First Eclipse

Tim felt better going back in with a big team. Twenty-seven prepared people had much better odds than two who weren't. Princes Leone and Michael had just ported Abe and Aslac, along with Kinsley and Karma to the hole that had ruined his quiet trip to the mountains.

"Okay, they have the ropes secure and are going down. I'm to give updates because we're not sure about the signal once they're in." Kinsley informed everyone.

Tim glared at the ground. She was a guard who was now a princess. That alone made his earlier thoughts wrong. Maybe wrong wasn't the correct word. It made them- He'd have to give that more thought when there was time. Daxx was here. He needed his head in the game and not over-thinking other things.

"Please stay away from the edge." Prince Emil pleaded with his mate.

She snorted into the mic. "Not my first day on the job."

That garnished a few chortles over the call.

"Tim. Huge respect, man." It was Prince Leone. "We're only ten feet down, and I have no idea how you managed to get a hold of anything."

Tim straightened as everyone turned to look at him. "It took effort." He answered. His gouged-up arm had been proof of that.

"Honestly. The fact you managed to get both of you to the bottom is unbelievable."

"Focus on what you're doing, Leone." Princess Bethany told him.

"I have a rope and harness, Beth. I'm not free falling like Tim did."

"Still." "Okay."

Tim looked over to see how annoyed the tiny princess was. Prince Leone was a brave man. He wouldn't be upsetting her and risking her wrath with those fireballs, that much he knew.

"Leone says Damn," Kinsley reported. "They're at the bottom, and it's a good forty-foot drop. Kudos, Tim."

He glanced over at Sparx, who gave him a nod.

Sith slapped him on the back. "Guess you're today's hero."

Tim snorted. "I just want to get this done and make sure Fauna is all right."

Sith raised an eyebrow but didn't comment.

"Bronx. Detrick." The captain spoke into the mic. "You two stay with Troy and Chase no matter what is happening."

The kings exchanged bored looks.

"Our kings will be staying at the edge of the big cave and not taking a chance on any magic traps." Rafael looked over at Victor who nodded his agreement.

"Quint and Emil, you go with Leone when they're heading down that tunnel. I don't want them to be underpowered if anyone is coming in," Troy ordered. "Got it." Emil nodded.

"Woods and Bart, you'll be staying about halfway in the tunnel when we go in, so you'll be closer to the exit if the girls need a hand outside."

Tim glanced to see both men nod.

"Can we go now, or do you want to stop and color-coordinate us too?" Daxx asked.

Tim grinned and avoided looking at any of the royal men. The huntress wasn't big on long, planned-out strategies. When he'd first been assigned as her guard, he thought she was a little crazy. Now, he understood that she just liked to get things done. He couldn't fault her for that, but more often than not, he wished she would allow for more preparedness when they were undertaking the unknown.

"What she said." Ava nodded.

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"I'll check for any more illusions or magic use." Aireese walked over and stood with Victor. She looked more like she was gliding, but as far as he knew, they didn't hover over the ground. Victor looked around and then started walking up the incline. "Shall we?"

"About time," Daxx mumbled.

"Babe, you and Beth stick together." Arius turned around and looked at his mate. "Along with lightning fingers, the three of you will scare anyone."

Paisley grinned and then sent him an affectionate look.

Tim blew out a breath and hurried to stay with Daxx. If she had her way, she would run down the tunnels. He glanced over his shoulder in the direction that woman had gone. Why hadn't she come back? No one seemed to be asking that. "All of you be safe," Alona said softly. "Autumn says you, especially you, iceman."

"Will do," Michael responded.

Tim thought it odd that Princess Crissy wasn't here or on the call, but if she was deep in her vision moments, it wasn't unheard of for her not to speak. Then again, when she did, he didn't understand half the time. He was going to have to thank her for the backpack, though. Without that flashlight, finding the way out of the cave they fell into may have involved more bruises than he would have liked.

As soon as he stepped back inside the tunnel, a chill moved down his spine. He hadn't noticed the eerie feeling before, but then again, he was too busy trying to get Fauna and himself out of there in one piece. No one spoke once they were traveling along it. He was okay with that; being able to hear if anyone needed them was more important than chatter. Regardless, it was strange that the royal brothers weren't teasing each other about something.

The earbud made a hissing sound in his ear. He looked at Sith, who was walking beside him and nodded.

"No reception from here."

Tim sighed and pulled the sword from his back. No reception meant no warning.

"I can try to boost it." Sparx turned around and looked at the way they'd come. "Just give me a sec-" She looked at Daxx. "-maybe everyone should duck down while I try this."

Tim didn't need to be told twice. He dropped to one knee and watched the petite blonde rub her hands together.

"I did this before when our internet signal went down. It lasts about an hour, and then the electrical charge the signal runs along fades."

"I didn't understand that, but give it a try." King Chase said and then dropped to one knee.

"Oh, this is exciting." Princess Aireese smiled.

"Here we go." Sparx continued to rub her hands together.

Tim watched as her hair stood out from her head when she lifted her hands and flung them in opposite directions. He watched the lit streaks of what he could only think of as lightning go over his head and travel down the tunnel. She did it twice more and then nodded. "Try now."

"Can you hear us, Kara?" Rafael's voice came over the call.

"We can now. What did you do?" Kara answered.

"More like what did Sparx do." Karma chuckled into the mic.

"You can get up now." Sparx turned around and started walking again.

Tim stood up and gave Sith a brief side-eye. His large friend nodded and then shook his head. Their lives were never boring, that was for sure.