“Really? I’ll be welcomed? My own mother didn’t welcome me.” The girl scoffed and shook her head.
“She couldn’t risk keeping you. You know that, right? That’s why I hid you,” Selene said quietly.
The girl flashed her amber eyes toward the goddess. “No, you hid me for this day. You wanted me around to fight for this day. And you knew that by involving him, I would have to get involved.”
Selene only shrugged. “It’s still your choice.” She smiled as she looked at her and whispered, “Jade, just so you know … it wasn’t just because of that.”
Jade glanced at her through the corner of her eye and then back down at the grassy field, which was slowly being infiltrated by demons who had begun their slow march. The drums sounded muffled by how far away they were from her, but she could still hear them. Her eyes wandered farther ahead to a heavily pined area that she could barely see. Elysia. The kingdom of the fairies. The demons were marching to claim what was magic and good in the world. She squeezed her fingers together and inhaled the cool, fresh air once more. The time had finally come when she was going to have to reveal a secret, one that was never supposed to be uncovered. She hoped Selene was right. She hoped she would be welcomed. But even if she wasn’t, she would at least help them fight. She couldn’t stand idly by, not when she had the power to help.
She set her gaze firmly on the demon horde that began to darken the grassy valley. She wasn’t sure if she’d just decided or if she’d already made up her mind, but she knew what decision she was going to make. And that was to fight.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
“You promise you’ll keep her safe?” Chasen asked as he held Jin to his chest. Her small frame next to him made him feel like she was even more vulnerable. He wanted her here and safe, but leaving his mate and unborn child right now was gut-wrenching.
“I promise. She’ll be perfectly fine. Go concentrate on what you have to.” Harley then looked up at Hunter. “Nothing will happen to the Black Ice Pack territory with me here.”
Hunter thanked him with a nod.
“Jin.” Chasen gently lifted her chin. “I love you so much. I’m coming back to you, okay?” He watched her eyes water as she tried to fight off the tears. This tore him apart even more.
“You better come back to me.” Jin offered him a brave smile and reached up to him on her tiptoes. “I love you, Chasen,” she whispered against his mouth.
Chasen responded, moving his lips against hers. He deepened the kiss, pouring his love into it. Just in case … just in case he didn’t make it back to her, she would know how much she meant to him. He slowly pulled apart from her and traced his thumb over her cheek. He kissed her forehead and glanced up to see Hunter and Freja were already leaving. The packs wereall assembling and meeting up at Elysia, and Black Ice Pack was finally moving out.
“I’ll be back before you know it.” He squeezed her gently before he released her. “I have to go,” he said in a hoarse voice as he felt his eyes start to blur from the rising tears. He mustered up his resolve and strength to walk away from her, quickly leaving the area while he could. He didn’t turn around again so she wouldn’t see him cry. But then he stopped walking, pausing for a moment. He turned to the side slightly but not enough for her to see his eyes.
“Destiny,” Chasen said quietly. He smiled, turning his head even more to see Jin, whose tears were streaming down her cheeks. “Let’s name her Destiny. Since it was my destiny to be with you.” Just in case he didn’t make it back, he wanted to feel like he at least had a small part in his daughter’s life. He watched Jin smile and nod her head. This was even harder than he imagined. He looked behind Jin to Harley, who was smiling after hearing the name of his mate.
“Take care of my girls,” Chasen said quietly, then shifted into his bear, running away. Jin would be safe. He knew that. Harley would keep her safe. He just wasn’t sure if he would ever get to see her again—or see the face of his baby girl.
The next day …
“There isn’t anything we can do. Now what?” Asher rubbed Lita’s shoulders.
“I’m scared. I’m so afraid, because I have this really strong feeling screaming at me inside. Gosh, Asher, I’m afraid our babies are going to get stuck inside that hole.” A wet crystal streamed down Lita’s face as she leaned back into Asher.
“As long as Xander is alive, there will always be hope that they can return.” Asher shook his head and forced a smile on his face. “Leet, we don’t know what’s going to happen. They might make it back out just fine.” He paused. “Baby, if I could, I would go in their place. I would do anything to protect our family.” He rested his chin near her neck.
“I wish we could. But there would be no way for us to find our way back out.” Lita shook her head and looked down at the floor. “Mom and Dad are going to keep studying, but I’m sure if there was another way, the Moon Goddess would have tried it already.”
“Come on, Lita. Let’s go and visit with your brother before all hell breaks loose. He came here early to see you. You know how much he misses his ‘Little Leet.’” Asher smiled into her neck, brushing his lips over her sensitive skin.
“Yes, I haven’t gotten to see him and his son Ace much. But after the war is over, things will finally be peaceful. I just hope that we’ll be able to visit with everyone. I don’t know how I’ll handle it if?—”
“Let’s not think about it. We already agreed to let them make their own decisions over this matter, right? All we can do is support them and trust them. And if it all goes to hell, we’ll be here to pick up the pieces and hold the family together. That’s our job. Lita. Freja, Levi, Brody, Chasen, Jin, and Chelsie will all need us. Same with Xander.” He kissed her neck sweetly and wrapped his arm around her. “Come on, baby. Let’s have a few more good moments. And when the battle starts, don’t you leave my side for a second.”
Lita giggled. “You’re the one who left my side last time, remember?”
“Yeah, and I had a siren wanting to keep me as a mate.”
Lita growled. “Glad she was made an example of. If Rowan hadn’t killed her, I would have gone back to do the job.”
Asher chuckled. “I know you would have, baby. I know.”
Grayson, Lita, and Asher left Elysia with the fairies who were able to fight. They didn’t have to ask the kelpies twice; they were always bloodthirsty and ready for battle. Others were a bit more hesitant but still rose to the call. There were many different species gathering—all answering the fairies’ call for aid.
Drew and Ace walked out with them just as the werewolf packs started trickling in. The werewolves had run in their wolf forms the whole way, making travel much faster. They wanted to make sure they had time to set up and rest before the demons arrived. They shifted back into their human forms and began making preparations, setting up their camps.
