Taken: The Pteron Chronicles

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

  I closed the book and rubbed my forehead. The words were seared on my mind. Everything fell into place. These words weren’t prophecies. They were possibilities. Possibilities based on the decisions we made along the way. That’s why they always gave different options that contradicted one another.

  “Read another good riddle?” Cade took the book from me and slid it back into my bag.

  “I was right. I need Wyatt.”

  “Then make a light tunnel.” Sol sighed louder this time. “We’ve been over this.”

  “No. I need to save my energy.”

  Glendale appeared. “You called?”

  I looked down at the furry demon. “I didn’t call.”

  “Oh. I thought you did.”

  “I wanted you, but I never actually called your name,” I admitted.

  “See. I knew you called.” He rubbed up against my leg.

  I got the bag settled on my shoulder again. “Where’s Georgina?”

  “Oh. She’s fine. Couldn’t make it through.” He licked his paw.

  “Glendale.” I moved down to my knees so I’d be at his eye level. “Where’s Georgina?”

  “I left her in the realm of the dead.”

  “What?” I shouted. “I don’t know what that is, but it doesn’t sound good and how could you leave her there?”

  “You are getting off track, Hailey.” Xander butted in. “Far off-track. You need to stay focused.”

  I angled myself so I couldn’t see him at all.

  Glendale rolled over onto his side. “Because there was no way to bring her back.”

  “Then why did you bring her there in the first place?” Cade asked.

  Glendale flipped his tail. “She made me.”

  “Like anyone could make you do anything.” I moved back to my feet.

  “It’s what had to happen. She was right. I wish there was another way.” Glendale stood up.

  I shook my head. “There is no reason it had to happen.”

  “She had to get a favor returned. It’s not my story to share.”

  “I can bring her back,” Xander called. “But you’d have to release me.”

  “Yeah, right.” I didn’t bother to turn around.

  “I’m serious.” Even though there was a group of us in that room, I knew he was talking to me.

  “Why would you do it?” Despite myself, I answered him.

  “I’d do it only if I got something in return from you.”

  Cade laughed dryly. “What do you want? You think we’re going to give you anything?”

  “It’s nothing from you; it’s from Hailey.”

  Cade scowled. “My words still stand.”

  “She needs to let the ash lie where it is.” Xander used a much lower tone of voice this time.

  “And now you’re talking in code.” Cade made a crazy sign with his finger next to his ear.

  I agreed. His words sounded strange, but I was pretty sure I could follow. “You mean at the hotel. The fire. You want me to leave it like that?”

  “Not literally. The human owner will rebuild the hotel.”

  “But not The Society headquarters underneath…” Why did everything go back to The Society? Was that really the issue at hand? “Why does it matter to you? I don’t get it.”

  “That is the way of things. Sometimes you have to accept the truth if you want to move on.”

  “Where are the others? I need them back here before I agree to anything.”

  “Georgina is going to be your best bet at getting them back. It is why she had to go. She figured it out before you did.”

  “So what you are saying is she wouldn’t be stuck in the realm of the dead if it weren’t for you.” I stalked over to Xander, my anger threatening to boil over.

  “Because of me?” He laughed. “Not so. I may have moved the humans, but not those working at the headquarters. Why would I have saved them?”

  “You might have moved the humans?” Eloise put her hands on her hips. “What did you do with them?”

  “It is possible I used magic to send them running. I may have also left the impression in their mind that they should never ever come back. That sort of magic couldn’t work on your kind.”

  “Then where are they?”

  “The real question is when.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Cade growled.

  “Glendale, care to explain?”

  “No. I don’t care to explain. I don’t care to do anything right now.”

  “Glendale. What don’t I know?” I was so frustrated. My annoyance was going to come out on someone very, very soon.

  “Time is far more complicated than what you think.”

  “Are we talking about veils?” I knew very little about alternative timelines, but I knew they existed as something called veils. They ran parallel to the current time but were kind of like replicas. The problem was you could get stuck in them, never returning and thus changing the true timeline.

  “Yes. I don’t know exactly what happened, but someone in that basement wove a protective spell that created a veil. They seem to be in a veil. The problem is figuring out which one and when it is.”

  “And Georgina knew a dead person who could do this?” I asked.

  “Not just any dead person.” Glendale yawned.

  “We need to get Georgina back.”

  “I thought you wanted to get to Wyatt. Wasn’t there urgency about that matter mere moments ago?” Glendale stretched.

  “Yes. Yes, there was.” Xander snapped. “She needs to see this through.”

  “Why do you care?” I glared at him. “This is all your fault.”

  “Send me to get Georgina. I can bring her back once she’s ready. You have more than enough on your plate already.”

  “Stop acting like we are on the same side.” I clenched my fist. “We will never be on the same side.”

  “We are on the same side. We will always be. Right up until the moment you kill me.”

  “Kill you?” I gasped. “What are you talking about?” I was angry all right, but I wasn’t planning on murdering him. Maybe locking him up for the rest of his existence.

  “You will understand when the time comes.” He wore a faint smile. “Glendale, it’s time. Take her to Wyatt.”

  Glendale flicked his tail again. “All right, who is coming with her?”

  “Everyone. And I mean everyone.” I eyed Xander. “We can’t leave him unsupervised.”

  “Very wise decision. Although I will remind you again to send me after Georgina.”

  “I may trust Glendale to do that later. But not yet.”

  “All right. My only goal right now is to push you to do what you must.”

  “And that’s what exactly? To kill you?”

  “There is a lot you have to do before then.” Xander rolled his back.

  “Yes. I’m starting to realize that.”

  18

  Wyatt

  “Is that where Hailey is then?” Owen’s eyes went wild. “She was injured in the fire?”

  “Of course not!” I yelled far louder than intended. “I used my fire to protect her.”

  “Protect her from what? You still need to fill me in.”

  “I would if I really understood. Just know I’m here and not with her because I’m protecting you and Daisy. It’s what she wanted me to do. And now your baby is the most important thing.”

  “Hailey is important too.” His heart was beating out of his control. His face was red. He was going to lose it if I couldn’t calm him down.

  “Of course she is. She means everything to me. Don’t question that.” I wanted to freak out as much as he did, but I couldn’t afford to.

  “I wouldn’t question it if she were here now, instead of searching for some key to a book.” His distaste for her task was crystal clear.

  “It’s a book of prophecies that all ties into your son. It’s not just some book.”

  Something unreadable crossed Owen’s face. “Get
Hailey here. Please.”

  “I’m getting very good at answering people’s calls.” Glendale appeared. Seconds later a whole group followed, arriving in one large heap on the ground. Hailey stood up first, and I ignored everyone else. I pulled her into my arms, my lips finding hers as her arms moved around my neck. I got lost in her. In her taste and her heat until Owen cleared his throat.

  “Owen.” Hailey jumped from my arms and embraced her brother. “Sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

  “I do.” Owen laughed. “I know very well.”

  “Where’s Daisy?” Hailey looked around wildly—much like her brother had just done. “Is she okay?”

  “Yes. She’s great. And I need you to meet someone.”

  “Who?” Hailey narrowed her eyes. “Wait. You don’t mean…”

  “Yes. I do mean.” Owen smiled. “Hailey, I want you to meet your niece.”

  “Niece?” Hailey gasped. “How? I thought Dragos were only male?” She looked at me.

  I nodded. “They are.” I was just as surprised as she was.

  “Well, tell Raven that.” Owen tugged Hailey over closer to the cave. He pushed away the boulder and slipped in with Hailey by his side. I followed behind. Owen pushed the boulder back into place behind us.

  “Oh my gosh, she’s gorgeous!” Hailey ran over to where Daisy held a little bundle. “Oh, and of course great to see you, Daisy.”

  Daisy laughed. “Great to see you too. Want to hold her?” Daisy held out the baby toward Hailey.

  Hailey nodded and pulled the little bundle into her arms. Her smile grew to the biggest I had ever seen. “Hi, Raven.”

  “Are you sure she’s a Drago?” I looked at the tiny child in Hailey’s arm. “She’s not a Pteron? I know traditionally the Drago gene would take over, but you are a different sort of case.” I’d turned Owen into a Drago in order to save him. It had been a gutsy move, and we still didn’t know all of the consequences of it.

  “Oh, she’s a Drago all right.” Daisy walked further into the cave and returned with a towel that was partially charred.

  “She has fire already?” Hailey’s eyes got wide. “But she’s so tiny.”

  “Yes. This is a little bit early, but that just means she’s going to be very powerful.” I gave Hailey a knowing look. Powerful was usually good, but we knew what it might mean for this baby.

  “No matter what happens she’s going to be okay even if her wings are green.” Hailey rocked her gently. “I promise everything is going to be okay, little one.”

  “If her wings are green?” Daisy brushed some of her hair behind her ear. “Why would that matter?”

  Hailey looked down into the baby’s face. “It’s a stupid prophecy that ties into an old organization. Not even worth worrying about.” There was something in Hailey’s eyes. More than a twinkle. She knew something. Something important.

  I wanted answers, but I could see she needed a few minutes with her niece. She rocked her a few minutes more, and Raven closed her eyes.

  “Wow. You have a way with her.” Daisy reached out for Raven.

  Hailey gently passed the child to her mother and gave her a small hug. “She’s beautiful. Just like you.”

  “Did you see her hair?” Daisy pulled back the blanket to reveal a shock of red hair.

  “Oh no. Hope you don’t have another me on your hands, Owen.” She grinned at her big brother.

  “That would be a good thing. I hope she has your strength and unwavering determination.” Owen patted his sister’s arm.

  “Unwavering determination?” Hailey raised an eyebrow. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

  “You know I’m proud of you, Hails.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I know. I know.”

  It was fun watching them all together. Hailey loved her brother with all her might, and seeing him again was good for her. I only hoped it would give her the burst of energy we needed for whatever was headed our way.

  “Okay. I really want to sit and catch up, but I know you aren’t here for that.” Owen rubbed the back of his neck. “Talk. Fill us in. What is this book you had to read? Why does the color outlining my daughter’s wings matter?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I told you that.” Hailey smiled over at where Raven slept. “We can protect her.”

  “But it did mean something?” Owen pressed.

  “Hailey, you are running out of time!” Xander yelled from outside the cave. The sound was muffled by the boulder, but I already knew his voice. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Xander. He was here? In all my excitement to see Hailey I hadn’t noticed that. I hadn’t noticed anything.

  “I am well aware of that.” Hailey gritted her teeth.

  “Who is that, Hailey?” Owen frowned.

  “Oh, no one. Just an Alter-Warlock who tried to kill me and who I’m now supposed to kill.”

  Owen’s mouth fell open. I didn’t blame him one bit.

  19

  Hailey

  Owen, Daisy, and Raven were okay. I tried to soak up that news and use it to recharge. I needed to hold onto those realities in order to face the situation I definitely didn’t want to face. Raven was Raven—a gorgeous baby girl. She defied the odds in so many ways, and I couldn’t wait to watch her grow up. Holding her had given me a new sense of purpose. I was no longer only worried about protecting my generation, I worried about protecting hers. My actions would reverberate way beyond my own little circle.

  “You do have a nice aura to you.” A cheetah walked up to me. “I get it now. I get all the excitement over you.” I knew she wasn’t a normal wild cheetah, but she sure looked like one.

  “Excuse me?” I looked at the animal. “I take it you’ve heard of me?” I was growing tired of people knowing about me even though we’d never met.

  “Yes, and I presume you’ve heard of me. I’m Delilah.” The Cheetah preened.

  “Of course she’s heard of you.” Wyatt put an arm around my waist. “Everyone knows about the most powerful Helzin Demon.”

  “What?” Glendale strutted over with his tail high in the air. “What blasphemy are you speaking?”

  “Wyatt speaks the truth.” Delilah raised her neck. “And you know that.”

  “Tell yourself whatever you need to.” Glendale circled our assembled group. “I saw your boyfriend. He’s missing you.”

  “Boyfriend?” Delilah and I said at once. I had no idea demons even got romantically involved. Well, I guess they’d have to in order to reproduce—although there were other ways to be born.

  “Don’t pretend. It’s not a good look on you, Delilah.” Glendale stopped right in front of the cheetah. “You know I mean Mort.”

  “And he’s been dead for ages. How did you see him?”

  “I’ve been in the realm of the dead. Top secret business.” Glendale continued his circling.

  “He took Georgina there,” I explained to those who didn’t know yet. “Dropped her off so to speak.”

  “Wait. What?” Owen’s mouth fell open. “You dropped Georgina off in the realm of the dead? Why the hell would you do that?”

  Glendale stretched. “Because she needed me to.”

  “And I will bring her back,” Xander called from where he stood bound by Franklin.

  “After Hailey kills you?” Wyatt asked. “Because that’s what she said she’s going to do.”

  “Yes. That’s exactly right.”

  “Because then you’d be sent to the realm of the dead?” Owen asked. “I thought that was a rare privilege.”

  “Hailey understands. That’s the only one of you who needs to know.” Xander closed his eyes. That seemed to be his signal that he was tired of a conversation.

  He was right. I did understand. That didn’t mean it was going to be easy to pull off.

  “Hailey.” Wyatt pulled a small wooden box from his pocket. “Violet said to give it to you. She said you’d know what to do with it.”

  I opened the box. The inside was empty. I examin
ed the space. There was a mirror affixed to the backside of the lid. I stared down at my reflection. I looked worn, but I looked strong. I checked the box again. It was definitely empty. Why was Violet wasting my time?

  Before I could worry about it long, I heard the faintest sound of buzzing. I looked over at Wyatt. He was tilting one ear up to hear better. I didn’t know what it was, but I didn’t like it. I stuffed the box in my pocket. “Daisy, get Raven inside.”

  “What’s going on?” Daisy watched me warily. “I hear that too. What do you think it is?”

  “Please, just do it.” Wyatt’s eyes darkened. “And Owen go with her.”

  “What’s going on, Hailey?” Owen’s eyes pled with me to share what I knew.

  We didn’t have time for that. I doubted we had any time at all. “Please. Just listen to me. I know you’re my big brother, but this time you really need to listen.”

  Owen nodded. “I’m going to trust you on this, but Wyatt, if anything happens to Hailey I’m blaming you.”

  “Nothing will happen to her.” Wyatt put his arm around my shoulder. “You know I’d do anything to protect her.”

  “As I would do for you. Any of you.” Owen pulled me into a hug. “Be safe. Or as safe as you can possibly be.” He took Daisy’s hand, and they ran into the cave. They slid the boulder back into place.

  Watching them disappear behind the rock made me feel a little bit better. At least Raven wasn’t in the direct line of attack.

  The buzzing grew louder.

  “They’re back.” A Drago marched toward us. “I should have known.”

  “Gather the others who are fit to fight,” Wyatt ordered. The Drago ran off.

  “What is it, Wyatt?” The sooner I knew what we faced, the sooner I could come up with a plan. At least hypothetically.

  “A swarm.”

  “A swarm,” I repeated the word. “That doesn’t sound good at all.”

  “It’s not.” Wyatt tensed. “But we can take it on.”

  “Yeah, because we have no other choice.” Cade pulled off his shirt and released his long grey, feathered wings. “Is everyone ready?”

  Wyatt’s long, black, green lined wings were already out.