The proposal we sent via liaison was meant to dangle certain incentives that would bring witches to the table; the goal today is to actually get into the nitty-gritty of negotiations and get all of our signatures on a piece of paper that will bind shifters and witches together. Not only as allies for upcoming wars but as two species that will start to intermix and intermingle, creating a cohesive continent and showing the rest of the world that such things are possible; different speciescanwork together.
“I read over it before coming down here—it looks great. Mutually beneficial, articulately worded, and something you should be proud of,” Camden says.
I feel a flush of pride as he praises me, more so than I have in the past. Partially because of our strengthened bond, but also because I put my heart and soul into the treaty. Not only will it bind the wolf-shifter nation with witches, I also wrote in aspects that are guaranteed to helphumans—amendments that prioritize giving aid to human villages scattered around this continent, aid that will be the first step in making it possible for humans to lead lives that aren’t drowned in poverty and difficulties.
“Thank you,” I murmur.
I’m surprised when Leisel releases my hand and wanders over to Wyatt, telling him, “You were right about Grimm’s Fairytales, they’reawesome.”
Wyatt blinks down at my little sister, also looking surprised at her initiating conversation without prompting or first checking with me.
A small grin forms on his lips. “Don’t tell me you’ve made your way through all the books you’ve borrowed already?”
Leisel rolls her eyes. “Of course I have. I got those booksagesago.”
Wyatt’s eyebrows rise as he squats down to eye level with Leisel. “You got those books a week ago. You’re a fast reader, huh?”
Leisel nods. “Mm-hmm. I get it from Sierra, I think. She reads, like, a million books a week.”
Camden steps closer to me as our siblings continue to chat, murmuring, “They seem to be getting on well, and you no longer look pale as a sheet every time they interact.”
I lift a shoulder. “I’ve gotten to know Wyatt a bit better, and he’s surprised me. He’s very intelligent and forward-thinking, definitely an asset to shifters.”
Camden lets out a soft snort. “He’ll be the first to agree with you.”
A guard rounds the end of the hallway, bowing his head before saying, “Three witches have arrived on the property, Your Majesties. They’re being escorted into the entrance hall as we speak.”
Leisel bounces on her toes with eagerness—she’s been brimming with excitement ever since I told her we’ll be meeting with fellowwitches earlier in the week. Wyatt stands to his full height, rolling his head to crack his neck.
Camden says to me, “This treaty will be your triumph if it goes through, so I’m leaving you in charge of negotiations. You’ve already proven to be a far more capable diplomat than me; I’ll just be there for support.”
That warms my heart. The trust he’s showing in not only me but my capabilities, makes my defenses against him crumble a little more. He could take credit for my hard work—nobody would stop him—instead, he’s choosing to push me into the spotlight.
“Thank you. I won’t let you down,” I respond quietly.
“I know you won’t,” he responds easily.
I take Leisel’s hand, following the guard down several halls, three sets of staircases, and into the entrance hall of the castle. It’s a grand hall decorated with light marble boasting a high ceiling with a glass dome top, letting in rays of morning sunlight. Stationed at the entrances of the room and on either side of the grand staircase are pack warriors, dressed in formal blue clothing indicating that they’re members of the King’s personal guard—a tidbit I learned from Wyatt a few days ago.
Three figures stand in the center of the entrance hall. A striking image with the sun haloing them, they appear almost ethereal in both beauty and power.
At the front stands a woman who appears to be in her late twenties, with long loosely curled raven-black hair, steel gray eyes, and golden skin. I canfeelthe magic coming off her; it’s startlingly powerful, almost worryingly so. She’s a similar height to me, and while nothing about her physical appearance is intimidating, sensing the strength of her magic is all I need to know I wouldnotwant to be on the opposite side of a battlefield from her.
Slightly behind her and to the right stands a taller, more imposing witch, with almost as much magic radiating off her as the one in front. Somewhere in the vicinity of five-seven, this witch has long platinum-blonde hair, and vivid hazel eyes that, on second glance, are made up of green and yellow with flecks of mocha and gray. She looks like she’s sizing every shifter in the room up, as if preparing to take them down in case things go sideways.
To the left of her is a woman who looks like a pixie—she can’t be much more than five feet tall, and she has the stereotypical red hair and vivid green eyes that old books associate with witches. The magic coming offheris particularly interesting because it feels like heat of some sort, calling to me in a way I’ve never experienced.
“My name is Camden Kent,” Camden says, “I’m Alpha of the Rockwell Pack and acting monarch overseeing all shifters. On behalf of my kind, I’d like to welcome you to Kinrith. We’re honored by your presence here.”
The witches all give him brief, dismissive glances, before turning their gazes on Leisel and me. The tall blonde gives me a long look up and down once she’s done staring at the wolves surrounding me like they’re her next kill and says, “I thought you’d be taller.”
The one in front shushes her. “Please excuse Reyna, she skipped the manual on manners in childhood. I’m assuming you’re the famous Sierra?”
Famous?“I’m not sure about famous, but I am the only Sierra I know.” I draw Leisel closer to me as she watches the other witches with wide-eyed wonder like they’re mythical unicorns. “This is my younger sister, Leisel.”
The dark-haired witch smiles, showcasing a perfect set of pearly-white teeth. “It’s very nice to meet you both, and good to see you’ve been kept in good health. My name is Odelia, I’m the highpriestess of the Nightshade Coven.” She uses a hand to motion to the blonde witch. “This is Reyna, first Elder, and to my left is Claire, second Elder of the coven. We thank you for extending an invite.”
Reyna gives her a startled glance. “We do?”
