AISLIN

Glancing up at the sky, I can make out the first hints of the dawn. Drawing a breath, I look at the others. My hands are clutched together, knuckles white with worry. Gregor holds Damia to him, his weathered hand rubbing slow soothing circles on her back. Sean and Michael flank Raven. She has a hand on each of them, an interesting dynamic. Perséphone is standing staring into the water, but her magic flows out as she searches. I realize it's because of my connection with Kai that I'm aware of it.

It's been too long. He should have returned, or at least, we should've gotten Emma back. Something has gone wrong. I'm angry that he left, angry that they let him. Kai squeezes my hands. He's sorry I'm upset but not sorry he didn't stop Jason.

Kai leaps to his feet, and everyone startles. I climb from the floor where he dumped me in his haste. I'm about to ask when he races for the door. I follow and so do the others. I'm not surprised to find the boys already have weapons in their hands.

Kai has stopped and dragon eyes are scanning the grounds, and we all tense. Michael moves to the right and Sean fans left. I feel wind on my back and look over my shoulder to see Raven rising into the sky. Damia and Gregor remain just inside the door and step to the side as Perséphone strides through face, twisted into a beautiful rage before smoothing. Someone is here. The Goddess walks by Kai, laying a hand on his shoulder gently before moving on. She glides out into the garden and kneels down.

"Come out, little ones. None here will harm you. Unless you're here to spy." Her voice is filled with peace and love. The seconds tick by. Nestor's feet shuffle, and I glance back at him. Reaching back, I pull him to my side.

My eye are filled with concern. "Do you sense something, Nestor?"

"No, nothing. I hate to say it, but my powers are useless, unless you are looking for someone traveling." Shrugging, he lets his gaze go back to the garden.

We all freeze as two very large foxes creep from the bushes, tails flicking in distress. They look at the goddess and then the larger one's eyes travel over the rest of us, landing on me. Glancing over its shoulder, it yips and is dashing our way. The next instant, the smaller one is hot on her heels. In a flurry of motion, the Druids move in front of me. Raven dives down, catching the lead fox's eyes. They slide to a stop just feet from my friends. The smaller one stares at the larger, and I feel the power because Kai does. He moves slightly, placing himself in front of me. I sigh and shove him aside, moving around him.

"They came to find me. Let me through." I walk to them, all the while explaining my hope of news of Emma, with the knowledge that they will all protect me if it is needed. "I'm sure you all can save me from them, if need be." I state it out loud for the boys and for our visitors. Kai lets his dragon come forward and rolls his power over them, amber eyes narrowed in warning. I stop a few feet from them and wait.

"Well?"

The foxes glance at each other and around. The smaller shrinks back. The larger shifts, and an instant later, a beautiful woman stands before us.

"Emma sent us. She said to tell you ‘I see you.’ We need to hurry. It took us too long to get here."

"You know where she is?" My voice is breathless with my relief. I lock my knees to keep from collapsing to the ground.

"Yes, and I will take you to her. She is safe from him. I… We made sure of it. But before we go, we need to save the others."

Sean is staring at her. "Others?" Everyone hears the suspicion in his voice.

"Yes, my friends." We all whip our gazes to a petite woman standing where the smaller fox had been. She is magnificent. "My name is Mimi and I have been held for longer than I can remember by Arias. I locked Emma in a chamber with Jason's beast. I locked them in and Arias out. I will open it, but first, we must save the others from him. He will be very angry with us both. Powaqu risked much to save both Emma and I from him."

I step towards her but she shrinks back, so I freeze. "Where are your friends?"

Her face turns to the inlet and her arm rises slowly, "There." We all look at the house.

Michael studies her, "You set the wards."

It was a statement, but she answers anyway, "Yes."

"Drop them and we will get them." It is Kai who speaks, he's moving to the cliff. "Aislin, stay with them here." He glances at me and I nod he will stay in my mind and I in his.

The timid one, Mimi, walks to the edge of the cliff and raises her arms. Her voice is melodic and soothing as she chants. The Druids stare at her. Those of us that sense her power are awed by its magnitude. Her hair flows out and her eyes flicker gold. Nestor can't stop staring at her. When he glances away, Sean and I grin at him. I shake my head.

Kai shifts, and Nestor stumbles back a step at his massive form. The little fox is visibly shivering, and he moves to her side. He doesn't touch her, just stands as close to her as he can offering comfort, knowing if he touches her it will only scare her more.

Sean and Michael climb on Kai's back, grinning like fools. I chuckle as he dives over the side of the cliff and two very unmasculine yelps reach our ears. They are holding on for dear life when the dragon levels his flight, circling us once. Raven laughs, taking to the air.

We all wait, holding our breaths. I watch through Kai's eyes as they move through the house. 'No one is here. Ask if there is somewhere else we should look.'

"They can’t find anyone. Is there somewhere else they should look?" I look at the one called Powaqu, knowing she had helped Arias. I can barely hold my anger at bay. The look she gives me tells me she is aware of exactly what I'm thinking.

"A hidden door in the study on the west wall by the built in shelves." She is unapologetic.

Even from where we are, we all hear the sound of destruction as Kai breaks through the door. I smile; that's my guy. His laughter caresses my mind. I'm amazed at the vision in my head of the secret lair. It looks right out of some James Bond movie. Every evil villain in a movie has one just like it. Kai's eyes turn as Michael finds stairs leading down, and he and Sean start to descend into the darkness. Kai follows and Raven guards the top, protecting them all. I might love her for that. Sean flicks on a flashlight he had somewhere on his body. Always prepared, that's my guys. All three of them stop dead in their tracks, and I gasp at the carnage before Kai closes our connection. I can hardly understand what I saw.

Sobs pull my eyes. The one whose friends were there is sobbing. I understand her pain. She knows, my face tells her everything she needs to know. Perséphone moves to her, but she shrinks away, turning and clutching at Nestor, fear and despair etched on her delicate face. His arms wrap around her.

I shake my head at the other woman, and her eyes close in defeat and regret. "I'm so sorry, Mimi. I thought we would get here in time."

Power knocks us to the ground, so much power even Perséphone must fight against it. She is magnificent in her rage when Mimi turns to face Powaqu. "You could have saved us hundreds of years ago!" I'm on my knees, reaching for her. Nestor's arms comes around her from behind and he whispers in her ear, holding her close. A dragon's roar causes her to pause in her anger. We all look to the house as the early morning sky is lit with fire. On and on, he burns it.

"Kai is very angry," I murmur and Mimi glances at me. Raven flies toward us, looking a bit like an avenging angel with the fire lighting up her golden wings.

Landing, she walks straight to Mimi, "I'm so sorry we were too late." She glances at me and I'm glad she didn't elaborate. The woman didn't need to know her friends had been torn apart. The light fades, and I look to watch the dragon fly back to me. Landing, he lets Sean and Michael climb down before he shifts. I move into his arms. He squeezes me tight, and I look up at his face before drawing it down kissing him. He deepens it for a moment before pulling back. I watch his eyes as they lock on something behind me. Turning in his arms, I see Sean has moved in close to Powaqu, his shoulders tense with his rage. Looking to my right, Michael is standing with Raven. He too is tense with anger, but he is ready to defend his brother if there is a need. I don't miss his hand clutching Raven's.

"You helped this monster? Because it was a monster that did what I saw." His rage is barely leashed. We are all silent, waiting for her answer. It will lead to her judgement. I look back at Michael, his eyes haunted by his ghosts.

"I have no excuse. I had my reasons but I chose to ignore things I shouldn't have. I was scared. I was being hunted when I joined him. But what I saw in him these last few days… No, I deserve whatever judgement you pass." Her eyes are steady on his. "I can die knowing I saved Mimi and Emma."

Turning to Mimi, her voice is low as she speaks to her in another language, one none of us understand. I know it must be something related to Native American languages, but I would guess it is much older. Mimi bows her head tears sliding down her face before raising her eyes to the other woman.

"I will pray to the Great Spirit that he will not judge you too harshly. Arias is a deceiver. He uses his voice to trick and blind those he wishes to use. I, too, was tricked into my cage. Our cages were very different though." She turns away and stares at the burning house, chanting softly under her voice.

"Sean, calm down. She can tell us where Emma and Jason are." It's Michael's deadly, calm voice that has us all looking back at her. She draws a breath, looking at me.