Page 27 of Rage of the Fallen

My gaze dropped to the grass, my fingers idly plucking at the blades. “I don’t know if I have the strength for this, Damon. I don’t know if I can be who you need me to be right now. I feel…broken.”

Damon’s expression softened as he listened to my words. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, a gesture so familiar it made my heart ache for simpler times.

“All right, Sawyer.” His voice was gentler now. “We’ll rest, but only for a while. We can’t lose sight of why we’re here.” He squeezed my hand, his grip firm and reassuring. “And don’t you worry about being strong right now. That’s why you’ve got me. We’ll get through this together, okay?”

More footsteps approached us. I was too tired to look. If it was Justice and Rage, I didn’t know if I had the heart to fight them.

Damon glanced over his shoulder. “The rest of the team made it through the vortex, too.”

Zara and Lisa sat beside me. They looked as exhausted and defeated as I felt. The phoenix landed next to Lisa and regarded us curiously as if wondering what we were going to do next.

Brody was the last to join our circle, his steady footsteps coming to a halt as he surveyed our group. Even in the dim light, I saw the concern etched on his face, mixed with the unwavering determination that always seemed to radiate from him.

“Listen,” Brody began, his voice low but firm. “I know we’re all feeling the weight of what happened. Losing Justice was a blow we weren’t prepared for.” He paused, looking each of us in the eye. “I can see we’re all running on empty.”

He crouched, joining our huddle on the grass. “We need to rest and regroup. We’re no good to Justice or anyone else if we push ourselves to the breaking point.”

A wave of relief washed over me at his words. Brody always seemed to know what the team needed, even when we couldn’t admit it ourselves.

“But Brody,” Zara started, her voice tight with worry. “Every minute we waste?—”

“Isn’t wasted if it means we’re at our best when it counts,” Brody finished, his tone gentle but brooking no argument. “Two hours. We rest, we eat if we have provisions, and we make a solid plan. Then, we hit that castle with everything we’ve got.”

The phoenix trilled softly as if in agreement with Brody’s strategy.

Damon nodded, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “Brody’s right. We’re no use to Justice like this.”

I felt Brody’s hand on my shoulder, warm and reassuring. “Sawyer, I know you’re hurting the most right now. But I need you to hold onto hope. We’re going to get him back.”

For the first time since landing in this new place, a tiny spark ignited in my chest. With Brody’s steady leadership and the team around me, maybe we did have a chance. I nodded, meeting his gaze. “Okay,” I whispered. “Two hours. Then we save Justice.”

Brody smiled and stood. “All right, team. Let’s set up a perimeter and get some rest. We’ve got a big fight ahead of us.”

As the team moved with renewed purpose, I realized sometimes strength wasn’t about pushing forward relentlessly. Sometimes, it was about knowing when to pause, regroup, and lean on each other. And I was grateful for a leader who understood that.

Damon and I snuggled against a tree, its rough bark digging into my back, contrasting Damon’s comforting warmth. He put his arm around me, the familiar scent of his leather jacket mingling with the earthy forest air. I laid my head on his shoulder, feeling the rise and fall of his steady breathing. Tears freely fell as I thought of Justice. The chill of fear and loss settled deep in my bones, making me shiver despite Damon’s embrace.

Brody walked the perimeter of our little camp, his footsteps a rhythmic crunch on the forest floor. The rustle of leaves in the cool night breeze seemed to whisper warnings, keeping us on edge. I only hoped the bad guys needed to sleep, too. The question gnawed at me. Did demons sleep? The thought of our otherworldly enemies sent a shudder through me, my mind conjuring shadowy figures with glowing eyes lurking beyond the firelight.

Right now, I didn’t care. Exhaustion had consumed me, seeping into every fiber of my being. My limbs felt leaden, my eyelids heavy as stone. Even my thoughts seemed to move in slow motion, trudging through a fog of fatigue.

The gentle crackling of our small campfire and the soft murmur of my teammates’ hushed voices blended into a soothing lullaby, tempting me to surrender to the oblivion of sleep. Yet even as my body craved rest, my heart ached with worry for Justice, keeping me teetering on the edge of consciousness.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Someone shook me gently. “Sawyer. Hey, it’s time to get up, sleepyhead.”

I looked into my brother’s weary eyes, noting the dark circles and the stubble that had grown heavier. I wondered if he had gotten any sleep. Knowing Damon, he’d probably spent the night on watch, shouldering the burden of keeping us all safe.

“Morning, sunshine,” he stated with a tired smirk, his attempt at levity not quite reaching his eyes. “Ready to go kick some demon ass?”

I blinked and stretched as dawn peeked over the horizon, its golden rays piercing the misty Scottish air. The light caught the turrets of Inveraray Castle, their slate-gray stone glowing warmly against the pale sky. The majestic structure peeked through the trees, its fairy-tale silhouette a stark contrast to the grim reality of our mission.

Rising to my feet, I took in our surroundings. The forest around us was coming alive with the sounds of morning. Birds chirping their dawn chorus, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of ancient oaks and Scots pines. The crisp, damp air carried the earthy scents of moss and heather.

As we gathered our gear, I couldn’t help but marvel at the castle beyond the tree line. Inveraray stood proudly, its imposing Gothic Revival architecture a testament to centuries of Scottish history. The symmetrical towers flanked a central keep, their crenellations cutting a dramatic figure against the lightening sky. The pale walls seemed to glow as if the castle itself was waking up to greet the day.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, almost forgetting why we were here.

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