Chapter 3- Rescue Mission

Elowen POV

Bram carried me into the courtyard like I was breakable, but I didn’t stop him. Not today. I just snuggled into his warm arms as he kissed my forehead.

The air was thick with magic and tension, like the entire realm was holding its breath. Soldiers lined the walls in silence. Mages whispered enchantments. The stone beneath us vibrated with energy. It was the kind of morning that tasted like battle and fate.

Bram set me gently on the velvet draped bench the healers had placed for me, but he didn’t let go of my hand. Across the courtyard, the strike team stood assembled. My people. My wolves. My chaos crew. My fucking family.

Taya, twitching like she needed to stab something just to calm down. Rylen, composed as ever, adjusting the straps on his chest armor like a man about to walk into war and smile doing it. Jace, one arm draped around Amaris, his mate, the other casually flipping a dagger through his fingers like this was just another Tuesday. Amaris’s eyes were locked on the portal site, face like stone. But I knew her heart was fire.

Princess Rivena, all alpha royalty and killer grace, stood between her mates, Druen Fenrath, ex-strike team, brooding and deadly, and Prince Lazurien Sylvendril, dryad heir and arrogant walking moonbeam. The three of them were a storm front in the making.

And behind them, standing tall with stoic power were Alpha King Draven and Luna Aelira. My wolves. My royal anchors.

On the opposite side stood King Myrion and Queen Calavira Sylvendril, their daughters Princess Isyndrae and Princess Lioraeth flanking them. Regal, rooted, watching everything with eyes like blooming death and ancient magic.

Lachlan moved to the center of the courtyard, elemental power curling around him in golden threads. His brogue cut through the air, low and sharp. “Portal’s anchored to the Crucible Gardens. I’ll hold it as long as I can. Go quick, go quiet. If ye hear screamin’, kill first, ask later.”

“Music to my ears,” Taya muttered.

Lachlan’s staff struck the stone, and the air tore open. The portal was massive, crackling white blue, the edges fringed with threads of lightning and shadow. It pulsed like a living wound in the world. Jace turned, pressing a kiss to Amaris’s temple. She looked up at him and whispered something I didn’t catch, but the way he smiled told me it was good.

Taya was the first to step forward, then Rylen. No hesitation. Just fire and faith.

“You all better come back in one piece,” Draven rumbled from beside me. “Or I will come drag your asses home myself.”

Luna Aelira crossed her arms, chin high. “And if anyone touches a hair on that girls head, burn them. Slowly.”

Rivena smirked, eyes flashing. “You’ll have their ashes.”

Druen gave me a rare, quiet nod. “We’ll bring her home.”

“And we’ll bring back pieces of Lucien,” Lazurien added casually, adjusting his immaculate cloak. “For decoration. Or snacks.”

From the sidelines, Princess Lioraeth gasped. “You are so violent.”

“You’re just noticing that now?” Princess Isyndrae deadpanned.

Lazurien shot Lioraeth a wink. “Don’t worry, sister. I only stab for the right reasons.”

Jace laughed loudly, "Same bro!"

Amaris's eyes narrowed at him. “And you’ll stay stabbed to me, thank you.”

Lyssira snorted in my head. “Gods, I love this damn pack of psychos.”

“Me too.” I mumbled, trying to hold back tears.

Each of them stepped toward the portal, Jace and Amaris first, weapons drawn, hands clasped.Taya and Rylen next, moving like two parts of the same storm.Then Rivena, flanked by her mates. Druen’s shadows curled behind her, Lazurien’s vines coiled protectively around her ankles like living armor.

Queen Calavira called out, voice like leaves in the wind. “May the roots hold you. May the storm obey you.”

King Myrion’s voice followed, deeper. “Return with honor. Or not at all.”

Rivena paused at the edge of the portal. She turned to face me, those golden lycan eyes sharp. “We’ve got her. No matter what it takes.”

I nodded, throat tight. "Come back to us."

Then they vanished, one by one, swallowed by the light. The portal snapped shut like a heartbeat stopping. Gone. I exhaled shakily, clinging to Bram’s hand.

“They’ll make it,” Lyssira whispered in my mind. “They have to.”

“They will,” I whispered aloud, eyes fixed on the empty space where the portal had been.

Because if they didn’t? There wouldn’t be a single stone of Lucien’s kingdom left standing when I was finished with it.

Taya Quinn POV

The Rescue

The moment my boots hit the garden stones, the air wrapped around me like a wet glove, humid, thick, and wrong. The Crucible Gardens looked peaceful from a distance: overgrown vines, flowers glowing faintly in the shadows, fountains trickling with something too thick to be water.

But I knew better. This place was a trap dressed up as a prayer. “Smells like ego, death, and overpriced cologne,” Zuki snarled in my head, sniffing mentally.

“Must be Lucien’s place.”

“Focus.” I snapped at her.

We split fast. Just like we planned.

Distraction team peeled off to the east, Rivena, Druen, and Lazurien already flaring power and pulling attention like the divine storm they were. Rivena’s laugh echoed off stone like a war drum. Druen’s shadows slithered over the statues, and Lazurien? That glowing bastard lit up the sky with bioluminescent vines as they vanished down the courtyard stairs.

That left us. Extraction team: Me. Rylen. Jace. Amaris.

We didn’t speak. We didn’t need to. We’d done this dance too many times. We moved fast, blades low, footsteps silent. The garden twisted into blackstone pathways the closer we got to Lucien’s personal tower.

The first ward shimmered up from the ground like a snake.

“Got it,” I whispered.

I reached out, slicing moonlight across it with my dagger. It hissed and fizzled, gone.

Second ward? Motion triggered. Rylen tossed a coin. It exploded mid air. He nodded once. “Still got it.”

Third one, just before the stairs. Magical tripwire laced with something blood bound. Jace used his shadow edge to slip beneath it, then slashed it clean. The ward burst like black fireworks and faded.

Then we were there. Lucien’s doors. Carved obsidian, drenched in magic. Glowing faintly with Raelith’s fucking mark. It was locked.

“Fuck,” I growled. “Of course it is.”

“I’m on it,” Amaris said, already kneeling. Her fingers moved fast, tracing runes midair, her lips murmuring spell-break incantations. Her mate, Jace, watched her like a hawk, blades drawn.

“I really want to blow it up,” Zuki whispered.

“So do I.” I growled back.

Then...BOOM. The whole courtyard shook. Screams. Explosions. The sound of divine chaos erupting across the gardens.

“That’s our cue,” Rylen muttered.

Amaris cursed under her breath and.....click. The lock snapped. The doors flew open, slamming into the walls. And the darkness inside breathed.

Jace lit his hand with moon flame. Rylen summoned moonlight. And I... I stepped forward first.

The light flooded the room....And I saw her.

Curled inside a silver barred cage, naked and trembling. Golden brown hair tangled. Skin covered in bruises and cuts. Her arms were wrapped around herself like she was holding in her soul.

But her eyes....gods. Those glowing golden eyes stared out at us like she didn’t dare believe we were real.

A gasp tore from my throat, and I dropped to my knees, hand pressed to my chest. “Oh, gods. No…”

“She’s just a girl,” Zuki whispered, unusually quiet. “A girl who should’ve never been in a place like this.”

Amaris moved first, moonlight blazing from her fingers as she carved through the cage’s locking runes. Jace and Rylen were already watching the door, weapons raised, tension coiled.

The silver melted. The door creaked open. I stepped in, gently, and wrapped the girl in a blanket, one of the enchanted ones from our satchel. Warmth, safety, protection. She flinched but didn’t fight.

I touched her face. “We’ve got you. You’re safe now.”

She didn’t speak. Didn’t cry. Just… stared. Watching everything. Like she was waiting for the nightmare to start again.

And then....Lucien. The doors exploded inward as he stormed into the room like the devil himself, face twisted in pure, feral rage. Eyes glowing. Fangs bared. Bloodlust dripping off him like poison.

“MINE!” he roared.

Jace and Rylen didn’t wait. They launched. Flesh met magic. Claws against steel. Fangs clashed. The room became chaos.

“GO!” Rylen shouted. “Get her out of here, NOW!”

“TAKE HER!” Jace added, struggling with Lucien’s arm locked around his throat.

Amaris was already dragging me. “Taya. Now.”

I hesitated. Everything in me screamed to stay. “Don’t you fucking dare,” Zuki growled. “You know the mission. You know what matters.”

But my heart, my heart was splitting down the middle. Still, I obeyed. We ran. I cradled the girl in my arms as we raced through the tower halls, Amaris slashing wards down like death incarnate. The air was thick with smoke, screaming, and distant power crackling like thunder.

Lachlan’s portal was already opening at the courtyard edge, glowing like a lifeline.

“GO!” I screamed.

Amaris dove through first. I shoved the girl in after her.

Jace’s voice echoed behind me, snarling. “TAYA!”

I turned back just in time to see Lucien slam Rylen into the floor. And something in me broke.

“Don’t,” Zuki pleaded. “We have to...”

“He’s my mate. I won't leave him..” I hissed.

I looked at the portal, it was still open. Looked back at Rylen. And then I ran. Back into the flames. Back into the fight.

Back for my mate.