Lanias immediately felt the automatic urge to say no. She couldn’t return after everything, and so what if Raijin had seen her. She could alter his memories with a snap of a finger.
“Why do you think that would serve us?” Alek asked. She decided to let him take the lead. “Is it because of what you mentioned earlier.”
Raijin nodded, pulling his coat on. “You have the knowledge, and from your earlier display, the ability to fight enough to keep them off balance. Not only have they been attacking you they have also been committing violent acts in the veil. Since we know they are after Lanias, wouldn’t it be better for us to work together. We’d be stronger working together, than separately.”
“Thank you, ever so much for pointing out the obvious.” Lanias sneered. “So, use me as bait and get rid of the pest.”
“Basically.” Raijin finished.
“So, what’s the plan,” Roni asked approaching them, with the four girls behind him. “They are tracking you, so the best bet would be to lay low.”
“No,” Lanias said, her eyes on Raijin. “The Ogre is right, hiding won’t do anything. Plus, I’m heartily sick of it. I miss my sister and cousin. I miss the smell of wet asphalt and the cry of the phoenix at dawn. It’s time I returned.”
Alek chuckled, “You’ve only been gone a few months.”
Alek groaned from her elbow slamming into his stomach.
“Now, why don’t we first go to Alek’s Manor, there’s a kid Roni should meet. And I’m sure Alek’s children would love to know what their father is planning.
She pointed at Raijin, “And you’re going to prepare the others for my return from the dead.”
He quirked his brow. “I guess I could soften the blow.”
She waved him off. “Just talk to Malcolm, he’s known about my plan this entire time.”
“You let the dog know, and not me?” Alek demanded angrily.
Lanias shot an amused look in his direction. “You didn’t require my help during the mating moon.”
“Mating moon!” he exclaimed. “Did you and he?—”
The words got stuck in his throat when he noticed her expression.
“No, don’t stop talking now. What were you going to ask me,” she crooned.
Alek thought it was best to keep his mouth closed. Especially with the level of blood lust coming off her. “Nothing.”
“Hmm, now Raijin be a dear and don’t mess this up.” She rolled her wrist and a black ball appeared in her hand. She threw it at him, enjoying the brief shout he released before he disappeared.
“Well now with that bit handled,” she turned her attention to Alek. “Let’s go home.”
“You know we will need to have a serious talk once we return,” Alek warned.
“I know,” she said her tone serious.
He motioned to his long coat and suit jacket.
The red mist surrounded them, “Good.”
Healing
ALEK
As they all disappeared from the ruins of his old Kingdom and the view of his old home faded. Alek didn’t feel the old sensation of loss like before. Instead, he felt like he was moving toward a new beginning. With Lanias in his arms, he’d found his new path.
He only needed her to accept him fully, along with her title.
The minute the view of the manor came into sight, he heard a shout. The youth they’d found in the protected home; Fabian ran toward them and surprisingly hugged Lanias. She looked down at his head in stunned silence.
