IS THAT ELI or did I fall asleep without realizing it? Boomer asked.

Josh squeezed his eyes shut, but when he opened them, Eli was still there. Must be, or we're both dreaming.

Eli stood in the hallway's entrance for a moment longer before walking over to Jodas' slumbering form. He stopped in front of the dragon and stared.

Josh frowned. He couldn't place what, but something felt off. Something more than just the fact Eli should be asleep because Josh could almost logic through that. Maybe he came searching for Josh and was about to ask Jodas to contact him.

Even if Josh felt guilty for pushing Eli to that degree, it wouldn't explain the freezing hand crawling through his gut, twisting his nerves into a painful knot.

Okay, this was stupid. That was his baby brother, not some dangerous monster. He could walk over and ask Eli, get this all settled, and go back home so the two of them could sleep.

But before Josh could step out from behind the tree, a familiar sparking light jumped to life beside Jodas. Confusion rooted Josh in place, leaving him to gape at the portal as it expanded. It reached its full size, and a heartbeat later, a man stepped through.

He looked familiar. Short but thick sandy blond hair that Josh felt should be longer. Broad shoulders. And something about the nose and jawline—though hidden slightly by stubble—brought to mind someone Josh couldn't place for the life of him.

I feel like I've seen him before, too, Boomer said. But if I've seen him, he must be from up here.

That should have comforted Josh, but the alarms blaring in his head wouldn't shut up.

The man patted Eli's head and said something. His voice didn't carry far enough for Josh to hear. Eli didn't reply but instead slowly, almost robotically, headed back to the Sanctuary entrance. The man followed.

Josh's heart stuttered, both from Eli's odd movements and what the smallmoment in which he'd been facing Josh revealed. Eli's half-lidded eyes staredforward, his gaze as blank as his expression. Josh had seen a sleepwalker, andeven they didn't seem so much like a puppet pulled by invisible strings.

Unbidden, Josh's mind wandered to the possessed woman. But that didn't make sense. The Phoenix Dragons overtook the other person, not directed the person like some robot.

The field that helps the Sanctuary float also makes it so the Shadow Knights and Phoenix Dragons can't find us, Boomer said. So someone couldn't be possessed anyway.

Josh glanced at Jodas, as if he would offer answers, but he seemed more asleep now that he no longer growled. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

So why was he just standing here like a moron while his brother walked away with a stranger?

What happened last time you rushed into a situation?

The voice that whispered in his ears didn't belong to Boomer. It was his own, slithering out from the very depth of his being like a snake and spreading its paralyzing poison through his veins. The ogre's roar echoed in his mind. His body throbbed with the memory of the various blows the monster had rained down on him. Then he saw it towering over him, arms above its head as it prepared to deliver the killing blow.

Josh trembled, and it made him so ashamed he felt ready to pitch over sick.

It almost killed you. Boomer's voice had gone quiet as he, too, had to relive the memory through Josh. That would scare anyone, but this is the Sanctuary. Nothing up here wants to hurt you. You're safe, he continued, and Josh couldn't tell who he was trying to reassure more: himself or Josh.

Yeah. Yeah, you're right, Josh said. Sweat dripped down his neck as he stared at the Sanctuary gateway. Eli and the man had already moved inside while Josh was busy recalling the ogre attack. I still think I want to follow them from a distance.

Boomer didn't answer for a moment, and when he did, there was a sort of resigned exasperation in his tone. That would be safest. But I... I really hope it's unnecessary.

It was only after Josh started heading for the castle that the reason for Boomer's insistence clicked. The Sanctuary was his home, a home he saw as safe from the outside world—just like the Sanctum. Boomer didn't only want Josh to be safe; he didn't want another haven tainted.

Josh managed to slip inside before the automatic lights flicked off. He crept forward, Eli and the man walking at least a few hundred feet in front of him.

The entire trip down the corridor, the ogre's enraged cry plagued his mind.

A couple of times the man almost turned around, but if he ever did, Josh ducked into a side corridor before he got caught. He waited in one such corridor after Eli and the man entered the courtyard. When all but two light panels from where he hid went off, he proceeded into the courtyard as well.

He couldn't find Eli or the man, but the lit panels acted as a trail of breadcrumbs leading right to them.

Where in the world are they going? Josh had explored theSanctuary a good deal since arriving. He'dnot seen much of interest in the right half of the castle, yet that was wherethey were going.

A light above the right-branching corridor caught Josh's eye. He followed it, then frowned. A balcony hung over the courtyard. The light came from its window doors. Nothing covered the windows, but the columned railing blocked most of Josh's view.

Xander's balcony. The Paladin leader must have still been in his office. Josh glanced at the direction Eli and the man had taken, and a sick feeling began to eat at his insides.

Any idea what else is this way? Josh asked as he continued on the man and Eli's path.

Not sure, Boomer said. I don't get to go around the Sanctuary very often. Its halls are too tiny. Are the only rooms in the same area you go to?

As far as I'm aware. And he hoped, because the thought of Eli going to a strange man's room was far from comforting.

He glanced off in the armory's direction for a split second before diving into the new corridor. As much as he would love to have his weapons on him, he didn't have the time.

Their path took a couple of turns before arriving at a familiarstaircase. Josh bit his lip. Why were they heading for Xander's office? He stopped out of view from the top. Dull footsteps indicated they were stillclimbing the stairs. So slowly, so quietly. Like they'd only now arrived at aplace where they needed to be secretive.

The footsteps paused. Josh's heart hammered into his chest as he listened, ignoring the urge to peek around the corner. Not yet, not when he would have nowhere to hide from the mysterious man.

Then a door creaked open.

"Eli?"

Josh tensed. Xander's voice chased away any chance they'd happened upon an area similar to the one leading to the office.

"I thought I heard footsteps," Xander continued. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

Eli replied with silence.

"Are you okay?" A chair squeaked. "Do you need something—who's there?"

Josh hadn't heard any new sounds, so Xander must have noticed the man in some other way. The man grumbled something before padding up a couple more steps.

"Hello, Xander."

Josh bit his lip. The man spoke in a friendly, though almost amused, way, but Xander said nothing, refusing Josh any sense of relief. He inched forward as the pregnant silence continued and glanced around the wall.

Eli and the man had disappeared into the room with Xander. His stomach rolled. He could still hear the ogre, distantly, turning his feet into lead. Plus, Xander was up there. He should be able to handle anything.

But Josh's little brother was also in that room, out of his sight. He climbed the steps as quickly and quietly as possible in a crouched position.

"What is going on here?" Xander asked, shattering the quiet.

Josh froze for a second before forcing himself onward. Xander's tone was hard, cautious, far from the one the man used.

Careful, Josh, Boomer warned. Just remember to trust Xander.

Josh replied with a mental nod.

"Is that any way to greet me after so long?" The man chuckled before tsking a couple of times. "And I went through all the trouble to visit."

"How are you here? Jodas would have checked with me before letting you back."

Josh stopped a couple of stairs short of the landing at the top. He kneeled and peered through the opening. The man's and Eli's backs blocked most of the office from view.

"Why would I have to get permission?" the man challenged, the first shift from his nonchalant tone. "Was I not allowed back home?"

Any idea what he means? Josh asked. He focused on his brother's back. Eli remained as still as a board.

It's just out of reach. Boomer pouted. I know I know him, and... All I know is he doesn't feel right.

That they could agree on. The unright, dangerous feeling was almost as familiar as the man, and Josh thought he could place where he had last felt it. But they were on the Sanctuary.

Xander's next words proved his instincts right.

"You know that's not true, but you've been gone for about six years. Now tell me why you have one of the Sanctuary kids, and tell me..." Xander paused, and when he continued, it sounded like he had to force the words out. "Tell me, Peter, why you feel like a Shadow Knight."

Josh clenched his fists and willed his legs not to shoot him forward. A Shadow Knight in the Sanctuary. Boomer had confirmed earlier it shouldn't be possible.

Peter... Oh no... Boomer murmured, his dread mixing with Josh's.

The man—Peter—snorted, and something about the particular way it changed his face summoned another image of a much more familiar young man. One he had seen just a few hours prior.

Josh... Peter is Cale's brother.

Fun Fact: In the original version of this, Josh had actually seen Peter before.  He was (emphasis on was, as in during a prior draft) the guy who attacked Josh's house.  How Josh couldn't put 2 and 2 together that the guy in the Sanctuary was the same one as the one who attacked his house... Don't ask me...

All kinds of odd things happening :D Not only a Shadow Knight infiltrating the Sanctuary, but somehow dragging Eli along and apparently being Cale's brother? Hope all of that is coming off as interesting as I want it to be!

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter down below, and if you enjoyed it, don't forget to vote and comment! I also have a discord open to anyone who wants to join, and we have a section there to discuss the book :D It's in my bio if you'd like to join!