“As you know, my valorian has been training the others to work with emotion magic,” the Wolf Lord said. “So we were together when the Goddess summoned us here. And now I know why she called upon us.”
“The Goddess summoned you?” Varcir asked. “She spoke to you?”
“She spoke to the White Lynx.” Vathmar waved a hand toward a green-eyed blond with a kind face.
“Hello, I'm Luca,” the blond said politely with a wave at the room. “The Goddess showed me a vision of a strange monster and told me to fly to your aid. The Hawks and Owls graciously offered to carry us here.”
“So you've got altered Goblins?” another blond, this one more tawny than the last, asked as he stepped forward to take Vathmar's hand. To the Wolf Lord, he said, “Sounds like what they did to our Wolves.”
“Yes, Wolf Valorian.” Tae nodded respectfully to the second blond. “I thought as much myself. Luckily, we were able to put the Goblins into stasis by stabbing one of their hearts.”
“Oneof their hearts?” A dark-haired man swaggered forward. He glanced at the Hawk Lord—a stunning man with long, snowy hair—and asked, “How many hearts do they have?”
“Two,” the Hawk Lord said.
“Well, fuck. Lucky bastards.”
“Do you think all of you are ready for this, Wolf Valorian?” Yet another blond—shit, there were a lot of them—asked. This one I recognized as the Owl Lord. He had a dark-haired woman beside him and his arm curved around her protectively.
“I'm assuming so since the Goddess led us here,” the Wolf Valorian said.
“My valorian has been trained in all but emotion magic. Perhaps he could help,” Taeven said proudly as he held a hand out to me. After I took it and stood, he added, “This is Shane Rumerra, the Falcon Valorian.”
“Hey.” I nodded to the newcomers.
“Hey, man, I'm Ravyn,” the dark-haired one with the Hawk Lord said. “Hawk Valorian.”
“I'm the Lynx Valorian.” Luca reached forward to shake my hand. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Shane.”
“This is Sarah,” the Owl Lord introduced the woman. “The Owl Valorian.”
Then there was Marigold the Jackal Valorian, Julianna the Coyote Valorian, Ryker the Fox Valorian, Tristan the Leopard Valorian, and the Wolf Valorian was introduced as Devyn.
“Welcome to the rapidly growing ranks, Shane,” Tristan drawled. “Care to try your hand at emotion magic?”
“I would indeed.” I grinned broadly.
“You may be needed too, Falcon Lord,” Devyn said. “I'm sure you remember how Vathmar helped me destroy the Farungal soul stones. The connection between a warlord and his valorian is extremely powerful, more than was previously thought. Our warlords amplify our emotion magic and some have even learned to unite their magic with ours. I believe that is the true purpose for the bond the Goddess creates between us. She isn't just turning humans into faeries; she's forging a weapon of multiple parts to be used in many ways.”
“Whatever Shane and our Goddess needs, I will gladly supply.” Taeven squeezed my hand before heading out of the tent. “Follow me; I'll take you to the Goblins.”
Chapter Forty-Six
The bodies of the altered Goblins had been laid on cots in the camp hospital but sectioned off from the other patients by fabric partitions and a line of Red Cap guards. The Red Caps bowed as their commander approached, then stepped aside for us.
“Whoa! That's a lot of ugly,” Ravyn whispered, then made a grunting sound when his warlord smacked him in the stomach. “What?”
“Show some respect,” the Hawk Lord hissed. “They have been tortured by death magic.”
“I do respect them, but it doesn't change the fact that they look nasty.” Ravyn waved his hand at the gray creatures. “I'm just keeping it real.”
“Keep it quiet as well.”
“Can you help them?” a Red Cap asked as he moved away from his charge.
“We hope so, Brelik,” Varcir said. “All of you, step aside.”
The guards moved to the side of the space as the valorians and their warlords—including Tae and me—stepped forward.
