A memory tugged at Josh from his first full day at the Sanctuary. Maraand his dad had sat in the living room of their new quarters, discussing how shestayed with Cale and his parents. Therehad been a final name Josh's dad had started to say before Josh slammed thedoor. He had thought nothing of it then and always figured Cale was an onlychild.

But Boomer wouldn't lie, and Josh realized why Peter looked familiar stepping out of the portal. He looked like an older, more ragged Cale.

And he was a Shadow Knight. With Eli near him.

"It's very simple," Peter said. "I got to the Sanctuary by walking through a portal, just like anyone else. As for why I feel like a Shadow Knight..." He shrugged, the edges of his cheeks pulling back with a smile. "I'm sure you know how the bonding process works."

"I'm not playing games with you, Peter." Metal scraped across wood.

"Ah ah ah. I'd be careful if I were you." Peter wagged a disapproving finger with one hand and placed the other on Eli's shoulder.

Josh shifted the weight to his back leg to switch to the offensive. Trust in Xander or not, this pile of dragon dung wasn't hurting his little brother.

Last time you tried to save someone, you almost died. There it was again. His own voice becoming a serpent that constricted his body and hissed in his ears. Let Xander handle it. You'll only make a mess of things.

"Nine years old, if I had to guess," Peter said. He moved his hand along Eli's shoulder to curve around the base of his neck. "It's a fragile age, don't you think, Xander?"

A gust of wind burst from the room. Josh grabbed the edge of the doorway to avoid toppling down the steps. Peter stumbled back, pulling Eli robotically along with him.

"That is enough." Xander spoke slowly, his last word accompanied by another, stronger gust of wind.

Peter took a second step back, but he remained unflinching before Xander. "You're right," he drawled. "I think it's time we moved past the pleasantries of this little reunion."

He held Eli still with one hand and brought the other a few inches from his head. Black fire erupted around Peter's hand, blazing in the air mere centimeters from Eli. A tendril blew to the side from the shifting wind. Even in the bizarre state, Eli screamed when the flame licked his cheek.

"Stop it, Peter!" Xander barked.

A cry of his own rose in Josh's throat as the need to slam a fist into Peter's face surged through his veins, but the words refused to come out. When he tried to rush forward, he realized his voice wasn't the only thing disobeying him.

His body didn't move.

The wind vanished as abruptly as it appeared, and Peter's fire calmed. Such a contrast to the way Josh's heart raced in his chest. He eyed the flame-engulfed hand. No longer burning Eli, but still too close for comfort, and Josh couldn't get his body to do anything to stop it.

Boomer, why can't I move?

"Good, you're making the smart choice," Peter said. "Now stay still or the boy pays." He removed his hand from Eli's neck and fished for something in his back pocket.

Boomer had yet to reply. Josh's pulse thundered in his ears as he reached for his dragon.

Empty darkness met him. Frowning, he pushed against it—

The ogre lumbering over him. His life moments from being stolen from him. Him helpless, utterly helpless. Beaten, sore, exhausted. Moments from death.

Josh's breaths shuddered as the memories slammed into him. He mentally jerked from the bond like it had bitten him. What was going on?

Peter produced two silver bands from his pocket, pulling Josh out of his own mind. He tossed them in Xander's direction. The bracelets clanged against the floor.

"Pick those up and put them on." After a moment, Peter moved the fire closer to Eli and sneered, "We don't want any other child to die, do we?"

"You will not touch him with that flame again."

Peter flinched. Even with Eli as his hostage, the Shadow Knight couldn't stand fearlessly before the frigid anger in Xander's voice.

One click, followed by another. With the bracelets now on, Xander fell silent for a moment. He sighed. "Having that traitorous Sage and Elder Dragon comes with its advantages, I see. You've cut off my magic, so now let the boy go."

Peter snorted. "I know you all thought me a fool, but you were wrong. You wouldn't be the Paladin's leader if your magic was the only thing making you a threat. The kid stays. And"—he jerked his chin—"toss the dagger away."

A dagger flew through the air and clattered to a stop by the couch.

"Any other hidden weapons?"

"I didn't exactly plan to be attacked in my office," Xander said. "And as you've pointed out, I am a weapon."

Peter straightened, though his shoulders grew tense from the unsubtle threat. "Guess it's too bad you're powerless now."

Another beat of quiet staring. When Xander next spoke, his voice had softened, a sad tinge hanging on the words. "What happened to you, Peter? Using a child as leverage? Becoming a Shadow Knight? I knew you were in a low place when you left, but to fall this far..."

"I haven't fallen," Peter snapped. "I was lifted up by Urios. He knew I had potential while people here thought I would amount to nothing."

"I don't know what the Phoenix Dragons have been telling you over the years, but I always believed in you."

Peter barked out a cruel laugh. "Say whatever you want now that I hold the power, I don't care." Xander must have opened his mouth to argue because Peter snapped, "I said I don't care! Now wait there, and keep in mind what happens if you move."

The fire flared, the edges close enough to elicit another yelp from Eli.

Josh trembled, pleading with his body to move. One surprise blow could end it all, but his attempts were in vain. His body refused to listen.

Josh—

His racing thoughts froze as his name whispered from within him. Boomer? Josh reached out again, but like before, he found himself flinching away from a wall.

A familiar, though black, sparkler effect within the office distracted Josh from his confusion. He stared. A bad feeling spread through him like an itch he couldn't reach.

This doorway squirmed like shadows had come to life rather than like an inviting light, but Josh had no doubt what Peter had summoned.

"How are you doing this?" Xander asked. "Only Jodas can create portals here."

"Loopholes and a little bit of help," Peter said. He spoke in a smug, victorious tone.

His plan was working, and Josh sat there doing nothing.

Josh, can you hear me?

Josh jerked. Boomer? When he felt relief through the now unblocked bond, he continued, What happened—

"Hey, what's going on?"

Josh's next words screeched to a halt. Boomer wasn't the only one who had returned.

Eli craned his head from side to side, looking between Peter and the fire before turning to Xander. "Xan—Xander." Eli took a small step to the side. "What am I doing here?"

"Well, I'm not dealing with a struggling kid." Peter extinguished the fire around his hand. Before anyone could react to the opening, he lifted a yelping Eli up by the armpits and flung him through the portal.

"Eli!" Josh shot up the rest of the steps to stand in the doorway, one hand extended as if it could reach Eli, wherever he was.

A heartbeat later, the realization hit him. Not only had he finally moved, but he had done so without thinking of the consequences.

Then again, they didn't matter. The only consequence that Josh cared about was how being still for so long had just gotten his brother thrown through a mysterious portal. Well, it was time for him to fix that.

"Josh!" Xander exclaimed. He stood beside his desk, eyes wide.

Peter swirled around. Weaponless. No more hostage. Maybe more experienced, but Josh would figure out a way to overcome that.

Josh channeled light to his hands and glowered. "Where's Eli?"

Peter studied him, smirking when his eyes landed on Josh's light-covered hands. "Only light? You must be the new guy. What do you think you can do with that pathetic magic?"

"This!" Josh lifted both of his hands in front of him, condensing the light to blast it.

Before he could, Peter flung his arm forward and shouted, "Undirio blasyra!" A flaming tendril shot from his hand like a whip, swinging straight at Josh.

He stumbled back, but not fast enough to avoid it brushing against his arm. Searing pain shot from the point of contact. Josh hissed, dispelling the light in one hand to grab the wound. He tried to raise his other arm, but before he could, Peter attacked with the whip again. Josh ducked to avoid a collision with his face.

"Hey, put me down!"

Josh straightened out of his crouch. He gaped. "Xander!"

Xander's arms encircled Peter as he dragged the younger man away. Peter had done away with the fire whip, but now both his hands blazed with dark flames. Hands that pulled against Xander's bleeding forearms, trying to get free from their hold.

"Go find Ioana and tell her everything!" Xander's eyes flickered between Josh and the portal, then hardened as they rested on Josh. "And tell her that they are opening the seals. I trust you all will stop them. Until then, I'll be okay, and I promise to protect Eli, no matter what."

"What?" Josh blinked, trying to decipher his meaning—what seals?—but then Xander's intentions became clear. "Wait, Xander, don't!"

Xander smiled. It was quick and gentle, but his expression remained resolute. "I'll protect him," he repeated.

He threw himself at the portal, dragging a flailing, cursing Peter with him. Josh stepped forward to follow, but the moment they both made it through, the portal vanished.

Josh thought he heard Boomer yelling his name, but it was lost in the roar of noise in his ears as he dropped to his knees and stared at the empty space where the portal had been. All that remained of the events were the discarded dagger and drops of blood staining the floor.

Something built up deep within him. It clawed its way out, ripping to shreds anything it came across. At first, he thought he would puke. It took him a moment to realize he was screaming.

Xander and Eli were gone, and he had done nothing to stop it.

Fun Fact: More name changes! Peter used to be named Cody and had 0 relations to Caleb. He was just a random butt that attacked Josh earlier on and took... someone not Xander from the Sanctuary.

I was literally jumping for joy when I wrote this for last version, and I felt a very similar joy this time. What can I say? I have imagined the "kidnapping" so often, and having it written is amazing. Also just so many plot things I got to sprinkle in for as we move on to the bigger stuff :D And Josh unable to move... Totally just PTSD and not something more mystical, yes, totally...

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!