“Thank you,” Peri said. “You are the leader that your king is not, and the leader your people need.”
“Speaking of the Blood Moon,” Fane said, his voice slightly less growly. “It happens tomorrow night. I am appreciative for every person here. We know what we must do. Already, the fae have taken action to obey the Great Luna. Tonight, I wish to spend time with my family, my pack, and to say my goodbyes to my parents in private.
“Each of you needs to prepare your people, all of them willing to stand with the Great Luna, to come into the human realm and bear witness to her decrees. The fae”—he turned to Disir —“know where to bring everyone, correct?”
Disir nodded. “We have long memories, Alpha.”
“Then we will see you all tomorrow night, under the Blood Moon on the battlefield where my alphas and many other wolves shed their blood during the werewolf wars.”
When he finished speaking, Peri added, “Our members will get you all to your veils. Please follow their instructions.”
The room broke into a soft rumble as the gathering ended, and the fae warriors took care of getting the other races situated to flash.
Peri and Lucian, as well as Fane and Jacquelyn, said their goodbyes and gave their respect to the fae council and djinn elders. Then their usual group gathered together on the platform, forming a tight circle. Bethany and Drake were the only ones not present because Drake still needed rest, especially if he was going to attend the ceremony. Andora was the only new addition.
“What part are you going to play in this?” Peri asked the sprite queen.
“We will aid as we did in the battle in Arizona and the Keep. But we cannot give any more prophecy. The price is too high.”
Andora looked at Fane, her eyes full of sorrow and some regret, too. “Had I not warned your father of the coming battle at the Keep, the death toll would have been more devastating than you can imagine. Not to minimize your parents' sacrifice,” she added quickly. “I made the decision I thought your father and mother would ask me to choose.”
Peri frowned. “The Great Luna said it was their time.”
“Does that mean they would have died regardless of whether she told them what was coming?” Jacque asked.
“It means they would have died, but their death wouldn’t have been that of a sacrificial lamb, so to speak,” Fane said. “Because everyone else would have died as well.” He looked at Andora as he stood tall and unwavering despite speaking of the fact that his parents had been struck down for the sake of their pack. “You made the right choice. My parents would have willingly fallen on their own swords if it meant saving their pack, and not just the wolves, but those who have become pack through their loyalty and willingness to do what is right even when it comes at great cost.”
Andora bowed to Fane. “I am honored to have known them. And I am honored to fight withyourpack.”
Fane tilted his head slightly and gave the queen a nod. Peri noticed Jacque lean into her mate. Normally, Peri would have thought it was to support him, but when she looked at his mate’s face, she saw the exhaustion there. She glanced around at the others: Jen, Sally, Crina, Elle, Zara, Cyn, and Rachel. They all looked ready to collapse, and their mates didn’t look much better.
Her gaze caught Nissa, who had chosen not to return to Farie with the other high fae, and then Adam’s. Peri made a motion with her finger in a circle and mouthed, “Let’s wrap it up and get them home.” The two fae nodded.
“Thank you, Andora, for hosting,” Peri said. “We will plan to see you tomorrow night.”
“Of course,” the sprite queen said.
“It’s time to get you all to the Keep,” Peri told the group. “Lilly, we will get you and your guard returned as well.”
Lilly hugged Jacque again, and then took Slate from Gavril and kissed his forehead. She whispered something, and Peri saw a tendril of magic swirl over him. She narrowed her eyes on the silver strand that seemed to wrap around Slate. It was a ward of some kind. She made a mental note to check it out at some point, maybe when the world wasn’t ending.
“I’ll help before Thalion and I head back to our realm,” Cyn said.
“Thank you.” Peri glanced out over the now-empty great hall. She couldn't help but wonder how many of the lives that had filled this room tonight would not make it out of this period of war. Because that is what they were facing. A civil war of the supernatural races. It was possibly the war that would end all wars because it could literally end the world altogether.
Chapter 20
“A time for war and a time for peace.”
~Human Bible, the Word of the Creator of humankind.
Fane held Jacquelyn’s hand too tightly. He knew it, but he couldn’t loosen his grip. His posture was rigid, yet his legs shook. As soon as they’d arrived at the Keep, Jacque had taken care of their son's needs, Fane had rocked him to sleep, and then Gavril and Rachel had offered to keep him.
“He will be safe with us,” Gavril said. “You need to go to your parents. It won’t take the pain away, but it will give you a measure of peace.”
Fane and Jacque walked in silence down the stairs leading to the room where his parents had been laid for their temporary resting place. When they reached the door, Fane froze in front of it. His heart beat painfully in his chest, and his mouth was so dry that he could barely swallow. His airway felt as if it were closing up, and no matter how hard he tried to breathe, he couldn’t get enough oxygen into his lungs.
Then, she was there. His amazing mate, using her free hand to turn his face and pull his head toward hers until their foreheads touched. “Let yourself grieve, my love,” she said softly. “You’re fighting it, but you don’t have to. There’s no one here but us. You don’t have to be alpha of the Romania pack right now. At this moment, you’re a son who’s lost his parents. You're a wolf who’s lost his alphas. You’re a father whose child will never know his grandparents.
