CARLYLE

Jai excused himself again, yawning. He’d probably been up half the night on his computer, searching for Jack and Toro and gathering intel on our growing list of enemies. Actually, I wasn’t sure he ever really rested.

I slipped past Kana and went out onto the back deck, content to be alone. I needed to shut down the sadness that had suddenly enveloped my chest. The only thing discovering my scales had really done was show me how much I missed Jack and highlight how far we were from where we were supposed to be.

My feelings toward him barely made sense, but I’d spent a lifetime trusting my gut. Obviously, I knew it wasn't anything like love at first sight. Hell, Jack and I barely knew each other. What I felt when I thought of Jack - beyond all my fear for his current danger - was an unexplainable settling in my heart.

As cheesy as it sounded, I imagined both of us as pieces of the same puzzle. Now that I’d seen how well we fit together, I knew nothing else would fill that spot in my heart.

I leaned against the deck railing and gazed up into the cloud-streaked sky. While I’d been in my bath, dark rain clouds had gathered in the sky, and the wood was wet from an early afternoon shower.

Watching the clouds start to disperse in the breeze, I admitted my gut knew the puzzle was bigger than just Jack - I had many pieces starting to fit around my heart. Although there were no intel or history lessons to guide me, I had instinct, and mine was whispering constantly how these Haret men and I fit together.

Pacing slowly, I splashed my toes in the shallow puddles along the deck. How far away was Jack from here? Was he in the same camp as before, or had the Ringmaster hidden him somewhere new?

The clouds separated farther, and my eye caught a glimmer of something high in the sky, among the clouds. A flash of red.

I gasped and my heart beat faster as I climbed the railing like it might somehow get me a better look. My spirit fell a little, though, as I realized it definitely was not a garnet-colored dragon heading my way. Instead, it was the edge of a rainbow.

Beautiful, for sure, but bittersweet now that I knew it was a lost and locked path.

I eyed it, trying to understand how this could be a way to another world. Each of the colors shone in faint, filmy layers like always. It looked close, but I knew how far away rainbows really were - they were fucking impossible to touch. The ends faded into nothing on the horizon.

How was I ever going to solve this riddle?

As I watched, though, the red stripe of the rainbow seemed to intensify, glowing nearly neon like a fireplace poker.

My heart sped up again as I blinked several times. It didn’t change - if anything, the red intensified like a growing fire. If rainbows were the actual Path to Haret, and I was starting to see this one more clearly, maybe we really were doing something right.

"Guys," I yelled back through the patio door. I didn't wait to see who had heard me. I turned back to the sky and stepped up another rung of the railing, searching for the edges of that beautiful arc across the now-clear sky.

Jai joined me first, slipping a firm arm around my waist to steady me. I pointed my finger into the sky, drawing my fingertip in the air as though I were tracing the edge of the rainbow.

"Can you see that?" I asked.

He nodded. “It’s beautiful. I used to be sad when I saw that unbreachable Path, but you’ve brought me hope again.”

I huffed, impatient with his tender words. "Yes, but do you see the red as any different from the other colors? Brighter, like fire?"

He frowned, and my heart sank as he shook his head. It didn't matter if I was the only one that could see it, I reassured myself.

Killian walked out the door then, sauntering up next to us. "What are ya yellin’ about now?" he drawled. “I was havin’ a nice sexy dream.”

I rolled my eyes and pointed to the rainbow again. "What do you see?"

"A beautiful fuckin’ rainbow," he deadpanned. He glanced at me, then back at the sky, and suddenly I saw his eyes grow wide. "The fuck?"

"You see it, then?" I asked, nearly toppling into Jai. He squeezed my waist tighter, and I made a mental note to trip more often around him.

"The red looks different,” Killian muttered as he stared up at the sky, holding a hand to his eyes to shade the brightness of the afternoon sun.

I crowed in delight. He could see it - it wasn’t just me! Before I could think better of it, I untangled myself from Jai and jumped off the railing, flying into Killian’s chest and wrapping him in a huge bear hug.

Killian grunted and froze. I slid down his front, embarrassed, and he stepped away from me when I released him. He didn't say another word, but he didn't leave, either. I bit back a grin - that counted as a victory.

By that time, Sol, Kana, and Dair had joined us on the deck. Kana slid Killian a wink, and I swear I saw the tough fae flush a little.

"Killian and I can see the rainbow," I announced, pointing at the damn thing as though anyone would have trouble finding it. "But it looks different to us. The red looks stronger."

The other guys look to Killian for confirmation, and he nodded, pulling his brows back into his customary scowl. They all scanned the skies, but none seemed to see the difference.

“That might mean something is happening with the Path, right?” I asked, bouncing on my toes. “Like, maybe it’s starting to open?”

I was met with skeptical looks, and my elation began to fizzle, leaving behind the grouchiest mood I’d had in a good while.

“There’s no intel,” Sol began, and I sighed obnoxiously loudly.

“Why is there never any goddamn intel?” I growled. “We need to pay your headquarters a motherfucking visit, so we aren’t flying blind all the time!”

“Whoa, there, moody sparkles.” Killian snickered. I glared at him, but before I could decide just how bad an idea kicking him in the balls was, he swiveled and banged back in the house.

“Asshole,” I muttered. It made me feel a little better, but not much. If I ever got a unicorn horn, I was going to shank him with it. Ha. That image did make me feel better.

“Yep, asshole,” Kana agreed. “Come join me on the beach, Qilin. We’ll bake the real world away.” She didn’t wait for an answer, skipping down the steps to the sand and stripping off her shirt as she went.

“Shortcake, we’re doing the best we can. It’ll all work itself out.” Sol’s words weren’t very comforting, and my scowl must have said as much.

“I guess,” I gritted out. He gave me a small smile and retreated inside as well. Pussycat. I snorted to myself - some lion he was.

I didn’t want to bake on the beach. I wanted to fucking do something - I was sick and tired of puttering around because we didn’t know our asses from a hole in the ground. I looked to the last two guys - Jai and Dair.

“We have no business in headquarters,” Jai warned me, his voice firm. “Not when we suspect someone has compromised other teams. We’re safest alone.” He nodded like he was perfectly satisfied with his answer, then turned back toward the house.

Dair turned to me. “Cariño, please be patient. We’ve stayed alive these many years through being careful, not rushing headfirst into danger.”

I sighed like the world was just too much, because it really fucking was.

“Besides, haven’t you learned anything from me? Good girls wait.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine, swiping his tongue inside forcefully and nipping at my pout. I tried to resist, but really, what was the point?

He snaked a hand around my waist and drew me tight to his chest, kissing me so deeply my head dipped back. My eyes fluttered open, and I glimpsed that damn glowing red strip on the rainbow again. It had settled a bit, from fire to garnet. Although I tried to focus on Dair’s sweet and sharp kiss, all I could do was wish Jack were here, too.

––––––––

DAIR

There was one thing I needed to do before I left to find Toro, and it was going to destroy a little more of Jai’s hope.

Suppressing a sigh, I waited until Carlyle had made her way down to the sand, following in Kana’s wet prints. We were in such a bloody fucking mess.

“Boss, I’ve followed up on something new,” I began, cornering Jai just before he could head back to his computer.

He studied me through slitted eyes, already hating what I was about to say. He didn’t even have to work to hear my thoughts. My despair was practically screaming at him.

“Not possible. Jack has no power like that,” he said as he read the images I couldn’t erase from my brain. The way Carlyle had described Jack disappearing from her room last night - it sounded exactly like siphoning.

The problem was, Jack couldn’t siphon, and he wasn’t a vessel like Carlyle.

“Is it possible some of her channeling power was transferred to him?” Jai asked, and I wished I had better news.

“I truly don’t think it is. I believe someone procured Jack,” I clarified. “This is highly advanced magic, Jairo. More than anything I’ve ever been capable of. More than any of my teachers, either. If the Ringmaster has someone who can do that-”

“It’s him,” Jai interrupted. “He’s a mage. It must be him.”

I clenched my jaw. I’d come to the same conclusion, although I’d fought it hard, looking over every possible alternative. It made me sick to think of Jack anywhere near someone with that sort of power. The man could tear our brother’s mind to shreds and rebuild it with a flick of his fingers.

Jack may never be Jack again.

“Can Carlyle ever reach that level of magic? Can she learn to procure a living thing?” Jai asked, no doubt thinking of my debriefing after her first lesson.

I shook my head, helpless to answer. I wanted to say yes - wanted it to be true more than anything. I just had no way of knowing her limits, and no time to investigate.

“Go,” Jai said, understanding how torn I was. “She isn’t strong enough now, regardless. Find Toro - he’s the next step. We’ll work together to free Jack. She’ll just have to train harder.” His black eyes flashed, and I wondered if he’d ever be comfortable giving her a taste of his formidable magic.

The thought must have leaked beyond my control, too, because he lifted his lip and snarled at me, his fangs flashing.

“Do not push me, mage,” Jai hissed. “Concern yourself with retrieving Toro, and no more.”

Properly shaken, I bowed and backed away. My magic was nothing compared to the power Jai wielded - he was our leader for good reason. I slipped inside the house and took the stairs two at a time to my room, intent on packing and leaving as soon as possible.

The faster we found Toro, the faster we could move on to the Ringmaster again.

A man like that wouldn’t wait around long - we needed to get to him before he got to us through Jack.