?


    Chapter 0776


    Nina


    I crouched low in the underbrush, my heart pounding against my ribcage. Peering through the fronds, I could just make out the cave entrance that would lead us to M''s pce, and hopefully, to my husband.


    But it wouldn''t be so simple to get in. This time, there were guards stationed at the entrance—and a lot of them, too. Getting inside would be no easy feat, and might even be impossible to do without being seen.


    "That''s a lot more resistance than we were anticipating," Matt muttered, crouched beside me with Jessica and the others. A cluster of Kai''s warriors fanned out behind us, their expressions grim.


    I swallowed hard. "What are our options?" I asked, my voice low. "Is there another way inside?"


    One of the warriors, crouched by my side, shook his head. "The only other cave entrance is on the other side of the mountain, and is likely guarded like this as well"


    A heavy silence fell over our group as we digested this information. Taking the entrance by force was beginning to seem more and more impossible by the second.


    "I could cause a distraction," a lilting voice suddenly piped up.


    I turned to see Daphne edging forward, her red hair catching the light. Her bird form could be useful, with its small size and agility. But it was dangerous.


    "Absolutely not," Matt interjected. "It''s too dangerous, Daphne. Those brutes could swat you out of the air like a gnat."


    Daphne bristled and ced her hands on her hips. "Are you doubting my abilities?" she scoffed.


    As the two continued to bicker in hushed tones, I felt a gentle hand on my arm. I nced over to see Lori leaning in close, her eyes serious.


    "She''s right," murmured. "Daphne''s abilities may be our best chance at causing enough chaos to infiltrate the pce. If she can create an opening, even just a small one..."


    She trailed off, and despite my reservations, I knew she was right. A wave of resignation washed over me as I realized that perhaps this was the only way.


    Matt seemed toe to the same conclusion, for his shoulders slumped in defeat. Slowly, he turned back to Daphne with a look I couldn''t quite read fear, maybe.


    "Just... be careful," he said, swallowing hard. "Okay?"


    For a beat, Daphne''s fierce expression softened into something impossibly tender and sad.


    Then, rising up on her tiptoes, she flung her arms around Matt''s neck and kissed him firmly. The rest of us looked away, smirking and blushing at the sudden disy of affection from the usually-shy Daphne.


    When they finally parted, she nodded and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I''ll draw them off for as long as I can," she said simply.


    Then, giving us one final nod, she shifted and flitted off in a sh of red feathers.


    Within seconds, her bird form began to weave dizzying patterns around the startled guards, near-impossible to track with the naked eye. The guards swatted and stumbled, shocked by her sudden divebombs until they finally stumbled far enough away from the cave entrance.


    "Now," Luke said softly, gesturing to the warriors.


    Without a moment of hesitation, Kai''s warriors surged forward, forming a loose semicircle around the cave mouth. Taking cues from Matt, they spread out with practiced efficiency, alreadyshing out with their gleaming des as the first few guards snapped to attention.


    "We need to move quickly," Luke hissed beside me, crouched low and ready to sprint at a moment''s notice. "Lori, youing with us, or-?"


    "I''m staying here," replied, pulling a small knife out of her belt. "With Jessica." She looked over at her girlfriend, who merely nodded and shifted in the blink of an eye, crouching to allow her to ride on her back.


    Giving my friend''s arm one final squeeze, I rose into a half-crouch alongside Luke and Tyler, keeping my strides low and measured as we began to advance toward the skirmish.


    The sounds of battle raged around us, of shing steel and grunts of exertion. Overhead, Daphne''s flickering form kept up its breakneck pace, whirling and diving in a dizzying frenzy.


    Finally, we reached the entrance of the cave. It was unfathomably dark inside, but I knew that soon, torches would light our way the closer we got to M''s pce.


    I swallowed hard against the sour taste coating my tongue. The dragon''s den.


    "Stay close and keep quiet," Luke murmured, shooting me a sidelong look. I nodded and took Tyler''s hand, remembering my promise to my mother-to not let my brother out of my sight.


    And together, the three of us ventured into the cave, leaving behind the screeching echoes of battle raging outside.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!