It was unsettling. I’d lived my life looking for revenge, and now it seemed like a waste of time.
I wanted Faolán dead for what he had done to my adoptive parents, but it no longer mattered who dished out his death. He wasn’t the type to just slink into the shadows and die. He’d have to be hunted down and killed, and it needed to happen before my children were born since he still thought he could take my powers, and since he would know that one of my children would be the next Heir because of the prophecy, he’d go after them as well. No, he needed to die and it was time to allow the others to help me with him.
“You seem happy,” Adam said.
“I am. I just wish Larissa was here with us to see how this has turned out. She would have made an amazing aunt.”
“She would have, but she’s not gone,” he said as he pulled me closer. “She’s in our hearts, and she will always be there.”
“True,” I said as I watched Savlian nod at one of the women who had just arrived in the hall a few moments ago. She smiled and followed him out of the room. Sevrin followed close behind them.
“So this is how the Fae party?” I asked curiously.
“Mostly,” he smiled. “Unless it is a feeding party, which I hear is wild, but they still keep it classy,” he said smoothly.
“Wild and classy don’t normally mix,” I replied.
“Vlad normally keeps the peace. He serves, and the men talk to females, choosing one or more for the night, and then they leave. They got some major swagger. I’m trying to pick and choose a few techniques from each of them. Vlad only has to nod his head, and the women will go to the man who wants them for the night. I’m trying to talk him out of his secrets.”
I laughed, but Ristan caught my eye as his eyes changed and his face went blank. “Shit,” I said and headed in his direction. Ryder tried grabbing his hand to see the vision, but the shake of his head told me he hadn’t been successful.
We all circled around him, waiting for him to come back from wherever Danu had sent him for the vision. Everyone was silent as we waited, and Adam’s hand slid into mine even as Ryder protected Ristan, even though he was in a room full of his brethren.
When Ristan finally started to come back, his eyes searched for me and leveled me with a concerned look that sent warning bells off in my head. Had Danu showed him what I was? I seriously hope she didn’t after the talk we had earlier.
“What did you see?” Ryder asked even as his eyes went from Ristan’s demeanor to me.
“We go to war,” Ristan whispered.
“With?” Ryder asked.
“The Mages,” he answered.
“We are already at war.”
“Not like this one, Brother. Not like this.”
“How many are coming this way?” Silas asked.
“Thousands led by Faolán. They obtained a few relics and think they have the ones needed to kill all of us. We need to prepare for a war like we have never seen before. It’s time to prepare.”
I shivered as his words slithered down my spine.
“What else did you see?” Ryder asked.
“We have a secret weapon; one that will turn the tables and change this world forever.”
I held his eyes and smiled. He hadn’t seen me, he’d seen my mother. He had also seen what she’d wanted him to. This was a fight unlike any we had ever encountered before, but we would meet it head on and come what may, we’d survive it.
I took a deep breath and jumped in uneasily. “Adam, go inform your father that we have need of him. We’ll need the Shadow Warriors for this fight. I’ll also send a letter to my father in the Blood Kingdom, and request an audience with him since he is unwilling to come here. We need to send someone to Dresden, and warn him of what is coming. He won’t think this is his fight, but if he fails to come, tell him I’ll be showing up to replace him as Alazander did with Anise,” I said, taking control as I watched Ryder for a sign that I was over stepping. I didn’t see it. Instead, I saw pride shining back in his eyes. He stood and addressed the group.
“Call for the Horde to mobilize, and have them start making preparations for war. Tell them to start collecting the supplies from the Damned Mines. We will need everything we have. The smaller Castes will need to head in this direction so that we can easily protect them from coming to harm. Call the Unseelie and the Sluagh in; tell them it’s time to play with the Mages.” Ryder gave a battle cry as he finished and the entire assembly picked up the call and sounded it with him.
I placed my hand over my abdomen and wondered what kind of a world would be left when we were done. They had taken away any chance of peace, and now I was glad I was beside Ryder. This entire time I’d been running and trying to escape my destiny. It was time to embrace it, and do what I had been created for. It was time to prepare for war, and make my beast love me.
~The End~
~For Now~