I kissed the other babies, too, and then went back to stand by Zander and watched Doryu and Roan say goodbye to Alex. They were just as sweet, just as loving. We all felt like he was ours. We all loved him.
"We'll be back soon," Zander said. "With the rest of the babies."
From his lips...
It wasn't easy to walk away, even after leaving the palace guards, who had been well vetted, there to protect them. Danyelus and Tammy would make sure the kiddos didn't get into any mischief, and Mrs. Grunst would handle the babies.
Still, walking away and through the portal took more than I ever thought possible.
We headed downstairs and portaled to the Junta headquarters, then went straight to the massive council chambers.
Doryu crossed the room, pulling me by the hand. Riley and Axoular went with us. "Jen," Doryu said, "I'd like you to meet the rest of the Sárkány elders. This is Drest and Maedoc." The Sárkány elders were in their dragon forms. Drest and Maedoc looked related, with scales of bright orange and yellow. "And this is Boudicca and Morcan." Boudicca had white and silver scales. Doryu had told me that meant she was very old. Morcan’s were golds and browns but looked like they were fading. So, she was older, but not elderly? I didn't know exactly how it worked.
"It's lovely to meet you," I said softly as Riley and Axoular greeted them all warmly. Apparently, they'd met. I'd spent so much time with the Dannan and Doryu, but I hadn't gotten to know my people.
That time would come. I would know them. I would know all of them.
We turned to see more people filing in. I hurried over to Zander.
"The reapers," he said, nodding to one side of the room. A witch had a portal open, and on the other side of the portal, I could see dozens and dozens of black-cloaked figures.
"Not something you want to see coming at you on a battlefield," I muttered.
Roan snorted. "Definitely not."
To the left, a portal opened, and a few tall, muscular women stepped through. I didn't need anyone to tell me who they were. "The Valkyrie."
"Yep. Mighty warriors." Zander nodded to them as I watched another portal open.
Animals came through. Shifters, fully in their other forms. "Oryx," Zander said. I remembered her name. She was the leader of the weres and a unicorn. I could see many predators behind her. Bears, lions, even what looked like a moose. "Wild," I breathed.
Roan leaned close and whispered in my ear, "Literally."
Another portal opened, and a group of women came through, outfitted in weapons that ranged from swords to guns, to even one mace. "The Vampari," Roan said. "They hand-pick their members from the races of the Unseen. A small group, but I never want to get on their bad side."
The leader of the group must've heard him. She looked over and grinned, lifting her chin in recognition.
The Supay arrived, looking like a bunch of humans, but they were anything but. Then the rest of the Sárkány, and finally, the Dannan. They also looked perfectly normal.
And then the final portal opened, and a woman with blue skin stepped through. She had short brown hair streaked with gray. A Leyak who had never shapeshifted. They stayed blue until their first shift. Zander strode forward, closely followed by Roan, Doryu, me, Riley, Anthony, Axoular, and Elias. "Thank you for coming," he said.
Many more blue people stood behind her, on the other side of the portal. "We cannot let our race commit such atrocious crimes. Are your armies ready?"
Zander nodded. "If you know where we should go, we are prepared to fight."
He thinned his lips. "We're putting a considerable amount of trust in you. You could be leading us to slaughter."
Her eyes flashed and she bowed her head. "I am Terri Klozik. I'm the leader of my people, and you have my word. You will not meet misfortune today if I or my armies can keep it from happening."
He was right. We were trusting her. But Dumadi, despite his past mistakes, made me feel like he wanted to help, even from his prison house. I didn't think he would lead us to our dooms. Geez, let my gut feeling be right.
"Then let's go," Zander said. "The sooner we stop this, the better. You have the portal?"
Terri nodded and looked back at her people. "We do. It's set to open up in the field outside the warehouse housing the infants. We will be right beside you."
Zander walked to the podium and held up one hand. "You are all here because you believe in standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves." Murmurs of agreement met his words. "You are here because you believe in justice, and in fighting for what is right."
More agreement.
