Shadow of Deception

Chapter 17: Shadows of Deception

The night air was colder than before, as if the world itself sensed the storm brewing beneath the surface. Rogue moved quickly through the winding streets, his cloak pulled tight around him. The meeting had gone as expected—his father had played his part well, veiling threats behind carefully chosen words. Now, all he could do was wait for the summons.

But first, he needed to get back to Raven and Conner.

Raven's shop was just as he had left it, a hidden sanctuary nestled between the blacksmith's forge and the apothecary. The wooden raven above the door seemed to watch him as he stepped inside. The air smelled of sage and something sharper, something that clung to the back of his throat like a warning.

Raven was waiting for him, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Conner stood at the edge of the room, tense, his fingers drumming against the hilt of his dagger.

"Well?" Conner asked the moment Rogue shut the door behind him. "Did he buy it?"

Rogue let out a slow breath. "He's cautious. He won't make a decision alone. He said he'd consult the others and send for me."

Raven's brows knitted together. "Which means we don't have much time. Once he confirms with the rest of the Coven, they'll either let you in… or eliminate you."

"I know." Rogue leaned against the table, rubbing a hand over his face. "But at least we have an opening. He believes I want back in. That's something."

Conner paced, frustration clear in the sharp lines of his face. "And what exactly are we supposed to do in the meantime? Sit around and hope they don't decide to kill you?"

Rogue shot him a look. "We don't have another choice. If I push, it'll look desperate. The only way to get inside is to let them think they have the upper hand."

Raven exhaled slowly, studying Rogue with those piercing eyes of hers. "Did he say anything else? Anything about the Nexus?"

Rogue hesitated, then nodded. "Not directly. But he did say something is coming. Something big. He called it a 'great change.' I don't know if that means the Nexus or something worse."

Raven exchanged a glance with Conner, her fingers tightening against the edge of the table. "Then we have to assume the worst. If they have the Nexus, they have the power to shift the balance of magic itself. And if they sever it from the fae..."

"Then they rewrite the rules." Rogue finished the thought grimly. "And gods help us all if that happens."

A heavy silence settled between them. The weight of what was coming pressed down on them like an unseen hand, cold and unrelenting.

Conner clenched his jaw. "We need a backup plan. If they accept you back in, how do we stop them?"

Raven nodded, already moving toward a shelf stacked with old tomes and scrolls. "There might be a way to track the Nexus. If we can locate where they're keeping it, we can disrupt whatever they're planning. But we'll need time."

Rogue sighed. "Time is the one thing we don't have."

Raven turned, holding up a small vial of shimmering blue liquid. "Then we make time."

Rogue frowned. "What is that?"

She smirked. "A little something I've been working on. It slows perception—makes moments stretch longer, gives us an edge when we need it most. If you're going back into the lion's den, you might need every second you can get."

Rogue took the vial, rolling it between his fingers. "Let's hope I won't need it."

Conner exhaled sharply. "Hope has never gotten us anywhere."

Rogue met his brother's gaze, understanding the frustration, the fear. "Then let's make sure we don't need it this time."

Raven placed a hand on his arm, her expression uncharacteristically soft. "Be careful, Rogue."

He gave her a small, lopsided smile. "Since when am I not?"

Raven didn't answer, but the look in her eyes said enough.

As Rogue slipped the vial into his pocket, he knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning. The real fight had yet to come, and when it did, there would be no turning back.