I hope you are loving the new addition to this series! I know it was a long time coming but hopefully, it's worth the wait. I do plan to have the rest of this out before the end of the year. Mostly just editing at this point. Don't forget to review, comment, and share the link!
The wreckage of the cabin continued to burn as the dragoons stood in grim silence, the weight of what had just happened slowly sinking in.The only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the labored breathing of Faolan, who lay in Reilynn’s lap in the back of the SUV, her eyes half-closed in exhaustion and pain.Parker crouched beside the vehicle, his expression hard as he gently stroked Faolan’s head."She’s hurt bad, but she’s tough. She’ll pull through," he said, his voice steady but tinged with anger that simmered beneath the surface, barely restrained.Reilynn looked up at Parker, her eyes full of concern. “We need to move fast. Whoever took Conor and Kerrigan didn’t leave much behind. We have to track them down before it’s too late.”Parker nodded, making a quick decision. “Reilynn, get Faolan stabilized any way you can. Use one the pills if necessary. She’s our best chance at tracking them once she’s strong enough. Get the Colonel on the phone ASAP—if you need to, drive farth
The dragoons made their way back to the smoldering remains of the cabin, their prisoner stumbling along under Gabriella’s firm grip.The night air was sharp with the scent of pine and ash, and the silence was broken only by the occasional crackle of the dying fire and the subdued rustling of the forest. The weight of what they’d just learned hung heavily in the air.Reilynn had managed to stabilize Faolan, who now lay resting in the back of the SUV, her breathing steadier but still labored. The herbal pill had begun to work its magic, but it would take a few more hours for the full effects to kick in. Time they didn’t have.Parker’s mind raced as he reviewed the information they’d extracted from the captured man. An old mine, rigged with explosives and guarded by armed men. It was exactly the kind of place someone would use to hide two high-value captives.The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that this wasn’t just a random location. There was something deeper at
The night was black as ink, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon that began to rise over the distant peaks. The dragoons crouched near their SUV, the cold mountain air biting at their skin. Their ears perked up as a sudden roar broke the silence—distant at first, then growing louder. The unmistakable sound of helicopters, flying low and fast, filled the air.Parker, Evelynn, Gabriella, and Reilynn looked up as the dark shapes of the helicopters emerged from the shadows of the mountains, the whir of their rotors cutting through the stillness.The two aircraft hovered directly over the cabin before drifting slightly to the road, and one by one, ropes dropped down from the open doors.The dragoons watched as fifty heavily armed special forces soldiers rappelled swiftly to the ground, moving with the precision of a well-oiled machine. Among them, a familiar figure landed last, his presence commanding respect: Colonel Eli.The helicopters lifted off, banking away to land in
The cold air of the mine grew heavier as the dragoons and special forces moved deeper into the abyss. Parker kept his breathing steady, his eyes scanning every shadow, every crevice. Colonel Eli moved beside him, his expression steely and composed, his mind already a few steps ahead, planning the best routes.Behind them, Reilynn, Evelynn, and Gabriella moved in sync, their movements fluid and silent. The rest of the squad, now divided into teams of eight, fanned out along the tunnel walls, ready for the Colonel’s next command.“We’re going to split up from here,” Colonel Eli announced, his voice low but firm. “We’ll take the central tunnel. The rest of you—split into six teams. I want each team to sweep and clear the side tunnels. Stay sharp and stay quiet. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary. We don’t want to set off any alarms.”“Yes, sir!” The men responded in unison, their training taking over as they adjusted their formation.Colonel Eli continued, motioning to the two nea
Kerrigan awoke with a sharp, burning pain in her lungs, each breath like inhaling fire. She blinked against the oppressive heat, her vision blurry and unfocused as she struggled to take in her surroundings. Sweat trickled down her face, stinging her eyes as she squinted through the haze of steam and smoke that hung thick in the air.She was in a cave, far underground, the walls illuminated by the searing orange glow of molten lava that flowed just a few feet away.The heat was unbearable, the kind that scorched the skin and made the air shimmer. She could feel the sweat soaking through her flannel pajamas, clinging to her skin as her body tried desperately to cool itself in the sweltering inferno.Her hands were bound tightly behind her back, her wrists raw from the rough rope that bit into her flesh. Her legs were tied together, making any movement almost impossible, and a heavy metal collar around her neck chained her to the wall, its iron biting into her skin with every shift.She s
Kerrigan’s head throbbed, and she struggled to keep her focus on Kelan as he wiped sweat from his face with the back of his hand, smearing some of the dark liquid across his cheek. He looked at Prima Zadok, irritation clear in his eyes.“Do I really have to stick around in this sweltering pit?” he grumbled, loosening his collar as if the heat was suffocating him. “I’ve got better things to do than sweat it out in here.”Zadok’s cold, piercing eyes shifted from the Soul Stone to Kelan, his expression impassive. “Take two liters of her blood. After that, do whatever you want with her.”He returned his attention to the altar, his focus never wavering from the twisted ritual he was preparing. “Just don’t kill her until I have what I need.”Kerrigan’s heart pounded in her chest, dread clawing at her insides. She pulled at her restraints, trying desperately to inch away, but Kelan moved with a cruel efficiency, setting up an IV stand he had retrieved from a corner of the cave.Kerrigan stru
The dragoons moved swiftly through the dimly lit tunnels, their footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. Faolan led the way, her keen senses guiding them as she sniffed out any trace of danger. The faint scent of blood and sweat clung to the air, mingling with the stench of mold and damp earth—a reminder of the grim reality of the mine. Shadows danced along the walls, flickering with the dim light of their torches as they navigated the maze of passages, each one more foreboding than the last.Parker’s grip tightened around his rifle, his senses on high alert. The team had cleared several tunnels, silently taking out guards with swift, lethal efficiency, but they had yet to find Conor or Kerrigan. Each step deeper into the mine heightened the tension; the deeper they went, the more the walls seemed to close in, the oppressive heat and stifling air bearing down on them.As they rounded a corner, Faolan stopped abruptly, her ears perking up as she let out a soft whine. She sniffed the
The team moved with purpose, a unified force sweeping through the dark, winding tunnels of the mine. Conor and Kerrigan remained at the center, their hands clasped together, a tangible connection of blue and green lightning mixed with gold, coursing between them.Every step they took sent a pulse of energy rippling outwards, the raw power of Celia and Abraxas reshaping the very air around them. Conor could sense that this was only a taste of the power of the dragons, but it was building with each moment he and Kerrigan were united.Parker took the lead, his rifle up and ready as he scanned the corridors ahead. Faolan trotted beside him, her nose twitching as she picked up traces of unfamiliar scents—blood, sweat, and something darker, something tainted with an ancient malice. The dragoons moved with precision, their eyes sharp and every muscle coiled like a spring ready to snap.The alarms continued to blare, echoing through the stone passages. The shrill, grating sound served as a co