Thick, hard roots erupted out of the ground, twisting around the guards and suspending them in the air before Kanin dropped his hands and they slammed into the earth, not getting up again, eyes glazed over. Kanin continued lifting guards into the air with one hand, while he changed tactics and impaled the closer ones with thorny branches. I would have keeled over in disgust at the number of dead men now sprawled across the length of the prison, but Xylin's shout of pain brought me back to the present.

"GO!" Kanin roared, lifting his hands up like he were lifting up the sky, and a shower of medium-sized boulders tore through the side of the wall, burying the new guards rushing in before they could even take in the scene. He flicked his wrist and snarly branches wrapped around the cell door, ripping it clean off the hinges.

I ran past the remaining guards and sprinted over to Xylin and Captain Sandrien, tackling the latter to the ground before he could even think about continuing the fight. I punched him in the face while he was still dazed and secured my hands around his throat, giving him a wicked grin as his face turned beet red.

A hand grasped my shoulder, "Raila stop," Xylin whispered. I let go out of surprise at his words and roughly pushed myself off of him, leaving him coughing on the ground as I turned around to face Xylin.

"Are you hurt?" He whispered. I didn't know what to even say to him. I had meant to say goodbye yesterday.

I shook my head.

"Good," said Kanin's voice from behind me. He walked up to join us and I couldn't help but grin at the wreckage he had created. At least talking to Kanin wasn't as painful as looking at Xylin.

"You are powerful," I commented.

"Ah ha! And she admits it!" He shouted, copying my line as I punched him in the arm. He scowled and rubbed it furiously.

"So...what do we do with him?" Xylin asked, trying to act calm, but his shaking hands gave him away.

"He almost killed you, Xylin. I've been waiting a long time to return the favour."

"You are not a killer Raila. He is still my step-brother."

Anger only filled me as I whirled on him, but before I could snap at him that he hardly knew my true nature, a hand wrapped around my ankle and Captain Sandrien pulled me down to the floor. Kanin shouted out in surprise and a bunch of vines went to work securing him tightly, but he managed to slip an arm loose and punched me square in the jaw.

Blackness exploded around my vision as my head snapped to the side and he attempted to land another one, but Xylin shoved him back before he could and Kanin trapped him against the wall, adding a layer of thorny leaves and knocking him unconscious for good measure.

Xylin offered me a hand which I happily took, hoisting myself up as Kanin stared around the room, "Thanks. Now what?" I asked, gingerly touching my jaw and wincing when pain sprang. I ignored Xylin's worried glance.

"What do you mean?" Asked Kanin.

"I mean, are we supposed to sit here unti—" Before I could finish my statement, the door to the other side of the prison burst open, apparently Kanin had forgotten to seal that one. Hooded guards dressed in black ran into the room, and upon seeing their captain tied up and immobilized, they did what any soldier would have done.

They charged.

But they didn't get far as a guard in the angry mob suddenly turned on the others and unsheathed his sword, slicing it across a guard's neck with blinding grace before moving to another without hesitation.

Kanin helped with the rest, and with a single flick of his hand, the other guards were moaning in pain on the ground. We all looked expectantly at the traitorous guard, who pulled down his hood to reveal a young blond-haired man.

"Who are you?" Xylin asked.

The guard grinned before a flash of light enveloped the room. When I could see again, a lean young woman with short wavy red hair stood in the guards place. I noticed the brutal scar running down her face before I noticed her brilliant golden eyes. The woman assessed us as she sheathed her sword.

"You guys ready to go?" she asked. Kanin broke the silence with a breathless laugh, walking towards the woman and wrapping her in an embrace which she returned without hesitation.

When they finally pulled back, Kanin smirked, "It's been a while, Kyra Stromier.

  I finally made the connection, "you left that door open on purpose."

"Yeah," Kanin admitted. The woman known as Kyra turned her predator-like gaze on me.

"You must be Raila Felynis. I've heard so much about you."

"You have? Kanin!" I accused. He only grinned even wider.

"Like I said Rai, I have people on the inside."

"Yeah, but you could have told me," I said pathetically. Kyra shook her head.

"That's typical Kanin for you."

"I like you already," I beamed, "And by the way, thank you for the save back there."

"Ah, don't thank me, thank the team."

"The team?" Kanin asked hopefully.

Kyra gave him a warm smile, "They all insisted on coming." She barely finished her sentence before two other people came running through the door with mixed expressions of joy.

Both of them were men, but one was huge. At least slightly over six feet, packed with muscle, and eyes that burned like coals. He reminded me of a muscular horse. The other man was average heighted with olive brown skin, a skinny body structure, a permanent-frown face which looked weird with a smile, and sparkling electric blue eyes.

Kanin embraced each one of them affectionately, but hesitated with the muscular man, probably because of his strength. The olive brown skinned man slapped Kanin on the back before changing his gaze towards Xylin and I. Kanin stepped forward, "Raila Felynis, Xylin Seriphyn, meet Clane Brokivere—" he gestured towards the muscular man, "—and Nikolei Jensper."

"Do they have powers?"

"Oh of course. Kyra here can take anyones form, Clane can control and summon fire, and Nikolei here can summon lightning."

I let out a low whistle, very impressed with their abilities.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, we have a new member on our team." Kyra said this to Kanin in a light tone.

"Who?"

"I sent him ahead to scout the way out, make sure it was clear. He claims to be a thief."

"What do you mean 'claims'?" The stern demand sounded weird coming from a grinning mouth.

"Well—"

"All clear up ahead," a new voice said. I froze completely.

That voice.

I knew that voice.

I turned slowly, but nothing could have prepared me for the full impact of seeing a pair of bright green eyes and my best friend Kalinier Kronixian smirking at us from atop the prison steps, his fiery-red hair slightly spiked as usual.

"Kal?" my voice came out as a squeak.

His smirk slid right off as he took me in, "Raila? Is that you?"

I didn't even remember moving, but the next thing I knew, I was in Kalinier's strong arms, wrapping my arms around his neck and squeezing him in relief. He laughed in disbelief and the sound was music to my ears as he pulled me even closer to his chest and swept me right off my feet. I buried my face in the crook of his neck and let out a laugh of my own.

"Well...looks like they don't need introducing," Kanin said awkwardly.

"Agreed. Sorry to interrupt the happy reunion, but more guards are probably on their way," stated Kyra, attempting an annoyed look but failing completely.

"Definitely." Agreed Nikolei.

Kalinier reluctantly put me down, but his old grin was even more mischievous than usual that I couldn't help but give him a grin in return.

"I missed you," I whispered. I was not leaving this place without saying those words.

"I know you did. Who wouldn't?"

I let out a laugh, "Still with the sarcasm."

"It's not sarcasm when it's true," he huffed.

I looked at Kanin as he shook his head, a half-smile cutting across his features. I chanced a look at Xylin as well to see what he thought of Kalinier, but an emotionless brick wall and a pair of beady eyes is what met me. I looked away quickly.

Kalinier huffed a sigh and laced his hands behind his head, "You ruin all my fun, Stromier. I took out all the guards nearby. Don't worry so much, you're too young to be thinking about these things."

"Oh shush, get us out of here already Kronixian or I'll have you hanged."

"Uh, I'm a t-h-i-e-f, we don't get hanged. We get put in prison. We're too skilled to be put down."

I raised my hand slightly, "Been there, done that. Trust me Kal, prison isn't as cozy as you think."

He frowned, "Oh fine! One lady on this team was enough, but two ladies are going to give me a headache!" He whined.

"Suck it up, thief." I teased, crossing my arms.

"Oh I'll get you for that later, Rai. Just you wait and s—"

"They're down here!" A frantic voice suddenly shouted.

"This way!" Kanin roared, the joyous grin now replaced with determination to get everyone out alive and whole. We followed him through the door he had left open.

"Come on, Xylin!" I shouted, stopping briefly. Indecision flashed across his eyes, but upon seeing that he would probably be branded a traitor for attacking the Captain of the Guard, he started into a sprint and followed us.