The Blood Moon Twins
Chapter 98

REMY

The young sorcerer who stormed out of Cain's home stepped forward. He looked angry, and he was one move away from throwing the first attack. "That's what I want to know. You are supposed to be guests here, and now you are trying to break free a prisoner here." "Why is my brother a prisoner?" I demanded. I prayed to the Moon Goddess that this was just some big misunderstanding, because if Cain was holding Caulder prisoner knowingly, I would lose it.

"Brother?" This voice came from the crowd of sorcerers gathering around us, and I instantly recognized it. Davina pushed through the crowd, stepping in front of the sorcerer who seemed to be leading everyone else. She turned to him and stood as tall as she could. She was taller than me, and she looked more confident than I have ever felt. "He isn't our prisoner. We are helping him out. This is completely unnecessary. You need to back off, Kenzo."

Kenzo tightened his jaw and glared at Davina. "You are not the one in charge, and you don't give me orders. You're the one who needs to learn your place."

"I'm the one who rescued him, and Cain put me in charge of him, so I am in my place," Davina said. Even though Kenzo's aura was intimidating, Davina didn't back down.

Caulder and I looked at each other at the same time. Davina said she rescued Caulder and that he wasn't a prisoner, but Kenzo seemed to think differently. Caulder's eyebrows were raised, and he had his own questions, but we would have to figure out the details later. Now was not the time for some side conversation.

"Cain also ordered this man into confinement. These wolves are trying to help him escape. It's my job to stop that from happening," Kenzo said. "Now move out of my way."

"No." Davina planted her feet into the ground. "You'll have to go through me if you want to get to them."

Kenzo's face tightened even more, which I didn't think was possible. "In case you don't realize it, you're outnumbered. I know you think you're Cain's special pet, but that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."

"And just because you think you're Cain's watchdog, it doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want," Davina snapped back with ease. She was quick on her feet.

I looked around, and I was starting to worry that a fight would break out between Davina and Kenzo, and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing for us or not. The other sorcerers seemed just as unsure as I did about the situation.

"That's enough," Cain said, his deep voice ringing through the air. He approached with a group of sorcerers and my parents by his side. "Davina, Kenzo, you both need to cool down. You know infighting is completely unacceptable. Now why don't we talk this through like the adults we are and not the children you are acting like."

"Kenzo is trying to attack our guest," Davina said, taking a step back from Kenzo. She made a point to stay in between him and us, though.

"And those wolves are trying to help the prisoner escape," Kenzo retorted. His nose twitched, and he kept his eyes glued to Davina.

Their frustrations with each other seemed to go back further than this little incident, and I wondered how often they found themselves in a situation similar to this. They seemed to think too differently to ever get along.

Cain sighed as he turned to me. He was already over Davina's and Kenzo's fight. "Remy, please explain what is happening here. Who is this boy?"

My jaw dropped. How could Cain not know who Caulder is? "This is Caulder. My brother and your grandson. Are you going to explain what he's doing here?"

Whispers erupted around us as the news came to light. Even Kenzo's demeanor completely shifted. He looked back and forth between Cain and Caulder, and he looked like he was going to be sick.

Cain stepped forward. "I didn't know that he was here. If I had, I would have told you immediately."

"How could you not know?" I was angry, and I didn't understand why. I should have been happy or relieved that Caulder was away from the grasps of the council, but the fact that he was here under our noses being held captive this entire time made me want to scream and shout. I had been having nightmares about the horrors Caulder was facing, but I could have known he was okay yesterday. It made me sick just thinking about it.

Caulder grabbed my arm, drawing my attention away from Cain. "I didn't tell them who I was. I didn't know who these people were, and I didn't trust them, especially not everything that had happened with the Council of Magic. It's not his fault." "Why don't we take this conversation somewhere a little more private?" Cain suggested, looking around. He turned to the rest of the sorcerers. "Please enjoy the rest of the feast. Everything is fine here."

Everyone began to disperse, but my chest still felt heavy. My hands shook as my emotions caught up with my actions. I had been ready to fight and defend Caulder and Harper, and I still hadn't fully processed that Caulder was here with us now. "Caulder," my mom shouted, rushing towards us. She threw her arms around Caulder, tearing him away from Harper. My dad was right behind her, pulling him into a big hug now that everything was calmer.

Blade walked over to me and grabbed my hand. I kept my eyes on Caulder, wanting to rush towards him myself, but there was something stopping me.

"I can't believe Caulder is here," Blade said.

"Me neither." I was sure all of us were in the same disbelief. I couldn't even fathom the chances of us all ending up in the same place at the same time.

Caulder looked over at me over my mom's shoulder, and he smiled at me. I wanted to smile back, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. He looked like he was in rough condition, and I knew the Council of Magic had tortured him. There was a small flame building in my chest, and the more I thought about it, the more coal was fed into that fire. I was angry at the council, and it felt like the anger was going to eat me alive if I didn't do something about it soon.

-

We sat around Cain's table, and Caulder explained how he had escaped from the Council of Magic, although he didn't go into much detail, saying the escape was a bit of a blur to him. He provided even less details about the time he spent there, but I could tell those details weren't blurry. They were burned into his eyes, and as he told his story, he had moments where his eyes seemed to fog over. I wasn't sure if he was leaving out those details for our sake or for his.

"By the time I had made it out, I had nothing left in me," Caulder said. "I went past a limit I didn't even know I had. If it weren't for Davina, the council would have found me at their doorstep, and I wouldn't be here. I'm sure they would've never let me go home after all of that, either."

My mom turned to Davina. "It seems that I owe you a big thanks for saving my son."

Davina's cheeks turned a deep red, and I could tell she treasured the opinions of others by how overjoyed she became at the compliment. "I just happened to be there at the right time and place. I didn't do anything special. I just feel like a fool that I didn't realize who he was sooner." "We're just glad we know he's okay now," my dad said. "And we will be eternally grateful to you."

"It's been a long night," Cain said. "People are still celebrating the Super Moon tonight, so you are welcome to rejoin everyone or turn in for the night." Cain stood up, and then he looked at me. "Don't forget our training first thing in the morning. Caulder, you're welcome to join us if you are feeling up for it, too."

"I'll let you know how I'm feeling in the morning," Caulder said with a laugh. He looked like he was in no condition to train tomorrow, but maybe there was something my mom could do to heal him. She wasn't the strongest healer, but she always helped when she used her magic.

Cain nodded with a smile. "Of course."

"I need to make a call to Reyland to check on the pack," my dad said. "And then I plan on turning in for the night. I don't know about you, but today has been a lot."

"I'll come with you," my mom said. She stood up and placed a kiss on top of Caulder's head. "I'm so relieved to know you are okay and are back with us."

"Me too," Caulder agreed with an easy smile.

One by one, everyone left the room, leaving only Harper, Caulder, Blade, and myself in the room. Harper was practically sitting in Caulder's lap, but I couldn't blame her. Being separated from her mate was difficult for her, and now that her birthday was only two days. away, I wouldn't be surprised if her bond with Caulder grew stronger each day.

I didn't want to interrupt their time together, so I prepared to leave. Before I said goodbye, I noticed Caulder's and Harper's eyes glaze over as they linked each other. I waited for them to finish, not wanting to rush out of the room while they were in the middle of a conversation.

When they were done, Harper jumped to her feet. "I'm starving. I never did get dinner. Blade, will you escort me to get food?"

I narrowed my eyes at Caulder. They had clearly organized this to give Caulder and myself some one on one time, but I didn't understand why they would bother.

"Uh, sure," Blade agreed hesitantly. "Remy, did you want any food?"

"She already ate," Harper said. "Let's go."

Blade seemed to get the hint and followed her out of the room after that. Once the door shut, Caulder crossed his arms and leaned back. "Okay, spill," he said.

"What are you talking about?" I really didn't understand what he was getting at.

"We're twins. I know when something is up. I can feel it in my chest as if it's my own. So spill it. What's going on in that head of yours?"