as I pulled her in for an embrace. I couldn't describe it but I could feel the connection between us. It was vibrating in the air, humming like an electric current. I hugged her a little tighter before I let her go, grabbed the glamoured Angel blade and rushed out of the room.

I preferred flying but I had to admit that teleporting from one place to another in seconds had its use, especially in emergencies like this one. One minute Rafe, Victor and I stood on the other side of the force field that enveloped Markolf's hideout and the next, the three of us were right in the middle of the perfectly manicured gardens.

"That worked better than I hoped," Victor's voice was full of surprise as the three of us looked around.

I gave Rafe a puzzled look. We both counted on the fact that Victor knew what he was doing. "What do you mean?" Rafe asked cautiously, as we were both careful what we said to Riley's dad after we offended him back at the packhouse.

"Well, I was not sure if we were going to make it in once piece through Markolf's force field if we teleported. But it worked. Lucky us, no?"

"Yeah," I gave him half a smile, "lucky us." I wondered what else he had not mentioned to us before this mission.

The sound of the explosions from the force field whenever my clan attacked the force field reminded me that we had no time to waste. The Fire Dragons, as well as Callum's bears, James' foxes, and the Blackwood and Windcrest wolves under Lucien's command, were creating a diversion for us, and Seraphine and the warlocks that were working on breaking up Caleb's spell. They were clearly doing a good job as I saw many of Markolf's security staff rush towards the place where our forces were trying to breach the barrier.

A few of Markolf's goons went astray though, deciding to check the perimeter, and they were heading straight for us. Blaze and I itched for me to shift and take them out, and I could sense that Rafe and Kai felt the same way.

"Relax, boys," Victor turned to us with a chilled tone. "We are cloaked, remember? Not to mention that neither of you can shift until Caleb's spell has been destroyed."

"Fan-fucking-tastic," Rafe grumbled before he realised what he had done and sheepishly looked at Victor. "I mean, excellent."

The warlock chuckled. "Relax, Rafe- I hardly expect either one of you to be a saint."

I didn't realise how tense Rafe and I were in Victor's company but hearing him say that made us both relax a little. It's not that either of us was scared of him but, mate or not, Riley's parents were her parents. The only ones she had left. They took her in and watched her grow while they protected her. And even if she was now our girl, both of us wanted to make a good impression on Victor and Seraphine.

"You better be wearing protection though- I am still too damn young to be a grandad and my little girl has a lot of great things to achieve yet," he added as he narrowed his eyes at us.

Talk about feeling awkward. Luckily, the guards went in the opposite direction so we could finally get moving.

"Shall we?" I motioned and Victor nodded.

We had to stick close to each other for the cloaking spell to work, but luckily, it still allowed us not to be glued to each other. We already had enough awkwardness as it was.

Right ahead of us stood Markolf's grand mansion. It was impressive and luxurious, and nothing short of what I would have expected from that megalomaniac. He thought that the world was his to rule and the place certainly looked like it was fit for a king. Yet, the reality was that the cambion was nothing but a man with insecurities- his gloriousness was just for show.

I froze in my tracks when I saw Rafe sign for us to stop and be silent.

What is it? I mind linked my best friend.

Can you hear him...Markolf and the warlock.

I listened out but I couldn't hear a thing, so I shook my head.

Listen carefully. Try to filter everything else out; then you will hear them. Right past the noise of the fountain.

I followed Rafe's instructions down to a T but it was not easy. Dragon has super sight and super strength, but the super hearing was a wolf trait, and one that I was not used to, so I did not master it. I tried to focus on my breathing in order to tune out all the noises around me.

When I finally heard nothing but my own beating heart, I pushed further until the cambion's voice and the voice of his warlock sounded clearly in my head.

My lord, the south side is under attack by a group of shifts- bears, dragons, wolves. They are trying to break through.

How the fuck did they find us, Caleb? I thought you made sure that this place was untraceable.

I did, my lord. They must have warlocks working with them, which means that they might try to destroy the force field.

What the hell do I pay you for, you idiot? Send more men there. I want this to be crushed as soon as possible.

Her voice was all I needed for my inner peace to be restored. I had not realised how much I needed to hear it until I did. The sarcasm and the bite that she usually had reserved for me though has turned into a weapon that she yielded at ease against the enemy.

What the hell is going on, Markolf? I heard her demand like she owned the place. She couldn't care less who stood in front of her and I admired her for that.

Nothing to worry about, my dear. Just an....inconvenience.

Losing control of things, are you Markolf? The sweet ridicule in her tone reminded me of her fiery nature.

Why don't you go back in and enjoy a glass of wine or something, darling?

Do I look like a fucking submissive to you?

My mate had balls and the cambion should have known better than piss her off.

Of course not, dear. I just-

That was when the warlock returned, bearing some bad news.

My lord, the force field has been destroyed. They are coming, sir.

Bad news for Markolf but Caleb's words were like music to my ears. I heard the noises from the battle in the distance as our shifters were taking on the cambion's men. The fighting sounded intense but, more importantly, our plan was working as all of Markolf's forces were congregated in the south end where we had breached their perimeter. Now all that was left was to get Riley and end the half-demon once and for all.

"Markolf, Caleb and Riley are in the courtyard on the other side of that wall," I explained to the confused-looking Victor as I pointed to where we needed to go. "Now is the time to make our move."

Our footsteps hurried along a worn-out path in the otherwise immaculate garden. Every cell in my body was buzzing with excitement the closer we got to the courtyard, knowing that she was there. Kai was also pacing impatiently in my mind, ready to be reunited with our mate and to tear to shreds those who dared take her away from us.

We hid behind the archway arc that led from the gardens to the quad where Riley was standing with Markolf and Caleb. She seemed tense, worried, and I just wanted to pull her in my arms and leave her breathless with kisses, away from any threat or danger. Yet, for the moment, I had to settle for gazing at her secretly from behind the vines that covered the archway, while we pondered our next move. We had to act quickly because Blaze and Kai were both on the verge of coming out to punish the demonic creature that separated our triad and tried to kill us.

"It seems like we have company," Markolf's loud, icy voice echoed across the courtyard.

My mate instinctively scanned the perimeter and one could only admire her inner warrior that came to fore in such situations. Perhaps it was her intuition or maybe our bond, but her eyes landed on the archway seconds later. I held my breath as it felt like she was looking right at me.

Rafe? Aiden? She mind linked with hesitation but also with hope.

"Let's cut to the chase," the cambion commanded loudly, annoyance radiating from him. "Come out now."

The exchanged glances between Victor, Aiden and me seemed to be enough to know that we were all in agreement, even without a mind link with the warlock. He gestured with his hand in the air and our disguise was removed.

In unison, we stepped out of the shadow.