*Daphne*
‘We need a plan, Eva.’
She subtly shook her head. Now that I’d heard her voice, I didn’t want to stop. It ant my freedom and I needed to act. I didn’t want to feel cut off and isolated again.
‘If the twins broke the spell on you, do you think they can break the spell on others?’ Eva’s question snapped out of it and reminded of the predicant we were in.
We were still in a house of enemies, whether they were real enemies or spelled.
‘I think they could.’
‘Good. I’m going to give Varge a reason to take us through the mansion. I want you to get the girls to touch as many people as possible and see if the spell breaks. It could just be the advantage we need.’
‘Okay.’ Instinctively, I tightened my hands around my daughters’ hands.
“Varge, I’ve been working with the twins for a while. Their magic is strong but still unpredictable because of their age.”
“I like unpredictable, especially when it is backed by power.” Varge’s eyes lit up and he looked at my daughters like they were sothing delicious to eat.
It took all my willpower not to pull them behind and protect them from his gaze. I had to maintain the ruse.
“All I an is, you might get a better idea of what they are capable of if we go outside. They can really unleash their power in the open.”
“Hmm.” Varge eyed Eva and stroked his chin. “You make an interesting point. But inside, I could see more destruction.”
“Right, if you think that seeing them crush so plastic toys is a good gauge of their power. Wouldn’t you rather see them knock over a tree?”
Oh, Eva was good. She knew exactly how to talk to Varge.
His eyes sparked again, and he chuckled. He put a hand on Eva’s shoulder.
I noticed her slight shudder, even if Varge didn’t.
“Very clever thinking, Eva. I like the way your mind works. Alright, Daphne, bring your girls with .”
Varge walked out of the daycare center, and I followed, tugging the twins along with . They didn’t protest but I could feel their little trembling bodies. They were still scared.
My heart broke for them. I wanted to kiss their fears away and hold them close, to be their mother, not so pawn. Even though I was faking it now, I couldn’t break the act.
The mansion was filled with Oliver’s n and Thorn Forest warriors. They wandered aimlessly.
That made casually getting my twins close to them easier. Varge didn’t bother looking behind him because he thought we were all srized. He didn’t think there was a need to keep an eye on us.
That was his mistake.
I bumped the twins from side to side, getting them to touch everyone we passed.
The mont Alya and Selena touched anyone, I saw clarity return to their eyes. As quickly as I could, I shook my head, and they got the ssage. No one spoke or let on that things had changed. They just kept pretending to be spelled.
We walked through the living room, where Alpha Oliver andered about. I moved around enough to get Ayla close to Oliver, but it wasn’t close enough.
Just as we walked by, Ayla reached out and grabbed Oliver’s hand.
I let out a soft sigh. My daughters were smart. They realized what I was trying to do.
Oliver’s eyes sparked and he creased his brow.
I shook my head, and he closed his lips tightly. I knew the mind-link wouldn’t help us here, but there were other ways to communicate.
I nodded to his n and Oliver took a quick look around. He nodded and winked at .
My heart hamred and I flashed him a quick smile before looking away. The exchange lasted all of two seconds, but it was enough.
When we reached the foot of the main stairs, Varge paused and looked behind him. I stared straight ahead and hoped all of Oliver’s n were still playing along.
“Hmph.” Varge shrugged and kept going.
“Yo, monster!” Oliver roared the mont Varge turned his back.
Oliver launched himself on top of Varge and tackled him to the ground.
With cries of anger, Oliver’s warriors sprang to action and started taking out the Lycaonians. The fight erupted through the whole mansion, but it looked like my girls had freed enough of Oliver’s warriors that we could hold them off.
I watched Oliver and Varge grapple on the floor. Oliver was strong and powerful, but Varge had a few tricks up his sleeve.
“Eva, Oliver needs help. He can’t defeat Varge on his own.” I pointed.
Eva nodded. “I’m on it.”
More warriors from around the mansion ca to help Oliver with Varge. I knew it wouldn’t be long until more Lycaonians showed up as reinforcents. We needed to do sothing fast to gain the advantage.
I watched as Eva opened her arms and her fingers crackled with magic. Sparks rained down on Varge, and he cried out in pain as his skin singed and seared with burns.
I pulled the twins behind and backed away slightly. The whole mansion was in an uproar, and even though I was freed from the spell, all I could do was stand and stare.
I saw Eva wince.
“Eva!”
‘Go! Get to Rion and the boys!’
‘I’m not leaving you.’
Eva glared at over her shoulder. Blood dripped from her nose. She was pale, and I could see how much pain she was in.
Her power would kill her at this rate....
‘I can’t hold him for long, neither can Oliver. Get the dampening charms on Aster and Tarik!’
I nodded and grabbed the bracelets from Eva’s pocket.
“Ayla, Selena, co with .” I urged my girls up the nearby stairs.
Eva gave one last ssage about where she hid her boys.
I didn’t want to leave Eva, but unless we broke the spell on everyone, we’d be overrun quickly. Varge couldn’t win again....
Every few steps, I grabbed the girls and held them behind , ducking and dodging out of the way of the fighting warriors.
It was a complete madhouse.
I followed Eva’s instructions to the back bedroom and the walk-in closet. Rion was already there.
“Daphne!”
I ran to him and right into his arms, still holding my daughters’ hands.
“You’re okay! I didn’t know....”
“I’m fine,” he assured . He kissed my cheeks and my forehead.
“Daddy, where have you been?” Ayla demanded.
Rion chuckled. He knelt and hugged the girls quickly. “I’m here now. Do you have the dampening bracelets?”
I held them up. Rion nodded and went to the closet door. He knocked.
“Aster, Tarik, are you in there? It’s your Uncle Rion.”
“Go away!” the boys shouted.
Rion and I exchanged a look. This could be harder than we thought. Unfortunately, we didn’t have ti.
Rion grabbed the handle and tested it. He shook his head. “They must have locked it with magic.”
“We don’t have ti for this. Oliver and his n will be overrun in monts unless we break the srizing spell.”
“I know.” Rion sighed and knocked again. “Your mother sent . She gave charms to give you to break the srizing spell.”
“She did?” I recognized Aster’s voice.
He was always taking the lead over Tarik as the older one.
“Yes. Your Aunt Daphne is here too, along with Ayla and Selena. We’re all here to help.”
“But Mom said not to open the door for anyone but her,” Aster replied.
Rion groaned and clenched his fists. He’d have to break the door down at this rate. I put a hand on his shoulder.
“Let try.” Eva had told about a lot in our mind-link exchanges. I had an idea of how to get through to them. “Aster, Tarik, your mom told that you two didn’t an to hurt us with the srizing spell. Is that true?”
“Yeah....”
“Well, right now, your mom is fighting a battle, and if we don’t get these dampening charms on you, she might lose. She needs your help right now. We all do.”
There was a long silence. I looked at Rion and he flexed his muscles.
The lock clicked and the door opened. I let out a sigh of relief and rushed in.
“Aster, put this on your wrist.” I handed him one of the bracelets. “Tarik, let see your arm.”
He dutifully held his arm up. I fastened the bracelet on.
“Is that all? Is the spell broken?” I asked.
Aster and Tarik looked at each other. “Yup.” Aster nodded.
“Daphne, take the kids to safety. Run as far away from here as you can. I’m going to help Eva and Oliver finish off Varge once and for all.”
“No, Rion, I’m not leaving you!” I grabbed his arm.
He turned to and cupped my cheeks in his hands. “This isn’t goodbye, my love. I will co to find you when it is over. Right now, I need to fight, and you need to keep the children safe.”
I looked at Alya and Selena. They still looked so scared and confused about what was going on, hugging each other and shaking. I looked at Aster and Tarik. They didn’t look scared, but they definitely looked confused.
I couldn’t imagine what they’d been through at Varge’s hands. It was best to get them away from all this carnage.
“O-okay....”
Rion leaned in and kissed my lips firmly. “Go! Don’t stop running. Don’t look back. Get as far away from here as you can.”
I nodded.
Rion stepped back and pulled his shirt off. “Besides, this is a rematch I’m looking forward to.”
He shifted into his massive wolf form. I grabbed the girls and pulled them into the closet with Eva’s sons.
Rion growled and took off, his claws scraping the floor as he went. As much as I didn’t want him to leave , I didn’t want to get in his way when it ca to revenge against Varge. That was the man who had killed his mother....
“Alright, Aster, hold your brother’s hand and stay close to .” I grabbed my daughters’ hands again. “We’re getting out of here.”
The kids huddled close to as we left the back bedroom. The sounds of fighting were loud downstairs, but it seed like that was where everyone was. There weren’t any more Lycaonians upstairs guarding us. It was the perfect ti to escape.
I couldn’t take them down the front steps. We’d be seen. There was a back staircase that led to the kitchen. The five of us slipped out unnoticed.
In my heart, I prayed that this ti, Varge would be defeated.
Eva deserved her happy ending with her sons, and I wanted to get ho to our pack, have my baby, and raise our family.
It was ti to put this all to rest.
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