Page 453 of Flirting with Darkness

Ezio lay unconscious on the ground behind him.

A man I didn’t recognize stood in front of Caleb, a pair of golden handcuffs with strange symbols in his hand. “Come with us and we won’t harm your friends,” he said soothingly.

“Kill him,” I ordered Nico and Fox in a whisper.

“Already planned to,” Nico said, his eyes glowing white and the gemstone on his staff glowing cerulean blue.

Fox drew his sword from his back, the hidden scabbard only visible to him, but I knew it lay across his back.

Caleb’s eyes darted to us, but he didn’t adjust his stance or expression and quickly focused his gaze back on the man. “I will not go with you. I do not wish to leave my family or my pack. I will not let you hurt my friends either.”

The man sighed. “You poor brainwashed child. We only seek to help you.”

“I am raised by all of my grandparents, taught to love every group, and to see the light in everyone. Your light is harder to see, but it is there, diminish by your hatred and biases,” Caleb said.

I stopped walking, head tilted as I looked at my young child, saying things very profound for even adults.

Nico slammed his staff into the ground and golden chains wrapped around the man’s arms and legs.

Fox ran forward and cut his head off with one swipe.

Some of the children screamed and covered their eyes, but most slumped their shoulders forward as they relaxed.

“Is anyone hurt?” I asked Caleb.

He pointed at Ezio without looking away from me. “Just him. He protected us as well as he could, but the man had weird magic.”

“Good job, Caleb,” I praised and opened my arms.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard and he ran forward to hug me, sniffling softly. He whispered almost too quietly for me to hear, “It was scary, but I kept them safe. I was a good alpha.”

“You were amazing,” I praised as I hugged him tightly.

“I’ll dispose of the body,” Nico said.

“I’ll notify the parents and escort the children out,” Fox said.

Once Caleb eased up on his hug a bit, I walked over to Ezio and checked him. He was breathing, pulse steady, but unconscious.

“Sleeping spell?” I asked Caleb.

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

Now that all of the kids were gone, I faced him and asked, “Are you really okay? I’m sure that was very scary.”

He nodded, but didn’t get emotional this time. “It was scary, but all I could think about was keeping them safe. It didn’t matter that he might hurt me. I just wanted to keep all the weaker kids safe. Once he knocked out Ezio, it was even more important for me to keep him focused on me and not the others. He kept trying to use them against me, but I didn’t let him distract me and kept myself between them so he couldn’t reach them. I did good.”

“Yes, you did. Your dads will be so proud once they hear,” I praised and ruffled his hair. “Want me to teleport us home?”

He nodded and held up his hands. “Yes, please.”

I picked him up and cradled him against my chest, reminding myself with his scent and touch that he was safe. Nico and Fox returned and I told them my plan. They agreed to stay and handle things at the school and take care of Ezio while I took Caleb home.

I teleported us to the house where Dan, Emrys, Katar, and Rhys were on their phones, scowling.

“Hello,” I greeted. “Caleb had aneventfulfirst day of school and has a lot to tell all of you.”

“Are you hurt?” Rhys asked, rushing forward to take him from my arms and inspecting him.

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