Even the wind held its breath.
We’d killed the lights an hour ago, grounded the jets, sealed the gates—waiting for an attack we were supposed to start.
But something was off. The night didn’t just feel heavy; it seemed as if it was watching us.
A low whine came from the north gate. The shepherds stationed there were restless, hackles up, eyes fixed on the tree line. A pair of crows circled above the hangar, cawing sharp warnings into the storm.
The animals always felt it first.
Nathan stood beside me, flame flickering around his hand like it couldn’t decide whether to burn or not. He murmured to the kestrel perched on his shoulder—a creature that shouldn’t have been this calm in thunder like this. It had attached itself to Nathan during our practice with John and hadn’t left his side since. Nathan had even named the bird Dale in honor of Reverie's love ofStep Brothers.
Zane and Zeke watched the fence line, both motionless except for the twitch of their fingers. The wolves they’dbefriended days ago were pacing at the edge of the woods, uneasy. Oren had been gone twenty minutes, cloaked and invisible, scouting the ridge.
“No movement yet,” I murmured. “Either they’re smarter than we thought or?—”
“—or we’ve already been found.” Oren’s voice cut through like a blade.
“There’s a relay tower up here,” he said. “Not ours. Council encryption. They’re broadcasting our coordinates through dimensional frequency.”
My stomach dropped. “You’re sure?”
A flash of lightning cracked the sky. For half a second, I saw him hovering over the ridge, lightning crawling over his arms like veins of light.
“They sold us out,” Oren said, voice low and shaking with fury. “The Dark Faction know precisely where we are.”
The shepherds at the gate started to howl.
And then the ground split open. A portal coming from underground was rare and something we hadn’t prepared for.
The first pulse hit hard enough to throw me to my knees. The air twisted, heat and cold clashing as a massive circle of violet energy ripped open across the runway.
Asecondfucking portal!
Mira’s voice slammed through my head like a thunderclap.“The ground opens beneath you! Brace yourselves!”
The wolves lunged forward with Zane and Zeke, their growls matching the rising roar of the breach. Ravens dove into the swirling black, vanishing into the light.
I shot into the air without thinking—what thefuck?! I’d been able to move objects, but I had never even considered lifting my entire body. Adrenaline hit, and I flew even higher. Like gravity had given up on me entirely.
Cryptfiends poured out of the rift, shrieking through broken jaws. Oren streaked across the sky beside me, fire and lightning trailing behind him in a storm of gold. Nathan teleported into the heart of the horde, flames erupting in all directions.
“Hold the line!” I shouted. “Protect Mira and block their escape!”
The moment I got close to the portal, everything faltered—the Cryptfiends’ power, the shadows they threw, even Mira’s psychic energy wavered. I didn’t understand it at first; I just knew their magic died near me.
Oren’s voice rang out. “Jet—you’re nulling them! They can’t use their abilities near you!”
I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. The realization hit too fast.
They couldn’t use power near me.
Not them.
Not even Mira.
Suddenly, I heard aroartear through the rain. I looked down and saw Zane stagger, hands clawed, eyes molten gold. Zeke grabbed him, but his own control shattered—and in a blinding flash, the brothers exploded outward, bodies giving way to something ancient and wild.
Twin Draxons unfurled in the storm—wings splitting the clouds, scales gleaming with fire and frost.
