Page 10 of Blood Caged

A tall figure steps through the group, and I gasp in shock as I take in the wave of dark hair and intense violet eyes.

This can’t be right.

“Heath? What are you doing?” I ask, half hoping this situation is not what it seems. I grew up with Heath Moonshadow. His mother, Astra, is not only a respected coven leader but one of Gran’s best friends. His aunt is the High Priestess. He’s magical royalty.

But this isn’t the boy I remember. His familiar face twists into an expression I’ve never seen before – cold, calculating. “I’m sorry, Mia,” he says, but there’s no remorse in his voice. “This is necessary.”

I don’t wait for an explanation. With a shout, I unleash my magic, sending a blast of energy that knocks two of the attackers off their feet. Another lunges at me, and I dodge, my fist connecting with his jaw in a satisfying crunch.

But there are too many. For every one I push back, two more take their place. I feel my protection spell weakening under the onslaught.

Suddenly, Heath’s voice cuts through the chaos, chanting words in a language I don’t recognize. Black tendrils of magic snake toward me, and when they make contact, pain explodes through my body. I scream, feeling my own magic being forcibly suppressed.

Dark magic. This is wrong. Evil!

As my knees buckle and darkness creeps into the edges of my vision, I gather the last remnants of my power. With every ounce of strength I have left, I send out a desperate psychic call.

Rowan! Kara! Help me!

But even as I project the words, I feel the power leaving me. The edges of my vision start to blur and then fade until the world disappears into a pinpoint of darkness.

4

Chapter 4

Soren

Istride into thestronghold, my footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. The air here is heavy, oppressive, a far cry from the opulent vampire residences I’m used to. This place is all function, no form – a fortress designed to contain powerful beings against their will.

The corridors are lined with iron-reinforced doors, each one sealed with both physical locks and magical wards. I had no idea there’d be so many.

And there are many here. More than just the one Maxwell originally told me about. He dropped that bombshell on me later.

I can sense them now, their power muted but still evident. It makes my skin crawl. I’d been told the facility was designed tocontain powerful entities, but nothing could have prepared me for this. This goes far beyond anything I expected.

Fuck.

This isn’t right, no matter how I try to justify it. But at the edge of my senses, Maxwell’s bond prickles and tingles, a reminder that obedience is not optional.

This is bigger than you, Daire. Do your duty.

I spot a tall vampire at the end of the hall, his burly frame tense as he pores over a tablet. He snaps to attention as I approach.

“Lord Daire,” he nods, all business. I’d met the leader of the security team during my preliminary briefing at Maxwell’s residence.

“Grayson,” I return the greeting, keeping my voice level. “Show me around the facility.” I continue walking, not comfortable in this oppressive space. He opens a door, stepping aside to let me pass, then falling in step beside me as we head into another corridor, this one bare and clinical. I can’t feel the witches here.

Thank God.

He launches into the details, his tone clipped and efficient. “The facility is impenetrable, as you will have seen on arrival. We’ve got a team of six stationed at key points around the perimeter. Another four inside, rotating shifts to monitor the cells. All communication is on encrypted channels, and we’ve got magical dampeners in place to prevent any psychic outreach.”

I listen, my jaw clenching tighter with each word. But Maxwell’s command echoes in my mind, an unbreakable chain.

I follow Grayson through the winding corridors, each step feeling heavier than the last. The stronghold is a bizarre mix of ancient and modern – centuries-old stone walls now house state-of-the-art security systems. It’s as if the building itself is caught between two worlds…much like I feel at this moment.

We enter what appears to be an operations room, a hub of activity with monitors lining the walls and a large central table covered with documents. The contrast between the high-tech equipment and the centuries-old architecture is jarring.

Grayson clears his throat. “Lord Daire, allow me to introduce you to the key members of our team.”

---