“It is just as Landis said. We saw no guards and the cells are right this way”, Raife told us.

  We all followed, stopping in front of two large cells where Landis and River sat with his men.

  Landis moved immediately to the bars at the front of the cells, his gaze never leaving Jules.

  “Jules, I’m so sorry. I never meant for any of this. You should have left us and gotten somewhere safe”, Landis pleaded with Jules.

  “Lan, just stop it now. We’re not leaving you here and that’s final. You saved our asses and now we’re going to do the same for you.” Jules gave him a hard stare as her hands came to land on her hips as they faced one another.

  “Ok then. Let’s get you out of there. How do we open these doors, Landis”, I asked him.

  “The only place there may be a key is in the guard’s rooms at the end of the hall”, he answered.

  Raife motioned to Trey and he took off in a blur of vampire speed, returning not a moment later to say there were no keys.

  Raife took hold of the bars, attempting to force the door open, but even with his strength the bars only groaned and squeaked, but did not give way.

  Jules looked at the locking mechanism and then looked up at me.

  “I think this will give if I heat it up enough to melt the inside. What do you think?”

  “I think you’re correct that if it gets hot enough the bolt inside will let go.”

  Landis spoke up before she could try. “Jules, this entire dungeon is spelled to nullify Fae powers. You won’t be able to call on your abilities here.”

  Jules looked at him before speaking, “I don’t feel any different here Landis. If anything, I feel stronger than I have in a while.”

  Landis shrugged his shoulders, his palms lifted. “I can’t explain that.”

  Jules moved closer to the locking mechanism and I stepped up to her side, Raife moved to her other side as the men inside moved away from the door.

  Jules extended her right hand, palm up and called a flame. A gasp sounded through the group in the cells as a small flame sat upon her hand, growing larger and hotter as she called upon her power, until a bluish white flame about a foot high flared upward. She turned her hand into the door, centering her palm in front of the lock as she shot power into it. The lock began to glow, becoming red before drops of molten steel landed on the floor. A loud thunk sounded as the lock crumbled and fell to the floor and Jules snubbed out the flame before calling forth water to douse the red hot metal. Steam rose from the floor and I pulled the door outward, allowing Landis and his men to file out, stepping over the chunk of cooling metal.

  “I don’t understand it Jules”, Landis stated, looking at Jules and shaking his head.

  “You don’t have to”, she spoke brusquely before moving to take care of the door to the second cell.

  The whole group of thirty of us, stood in the hallway, discussing our next move.

  “We know there will be guards at the entrance to the dungeon, but we don’t know how many, or where other guards are stationed”, Raife stated. “We do know that the group that captured you numbered around fifty. Do you believe that is the total number of guards, or do you think there are more Landis?” He looked toward the Fae Prince, waiting for his response.

  “I was shocked there were so many, considering the number we’d already killed, so I would only be guessing at this point”, he answered.

  Jules took a few steps away before pivoting and marching back to us, her gaze firmly on the floor, her hands balled into fists.

  “What is it love”, I whispered in her ear, pulling her against my side.

  “If we were just above ground, it would be so easy to call a bird and fly above the castle to see where everyone is located.” She was rigid with tension as I smoothed my hand up and down her back.

  River looked up from where he stood next to Landis before speaking to Jules. “Jules, you can call a bird from here, it’s just a bit trickier, but I’m sure you can do it.”

  Jules looked at River, her face softening a bit as she thought about it. “Tell me how River”.

  He answered, moving closer as he spoke. “Picture yourself outside the castle, closer to the tree line, then send your thoughts out to the birds. You can picture one in particular or just birds in general, and when you feel a response you can insert yourself into the bird's mind just like you’ve done.”

  Jules gave him a sharp nod before closing her eyes, her hand grasping my forearm as her thoughts took her away.

  Chapter fifty-three

  Jules

  I don’t know if I’d ever get used to the feeling of flying hundreds of feet in the air while my feet remained firmly planted on the ground. The bird whose mind I’d commandeered was large, resembling an eagle back home, and he was very capable of flying at great heights. Circling the palace, even at this altitude, I was able to see small details through the bird’s eyes.

  The entrance to the dungeon was still guarded from the outside with a small contingent of only four guards. The wall at the front of the grounds looked to be almost completely repaired with six guards still lingering there.

  I needed to know where Clarissa the fucking traitor was, and how many guards were with her. She would most likely have the best fighters with her and we had to have an idea of their numbers.

  Sweeping a bit lower, I brought the bird out over the trees and dropped further, allowing me to see into the palace through the large windows facing the garden.

  I could see into the room where Landis had held his fancy dinner for us and was surprised to see Clarissa sitting at the head of the table, while the other chairs held Fae in their finest clothes, appearing to be enjoying a gourmet meal!

  She must have been under the impression that we were no longer a concern, and Landis was locked in his own dungeon, leaving the kingdom to her.

  I urged the bird to circle to the other side of the palace, gaining altitude as he did, as I searched the windows for more guards.

  A cluster of small windows near the top of the palace looked to be a barracks type of housing with multiple beds lined up along one wall. Flying back the other way, I got a good look and could see the beds were occupied, guessing the number at somewhere between twenty five and thirty.

  This was good news, if the guards were asleep and Clarissa was still entertaining her guests, we had time to plan our next move.

  Flying out over the forest, I retreated from the bird’s mind, coming back fully into my own, my eyes squeezed tightly shut to avoid the dizzy feeling I’d felt when seeing through my own eyes again.

  Dallas stood behind me, my back firmly against his broad chest and his arms encircled my middle, keeping me grounded and safe.

  “You okay love?”

  He nuzzled my neck and I knew that he was breathing in my scent, the same way I longed to rub my whole body against his until every inch of me was covered with his.

  Raife’s beautiful blue eyes held mine as he ducked down in front of me so we were at the same level.

  “I’m okay.”

  Landis moved to Raife’s side and stood waiting for me to fill them in on what I’d seen.

  I took one of Dallas’s hands in mine and then grabbed Raife’s hand with the other.

  “I saw Clarissa in the large banquet room, the same one we were in, and there were Fae with her, all dressed up and enjoying a fancy dinner. They filled every seat at the table, so if I’m not mistaken, that was twenty people.”

  Landis glanced away, his eyes focusing on nothing as it appeared he was trying to reason who the twenty people were. He turned back and looked at us.

  “They were just sitting and eating as if it was just another dinner party, and they hadn’t just locked their Prince in his own dungeon!”

  Landis’s voice had risen in volume as he spoke, rage burning in his vividly green eyes, his stiff posture barely concealing his hatred.

  I spoke as calmly as I could, not wanting to add to his anger.“I got the impression that they were quite relaxed, feeling they had complete control now and not anticipating any further action. They think they’ve got this,” I added.

  Raife held Landis’ eye as he spoke.

  “This is a good thing for us, Landis. They will not be expecting us and we can use the element of surprise to overtake them and end this. They won’t be ready, their guards are asleep upstairs and we will have the advantage.”

  Landis simply nodded his head and took a step back, still obviously overwhelmed by what had happened. Well, we didn’t have time for this crap now, and he needed to get his shit together!

  Even though I wanted to call him out and tell him to man the fuck up so we could get on with this, I knew that wouldn’t work now, so I spoke to him privately that only he could hear..

  Lan, we need to prepare, come up with a plan and move ahead with it now while your enemies have let down their guard. You need to show us because we don’t know the best way to proceed in your palace and with your men. You’re needed Landis.

  His chin lifted and his eyes met and held mine, those brilliant green orbs searching, for what I wasn’t sure, but I held his gaze with determination. A brief nod and he stepped two paces closer to our group.

  Sighing deeply Landis began and we all listened.

  “We are a considerable distance from the banquet hall and the guard’s quarters, so we can approach each from inside as well as outside the palace. We need to eliminate the threat from the guards first, with a small number of us outside to prevent anyone from escaping while the rest of us take out the traitorous guards.”

  Landis looked over our small group, his gaze landing on me last. I nodded and waited for him to continue.

  “The guards quarters will be close fighting so it will be critical to stay close and have each others’ backs.”

  I sucked in a breath and squeezed Raife’s and Dallas’ hands, pulling them closer to me, already feeling the threat and not willing to release them even though I knew full well that we’d all need both hands when the fighting began.

  Landis looked down at our joined hands before quickly looking away, his face shutting down any sign of emotion.

  “It sounds like we have a plan,” Raife spoke while holding Landis’ gaze with his own. “We’re with you Landis, lead the way.”

  Landis moved ahead through the corridor with River at his side and the rest of his men following, Raife, Dallas and I behind them while Jay, Ren and Trey brought up the rear.

  At the end of the corridor we ascended a set of steps before reaching a very heavy wood and steel door.

  Landis’ voice entered my mind, Jules , can you open this door?

  If I attempted to cut through the lock with fire, it wouldn’t happen immediately and the guards on the other side of this door would be alerted. Perhaps the best way was to just blast it open and catch the guards by surprise, giving us the best chance to overpower them.

  I spoke softly, pulling Raife and Dallas into my sides, “I think I should just blast the doors open, that way we don’t give the guards outside even a moment to recover before we’re on them”.

  Landis looked skeptical, his brows pulled down over those piercing green eyes.

  “Can you do that?”

  I simply nodded and turned to my mates for their opinion.

  “We don’t want to give them a moment to raise those arrows, so yes, the faster the better”, Dallas agreed with me.

  Raife ran his hand over my back without thinking and I loved that he wanted to touch me the same way I always wanted to touch my mates.

  “You have seen the guards outside Jules, we haven’t, so I trust your judgment completely.”

  “Okay then.”

  I stepped forward and raised my arms, motioning to Landis and his guards to move back as Dallas and Raife both stood at my sides. Ren in her wolf form was at my back, her smooth coat rubbing the back of my legs.

  I felt for my power, at the base of my spine and found the ball of sizzling static just waiting for my command, but I didn’t ask for it. I concentrated on the ball of energy, allowing it to grow and expand rather than pushing it down like I normally did.

  When the buzzing was growing too strong for me to hold there, I thrust my arms forward and called on my power. The rush of it through my body caused me to take a step forward, my legs quivering with the onslaught.

  Dallas put a hand on my hip, I aimed my hands at the center of the doors and pushed my power out through my palms. The wind hit the center of the wooden doors and the result was deafening. Wood splintered and cracked as the steel straps were ripped from the doors, throwing them into the air.

  I pulled back on my power, wincing at the burn in my arms as I folded my fingers into my palms and lowered my arms to my sides.

  No one moved for a second, just staring at the gaping hole where the doors had been. Raife recovered first, moving rapidly outside, followed closely by Dallas. Landis and his guards rushed forward, trying to catch up with my mates.

  I felt Ren’s head beneath my hand and a soft whine escaped her throat. I looked down at her, my hand absently rubbing the soft fur of her head.

  “I’m okay,” I whispered, not sure if I was convincing Ren or myself.

  That was the first time since my powers had manifested that I’d felt any pain while using it and the burning sensation was slow to leave my hands and fingers.

  “I’m okay,” I said again. More sure of it this time, moving forward with Ren at my heel.

  The sight that greeted us outside was confusing as all the guards appeared to be just standing around. I searched for Dallas or Raife with Ren at my side and finally found them standing off to the side of the palace wall.

  “Where are the guards?” I asked, still a bit bewildered and feeling like my brain was having a hard time catching up.

  Raife took my hand in his, gently rubbing my palm as if he knew that I’d been in pain there.

  “It appears they were thrown with the doors, most likely into the trees beyond the wall.”

  I looked, judging the distance to be somewhere around one thousand feet. I looked back to where the doors had been, the opening now just scraps of wood and hinges hanging from the stone walls of the palace.

  Raife held both my hands, gently massaging as Dallas rubbed slow circles across my upper back before leaning down to softly kiss the side of my neck.

  “Are you okay Jules? That was quite the show of power back there.”

  Dallas glanced back at the gaping hole as he spoke close to my ear, his breath fanning over the sensitive skin there.

  “I’m okay,” I answered, still not entirely sure if that was true or not.

  “What about your hands,” Raife inquired, still gently massaging my palms.

  “I think I threw too much at the doors and the force of it caused some burning in my arms and hands.”

  I waved my hands about some, as if that would show them that I was fine, like some child who’d scraped their palms on the playground. God I was pathetic, I don’t know how they put up with me!

  Raife grasped my chin between his thumb and forefinger, pulling my gaze to his.

  “Jules, it’s not a small thing. You threw those doors hundreds of feet and if the power was too much, you need to let us know. You are the most important thing to me, not Landis or the Fae or anything else. Just you.”

  I willed the tears to stay in my eyes and not spill down my cheeks. I needed to show them that I was okay, and I could handle myself, but goddamn, the things he says!

  I breathed out a shaky breath, a small smile wanting to break free. How I loved this man!

  “I’m okay, really Raife. Just some burning and it’s all gone now. All good.”

  I brushed his cheek with a small kiss and straightened my shoulders. Time to get back to work!

  “You tell us if you feel anything at all unusual from here on out. Got it?”

  Dallas turned me toward him, his eyes searching mine and I could see the worry he held.

  “I’ve got it.”

  I nodded at him and held his gaze, showing him the sincerity of my statement. I did not want to cause worry for either of my mates, we already had enough going on!

  Landis and River approached and I could see his gaze travel the length of my body. He must have overheard some of our conversation and was trying to ascertain if I really was alright, if I’d be a help or a hindrance in his fight.

  I stood as tall as I could next to Dallas, still feeling quite small next to his six and a half foot frame.

  “We need to move onto the guards quarters,” Landis announced.

  “I’ve sent the guards ahead who will be outside and the rest of us will be inside. If you’re ready, we need to go now.”

  While I gave Landis a sharp nod, Raife and Dallas simply motioned with their hands that he should lead the way.

  We moved out in a single line, alongside the wall of the palace, sticking to the shadows as we swiftly made our way to the entrance Landis had chosen. He opened the plain door, no grand display surrounding it and we all filed silently inside.

  We were in a plain hallway, no paintings or tapestries adorned the walls, the floor a nondescript gray.

  Landis closed the door silently before heading down the hallway to our right, the rest of us falling into line behind him. He stopped at the end of the hall and checked to his right before heading left, leading us further into the palace. Although I tried to walk silently, like virtually everyone else, I just couldn’t manage it and unfortunately the sound of my boots on the floor echoed through the empty hallway.

  At the end of the next hall Landis stopped. To the right, two more identical hallways loomed and straight ahead of us a set of stairs reached up beyond our line of sight. Landis motioned that we were going up before proceeding to the base of the stairs and heading straight up, confident that we would all be behind him.

  Raife was in front of me and Dallas behind as we ascended the stairs, single file, the light dim between the wall sconces. Landis stopped at the landing of what I gauged to be three floors, holding his hand up in a sign to stop. His voice came into my mind, and I had to assume Raife and Dallas heard him also.