Woo! This has to have been the hardest chapter to write to date. (So many moving parts!) I hope you like it. :)

Otis' mirthless laugh echoed through the dungeon, then faded when his lips curled into a crooked smile. "Wren, it's about time I welcomed you home."

He swung an open palm at my arm.

I tucked my elbow into my body and avoided his grasp. Welcome, my ass. I leaned all my weight onto my front foot, lifted my back leg and rotated my body until my shin slammed into his injured leg. He clenched his teeth and stumbled backward out of the center of the room.

Nice! Whatever you do, don't let him get a full connection to the circle. You need to hold your ground.

I stepped into the middle of the room. A silent energy pulsed through my core and made my hands itch.

Otis gritted his teeth and clenched his thigh. He slowly let out the breath he was holding, then pushed off his leg and straightened up.

"Time to make good on my promise, Jaxon." He drew his brows together and glared at me, then like a light switch turning on, his body ignited in flame.

I rubbed my hands on the sides of my pants. Uh, Jax?

Crap. That's not good.

Robin skidded into the archway behind Otis and stopped short of entering when saw him. A second later, Rygar slid into view holding a broom, but without the distance to stop, he smacked into Robin.

"What are you doing? Don't stop. They're right behind us!"

Robin shoved him off and directed Rygar's attention to the glowing abomination staring me down.

"Oh, shit."

"Funny, that's exactly what I was thinking," Robin responded.

I tried to swallow the baseball-sized lump in my throat. Thanks, Jax, I kind of already gathered the not good part. What'd he promise you?

He said, if he found you first, Jax paused and licked his lips, you might not be as pretty the next time I saw you.

Freaking great.

The room felt like an oven with the intense heat pouring off Otis. In between his fiery flicker, a single stone flashed around his neck.

Okay, he can't burn you if you can match the intensity of the flame he's wrapping around him.

If I what? I watched the Otis take another step closer. You don't think I should...

Yeah, I do. It's a defensive technique.

Jax rubbed his hands and flicked his wrists. When he extended his fingers under mine, flames tore through my core and covered my entire body with one exception—Kellan's ring. It glowed a bright aqua and pushed back any of the flames that threatened to cover it.

Jaxon groaned and looked away when he saw the blue glow washing over my chest. He can't hurt you if he grabs you wherever my flames are.

It was obvious he didn't want to mention Kellan's ring and was trying his best to mask how much it bothered him.

You can't burn somebody who's already burning. If my father turns up the heat, you'll have to turn it up too. Got it?

It sounded easy enough, with my luck it would be a lot harder to do than what he was making out to be.

Sure, I said, feeling less than confident in my ability to pull it off.

The flame's intense heat made my skin feel tight and sunburnt. Every instinct in me screamed for me to dive to the ground and snuff out the golden light wrapping my body. The roar of the flames tore through my ears and made it impossible to hear anyone besides Jax. The white noise it made was probably why Otis still hadn't noticed Robin and Rygar standing in the entrance behind him.

Otis limped forward and paused for a moment. He tilted his head, then drew a line across his chest and shook his head. The flame surrounding him sparked a little brighter.

You think he's figured out what the blue mark is? I asked wondering what he might do if he had.

Nah... But he'll be more than curious to know, though.

His words sounded shaky when he spoke. Deep within me, I knew Jaxon sustained the flame over me, but it was draining him quickly.

Are you okay?

Yeah. It takes twice as much energy for me to transfer the flame to you than if it was just covering me. Focus on driving the heat up. Try doing some more damage to his leg and whatever you do, don't let him touch... Jax's voice drifted off like he was searching for the right words to say next.

Anything that's not your flame. Got it.

The golden blaze covering me wasn't as bright yellow as the one that burned over Otis. He held out his fists ready for a fight and limped forward another two steps.

I thought about all the things that had led me to this place, the loss of my memories, having everyone I love ripped from me, my mother being sentenced to die and the contract. I let the anger drip through me and fuel the flame hotter.

Otis lunged for my arm—but this time when I tried to pull away, he anticipated my next move. He blocked my leg and caught my wrist, then pinned it behind my back. Immobilized in his hold, he shoved me against the wall. He brushed my hair from my face with the back of his hand.

I cringed at his touch. I stood on my tiptoes and tried to squirm to get out of his hold, but he tightened his grip. He held his hand next to my face like he wanted me to watch it get hot white.

Wren, turn up the heat! Come on baby. You can do this.

Otis dragged his poker-hot fingers along my jaw. A scream tore from my throat with the explosion of pain burning through my skin. He lifted his fingers, and I blinked back the pain and panted for breath.

Wren! Jaxon screamed in my head. Use the circle damn it!

Otis lowered his hand once more, and I closed my eyes. When his fingers bit into my skin, I completely released myself to the power of the circle, letting it encompass me entirely. It surged through me, and my essence welcomed it in like a lost mate returning home.

I held my breath and turned up the heat. Otis lifted his fingers from my cheek, and I opened my eyes. He was holding his hand in the air like he was wondering what was wrong. The aqua waves thrashed against my skin like a massive wave ready to capsize a small boat. My hands shook and vibrated with energy.

"My turn," I said under my breath.

Otis jerked his gaze back to me.

I pressed my palm into his thigh and called forth the only way I knew how to put out a fire—water. The aqua stream surged down my arm and squashed the flames from my skin. A frozen spray shot from my hand into his gaping wound, and the flames down his leg receded as I pushed against them.

Otis released his death grip on my arm and shoved me forward. Frost covered his pants, and the skin surrounding the burnt gash held a bluish hue.

Deep beyond the roar of the flames, Kellan pleaded for something. I tried to hear what he was saying, but the annoying fiery crackle in my ears drowned out his words.

Otis hollered something, then moved his hand like he was trying to charge a firebolt.

Don't let him psych you out. Jax leaned back and let out a laugh. He doesn't have enough power to make a spark let alone launch a firebolt. He's using every ounce of his connection just to hold that fire cover.

How do you know that?

There's only one stone is lighting up around his neck. Jax's arms were beginning to shake.

I squinted and could just make out the tiny purple stone between the flames when a flicker of movement behind Otis' head caught my attention. A broom wavered high in the air, at the other end, Rygar's hands held it tight like a golf club ready to strike.

Otis followed my line of sight and looked over his shoulder in Rygar's direction. The broom, already in full swing drove into hard into Otis' shoulder. When it slammed into him, the brush head cracked off, flew across the room and skidded to a halt at my feet. His fiery blanket of protection sputtered, then evaporated leaving him in plain sight.

Finally. Jaxon reined in my blazing cover and wiped the sweat from his forehead. I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold the veil.

"She's not alone." Rygar held the broken stick out like he'd skewer Otis if he moved a step closer.

Robin tossed some seeds across the entrance way. "Not even close."

"Robin." Otis narrowed his eyes like he just realized how far the treachery went. "Switching sides, are you?"

Robin smirked and gave a half shrug. "All a matter of opinion, I guess."

I cringed at the overwhelming smell of burnt flesh. Otis faced Rygar and was doing something with his hands. The stones on his necklace were lighting up one at a time.

Get him out of there, now! Rygar's about to be barbecued.

I reached into my pocket, pulled onto the astral plane, then ran at Otis. Three step into the run, I lifted my feet from the ground and slid across the floor on my side. Just before I reached him, I pulled back onto the physical plane and slammed my palm into his injured leg.

He let out a guttural roar and swung his foot hard into my face. The toe of his boot pummelled my cheek, and cut open my lip, leaving the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. The Dekarta stone had knocked free of my shirt and laid on the floor next to my head. I reached over, snatching it off the ground, and shoved Rygar's leg.

"Go, help Nebula!"

His face tightened, then he gave a curt nod and dashed off in her direction.

Otis staggered forward and smirked. "It seems, you're not the only one with helpers."

The sounds of boots pounding down the stairs echoed through the small space.

I spat some blood onto the floor and wiped my mouth on the back of my sleeve. "Yeah, but it's not like yours would consider you a friend. Would they?"

"Such spirit from a young lady. As your future father-in-law, I'm not sure I like your attitude. Perhaps a lesson in manners still in needed."

"You're seriously one messed up..."

I yanked back onto the astral plane and jumped to my feet. A fireball whizzed by me and exploded tearing up the floor next to my shoes. He scanned the area, pulled another fireball from his arsenal, and watched for me to reappear.

At the room's center, Rygar waited with Nebula's blood smeared body draped in his arms. My mother supported her sister's head.

In the background, branches snapped and crackled into a wall of thorny brambles. The guards hollered and cursed at Robin holding them back. His outstretched hand shook the higher the wall got.

Otis laughed. "Little forest mage. There's no way out. It's only a matter of time before my men burn through your wall."

Otis raised his hand in Robin's direction, and I dropped back into sight and screamed, "Robin his leg."

Then I disappeared back to the astral plane, and another fireball zipped by my head and hit one of the cell doors.

You didn't.

I grinned. Oh, I so did.

Robin stared at Otis' leg, raised an eyebrow and smirked. He lifted his hand and clawed back his fingers. Otis started screaming and the tiny seed I left in the wound sprouted wooden vines from his leg and attached themselves to the floor.

I dropped back onto sight, out of breath and jogged over to Robin.

"You're trapped." Otis let out a strained manic laugh. "There's no way out! You hear me?"

I squared off and faced Otis. "Wanna bet?"

Otis' legs buckled beneath him, the vines secured him to the stone tiles better than any ropes could. His guards continued to hack away with their swords at the brambles blocking the entrance. A few others were busy trying to burn their way through.

I stretched out my hand. "Mom..."

"Wren!" She threw her thin arms around my neck and let out a sob.

I licked my split lip and thought of Sage, Vega, and Astra. The burnt smell of paper, the rattling sound my puzzle box made, and smooth feel of my staff in my hand. I placed my hand on Robin's shoulder, squeezed my mother's fingers and let every cell in me demand to go home.

The ground trembled beneath our feet, and everyone's stones lit up in a colorful array flashing lights. Pictures of the guild whirled around us at a dizzying pace.

"Jaxon!" Otis hollered at us. "I know you're behind this. Don't think I don't know!"

One of the scenes slowed for a moment, and I overheard Sage and Vega talking.

"You think she loves him?" Vega asked Sage.

Sage giggled and folded her hands under her chin. "Who? Kellan or Jaxon?"

Near exhaustion and ready to collapse, I grabbed onto the scene. I dug my fingers into it with everything I had left, but the vision was slowly slipping from my grip.

Rygar shifted Nebula's weight and placed a hand on my shoulder, and then my mom placed a reassuring hand over mine. With their energy filtering through me, the gateway thrust open and dank dungeon faded from view.

Thanks for reading! Another update coming at you this upcoming week. Stay tuned. LOVE to HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS on this one! Cheers all. :)