‘Sorry, bro,’I told Justice.
He shrugged.‘I understand.’
“Richie…” I turned to the guard. “I need you to go through Mageville and pick two dozen young mage men who have some semblance of wit about them. Teach them how to run patrols, defense, craft weapons, anything so they can learn to take care of themselves.” I wasn’t the damn alpha of mages. They needed to figure their own crap out.
I spotted another group of four guards and called them over. “I need you four to come with me. We need to go examine where Kirkland was attacked.”
‘I’ll meet you at the boat in an hour,’I told Justice.
As I strode away, I let my wolf surge to the surface. Dropping to all fours, I raced past Dark Row and headed north.
So many thoughts swirled around in my head. Where in the mage hell was Nai? What would I do if the vampires really were back? How deep and dark did my uncle’s secrets go? Could I even do this alone? Surlama had been one of them the entire time! There was a reason we used to be Shifter Island. There was a reason we all banded together. Because when enemies likeblood magescame calling, we stood strongertogether. Something I thought we’d been doing just as wolves. But if my uncle had simply been paying the vampires off with a blood payment, then … well, that didn’t sit well with me. I wouldn’t do that.
My paws pounded the ground, and my men ran behind me as I followed the sickly smell of death and dark magic.
‘Any word on Nai?’I asked Noble.
‘No, brother, I’m sorry. After we detain Kalama, I’ll go to the mortal portal and see if her aunt is working again. I’ll try to pry some more information.’
A small measure of relief wormed through me. At least, we were doing something.
I tracked the scent of decay, blood, and rotten flesh to the base of the north cliffs above Dark Row and pulled to a stop as the scent became overwhelming. I lifted my snout from the ground to lessen the smell as I slipped into the thick tree line. The underbrush was smashed and broken, and there were clear tracks where a body had been dragged. My heart squeezed with guilt, but my nostrils flared in anger. Ihatedthat one of my own went out like this.
When I reached the base of a large oak, I saw Kirkland, or rather what was left of him. His entire form was a shriveled husk, lying in a collapsed guard uniform; his skin was mottled and putrid.
I wrinkled my nose at the stench.
Blood magic. Death. Wolf.And another smell … like carrion times a million.
How had it taken onlysecondsfor the blood mage to do that?
I tipped my head back and howled long and deep. I was angry. Beyond angry. My uncle left me a legit shit storm as an inheritance. And totally unprepared. Worse than that was the sinking feeling of despair hanging in my chest. I wanted my fated mate with me, by my side to help me figure this mess out. Regardless of what Justice said, Nai didn’t make me weaker; she made me stronger.
There was something I’d intended to do the first day as king, but I’d put it off because I wanted her with me for this historic moment. However, I couldn’t wait any longer. Now that the blood mages, aka vampires, were back, I needed to unite our people before we were picked off and washed out.
Turning, I spun and headed for the dock.
‘Justice? You ready?’
‘I’m on my way to the dock now.’
I pushed harder into the run with my guards following behind me.
‘Noble,’I said, scouting the area with the other wolves as we ran back to Dark Row. ‘Prepare to send out thousands of invitations.’
My brother’s energy bristled before he responded.‘Invitations for what?’
I sent out my next thought to both Noble and Justice.‘I’ll officially declare the island to be Shifter Island once again. Every single shifter animal needs to come home.’
I felt the rightness at my decision echoed in my siblings’ thoughts.
‘We’ll be reunited as shifters again,’I declared.
Then I sent my thoughts out to the other wolves.‘Go get Kirkland’s body and bring it home so we can give him a proper burial.’They nodded, and I met each set of eyes.‘Be careful. The vampires are back, and they’ve left the cliffs to hunt. Stay together.’
‘Yes, Alpha,’they responded in unison, but one of them whined.
‘What?’ I demanded.
