"Sweet Hel," Cormac breathes beside me.
"Get them out," I order, forcing myself to think like a warrior, not a horrified witness. "We don't have much time."
Our team fans out, each taking a section of cages. I move to the nearest one, containing a woman whose features mark her as elvin, like Tharin. Her eyes widen as I approach, fear replacing hopelessness.
My wolf howls in silent rage at the sight of her… of all of them. Chained like beasts. Treated inhumanely. These actions demand punishments.
"We're here to help," I say in her tongue. "Friends of Tharin."
Recognition flickers across her face. I make short work of her cage's lock. Then break the chain from the ring on the ground. She's weak, but she determinedly climbs to her feet, swaying only slightly.
"Can you walk?" I ask.
She nods, determination hardening her features. "Get the others."
I pass her to another team member, who guides her toward the exit. Above us, the sounds of the GUIDE raid continue—shouts, gunshots, things breaking. Through it all, I hear Astrid's voice directing her team, clear and commanding. She's in her element, and despite my worry, pride swells in my chest.
We work quickly, methodically. Each captive freed, each cage emptied is a small victory. Most can walk with support, though some have to be carried. The extraction team moves them efficiently to the rear exit, where the sirens wait at the water-filled trough.
The sirens take each rescued captive immediately, disappearing down into the water without a single splash. Within minutes, most of the victims are safely outside and waiting their turn for a siren to carry them away from this place.
"Lower level, east corridor clear," I hear Astrid report next. "Moving to the offices."
We're down to the last cage now. Inside is what looks like a human woman at first glance, but her shoulders are marked with intricate golden patterns. A valkyrie. Unlike the others, her restraints are different—heavier, reinforced with something that makes my skin crawl when I touch it.
"Fuck," Cormac says, examining the locks. "These are binding runes. Designed specifically for her."
"Can you break them?" I ask, watching the doorway. We've been lucky so far, but luck has a way of running out at the worst possible moment.
Cormac places his hands on the cage, murmuring incantations. Sweat beads on his forehead, and I can see the strain it's taking. The runes flare bright, then dim slightly, but remain intact.
I move closer, every muscle taut with urgency. "Try again," I command. My gaze locks with the Valkyrie's through the bars. Her eyes hold the same warrior spirit I've seen in Astrid's. We will not abandon her. We will not abandon any of them. I will tear this building apart with my bare hands if that's what it takes.
"It's draining me too quickly," Cormac says. "If I pull any more power, I'll have to draw from Earth's magick. I can’t…"
"Sherlock's moving to the lower level doorway," Astrid warns through the comm. "You've got two minutes, tops."
"Arik," I call him forward. The elvin male pales when he sees the Valkyrie inside. “How did they catch you?”
"It wasn't easy," she says, the words scraping out between clenched teeth like metal on stone. "Can you please get me the fuck out of here?"
Arik nods. He places his palms on the floor, and I feel the vibration as he connects with the earth beneath the building. His eyes glow briefly, turning from brown to molten gold as he channels pure elemental energy.
The runes on the cage flare violently, fighting his magick, but Arik pushes harder. With a sound like breaking glass, the bindings shatter. The woman inside grabs the chain just above where it's attached to the ground and yanks, snapping it easily.
A surge of savage satisfaction floods through me. Even weakened, she's formidable, exactly as a Valkyrie should be.
"Let's get you out of here, shall we?"
She climbs through the open cage door and I point her toward the exit where the last of our team waits.
"Get out, please," Astrid's voice is tight with warning. "Now."
Behind us, a door crashes open on the far side of the basement.
"Astrid," I say into the comm. "We're almost clear."
"Just go," she hisses. "I've got this. Get your people to safety."
