“Welcome to the Dragon Rogues Organization.”
Owen’s voice was calm yet commanding as he pushed open a hidden door in the run-down house. Beyond it lay a luxurious space, a stark contrast to the decaying exterior. My eyes widened as I took in the scene: plush furniture, intricate tapestries, and people bustling with purpose. They greeted me warmly, their smiles genuine.
I turned to Owen, my expression questioning. “This isn’t what I expected from rogues.”
He smirked, his golden retriever charm on full display. “We’re not just any rogues, Kaia. These are people who were wronged, betrayed, or wrongly accused. We’re not here to cause chaos. We’re here to reclaim what’s ours.”
I nodded slowly, the weight of his words sinking in. Owen didn’t waste time. He moved to the center of the room, clapping his hands to gather everyone’s attention. The chatter ceased, and all eyes turned to him.
“It’s time for another mission,” Owen announced. “This time, we’re taking down the Silvery Pack.”
My breath hitched at the mention of Selene’s pack. Owen’s eyes flicked to me, a knowing glint in them. “Before you think this is just for you, Kaia, it’s not. Selene possesses a dangerous magic stone. It’s one of three. We’re going to take it and disrupt her power. But make no mistake—this mission will not be easy.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the room. Owen’s tone shifted, sharp and decisive. “The other two stones are hidden. We don’t know where. But if we can get this one, it will give us a lead and buy us time to prepare for what’s to come.”
The group sprang into action, preparing for the mission. Owen laid out the plan with military precision. I listened intently, absorbing every detail. This wasn’t just about revenge anymore. The stones were dangerous—Selene wasn’t just building a pack; she was amassing power that could destroy anyone who stood against her.
The night of the mission was cold and still. We moved through Selene’s territory like shadows, bypassing guards and traps with practiced ease. The chamber housing the magic stone was buried deep within the heart of her territory, its entrance heavily fortified.
Owen’s team worked swiftly. By the time Selene’s guards realized something was wrong, we were already inside. The stone rested on a pedestal, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light. It pulsed with energy, and just standing near it made my skin prickle.
Owen approached the stone, his expression grim. “This thing is no ordinary artifact,” he muttered. “Be careful.”
I stepped closer, my instincts screaming at me to back away. “What happens if we take it?” I asked.
Owen’s eyes flicked to me, sharp and assessing. “We don’t have a choice. Leaving it here is more dangerous than taking it.”
He reached out, wrapping the stone in a thick cloth before placing it in a protective case. The moment it left the pedestal, the room shuddered. Alarms blared, and we bolted, the stone safely in Owen’s hands.
We barely made it out. Selene’s forces were in disarray, but the tension in Owen’s team was palpable. As we regrouped outside her territory, Owen’s second-in-command, a woman named Lila, handed him a map.
“Only one,” she said, her voice tight. “The other two stones weren’t in the chamber.”
Owen swore under his breath. “Then we'll find them before she lays her hand on them.”
I frowned. “What’s the point of taking just one? Won’t she still have power?”
Owen shook his head. “The stones are connected. Separating them weakens their influence. This one will buy us time, but it won’t stop her completely. And if she figures out where we’ve hidden it…”
His words hung in the air like a storm cloud.
As we returned to the base, Owen pulled me aside. “Kaia, this isn’t over. Taking the first stone was the easy part. Finding the others will be harder, and protecting this one will be even worse.”
I nodded, the weight of his words settling over me. “What do we do now?”
“We plan,” he said simply. “And we prepare for war.”
For the first time, I felt a flicker of hope. Selene might have two stones, but she didn’t have all three. And now, with the Dragon Rogues behind me, I wasn’t fighting this battle alone.
But there was more to it than just the stones, and Owen’s words didn’t erase the fire burning inside me. I wasn’t just doing this for survival, or for some vague notion of justice. I was doing it for myself. For the girl I used to be—the one who hadn’t known betrayal, the one who hadn’t lost everything she cared about.
I was doing this for revenge—for Cesar. The pain of losing him still weighed heavily on my heart. Every step of this mission felt like a small piece of me clawing my way back from the darkness, one vengeful act at a time.
Selene had taken him from me, and now, I would take everything from her. Not just the stones. Not just power. I would destroy her, piece by piece, until she knew what it felt like to lose everything.
This wasn’t just about reclaiming what was mine. It was about making sure she never took anything from me again.
