Caden nodded. “Got it sorted as soon as you said you were coming with me.”
When?
“So where do I need it?”
“You mean, what’s the Layer of Protection?” He smirked. “Worried someone’s going to attack you from the outside? Don’t worry, Thompson, my guess is the bigger threats where you are concerned, will come from the inside.”
“Great,” I muttered under my breath.
“See the fog?” he asked, nodding toward the dense mist that seemed to hover around the castle.
I nodded, eyeing it warily.
“It’s poisonous to anyone without clearance. Unlike Cyclos, which built its protections around the entire Collective, we each guard our own. Every fortress has its own method to keep out unwanted visitors.”
As we approached the mist, my heart pounded in my chest. The thick, swirling veil looked almost alive, and I could feel the chilling edge of its threat pressing down on me. But Caden didn’t hesitate, so I forced myself to keep moving, trusting my clearance would keep me safe.
We stepped into the choking cloud, and I braced myself for something—anything—to happen. But the only thing I could discern was a sudden chill as the fog wrapped around me, cool and damp against my skin. I held my breath, half-expecting the air to turn toxic, but nothing happened. The haze parted slightly as we moved through it, and within moments, we emerged on the other side, unscathed.
Caden didn’t even glance back to check on me as we headed toward the bastion’s massive entrance. Not really sure why I expected him to.
The closer we got, the more I could appreciate the sheer size of Caerleon Manor. The towering masonry ramparts rose above us, dark and imposing, yet somehow inviting in their ancient, weathered state. The heavy oak doors creaked open as we approached, and I felt a rush of warmth from within, a stark contrast to the chill outside.
Stepping inside, I noticed how the flagged floors were smooth and worn from centuries of use, and the high ceilings were supported by massive timber beams. Dim torchlight flickered along the surfaces, casting long, dancing shadows andgiving the space a warm, amber glow. Decorative cloths hung on the interior, illustrating scenes of battles and legends, their colors faded but still vibrant enough to tell their stories.
The air inside was saturated with the scent of wood smoke and something spicy, a scent which made me feel remarkably…at ease.
As we walked deeper into the fortress, the halls stretched before us, empty—no voices, no movement, no one in sight. Caden led me down a long corridor, the sounds of our footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The whole thing was a maze of hallways and chambers, and I struggled to keep track of where we were headed.
Finally, we reached a large wooden door, which Caden pushed open to reveal a spacious, glow-lit arcane room.
A huge round table dominated the center, its surface polished to a rich shine, its dark wood gleaming under the soft ethereal light. Surrounded by at least thirty chairs, each chair was crafted from heavy oak, sturdy and imposing, with intricately carved designs along the backs, shimmering faintly, like they remembered old magic.
“This is the command center, where we’ll meet the others,” Caden said, giving a curt nod toward the table. “I have to go find Sean. You’ll wait here until the team arrives.”
I nodded and stepped inside, unsure of what to say.
As Caden turned to leave, I did not—against all odds—crumple into an emotionally shattered pile of tragic nonsense. My legs were trembling, my heart was conducting a full-blown rebellion, and every repressed feeling seemed ready to make a grand theatrical entrance.
No!I would not succumb to them. Not now, not here. I steeled my resolve, determined to maintain a poker face at all times. No one here would see me as anything but strong and fearless.No weakness!
I tried to focus on my new surroundings, the air thick with the scent of blackcurrant and smoke, a comforting smell that reminded me of something warm, though strangely out of place in a room meant for strategy and control.
This place was as far from home as I could possibly be, yet I knew it was exactly where I needed to be right now—far away from James and Stephen, whether for better or for worse.
Sean was the first to enter.
I wasn’t sure how to react. My initial instinct was to go say hi to him—there was no reason not to. But then I remembered the odds were high he had been at Coastal and was at least partly responsible for what happened to me there.
He, however, instantly walked up to me, his expression a mixture of concern and familiarity. “Emma,” he greeted, his voice gentle but laced with a trace of hesitation, “Caden filled me in on everything—about the thousand revelations you’ve had to swallow in the last few hours.”
I shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond.
He continued, “I know this must be overwhelming, and ye probably need some time to process it all. I only wanted to say, as far as I’m concerned, we’re still friends. I…” He hesitated “When we met, somethin’ clicked and I want ye to know, I really do care for ye.”
I searched his face for sincerity, and found it. “Thanks, Sean. I appreciate it.” I wanted to say more, but I had no words to spare.
Sean nodded, his expression softening. “I get it, ye know. Take yer time. If ye need anythin’ or if ye want to talk, I’m here. I know it’s not easy, but we’ll figure it out.”
