18. Doyle/ Michael
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
DOYLE/ MICHAEL
DOYLE
Despite the wound in my chest still aching, I shifted into my dragon form and took to the skies, flying towards Oak Meadow as fast as my wings could carry me.
The night air rushed past me, the stars blurring into streaks of light. Every beat of my wings was fueled by a growing sense of dread.
Matthew had confirmed Michael was on his way there, but something in my gut told me things weren't right.
As the hours passed, the sky darkened, and the landscape below became a patchwork of shadows.
Night had fully fallen by the time I landed silently on Matthew's rooftop.
The darkness cloaked my massive figure, hiding me from any prying eyes.
I jumped off the roof, shifting back to human form mid-air, and landed softly in the backyard.
Immediately, a sense of unease washed over me.
The back door to the kitchen was swinging on its hinges, creaking in the night breeze.
My nose picked up three unfamiliar, unpleasant scents that did not belong to Michael or his dad.
Panic surged through me as I ran inside, calling out their names.
"Doyle, over here," croaked a voice.
I followed the sound to the living room and found Matthew, bleeding and tied to a chair.
Blood dripped from a gunshot wound in his shoulder, and his face was a mess of bruises.
I rushed to his side, untying the ropes with shaky hands.
"Matthew, what happened? Where's Michael?" I demanded, my voice rough with worry.
"Morgan and two witches... they took him," Matthew rasped, grabbing my arm with a trembling hand. "You have to go after them, Doyle."
Rage and fear battled within me. I wanted to fly out immediately and hunt those bastards down, but I forced myself to stay calm.
"Where's the first aid kit?" I asked.
Matthew pointed weakly towards the kitchen.
I found the kit and quickly tended to his injuries, applying pressure to the worst of his wounds.
My mind raced with thoughts of Michael, once more a captive of the Payne Coven.
"Did you hear where they're taking him?" I asked, hopeful for any lead.
"I heard them talking about an abandoned mine. There's only one around here... Silvercrest Mine. It's half a day's drive, but faster for you if you flew," Matthew said, wincing as I bandaged his arm.
"Go, Doyle. I'll be fine. The paramedics will be here any moment. Bring Michael back,” he said.
I nodded, my resolve hardening.
"You can count on me," I said.
Without wasting another second, I sprinted out of the house and shifted back into my dragon form.
The transformation was swift, my body expanding, scales forming, wings unfurling.
With a powerful leap, I launched into the air, heading towards Silvercrest Mine.
The night was my ally, hiding my approach. As I soared through the night sky, the dark silhouette of Silvercrest Mine came into view.
Liliana had chosen another underground location, likely to give her coven the upper hand.
I landed silently a few feet away from the entrance, shifting back to my human form as my feet touched the ground.
I moved cautiously toward the mine entrance and spotted two figures standing guard: a man and a woman.
The warlock and witch were alert, their eyes scanning the darkness. I took a deep breath, preparing for the fight ahead.
The moment they noticed me, the warlock raised his hand, summoning a crackling bolt of energy.
I ducked, narrowly avoiding the spell as it scorched the ground behind me.
The witch chanted rapidly, her fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air.
I felt a sudden weight on my limbs, a spell designed to slow me down.
Pushing through the magical resistance, I surged forward, my dragon-enhanced strength propelling me with incredible speed.
The warlock's eyes widened in surprise, and he fired a second spell. This time, I wasn't fast enough.
A searing pain shot through my shoulder as the energy bolt struck me, but I kept moving, determined to take them down.
The witch pulled out a gun, aiming it at me. Before she could fire, I launched myself at her, knocking the weapon from her hands.
We tumbled to the ground, and I quickly overpowered her, delivering a swift blow to her skull that instantly killed her.
The warlock shouted in anger, his hands glowing with magical energy.
I grabbed the gun from the ground and fired, the shot echoing through the night.
The bullet struck him in the leg, and he crumpled with a cry of pain.
Seizing the opportunity, I closed the distance and finished him off by slicing his throat with my partially shifted claws.
Breathing heavily, I stripped the warlock of his clothes and put them on.
They were a bit tight, but they would serve my purpose. I also took the gun, tucking it into my waistband.
I wondered if the two guards had somehow communicated to Liliana that I was here, but there was no time for second-guessing or pre-planning.
I had to move fast.
Steeling myself, I approached the entrance of the mine. The dark tunnel loomed before me, its mouth swallowing the light.
I stepped inside, the air immediately growing colder and damp. The scent of earth and rock filled my nostrils as I descended further into the mine.
Every step echoed, the sound bouncing off the narrow walls. I kept my senses sharp, listening for any signs of movement.
The darkness pressed in on all sides, but I refused to let fear slow me down.
Michael was in here somewhere, and I was going to find him.
Deeper into the mine, I heard voices. I moved cautiously, staying in the shadows as I approached.
Ahead, the tunnel opened into a larger chamber, dimly lit by torches.
I could see a group of witches and warlocks gathered around a circle, chanting.
In the center of the circle, bound and struggling, was Michael.
Anger surged through me at the sight of him in chains, and I felt my dragon's rage boiling to the surface.
But I couldn't afford to lose control. I had to be strategic.
MICHAEL
“What are you planning to do to me?” I demanded, struggling against the chains.
They were silver-lined and spelled—resisting was futile.
Liliana appeared in my line of sight, and I cringed when she ran her fingers through my hair.
"You won't remember this anyway, so I'll tell you. I'll have to adjust the memory spell I put on you, tighten my control, so when I send you out again, you'll perform your duties and not miss this time," she said.
I swallowed hard.
"How long have I been secretly under your control?" I whispered.
"Haven't you figured it out? Since you became my familiar," she replied, pulling her fingers away.
Relief washed over me as she stopped touching me.
"The only way you can break free of me is to kill me, but that won't be happening anytime soon," she added with a laugh.
"Your plan is pathetic," I blurted out, a mix of foolishness and bravery surging through me. "You and your coven can’t even face Doyle and his pack head-on."
Doyle’s coming for me, I thought desperately. But did I really want that? What if I hurt him again?
“Liliana, Mariana and Lucas are dead,” reported Morgan, stepping into the chamber.
“Well, well. It seems Doyle is finally here,” Liliana said, her tone strangely calm. "I was hoping we'd finish this spell before he arrived, but I guess our schedule has moved up."
Suddenly, Liliana spun on her heel and pointed a finger into the darkness.
“He’s here,” Liliana said with narrowed eyes.
“I’m here, Liliana. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Doyle’s voice echoed, and he stepped out of the shadows.
My heart pounded painfully in my chest.
"Doyle, you shouldn’t have come," I whispered.
“I’ll never abandon you, Michael. You’re my mate,” he said firmly.
Tears filled my eyes at his words. Doyle stepped forward, but a circle flared under his feet—a trap. He didn’t panic.
“I know this trick. It won’t work again. Dragon fire will break the spell,” Doyle said.
As Doyle summoned his dragon fire, I saw my chance.
Morgan was watching Doyle too intently; he’d forgotten he should be watching me.
He was standing close enough that I could grab his foot with my fingers. I lunged, squeezed his toes so hard, until I heard a crack.
He yelped and tripped. Something cold and hard fell near my wrist—the keys.
I grabbed the keys, managing to unlock my wrist restraints just as the chamber filled with the heat of Doyle’s flames.
After my hands were free, I worked on my ankle restraints.
I then shifted to my fox form, the transition slightly sluggish but I somehow managed to complete it.
By then, Morgan had recovered. I lunged at him. He sneered, raising his hands to cast a spell, but I was faster.
I darted around him, nipping at his legs, distracting him.
Morgan fired a spell, missing me by inches. I leaped onto his back, biting down hard.
He yelled in pain, trying to shake me off, but I held on, using my sharp claws to tear at his throat.
Finally, he collapsed under me, dead. A sense of satisfaction filled me but it was short-lived. I turned to my mate.
Doyle’s dragon fire had broken the spell circle, and he was free. He turned to face Liliana, flames still dancing around his hands.
"This ends now, Liliana," he said.
Liliana’s eyes blazed with fury.
“You think you can stop me?” she hissed.
I ran to Doyle’s side, relieved when he reached out and affectionately gave my ears a rub.
“Michael, hold him in place for me,” Liliana ordered.
I told myself her words had no effect on me, but my body moved on its own.
Horror filled me as I realized I had sunk my fangs into Doyle's left leg, bringing him to his knees.
No, I desperately thought. Instead of pushing me away, Doyle grabbed my face and looked deep into my eyes.
"Michael, fight her. You're stronger than you think," he said, his voice calm and reassuring despite the pain.
I struggled, my mind a battlefield between Liliana's commands and my will to resist.
I could feel her presence, dark and suffocating, like chains wrapped around my mind, tightening with every second.
My heart pounded as I saw Liliana out of the corner of my eye, conjuring another spell.
I knew instinctively this one was meant for Doyle, and it would be deadly. Liliana was done playing around.
"No!" I screamed internally, digging deep for any scrap of strength I had left.
Doyle's eyes never left mine, full of unwavering trust and love. It was enough to ignite a spark within me, a reminder of who I truly was.
The control she had over me began to waver.
I felt the chains around my mind start to crack. With every ounce of willpower, I pushed back against her influence.
My body trembled, muscles straining as I fought to regain control.
Liliana’s eyes narrowed, realizing what was happening, and she poured more of her dark energy into the spell, but I refused to yield.
Slowly, the fog in my mind cleared. I released Doyle's leg, panting heavily as I finally broke free from her grip.
My senses returned in a rush, clarity and freedom flooding back. I was done being her puppet.
“It’s too late,” Liliana sneered at me, her eyes now blazing with anger.
I turned to face her, my body now fully under my control.
I'm not your weapon anymore, I thought, a plan forming in my mind. Liliana's spell was almost complete.
I could see the dark energy swirling around her hands, ready to be unleashed.
I ran at her, pushing myself to my limits. She barely had time to react as I knocked her off balance, disrupting her concentration.
The tables had finally turned. The dark energy dissipated for a moment, but I knew she could easily recover.
We had to end her now.
Doyle, now free from my bite, unleashed a torrent of dragon fire, consuming Liliana in its purifying flames.
Her screams echoed through the chamber as she burned.
I looked up at Doyle, smiling when he pulled me into a tight embrace.
He had never given up on me once, I thought, and I would never forget that. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it. It was finally over.