Page 46 of Hex and Scales

Beside him, Kaito maintained absolute stillness, only his eyes moving as he scanned their surroundings. The cousins had fought countless battles together over the centuries, but tonight felt different. Tonight carried echoes of an ancient loss that still haunted Ren’s dreams.

Eiji crouched nearby, his tablet’s soft blue glow illuminating sharp features usually softened by mischief. “Energy signatures are off the charts,” he murmured, tilting the screen. Crimson lines pulsed across the display, forming patterns that madeRen’s inner beast snarl. “Whatever ritual they’re performing, it’s drawing power from at least three dark ley lines.”

“Show me.” Ren’s voice rumbled low as he studied the data. Eight centuries of protecting Mystic Hollow had taught him every magical current that flowed beneath the town. These signatures were wrong - twisted versions of familiar power.

The walkie-talkie on his belt crackled. “West side’s clear of physical guards,” Rook reported, his tone clipped with tension. “But these magical barriers... they’re not just strong, they’re ancient. Like something pulled straight from the old texts.”

“Because they are.” Kaito’s fingers traced sigils in the air, golden light briefly illuminating symbols that made Ren’s blood run cold. “These are dragon-killer wards. The kind that haven’t been seen since-”

“Since the war.” Ren completed the thought, memories of battlefield smoke and betrayal threatening to surface. He forced them back. Now wasn’t the time.

A rush of displaced air announced Lux’s arrival, his panther form materializing from the shadows with lethal grace. He shifted smoothly back to human form, muscle and sinew realigning with practiced ease. “Dark ritual in progress,” he confirmed, amber eyes gleaming with predatory focus. “They’re not just tapping the ley lines - they’re corrupting them. Turning pure magic into something... hungry.”

“Numbers?” Ren demanded, already calculating strategies.

“Shadow Witch confirmed. At least a dozen major shadow constructs, maybe more forming. No sign of-” Lux hesitated.

“Linus,” Ren growled. His dragon clawed at his control, remembering the traitor who had taken everything. “His magical signature?”

“Everywhere.” Lux’s expression darkened. “Like he’s marked the whole building. But he’s not physically present.”

“Of course not.” Kaito’s lip curled. “He never did like getting his hands dirty. Always preferred letting others take the risks while he-”

The ground shuddered beneath their feet. Dark energy crackled around the warehouse entrance, making their enchanted sensors shriek in protest. The corrupted magic felt oily against Ren’s senses, leaving a film of wrongness that made his dragon rage against its bonds.

“Looks like subtlety’s off the table.” Eiji powered down his tablet with a grimace. “Please tell me we have a plan beyond ‘hit it really hard with fire.’“

“Actually,” a familiar voice cut through the darkness, “I rather thought we might contribute something more... refined.”

They spun to find Madame Zephyrine and Neve materializing from the shadows, their combined presence immediately strengthening the protective wards around the group. Power radiated from the twin witches - ancient magic that rivaled Ren’s own.

“Need some backup, young dragon?” Madame Zephyrine’s eyes sparkled with dangerous amusement. Despite her casual tone, Ren noted how her fingers never stopped weaving protective spells.

Neve’s lips quirked upward. “You didn’t think we’d let you face an ancient evil without proper supervision?”

“I’m a thousand years old,” Ren pointed out drily.

“Exactly.” Neve patted his arm. “Practically a hatchling.”

“If you’re quite finished discussing my age,” Ren growled, though some of the tension in his shoulders eased. Having the twins’ power on their side significantly improved their odds. “We need to-”

A pulse of corrupt magic cut him off, this one strong enough to make their teeth ache. Inside the warehouse, something screamed - a sound that scraped against their souls.

“Right then.” Eiji drew a series of glowing sigils in the air. “Plan?”

Ren’s eyes blazed gold as his dragon surged closer to the surface. “We breach their outer defenses. Rook, Lux - take point in shifter form. Your speed and strength will be crucial against the constructs. Kaito, maintain our shields. Eiji, your enhanced spells will provide covering fire.” He turned to the twins. “Ladies?”

“Oh, don’t mind us.” Madame Zephyrine’s smile turned predatory. “We’ll improvise.”

They moved as one unit, years of training evident in their silent coordination. Ren took point, dragon fire warming his palms as they approached the entrance. The black magic pressed against them like a physical weight, trying to slow their advance.

Kaito’s shields sparked and crackled as they hit the outer wards. For a moment, ancient magic warred with modern protection spells. Then Madame Zephyrine whispered something in a language older than time, and the wards shattered like dark glass.

Inside, the warehouse had been transformed. Shadow magic writhed around a central altar made of obsidian, tendrils of power snaking outward to corrupt the natural ley lines that crossed beneath the building. The sight made Ren’s dragon roar with fury - this was a perversion of everything sacred.

The Shadow Witch stood at the altar’s center, her form more darkness than substance. “Ah, the fabled heroes.” Her voice echoed with dark authority, scraping against their minds like talons on stone. “The dragon who failed to protect his mate, come to try again? How... predictable.”

“Honestly, dear,” Neve drawled, violet magic crackling between her fingers, “your monologuing needs work. Though I suppose that’s what happens when you spend centuries talking to shadows.”

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