Daryn burned with rage. It was filled inside him. Even though he was bleeding and the pain in his stomach only deepened, he had to kill the enemy. The iris of his eyes was yellow as he brought his fist forward, connecting it with force to Brantley's face. Electricity flared in the skies outside as they became dense with grey clouds. It looked as if it was a night sky. Without much thinking, Daryn continued to assault his opponent as if taking out all his anger. The door of the foyer exploded open and the shards flew around. A streak of electricity surged inside hitting Daryn on the front. He shot backwards, his body crashing in the wall behind. Brantley immediately jumped back to his feet and spat the blood on the ground. Blood oozed out from the corner of his left eye and pooled in his mouth. Daryn shot up to his feet and once again charged at Brantley.

"Stop!" Brantley roared. A beam of light passed through his hand and it circled Daryn, tightening around his body as it coiled upwards, stilling him completely.

​​

A shard had flown and fixed itself on Neal's forearm. Removing it, he got up and charged at Brantley.

"Will the two of you stop?" Brantley yelled with frustration. "I have to talk about Dawn. Where is she?"

Daryn narrowed his eyes. "Untie me and don't take her name with your filthy tongue, else I am going to rip your limbs and burn you alive."

"From what I can see, I feel you can't do a thing!" Brantley scoffed. He shook off the dust off him.

Brantley moved his neck left to right. He pinned his gaze at Daryn. Before he could say anything, Gayle came out and in a very cold voice said, "Come in Brantley." He sensed something sinister, something so untoward that his soul shuddered.

Outside more electricity fell from the skies lighting up the darkness.

Brantley stared at Gayle. He rubbed his hand over his mouth as though considering his invitation. He flicked his fingers and the beam of light around Daryn disappeared. At the same time, the werewolves, who were pinned to the wall, fell on the ground as the pressure of air around them vanished.

"Father!" Daryn grunted.

Gayle picked his hand up to quiet Daryn. He glared at Brantley.

Brantley traipsed inside and saw Cole who was trembling.

The child had never seen people like these. He didn't even know that magic existed, let alone creatures like him. Brantley nodded to him as though accepting his presence.

Gayle followed him inside along with Daryn and Neal and the door shut automatically.

There was a low, menacing rumble emanating from the Lykae, as their muscles became rigid - they looked brutal.

Gayle crossed his arms across his chest and said, "What brings you here? I am sure that it is extremely important because you have traced us to this hideout."

Brantley took in a deep breath. His frustration and anger were imminent. And then Gayle saw something that he didn't expect – misery and hopelessness, a pain that flickered through his eyes. Strange…

Brantley looked away from the penetrating eyes of Gayle. This wasn't going to be easy for him. His breath labored as he collected himself to speak.

"We don't have all the time in the world, bloody bad luck!" Daryn swore. "Speak fast!"

Brantley ignored him. He closed his eyes. He had waited for this moment for so long. He had waited for two millennia… He couldn't let it slip like dust through his fingers.

"I sense that Dawn isn't around," he lied. He knew that she wasn't there.

"Yes! And if you will excuse us, we have to go and find her!" Daryn grumbled. His anxiety increased.

"I have come to help in your quest to find her," Brantley offered.

"Why are you so interested?" Daryn asked, jealousy surging through his body. He moved forward, as his claws jutted out again. Gayle placed his hand on his shoulder to stop him.

Brantley ignored his toxicity again. He clenched his jaw and went to the window. With a wave of his hands the windows opened and a whoosh of strong air entered. Lightning flashed suddenly, thunder reverberating deeply one last time. Everyone shielded their eyes to prevent themselves from the raindrops that lashed inside and from the brightness that exploded in the room.

Blinking the flashes away, they looked up and found themselves staring at a young boy with emerald, pointy hair, wearing nothing but green pants, crouching on the windowsill eerily. His massive chest was heaving as his blue eyes scanned the people in front of him. His gaze went to Cole and he narrowed his eyes.

"Who— who is that?" asked Cole, gaping at him.

As the boy jumped in the room, Cole was struck by how handsome he was. His body was nothing short of divine. The perfect chiseled features, sculpted washboard abs and a tantalizing trail of hair that went beneath his pants left him completely distracted. His sun-kissed skin was flawless. The boy was so beautiful, yet so like a beast… Cole's breath hitched.

Before Brantley could introduce him, he said, "I am Quetz!"

Yet another jolt! If Brantley was the most disquieting thing that happened that day, this certainly was like a shockwave of Richter scale nine on ten. His eyebrows shot to the sky. No one knew who Quetz was except him and Dawn.

"I have granted him this form for a few days," said Brantley.

Quetz moved to the side as continued to scan the surroundings. His eyes stopped at Daryn and he looked at him intensely. "You should've stayed with her," he growled, recognizing him immediately.

"What is going on?" asked Neal, feeling so out of place. "Do you know this guy, Daryn?"

Daryn nodded as his Adam's apple moved up and down. He knew that Dawn's dragon was now standing in front of him in his human form. This boy was the one whom Dawn used to ride. By Skadi, even he had ridden him. It was awkward. Everything was happening too quickly. He didn't have the energy to understand the speed at which the things progressed.

With a wave of his hand, Brantley managed to put everything that was out of order in its place. His face had completely healed up. He looked at Quetz and said in a serious tone, "I will be monitoring you closely, Quetz. As soon as you find Dawn, you will have to go back."

"Yes, I will," said Quetz sharply.

Brantley glanced at Daryn. "I hope now you know my purpose of this visit." Pointing at Quetz, he said, "He will be useful in your quest." Saying that Brantley walked out of the door, leaving a totally bewildered group of men.

When Brantley left, Quetz said, "Shall we go back to finding her? I will lead you to the place till the point I sensed her trail." His eyes darted at Cole again who was staring him with an expression he couldn't discern.

Daryn nodded, as if struck by fire bolt.

"Who is he?" asked Gayle.

"He is someone we met in Ulfric."

"How dramatic!" Neal rolled his eyes.

Daryn got up from his place, opened his closet, and found a shirt for Quetz. He threw it at him and said, "Let's go! Lead me to that place."

Gayle marched out of the door. He instructed the werewolves out there on what to do next.