Chapter 12: Race Against the Dark

The hotel room felt ice-cold even with the heat on.

Liora stood frozen, phone still clutched in her hand from Kira’s call.

Her little brother—Ethan.

Only ten years old.

Still fighting a sickness that never let go.

Gone.

Taken from his hospital bed while the guards were distracted.

“No…” Liora whispered, tears spilling fast. “Not him. Please—not him.”

Kael was already moving.

Clothes pulled on fast. Weapons grabbed from the bag under the bed.

His face was hard. Silver eyes glowing with barely restrained rage.

“We get him back,” he said firmly. “Now.”

The door burst open.

Kira didn’t bother knocking.

“We got a location,” she said fast. “Old manor on the north edge—the one Dax mentioned. Vortigern’s there early. Holding the kid as bait.”

Liora’s hands shook.

“He’ll hurt Ethan if we don’t come.”

Kael crossed the room and cupped her face gently, thumbs wiping her tears.

“He won’t,” he said low. “We’re faster. Smarter this time.”

Even if it kills me.

The Forgotten moved fast.

Ten fighters geared up. Trucks loaded.

Rain pounded harder outside, like the city itself was crying.

Liora rode shotgun while Kael drove.

Her knee bounced nonstop.

Memories flooded her mind—Ethan’s small hand in hers during treatments, his weak smiles when she read him stories, how he always pretended he wasn’t scared.

Kael reached over and squeezed her thigh.

“Breathe,” he said. “We’re getting him.”

She nodded, covering his hand with hers.

They reached the manor in under an hour.

A massive old house on a hill. Lights glowing behind tall iron gates.

Guards everywhere.

More than expected.

Kira’s voice crackled over the radio.

“Heavy security. He knows we’re coming.”

Kael parked the truck deep in the trees.

“We split,” he said. “Half create a distraction at the front. Me and Liora go in the back with two others.”

Plan set.

Go.

Explosions ripped through the front gate.

Gunfire followed. Shouts echoed through the rain.

Kael led Liora and two fighters through a side fence cut open quickly. Rain soaked them instantly. Mud sucked at their boots.

Inside the grounds, shadows moved.

Kael shifted partial—claws out, senses sharp.

Three guards went down silent before they could react.

They reached a back door.

Lock picked fast.

Inside, the manor smelled like old wood… and blood.

They moved upstairs.

Voices.

Then—

Vortigern’s cold laugh.

Liora’s heart nearly stopped.

They crept closer.

The door cracked open.

Ethan sat tied to a chair in the center of a large bedroom. Pale. Shaking. But alive.

His eyes went wide when he saw Liora.

Vortigern stood over him, black sword resting in his hand. Four guards nearby.

“Tell your sister hello when she comes,” Vortigern said casually. “She’ll trade herself for you, boy.”

Ethan shook his head, brave despite the fear.

“She won’t let you win.”

Vortigern lifted the sword playfully.

“We’ll see.”

Kael moved like lightning.

He burst through the door, claws slashing the nearest guard’s throat.

The two Forgotten followed—suppressed shots cracking tight and deadly.

Chaos exploded.

Kael went straight for Vortigern.

Sword clashed against claws. Sparks flew.

Liora ran to Ethan, hands shaking as she cut the ropes.

“I’m here, baby,” she whispered. “I’m here.”

Ethan clung to her, crying quietly.

“I knew you’d come.”

Guards dropped one by one.

Vortigern swung hard.

Kael dodged and countered, claws ripping deep across the man’s arm.

Blood sprayed.

Vortigern snarled, backing toward the window.

“You think this ends it?”

Kael growled low.

“It ends tonight.”

But Vortigern smashed through the window and jumped.

Two stories down.

He hit the ground rolling and bolted for the trees.

Kael started after him.

Liora grabbed his arm hard.

“No!” she cried. “Ethan first. Get him safe.”

Kael froze.

Rage screamed in him to chase.

But then he looked at her.

At Ethan’s small hand wrapped in hers.

He nodded once.

“You’re right.”

They ran.

Down the stairs. Out the back.

Trucks were already waiting.

Ethan stayed in Liora’s lap the entire ride back, finally falling asleep against her chest—exhausted but alive.

Back at the hotel, a Forgotten doctor checked him.

Weak, but no new injuries.

Medicine given.

He’d stay hidden here now.

Liora sat by Ethan’s bed until he slept deeply.

Kael watched from the doorway—heart full and aching at the same time.

She finally stood and closed the door softly behind her.

Wrapped her arms around Kael’s waist and pressed her head to his chest.

“We did it,” she whispered. “He’s safe.”

Kael held her tight.

“Because of you.”

She looked up, eyes red from crying but shining.

“We’re a team.”

He kissed her slowly, deeply—relief pouring out of them both.

In their room, the door locked behind them.

No words needed.

Clothes came off slowly. Hands explored like they were rediscovering each other.

Kael laid her on the bed gently, kissed down her body—neck, breasts, stomach.

He lingered at her breasts, mouth warm and slow, then firmer, drawing soft sounds from her lips.

“Liora…” he breathed as he moved lower.

His touch was patient. Loving.

She came quickly, body trembling, trying to stay quiet.

Then he was over her.

Sliding in deep.

Slow at first. Steady.

Their eyes never broke contact.

She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer.

Faster. Deeper.

Hands everywhere. Breath everywhere.

They came together—hard and perfect—whispering love like a promise they refused to break.

Afterward, tangled and warm, her head rested on his shoulder.

“We’re free now,” she said softly. “Vortigern ran. We can leave the city. Start new. You, me, Ethan.”

Kael kissed her hair.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “Soon.”

His phone buzzed on the table.

Unknown number.

A photo loaded.

Vortigern’s scarred face—smiling.

Text beneath it:

You saved the boy. Good. Now watch me take something better.

Another image appeared.

Liora in the hotel lobby earlier—hugging Ethan after the rescue.

Timestamp: minutes ago.

Someone inside the hotel.

A traitor.

Final message:

She dies at dawn unless you come alone.

Old warehouse.

The one where it all started.

Kael’s blood went cold.

Vortigern wasn’t running.

He was setting the final trap.

And Liora was the bait.

Kael deleted the message and pulled her closer.

She slept peacefully in his arms.

But he didn’t sleep at all.

Dawn was only hours away.

And he had a choice to make.

Go alone—

Or risk everything.

And maybe never come back.