Saphyra carefully glided towards the opening of the cave, setting everyone on the ground before shifting back.
“Woo! Now that was an experience. Let’s go again,” Hunter said with a lot of enthusiasm.
“Appreciate your enthusiasm, Hunter, but-”
An explosion that came from inside the cave cut Isaiah’s sentence short. Tremors rocked the ground as everyone braced themselves.
“Zira!” Percy, not waiting for everyone to follow, ran inside. Malachi, though chained, ran after him.
“Hunter, Chris,” Isaiah commanded, and they ran after Malachi without him having to say more. He turned to stop Mary and Celeste from following. “Wait, you two should stay out here.”
“You gotta be kidding me, Wolf boy.”
“Celeste, you are one of only two dragons. If I was Blaze, I wouldn’t have you anywhere near here. Besides, I have a job for you. Both of you, but first thing first. Your safety. Mary, if what Percy told us on the way here is true, we need to advise the Alpha King and find safety for the other white wolves, including Arias. I trust you know what to do. Get Trixie to help.”
“Alpha, I-”
“Don’t worry, Mary. I promise you I will bring Zed-” Celeste coughed “-and Blaze back to you both.”
Celeste and Mary looked at each other before slowly nodding their heads. Mary took Arias from Isaiah and he immediately started to protest.
“Daddy, I want to go with you.” Isaiah picked him up to give him one more hug, taking in his scent.
“I need you to be a big boy now, Bugga, and go with Auntie Mary on the dragon,” Isaiah said to him.
“Nooooo!” Arias grabbed at Isaiah’s shirt. “Come with us.”
Isaiah tilted Arias’s head so he was looking at him. “Look, Bugga. I have to go get Mommie and bring her home but now I need you and Mister Giggles to protect Auntie Mary, OK? Like a superhero? Do you want to be a superhero?”
Arias looked concerned and on the verge of tears, looking between Mary, Mister Giggles, and Isaiah. He nodded slowly.
“I protect Mary and Mister Giggles protect you,” Arias said, attaching Mister Giggles around Isaiah’s neck.
To placate him, Isaiah just nodded and gave him a kiss on the forehead. He hightailed it inside the cave, using his pack members’ scents to find them, since he couldn’t mindlink them for some reason. He made it to the open area and almost ran into everyone. They were frozen and looking at the scene in front of them.
Standing on a platform was a shadow man holding Drake in the air by his throat with Clary mimicking his movements. Drake was screaming, trying to wiggle out of his grip while a chained Malachi stood in front of Ezekiel.
“What is happening,” Isaiah asked, stepping through them to get a better look. “Where’s Zira?”
“I don’t know,” Percy told him. “When I showed up I only saw Clary and this shadow guy came out of her. He tried to grab Ezekiel but Malachi stepped in the way. So he took Drake instead.”
Drake quickly stopped screaming and the shadow man dropped him to the ground. “I need more,” the man said with a demonic undertone while turning to face the others.
“Then you’ll do what I promised,” Clary asked.
“Of course, anything for my great-great-granddaughter,” the man smiled before returning to Clary’s crystal.
“Finnick,” Councilman Faulkner gasped, stepping forward.
A small recognition flashed across Clary's face and Finnick appeared as a shadow in front of her.
“What are you doing,” Lana said to Councilman Faulkner. “I think it’s best you stay here with us.”
Councilman Faulkner ignored her and continued until he was in front of the shadow. “Brother,” Finnick said with joy but the demonic undertone made it creepy, “you are a sight for sore eyes. How did you get so…old?”
“H-h-ow,” Councilman Faulkner stuttered. “You’re supposed to be dead.”
Finnick smiled again. “Yes, I was in a way, but now I’m back and soon I will recover fully.”
Councilman Faulkner bowed his head. “Brother, I-I am so sorry about what happened to you. I didn’t mean-”
Finnick stopped Councilman Faulkner from speaking. “It was the past, Faulkner. I understand that your misguided mind saw me as a villain. No doubt Niamh had something to do with it. Promises were made and some were broken, right?”
Faulkner’s ghostly hand touched Councilman Faulkner’s shoulder as he stared into Faulkner’s eyes. Finnick’s eyes turned black as his smile grew and Clary’s crystal glowed brightly.
“I, on the other hand, made you a promise before I died…” Councilman Faulkner made a gurgling sound and looked down to see Clary’s arm going through his chest, “...and I remember promising to kill you the next time I saw you.”
Clary pulled her hand free as Councilman Faulkner crumbled to the floor. Everyone stared in shock before Lana screamed.
“You fucking bastard!” She shifted into her white wolf, Jeni, and charged Finnick’s shadow.
“Lana, no!”
Isaiah jumped in Jeni’s way, getting zapped by Clary’s lightning bolt and flying into the wall before pulling her hand back to her chest. Percy ran over to help Isaiah, who was dusting stuffing from his chest. Mister Giggles was no more. Jeni growled at Clary but still lunged at Finnick, who looked unfazed by her attack. Another lightning bolt flashed and struck in front of Jeni, causing her to stop.
“Finnick, stop. Please, Lana. I don’t want to hurt you,” Clary said, while Finnick laughed at the little display.
“You’re getting stronger,” he said, stepping behind her, “but you know she’s never going to stop.”
Electricity trickled out of Clary’s fingertips as she stared at Jeni prepping for another attack. Finnick’s words played in her mind, coaxing her.
“What have I taught you, Clary? Sometimes you have to sacrifice a few to save many. You know what you have to do.”
Clary knew exactly what Finnick wanted her to do but she wasn’t sure she could kill Lana. The moment Clary looked at Finnick, Jeni took the opportunity to lunge at both of them, aiming her claws at Finnick. Clary hesitated but Finnick moved her hand to throw out a bigger bolt, causing the area to flash with light and smoke. Finnick nods his approval to Clary before disappearing into the crystal.
“What the hell, Clary,” Ezekiel yelled, grabbing her shoulder.
Clary, a bit shaken by what she did, pulled away from Ezekiel. “I…I…” Clary could barely breathe, blinking her eyes while trying to come to terms with what just happened. Lana is…
“You…killed them,” Ezekiel said, looking at her in shock. “We’re not killers!”
“I…I warned her,” Clary snapped at him before taking a deep breath to calm herself. “I cannot let anyone get in the way, Eke. I’m doing this for us.”
“We need more power, Clary,” Finnick said as Clary’s eyes went black momentarily, looking at Ezekiel. “He seems strong enough.”
“No,” Malachi growled, pulling Ezekiel behind him.
“No problem,” Finnick hissed back. “You will do.” Finnick reached out but Clary stopped her hand from touching Malachi.
“Stop,” Clary said to him. “I said they were off limits. They are mine.”
Finnick appeared before her. “Fine, but we need more power to bring me back fully.”
“I know where you can get more.”
“Clary, don’t,” Ezekiel pleaded while she shook him off.
“My pack has a few wolves. It should be enough.”
“Then we leave. Now before your little friends gain their footing. Open a portal like I showed you and bring that one too,” Finnick said, pointing at Drake’s body.
“And Councilman Faulkner?”
“Leave him,” Finnick said with a wave of his hand. “He’s outlived his purpose.”
Finnick disappeared as Clary opened a portal using the necklace. Before walking through, Clary held out her hand to Malachi and Ezekiel. They hesitated for a moment before Malachi walked over to her and she removed his chains. He took this moment to pick up Drake’s body as Ezekiel remained in his spot.
“Eke, my love, we have to go,” Clary said.
“No,” Ezekiel said, moving back from her. “You are going too far. Look at Drake. Look at Councilman Faulkner and Lana..they are…were one of us and look at them now.”
Clary could feel his anger but she knew this was the only way. She walked to him but he jerked back. A hurt expression crossed her face before she clenched her hand, digging her nails into her skin.
“Eke, we can talk about this when everything is said and done. Now please, come with us,” she pleaded one last time.
“Why,” Ezekiel growled. “To be another sacrifice to the cause?”
Clary gave him one last look, trying to convince him to come, but Ezekiel looked away. Frustrated, she turned around. “Fine! Have it your way,” she said, walking through the portal. Ezekiel turned just in time to see Malachi looking at him.
“I’m sorry, brother,” Malachi said. “She is our mate and this would make her happy.”
Malachi walked through the portal as the smoke finally cleared and Isaiah, Hunter, and Chris were ready to attack. They shifted back when they realized it was only Ezekiel waiting on the other side. Before Isaiah could question him, they heard another scream and turned to see Lana holding a motionless white wolf in her arms. Isaiah started to move when he heard someone else call his name.