Jax was watching everything unfold. Fighting the urge to reveal himself. The scenes of himself, Fin, and Cael dying rattle him to his core. But the council meeting was something from his worst nightmares. He also saw Nova throw up blood. Twice. It was not okay. Talon agreed.
Talon: We need to heal her. She is hurt.
Jax: I know, buddy. I know.
They watched from a distance as the two wolves ran up the hill. Fin bent down and picked up the bow with his mouth. They watched as Elle shifted back to human form. Nova stayed in her wolf form for a minute before shifting back to human. It was more painful. Jax and Fin both felt it.
Jax: Are we going to let them do this by themselves the entire night?
Cael: Why wasn't I allowed to see that? I'll stay away from that dagger. No problem.
Fin: I'm done waiting. That shift hurt her. I'm getting her.
Xeon commented in Fin's mind.
Xeon: She is at her limit.
Before Fin could even process the second wave of blood, the ground shook beneath them. Something shifted—something he couldn't see from above—and then Nova and Elle vanished from sight.
Fin bolted.
A heartbeat later, as Fin tore forward, stairs materialized, carved straight down into the earth where the ruin had been moments before.
Xeon: Blood again. I've had enough. Mindlink her.
Fin agreed.
Fin: Nova, are you okay?
Silence.
His chest tightened. He shifted to human mid-stride and started down the stairs.
"Nova?" Fin called, voice echoing off the stone.
Fin: Cael, stay put and guard. If there's even a sliver of truth to what she saw, I'm not letting you walk into it.
Cael's wolf made a noise, sounding like an annoyed groan. But bowed his head and stayed at the entrance. Jax and Fin hurried down the stairs.
"Nova? Elle?" Fin called. No response.
Then Fin heard a large noise like stones shifting. And then he felt panic from Nova. He sprinted towards it, Jax right behind. They heard a high pitch scream. Nova's scream. Then Silence.
"Nova?!" Fin and Jax said at the same time. Jax held an orb of magic in his hand for light.
No answer.
They both feel another spike of panic from her, and an effort to keep calm. Fin mindlinked her again, hoping to the gods she could hear.
Fin: Nova… I'm coming with Jax.
To his relief, her voice came back through.
Nova: Fin … how are you? Are you nearby?
Pain washed over her at that moment. Physical pain that both Jax and Fin felt.
Fin: We just ran down some stairs and are in the cave.
The moment his words reached her, a surge of relief hit him. Warm. Immediate. She was grateful he was there. But it vanished just as quickly—swallowed by a fresh surge of concern that twisted in his chest like it belonged to him, not her.
Fin's voice dropped, firm and absolute.
Fin: We're coming.
Nova: Fin… I am worried for you and Jax. It's too dangerous. Elle and I are remembering some things… that's how we're doing this. I'll meet you outside.
Fin actually snorted—out loud—shaking his head at his adorable, catastrophically misguided mate.
Fin: I'll be a judge of that. You know Jax and I fought in two wars right?
Nova: Be careful… we fell through a floor.
Fin clenched his jaw.
Fin: We'll be careful. Don't move until we get to you.
Sure enough, a gaping hole stretched across the cave corridor ahead of them. Jax bent down, picked up a pebble, and tossed it in.
They waited.
It took too long to hit bottom.
Fin: Did you fall in the first hole in the ground or are there more ahead?
Nova: Not the first one, the one after. When you land be ready for arrows.
"They fell through a hole after this one. And there are arrows at the bottom." Fin said, not realizing Jax could hear the mindlink already.
"Arrows?" Jax asked as they kept moving.
"I don't believe either of them have had training on dodging arrows," Fin replied dryly.
They stepped over the first void in the floor and continued toward the end of the tunnel—where the stone simply vanished again.
Fin didn't hesitate. He dropped straight in.
A fall, yes—but nothing he hadn't dealt with a hundred times before.
Jax landed a heartbeat after him, boots hitting stone with a thud.
The moment their weight settled, arrows exploded from the walls—firing from staggered heights, ricocheting off stone, forming a crisscrossed kill pattern.
Fin snatched two arrows mid-flight, dodged a third by tilting his head a fraction. Jax twisted aside, catching one and letting another whistle past his shoulder.
Nothing they hadn't seen before.
The second wave fired—faster, tighter, deadlier.
Jax lifted a hand and a shimmering barrier snapped into place, deflecting the arrows with a ringing crack.
"Forgot I could do that," Jax muttered.
Fin huffed a laugh. "That's useful."
Fin felt Nova's physical pain. It was the same sensation she had when she threw up blood.
Fin: Nova wait for us. Don't keep going until we're with you. We're past the arrows.
He felt her panic spike.
Fin: Is everything okay?
Nova: We're in a tight spot but handling it. For the next part… don't step onto a block yet. Tell me when you're there.
Fin didn't like 'handling it' whatever that meant. He felt his body heat up again, that same sensation he was having earlier from Nova. Like a memory was trying to surface and she'd do some magic after it.
Fin: Nova don't keep using your magic. Let us get there. I think it's making you sick, I feel it through our matebond.
Nova didn't answer. He stepped into the next chamber—and froze.
The space opened into a vast, echoing cavern, the ceiling soaring high above like the hollowed chest of a sleeping beast. A narrow ledge hugged the entrance, but beyond that, there was nothing but a grid of massive stone blocks, each one roughly two feet by two feet, suspended in midair with eerie precision.
They hovered several feet apart from one another and got further apart the further it went. There were no rails, no ropes, no bridges—just open air between each platform. Fin edged forward and peered down.
The darkness below swallowed the light completely. His breath slowed. This wasn't a room—it was a test.
Fin: We're there.
Nova: There are only four blocks you can step on without triggering. Start with the third from the left, second from the bottom.
Fin frowned, his eyes narrowing on a scorched block near the center. Something had definitely happened there. He crouched and grabbed a loose pebble from the stone floor, then tossed it lightly onto a different nearby block.
Instantly, chaos erupted.
A massive steel slab, riddled with jagged spikes, dropped from the ceiling with a deafening slam—right onto the block. It retracted as quickly as it had fallen, and before the echo faded, a volley of at least twenty arrows launched from hidden slits in the walls and floor, crisscrossing the space at brutal angles. Then came the fire. Flames burst from the ceiling, the walls, the very air between the blocks. The heat alone made both Fin and Jax stumble back, shielding their faces.
Not wanting Nova to realize Jax had already been listening, Fin mindlinked her in the most casual way he could, making it sound like a simple request rather than a cover.
Fin: Nova mindlink Jax with me. What's the next block after 3, 2?
Nova: 6, 5 counting from the bottom. Or 3 above where you're standing, 3 to the right.
Jax grabbed a handful of pebbles from the cave floor just in case. He tossed one onto 3,2 and nothing happened. He jumped. He tossed one onto 6,5 and again nothing happened.
Jax: What's the 3rd one Nova?
Nova: 3, 8. From where you're standing 3 to the left, 3 above.
Jax exhaled through his nose and leapt to the third safe block. It was a farther jump than the last, but he landed steady.
Jax: Last one?
Nova: Top row, 5 from the left.
Jax looked up at the final leap—straight ahead, higher than the others. He adjusted his stance. This would take everything he had.
He couldn't help but wonder how Nova and Elle had done this at all let alone quickly. Fin followed close behind, his boots landing with quiet precision on each designated block.
"How in the hell did they do this so quickly?" Fin muttered, mind racing.
"My thoughts exactly," Jax said.
Elle and Nova had basic training as all wolves get. But no combat experience. Their jobs were to be mates and help lead the pack, not warriors on the frontlines. They hadn't fought in any wars. And yet… they had cleared this death trap? Not just survived it, but navigated it with speed and precision?
Impressive, yes. But it didn't sit right with either of them. Elle and Nova needed protection and this was plain risky.
But then Fin's steps faltered. A sudden wave of panic rolled through the bond—tight, choking, frantic. He stopped cold, hand bracing the cave wall. Jax felt it too.
Fin: Nova?
Nothing. But he could feel it. That spiraling sensation tightening around her lungs, the flood of fear pushing against the bond like rising water.
Fin: Nova, what's wrong?
Her voice in his mind was clipped, too quick.
Nova: We're stuck. We've been since the moment you mindlinked me.
Fin's voice clipped into Nova's mind, leaving Jax on. They were sprinting down a long tunnel.
Fin: What does stuck mean?
Nova tried to use her magic again, her insides flared in pain felt by both Fin and Jax through the bond.
Jax: Nova? What is happening right now? Talk to us.
Nova: Sorry was trying to get to Elle.
Her voice was clipped again.
Nova: I think we're in quicksand.
Fin and Jax froze mid-step.
Nova: My magic isn't working. It's too thick around me. We have nothing to grab onto.
Fin and Jax bolted, full Alpha run, the cave blurring past them, both wolves and men tearing toward her with lethal speed.
Elle mindlinked Nova—unaware that it wasn't private per usual.
Elle: We're fucked.
Nova: Fin and Jax are here… maybe they can help us.
Elle: You told them!?
Nova: Told them what? I told Fin I had to go somewhere and Cael couldn't know because his life was on the line. He promised he wouldn't tell Cael.
Elle: Nova! You said you WOULDN'T. How is he even HERE?
Nova: I'm sorry, Elle… I couldn't lie to him. I don't know how either of them found us. Maybe Jax is having the same dreams you are this week or something.
Elle's reply came through clipped and furious.
Elle: They OBVIOUSLY followed us, Nova. I'm so mad at you I could set this entire cave on fire. If they die, it's on you. Your post-severing anxiety is steering this ship straight into hell.
Nova snapped right back.
Nova: Has it occurred to you that YOUR head is being messed with? If one of them had been here from the start, we wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe if Cael saw that vision with Jax and Fin, we could prevent that situation all together. If we're being chased by a dark mage, we'll put Cael through a portal back to Shadowclaw. Done.
Elle: We'd STILL be in this mess—and whichever one came with us would be too. And you know damn well I'm right.
Nova: Fine. You're right. But it's not like I had any actual information to tell him.
Elle: You tipped him off so he knew to follow us.
Nova: I didn't think he would follow us.
Elle: I told you he would! I TOLD YOU! And now look at us—sinking to our deaths while I'm trying to lecture you!
Nova: That's stupid. We're about to die and you're mad at me for telling Fin I had to 'go somewhere.'
A pause.
Elle: Good point.
The tunnel finally widened into a stone chamber with three looming doors.
Fin: Which door, Nova?
Nova: Middle. We made it halfway across the floor before the ground vanished.
Another spike of panic flooded Fin's chest. He staggered briefly from the heat of it—like fire licking under his skin.
Fin (sharply):How do we get in?
No answer. He tried to kick the center door but it won't budge. The ruins above it flickered with a faint, ancient light.
He turned to Jax. "Can you read these?"
"I can try." Jax squinted at the script, eyes narrowing as he tried to focus—emptying his thoughts, listening for anything.
Nothing came.
Then Fin heard Xeon's voice echo in his mind:
Xeon: Seraphine is channeling what you're seeing to Nova. We need to hurry.
Fin's eyes darted to the center door again—and that's when he saw it. His gaze rose to the ruins—something about them clicked. Slowly, the center door rumbled and opened.
No more thinking. He and Jax shoved through the threshold to see Elle crawling on all fours toward Nova, coughing violently like she was trying to get it out of her lungs and gasping for air. They were both covered in thick, clinging quicksand, hair soaked and heavy. Faces covered.
Elle collapsed next to Nova, coughing, face half-buried in the floor, finally back on solid ground.
Nova meanwhile was on her back choking like she couldn't get air. She was violently coughing holding her ribs. She turned away from Elle and threw up blood. Again.
She let out an involuntary whimper. Insides burning. Fin felt it and so did Jax.
Fin shifted into his wolf form and leaped across to Nova. Unsure when the quicksand started. Jax quickly followed.
Xeon spoke to Fin again.
Xeon: Ask Jax to heal Nova. He might not know how but his magic should.
He shifted back and grabbed Nova who was still coughing, pulling her into his chest. She was covered including all of her hair and face.
"Gods, Nova." Fin said, feeling her relief surge through him now. But she had to turn away from him in another violent coughing fit.
Elle leaned over to Nova and said, "See I told you we could do it."
Nova shook her head and started to laugh but it turned into a coughing up blood.
"Jax, can you try to heal Nova?" Fin asked.
He was already at Nova's side, heart heavy with concern. He wanted to hug her and kiss her and tell her how relieved he was that she was okay.
Without him realizing, his hands lit up gold. His body knew.
He touched her stomach and back and immediately felt the magic working. That's when all her pain hit him full force, like it was his own pain. He had been feeling it through the matebond and it hurt, but not like this. A minute went by and his gold magic stopped. He could feel she was better. Not fully healed because she needed rest.
"Thanks." Nova said, her breathing was returning to normal and she was feeling a lot better. She started coughing again.
"Anytime." Jax breathed, eyes full of concern. He looked at Fin who had the same expression on his face.
Fin looked at Elle and then back to Nova. They had clearly gone under all the way.
"When you opened the door, the quicksand vanished. The room reset." Nova said, followed by another fit of coughing. Like it was in her lungs.
Elle coughed up something that looked like quicksand and spit it out.
Elle: I take back what I said. I am glad you told Fin.
Nova: Apology accepted.
Elle: Thank the gods they got here.
Elle and Nova made eye contact and both shook their heads with a laugh, but that quickly turned into more coughing for both.
Nova: Were they trying to get us killed?
Elle: I was supposed to take you here before your coronation. You were supposed to come down here alone.
Nova's voice came back dry.
Nova: I would have been dead at the explosion blocks.
"Do you know which door is next?" Nova asked Elle aloud for everyone. Elle shook her head, slowly stood.
Elle sighed, and mindlinked.
Elle: What are the odds Cael isn't here at this point if these 2 are here?
Nova:Oh, I'm sure he's peacefully napping.
Nova shook her head, trying not to laugh at her friend's dramatics. She walked over and helped Elle to her feet—both of them still catching their breath, still unaware their mindlink wasn't private.
Nova: I won't let anything happen to him.
Elle: I know. Thanks Nova.
Nova: I think they were trying to get us here alone and it had nothing to do with Cael.
Elle: I'm wondering that now too.
"Let's look at the ruins," Nova said aloud, brushing sand off her arms. She muttered under her breath, "Gods, can this room not try to kill us for five minutes?"
She was visibly relieved now that Jax and Fin were here—the two best people to have at your back in a death trap of a cave.
"I think I remember," Elle said, glancing at Nova before pointing to the far-right door. She reached into her pocket and handed Nova a hair tie. The two of them pulled their quicksand-caked hair back in silence.
"You two look like a cursed bakery exploded on you." Jax said, cracking up unable to hold it in any longer.
They all laughed at that.
But Jax and Fin both thought, even completely covered in quicksand, Nova still looked beautiful. She was focused with her hair now pulled back and adorable.
"We owe you both one. Thank you." Nova said, glancing between Jax and Fin, sincerity in her voice.
"Yes. Thank you," Elle added with a grateful nod.
Jax blinked at them, looked at the state they were in, and deadpanned, "That's it? No dramatic bow? No eternal life debt?"
"Last time hostages, this time quicksand. If this keeps up, I'm chaining you both to the war room." Fin said, shaking his head.
They watched a gold ball of magic leave Nova's hands and travel towards the door. It burned the ivy surrounding it to show ruins.
Nova slipped her hand into Fin's, behind her back, intertwining her fingers in his. She leaned against him, her eyes alight with a soft, glowing gold.
She began reading the ruined inscriptions in a language neither Fin nor Jax recognized. They stood frozen, stunned.
"You'll get used to it," Elle muttered, shaking her head.
The door creaked open, the stone groaning as if waking from a centuries-long sleep.
"Let me go first," Jax said, stepping forward as a golden shield flickered to life around them all. He kept his eyes forward, but his senses tuned to Nova. The magic she'd just used—it was his. The same gold essence he had pushed into her to save her life.
She was drawing from it again, borrowing what had been given, and he could feel how close she was to empty.
"She's at her limit," Jax said to Fin, glancing at her. Her shoulders were tight, her skin pale beneath the grime and quicksand. "She shouldn't be pushing like this."
He turned his head slightly. "Nova, don't use more magic unless it's absolutely necessary. Tell me what to do. I'll help."
She swallowed, her voice a breath. "Okay." There was relief in her tone—unspoken but unmistakable. She wasn't alone in this. Not anymore.
As she stepped past the threshold, her eyes widened.
"I remember," she whispered, breath catching in her throat.