“As I love you, Luna,” he said, his chest rumbling as he spoke. “Thank you, for being here with me, for loving them as I do.”
They stayed like that, quietly holding onto each other until the exhaustion of everything settle over Jacque. She felt raw, but at the same time, a small amount of peace had been hard won through the time spent with Vasile and Alina. It was a precious time they’d both needed.
“Let’s get some sleep,” Fane said, his own voice rough with emotion. “We will need rest for what is to come.”
She nodded and let him lead her from the room. He closed the door gently behind him and then placed his hand against it, quietly standing there a moment before turning away. They walked hand in hand back to the room they’d been given. Slate was no doubt asleep in Gavril’s arms because it turned out the gruff male had a soft spot for pups. So she forced herself to let go of that worry. She just let her mind wander so she couldn’t grasp onto any one thought and obsess over it.
Fane helped her undress and get into the clothes Peri had left for her, along with a note telling them to eat the food on the table and get some rest. Her mate fed her, held her hand as they brushed their teeth, and then tucked her into bed, pulling her body tightly against his. Fane seemed to fall sleep immediately, but Jacque was almost too tired to sleep.
“Sleep, mate,”his wolf’s voice rumbled in her mind.“He will need not only your strength tomorrow but also your peace.”
“I love you, wolf, just as I love him,”Jacque said, because she felt like he needed to know.
“And I adore you, as I do your she-wolf. You both are ours. As we are yours. Always.”
With those words filling her mind and her heart, Jacque was finally able to close her eyes and drift off.
* * *
Peri staredout over the clearing that had been the site of the bloodiest battle of the Great Werewolf Wars. It was a good distance from the Keep, and they would be flashing in everyone who was willing to show up once it was time for the ceremony, though not directly onto the field. Peri had decided they should gather in the forest that was up a hill a ways from the old battlefield. For some reason she felt that just flashing them all there at once would desecrate the place where the Great Luna would be performing the ceremony.
Her heart was heavy as she thought about the many lives that had been lost here. It was the only time in history the wolves had been engaged in a civil war. Packs fighting packs, and in some cases family fighting family, because of members who’d mated into other packs. And now, the Great Luna had said there were unknown packs ready to rise up and attempt to challenge Fane. It would cause another rift between theCanis lupus.They didn’t have the time to fight amongst themselves, not with the Order trying to destroy the human world.
She’d tried to get rest but sleep had escaped her, and so she’d spent the night and the rest of the day walking up and down the field until she’d covered as much as she could in a spell that would prevent any blood from being spilled. These wolves that thought they could attempt to take Fane’s pack were not about to pull that crap on a day when they were mourning and celebrating the life of one of the greatest alpha pairs to have ever ruled. She would do whatever it took to make sure that the Blood Moon ceremony was peaceful. Granted, the Great Luna was going to be making an appearance—she didn’t really need Peri’s help—but it made Peri feel useful.
“Though I know you can supply yourself with food at will,” Lucian said as he stepped up beside her, “my wolf likes to feed you.” He held out his hand, and in it was a bowl of soup. Steam rose up, and the aroma of spices made her mouth water as she realized she was indeed quite hungry. The cool air of the coming fall made the soup even more welcome and appreciated.
“Thank you,” she said as she took the bowl and smiled. “Anything you bring me is better than what I could provide myself.” It wasn’t a lie.
The sun had set, and the moon was already shining so brightly that even a human’s eyes would see without a problem. The usual white glow was gradually beginning to turn. An hour after Peri had finished her soup and magiced away the bowl, the moon was orange. It was an hour away from midnight.
She heard footsteps behind them and turned to see the Romania pack, in full force, walking toward them. Though Peri had worked with Vasile and Alina for centuries, she still didn’t know all of their pack members.
Fane and Jacque were at the head of the pack. Slate was in Jacque’s arms, dressed in a black pair of pants and a black collared shirt. Now nearly seven months old, he looked like a little man sitting on her hip, staring around in wonder. He had no idea what was happening. Peri envied his innocence. Fane wore his black battle gear whileJacque wore a black dress that flowed down her like water. There was a cape attached, and it was covered in tiny, scattered diamonds that were strategically placed to resemble infinity symbols. It was a tribute to her in-laws. Jacque had asked for Peri’s help in picking out something to wear. The high fae had made the outfit for the new female alpha. It made her look regal, but it also showed her mourning and great love for the alpha pair. When she’d thought to add the cape, Peri remembered that Vasile had given Alina an infinity ring as one of his gifts at their mating. Alina never took it off.
On Fane’s right walked Decebel and Jen, who held Thia. Decebel’s daughter looked ready to cause trouble. There was a glint in the child’s eyes that was too much like her mother’s. On Fane’s left were Costin and Sally. Titus walked between them, holding both of their hands. The little genius looked every bit as determined as his parents. The second row consisted of Adam, Crina, Wadim, Zara, Gavril, Rachel, Drake, Bethany, Sorin, and Elle. All wore battle attire. Behind them walked the rest of the pack, at least a hundred and fifty strong. The majority didn’t live at the Romania pack mansion, though they lived in homes close by. Like Costin’s bartender job, many of them had regular employment, but they answered to Vasile and Alina when pack business required more than his strongest members. All of the pack, aside from Jacque, wore battle gear. They were showing their great respect for the pair who had given their lives up in a battle they felt was worth dying for.
When they reached Peri and Lucian, Fane and Jacque stepped apart, and those behind them did the same, until a long opening formed. Moving down the newly made aisle came a floating wooden slab, and resting on it were the bodies of Vasile and Alina Lupei. The magic that directed the biers was her own. Vasile and Alina were surrounded by hundreds of moonflowers, the flower that represented their Creator. It bloomed only at night. The wooden bier upon which the pair rested was a foot thick. Carved around the entire piece were words written in their native language. Peri knew what it said because she’d watched each one of the males closest to Vasile carve the words into it. The words read:“The Great Luna blessed you in life. She gave you strength when you were weak. She gave you peace even when you were in the midst of war. She brought you a daughter, and then she gave you life through a son and a grandson. You found favor in her eyes, and you will forever have the respect of your pack. Rest in the arms of your Creator for you have done well, Alphas.”
Behind them, each floating on their own wooden slabs, were the other fallen Romania pack members, seven in all. They, too, rested on moonflower carvings etched by their loved ones.
Peri watched with tear-filled eyes as the bier bearing Vasile and Alina floated until it hovered between Fane and Jacque. They began walking again, and Peri and Lucian moved in step with them. When they were in the middle of the field, Peri moved the seven fallen wolves to hover behind Vasile and Alina and then kept the wood still while Decebel directed the pack to form a semicircle on the right side of the field. They all turned and faced the direction from which they’d just come. Fane and Jacque stayed on either side of the former alphas and watched the next group join them.
Peri’s eyes fell on the queen of the warlocks as she began walking toward them. Beside her, Cypher lay on a slab much like the alphas, only his bier was made of stone. The king was dressed in his royal uniform, laying on flowers that grew around their mountain home that had been gathered by their clan. Behind Cypher came six other fallen warlock warriors, also dressed in their uniforms and surrounded by flowers. Lilly was dressed in a layered black gown that left her shoulders bare. It had silver trimming down the sleeves and edges of the dress. She wore a silver headdress that matched the silver trim on her gown. As she walked, Peri caught glimpses of the sword that was fastened at her hip by a black belt. Behind her, on either side of Cypher’s body, the entire warlock clan, roughly three hundred strong, walked with heads held high. The males were dressed in battle gear, and the females wore black dresses, similar to their queen.
When they reached the middle of the field, Cypher’s body came alongside Alina and Vasile’s, and Lilly moved to stand next to Jacque.
“Queen Lilly,” Peri said as she gave the warlock queen a slight head bow. “If you would, please have your people join the circle.” Peri pointed to where the Romania pack’s semicircle began and ended.
Lilly nodded and then spoke to her general, once Cypher’s right-hand man and leader of his army, Gerick. With a wave of his hand, the warlocks fell into position.
The fae elders came down the path next. Vale and Talia were first. Both laid on glass biers that hovered slowly forward. The glass was etched with words in the fae language, giving descriptions of each warrior.
Dain walked beside his son, Vale. The high fae was dressed in black robes. His body glowed with power, but it was significantly dimmed, no doubt by his grief.
Disir was on the other side, walking beside Talia, his hand rested on hers, and Peri could see him trembling. Her throat caught to see such emotion in the fae male’s reaction. For all the time she’d known him, he’d always been stoic, almost cold. It wasn’t an uncommon quality of their race. But it was obvious Disir loved his daughter. Gwen and Nissa walked behind on either side of the fallen. And while it was quite a sight to see the four high fae, all glowing in their black robes, what came behind them was truly breathtaking.
The fae army—not including the ones who’d gone to retrieve the other packs and sprites—a thousand strong, were dressed in full battle gear, silver armor that fit like a second skin and shined like it had been polished minutes ago. On their head they wore woven silver bands. Glowing swords were attached to their sides. There was a slight tinkling sound as they followed behind the procession of high fae. The sound came from the tiny bells woven into the hair of the snow-white horses they each rode.
