Astra grinned, and I stood. She tried to stand too, but her legs gave out and I caught her by the elbow. “I can’t walk,” she whimpered.
“Then I’ll carry you,” I told her, and lifted her into my arms. It was the least I could do after everything she’d done for me. Slipping out the front door, I moved to leave the building when Astra stopped me.
“Wait.” She reached out and grabbed a little glass jar.
I thought it might be food, and was grateful she would have more since she clearly needed like two foot-long subs right now, but when she opened it I recognized the blue paint inside.
She dipped her finger into the jar and traced a line with her pinky from the bottom of my lip to the tip of my chin. Then she did two small lines under each of my eyes, and two dots under those.
“Now we’re ready, Alpha,” she told me. I looked up at a reflective metal plate that hung on the wall, and was shocked at the woman staring back at me.
I hadn’t seen my reflection for a year, well not in a mirror.
The blood from when the Ithaki bashed my nose covered my upper lip and chin, coupled with the bright blue paint, and a wild and fierce look in my deep cobalt eyes. I looked like … a female you didnotwant to fuck with.
Turning back to the open doorway, with Astra cradled in my arms, I stepped out into the open air and gasped at what I saw.
“See. You did it.” Astra gleamed as we both stared at the rich and restored land. The once dry and blackened grass that had covered the village was now a vibrant green. Ferns, junipers, oak trees, all of their leaves were rich and alive. Green vines began to grow right before our eyes, creeping along the trellis that hung above the entrance to the birthing center.
The land could grow crops now, we could fix up the buildings and move everyone back. Joy spread throughout my limbs at the sight of the reward of everything I went through over the last year … but I didn’t have time to hang back and see the land restore itself.
I needed to see Sawyer.
‘Sawyer!’I tried, realizing that a year without mentally speaking to my mate and husband had made me forget that I could.
I ran across the main road of the Paladin Village with Astra in my arms and waited for a reply.
‘Sawyer, I made it back! Where are you?’
There was no response. I frowned as I snaked through the village, trying to not be seen in case there were any lingering Ithaki.
Maybe he couldn’t communicate so deep underground in the bunker?
“Most of the Ithaki left after they realized the land was dead,” Astra told me softly.
I nodded, running out into the open now that I knew no more Ithaki were likely to be here. “Do you know what became of Wolf City?” I chewed on my lip, panting as I ran, trying not to jostle Astra. She was heavier than Creek obviously but still way too light. I was going to watch her eat five platefuls of food once we settled in the bunker with everyone.
Astra shook her head. “Just that it’s common ground now. All vampires, witches, fey, and trolls are allowed to live there and take what they want from there.”
My body seized at her words, and I had to consciously be aware not to squeeze her too tightly in my anger.
Common ground. One of the most territorial species on the planet now had their homeland shared by all?
Over my dead fucking body.
I pumped my legs, putting my feelers out there to try and make sense of these bonds and ties I was sensing. Rab, Arrow, Willow, Luna, Crescent, names I didn’t even know prior to today but now Iknewthat person, I knew they were pack. They were family.Mine.
Taking a deep breath, I focused on Rab. He felt strong, healthy, a little down, but okay.
‘You did it.’Rab’s voice suddenly boomed in my head and I faltered, nearly tripping over my own feet.
‘Rab!’
‘Alpha.’
A whimper left my throat at his declaration, the respect in his voice.
‘I told you I would make it, you bastard,’I teased.‘Hey, how can we talk?’
