“I can’t even fault you for that one,” Peri said with a sly smile. “We’ve been a tad self-centered in the past, I can own that. But our apathy has changed. The fae have an invested interested in the happenings of the human realm, and we will do what is necessary to protect it and its inhabitants.”
Andora stood and the rest of those sitting followed. “That is very good to hear,” she said. “Likewise, the sprites will no longer be keeping to themselves. The Order cannot be allowed to have any lasting power. They need to be destroyed once and for all. We convene with the leaders of all supernatural races in a week’s time. The sprites will host a summit.”
Peri’s eyes widened. “There hasn’t been a Summit in—”
“Over five centuries,” Vasile finished for her. “Since before my time.”
“It’s been five centuries too long,” Andora said. “If we’d been meeting on a regular basis and sharing information, maybe the Order wouldn’t have been able to rebuild their numbers.”
Peri gave a sharp nod. “Agreed. It’s time the supernatural communities come together. Nissa and I will begin gathering them. We will see you in a week.”
“You know the old tree portal to our realm?” the sprite queen asked Peri.
Peri nodded.
“I will have guards on both sides, human and sprite, seven days from today, to usher in our guests. Weapons will be allowed, though they will be set aside before the meeting begins.”
“We will see you then.” Peri turned to Vasile and Alina. “It might be wise to begin evacuating your wolves, especially now that you have pups.” Before the alpha pair could respond, the fae turned to Nissa. “Once you’ve returned the sprites to their realm, meet me at my home., We need to begin recruiting immediately.” Before she flashed, Peri glanced at Lilly. “Please tell your daughter and her friends to refrain from doing anything stupid. I realize it will be a miracle if they listen, but I’m attempting to believe in the impossible these days.” Then she was gone.
“I’d forgotten what a warm ball of sunshine she is,” Andora said dryly.
“Cut her some slack,” Nissa said with a small smile. “She’s mated to a Canis lupus.”
Lilly nearly jumped when the sprite queen suddenly burst into laughter. She glanced over at Cypher who was smirking at the laughing queen.
“I suppose Ishouldgo easy on her then,” Andora said as her laughter subsided. She looked at Vasile and Alina. “No offense, but any of us who have known Perizada of the fae for any amount of time realize how she feels about you wolves.”
Alina smiled. “None taken. And yes, it is a kind of poetic justice to see her mated to one of our own.”
Lilly noticed that Diedre and Aurora were both smiling as well. Apparently, they all knew Peri well enough to appreciate the irony. Nissa held out her arms for the four women. They each placed a hand on the high fae. Andora gave her a small smile. “We will see you soon, Lilly, queen of the warlocks.” Then she turned to Cypher for the first time since arriving. “Lilly is one of mine. If you hurt her, or let any harm come to her, I will let the mentalist scramble your brains, the luminous fry your body, and the elementals scatter your ashes to the four corners of the earth.” Nissa flashed them from the room before Lilly’s mate could respond.
“Good talk,” he said to the empty space where they’d just been standing.
Moments later, Nissa was back and ready to take Cypher and Lilly home. Lilly gave Alina a hug.
“I will try and talk the girls out of coming,” Alina told her, obviously feeling the same worries as Lilly.
Lilly snorted. “You’d have better luck getting water from a rock.”
“Or blood from an orange,” Vasile added.
“Or taming a shark,” Cypher said.
Alina sighed. “I could convince Peri to bind them.”
Vasile laughed. “Please do. It would be worth it just to see Jen’s response.”
“Fane and Decebel would never forgive us,” Alina pointed out.
Vasile shrugged. “It would still be worth it to see Jen unable to make good on any of her threats.”
“Just promise me you’ll get pictures if Peri does it,” Lilly said as she placed her hand on Nissa and tucked herself close to Cypher.
“I’ll frame it and give it to you as a Christmas present,” Alina promised.
Lilly was laughing as Nissa flashed them from the Romanian mansion.
When they were finally home and tucked away in their bed, Lilly let out a tired sigh. “Why does it feel like the calm before the storm?” she asked her mate.
