“Can we get her another potion? Didn’t her aunt make it?”
He nodded. “The aunt made it. I think it’s too soon to take another, though, or Brielle will get sick again like she was before. It was supposed to cover her for longer, but Shay thinks her powers surged when we got here to the ley lines.”
My mind reeled at the unforeseen dilemma. No, it was bigger than a dilemma. It was a downright disaster.Looks like no one is getting a cheeseburger anytime soon.
If Brielle’s blocking wore off, the ODL would be on top of us within hours. The castle was already barely standing, and while the bunker was livable, it wasn’t a permanent solution. It was a foxhole we’d be trapped in, cut off from the rest of the pack or long-term resources.
“Do you know where Kane is?” I asked, already jumping to the next step in my mind, before I’d moved an inch.
“Their room. He, Gael, and Valens are meeting with Cristian to discuss the state of the castle while I stand guard.”
“Thanks.” I was gone before he had a chance to reply, fingers twitchy on the cell phone in my pocket. Did I call in backup? I thought the answer was a resounding yes. But the priestesses were already on their way, planning to meet us here to address the issue with the omega stone.
But what if a few priestesses—even the most badass priestesses on the planet—weren’t enough? Dread filled my limbs as I pushed through the door without knocking.
“The ley lines aren’t technicallybeneaththe castle—” The elderly butler sputtered to a stop at my rude interruption.
“Apologies, Cristian. Kane, I need a word.”
The high alpha was on his feet in a split second. “What’s wrong?”
I quickly relayed what Dirge had told me about Brielle’s shielding spell starting to falter. “My concern is that the priestesses already en route won’t be sufficient to defend against a full-scale ODL assault. Especially not after we already kicked their asses last time. They’ll come down harder and more prepared the second time.”
He nodded gravely, but before he could say a word, Gael spoke up at his side. “Not just the ODL. We’re going to have a full-blown war on our hands the second her cover is blown. While some species have been magnanimous enough to give us a second chance, there are many more with an axe to grind. Andthe ones who’ve been neutral are going to be significantly less so once they realize we’ve got both the rockandan adult omega capable of using it.”
I grimaced, unable to argue with his conclusion.
In short? We were fucked.
“Did Shay have any idea how long it would take until her shield failed completely?”
Shaking my head, I moved into crisis aversion mode. “It could be a day, it could be a week, maybe a month if we’re lucky. But I don’t think we cansafelyassume it lasts beyond today. We need to make a contingency plan. Immediately. The only place she’d be safe when it wears off is the enclave.”
“And we can’t go to the enclave, or anywhere else, not until the stone is fixed.”
I nodded, anxious energy zipping through my body like a dancing live wire, ready to blow. It took all the restraint I had not to bounce on the balls of my feet.
I didn’t let my gaze stray to Valens, even as Kane took his time absorbing my recommendation, but I felt his eyes on me like a physical caress.
“Master, at the risk of overstepping…” Cristian hesitated, but Kane waved to indicate he should speak.
“I would recommend you gather the packs. If war is coming, there’s no use pretending it’s not. Gather the packs, gather all your allies, and prepare to meet what’s coming head-on. It’s your right as the high alpha. An attack on you, on your mate, is an attack on all wolves.”
Kane nodded, jaw muscle working overtime as he took in all the opinions in the room, his own strangely absent. But what the fuck did I know about leading people? I swung a sword and left the decisions to those better at making them than I was.
The silence in the room drew taut as a bowstring, when finally, Kane rapped his knuckles on the desk twice, resolutely.“If we can’t assume Brielle’s shield lasts more than a day, we have no choice but to move quickly.” He turned to Gael. “Call Reed and have him start gathering the packs, and any allies he thinks will fight on our side from the council. Cristian, I need you and the staff to prepare for guests. Many, many guests. And as much refortification as we can get of the castle.”
“High Alpha,” Valens interrupted, wearing an apologetic, downcast expression as he stepped forward. “I have no doubt that were he here, Lucien would volunteer the Hungarian pack mansion for lodging for our allies. As his second, I promise that whatever you need, the Hungarian pack will be honored to provide.” He bowed formally at the waist as befitted Kane’s dominance, and for the first time, I saw Valens as more than just a man, a shifter, a potential mate.
He bore his pack role with pride and dignity. It was impossible not to see that he was a man of honor who served his people first and himself second.
I knew something about that.
An indefinable emotion swelled in my chest, leaving me feeling too much, too quickly. I shoved it down hard, though, because now was not the time.
“Thank you, Valens. Please discuss it with Lucien and ask how he wants to proceed. We may all need to stay here because of the advantage of the ley lines, but actual housing would be preferable if we have the option.” Kane pinned that dominant gaze on me next. “I need you with the women every second from here on out, until we’ve got more maidens to take shifts.”
“Of course, High Alpha.”
