Chapter 12

"Master Jakati told us to keep alert."

Maliz was tired of reminding the other 3. They were stationed at the far west of the grove. It was just the 4 of them here although no one was really worried about how thinly spread out the soldiers were. With all the Terayanu captured, who would attack them after all? They were all stationed by a large tree, with the full moon just beginning to brighten the night sky. Shadows still dominated the area and Maliz gasped in surprise when he saw several pairs of eyes blink back at him from the darkness.

"Sir, what is it?"

The other 3 were now on their feet, searching the darkness with their weapons drawn.

"There! Do you see them?"

The soldiers strained to see past the darkness. They approached the trees. After a few minutes, one of them finally stepped into the darkness.

"I don’t see anyt-"

The others watched in horror as the shadows came alive around him. Dozens of clawed hands grabbed him, his gasp of surprise cut off as his body was shredded by the shadowy creatures. Leaving a mangled mass of flesh and bones, the shadows flowed away and became one with the darkness once again. The remaining 3 made to run and screamed in denial when they realized they couldn’t move. Looking down, Maliz stared into the chilling eyes once more, the gurgling sound of his own blood choking him the only thing he heard as clawed hands pierced his lungs. Within minutes, the clearing was bright and silent revealing 4 corpses illuminated by the moon. Piercing green eyes observed impassively before moving away to rejoin others.

Nick looked up as Luke entered the tent. He carefully schooled his features. Kevin was here on the island, he knew it. Could feel the man although there was something different. There was power where Kevin was.

"Sensing your mate?"

Nick hid his surprise and just glared in response. Luke had spent the day going back to playing his little games and Nick was fed up.

"Back to the glaring, are we?"

Luke circled Nick just observing the young man.

"You like it when he holds you close. I can see it in your face."

‘How could Luke know that? Only while dreaming did he meet Kevin. The first time it happened, Nick had been too surprised to do anything but stare but once he felt Kevin hold him, he returned the embrace eagerly. Their encounters only lasted a few minutes, the magic still too wild for them to control. But it was enough to keep then sane.

"You were there?!"

"Of course. For every stroke and caress. How does it feel to know you were never alone? From the first time you felt me in your mind, your thoughts have been open to me."

Smirking, Luke took on Kevin’s voice once again. "I’m coming for you."

Hurt and angry with himself, Nick turned away. The knowledge he had endangered his family and friends eating away at him.

//He’s devoted to you//

Rage filled him as he felt suffocated by Luke’s constant presence.

"Get out of my head!"

"I will be soon enough." It was said so softly that Nick almost missed it, but looking at Luke, he was rewarded with a soft, almost sad smile.

‘Yeah, right.’ Nick mentally shook himself.

Looking up, Luke’s expression was condescending once more. He called out and 3 guards entered. Removing the chain, they left the tent and Nick was surprised that night had fallen. In an hour, the eclipse would occur signaling Jakati’s moon. A shiver passed through him but he forced himself to stand tall. He was not about to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing him afraid. As they started walking, Luke fell in step beside him.

"In another life, I’d like to think we would have been very good friends."

"Like hell," Nick muttered even as he ignored the man.

"You have to admit, we do get along."

Finally, Nick turned to look at Luke and bit out.

"Look, I don’t know…….. maybe. But seeing as how right not you’re leading me to be sacrificed, friendship isn’t exactly the term that comes to mind."

Entering the clearing, Nick was taken aback as he observed the torches that had been placed all around. With the full moon shinning down on them, the entire grove was now illuminated. A soldier approached them to update Luke.

"Master Jakati ordered us to light the torches after 3 squads were found dead, sir." The soldier appeared shaken and looked like he wanted to say more, but then abruptly turned and walked away.

Nick was confused but Luke seemed to have expected the report and continued leading Nick to the center of the grove. There were 5 large marble pillars, each carved with a different pattern but all a variant of the pattern on Nick’s hand. They were roughly twice Nick’s height and were spaced about 5 feet apart from each other in a circle. So intent was Nick on studying the structure, he never noticed Jakati and Marduk approach them until they were standing right next to him. Neither member of the group had yet to enter the encircled area.

"It is almost time," Jakati murmured as he observed the moon, pulling out a beautiful diamond bladed dagger.

Jayden steadied the arrow, forcing his heart to stop its racing pace.

‘I must do this. There is no other way.’

He finally calmed himself down and aimed directly for the dragon prince’s heart.

"What we need is some kind of distraction. Any ideas?"

They had waited just beyond the clearing, Kevin’s shadows effectively blocking them from view.

‘Still need to get used to that.’ Brian looked around uneasily. The thought that the shadows around him were alive and able to do some serious damage, at least they obey Kevin.

Kevin.

They’d had to physically restrain him when Nick had entered the clearing. He was mumbling something about not being able to feel him, a block somewhere. Surprisingly, AJ was the one to calm him down. Pointing out that Nick needed them to think rationally (earning a raised eyebrow from Howie at the source of this piece of wisdom) AJ had managed to focus Kevin’s thoughts once more.

Someone definitely knew something was up though. The fact that they had lit the torches proved that. Somehow they had to douse the flames before the shadows could do their work.

A commotion at the grove brought their attention back to Nick once again. What they saw caused them all to gasp in surprise.

AJ, as always had to add his two cents worth.

"Talk about a distraction."

Jakati spread out his senses, careful to keep alert now that he was so close to his goal. At the same time, eyeing his once loyal apprentice.

‘Such a waste!’

All that potential, gone now that he had to get rid of the man. And for what? A fascination with a Drake.

Oh, the man was still far from being turned to side of good as it were but he been ‘corrupted’ and that in itself was unacceptable to the warlock.

Surprise hit him as he picked up on a Terayanu mind among the trees.

‘Aim for the heart…….. Make a quick and painless kill…………. Fire.’

‘No!’