Chapter 17

“A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend…” ~Human Bible, the Word of the Creator of humankind.

Peri left the Keep’s infirmary and headed for the great hall. “Have you gathered everyone?” she asked her mate through their bond.
“I have all the leaders assembled. We will begin when you get here. Are you flashing or do you need a minute?”
Peri smiled. “I need to gather myself. I’m going to walk there to get it together.”
“We will get through this,” Lucian said, his voice fierce. He was the one being strong, despite the fact that he’d lost his brother and sister-in-law. “There is no shame in grieving, my love.”
“I know. It’s just been a long time since I’ve felt this kind of pain. It’s a shock to my system, and there is nothing I can do. I honestly don’t know how to deal with that. They’re just gone.” Her heart hurt for Lilly and she mourned for Cypher, but the ache in her soul for Vasile and Alina was beyond anything she’d ever experienced.
“It was their time. We all have an appointed time to return to our Creator. Though that doesn’t make it easier when our loved ones are called home.”
“I’ll be there in a minute,” she said curtly to stop the conversation. She was an emotional mess and needed to pull it together if she was going to kick the Order’s ass. Which she was definitely going to do.
When she finally reached the doors leading into the hall, Peri took a deep breath and then pushed them open. At the front of the room, gathered in a circle, were the pack alphas who’d been brought by the fae. They’d answered the call by Andora, the sprite queen, to fight with the Romania pack to protect the Keep. They’d all fought in Arizona as well. Surprisingly, Lilly was present, though she looked like Peri felt. Jareth, the djinn warrior, Nissa, Chris Morgan and his wife Cindy, Riven, the fae warrior, and, to Peri’s surprise, Ona, the female fae warrior was there as well. Ona hadn’t been in the battle at the Keep. Peri would have to remember to ask the female where she’d gone, though she already could see by the pain in the warrior’s eyes why she was here. Cyn and Thalion, the elf prince, were also present. Despite all of the ones filling the room, there were huge empty spots where the girls should have been with their mates, where Cypher should have been next to Lilly, and the largest void, Vasile and Alina.
Peri walked the length of the room and pushed the painful thoughts from her mind. She walked through the group and to the side of her mate. Lucian immediately took her hand, lifted it, and pressed a kiss to it. She leaned into his large body and gave him the affection she knew he needed. Then they turned and faced the group.
“Thank you for meeting with us,” Peri began. “Lucian and I have been discussing our next course of action. As you know, we’ve got our fallen in a room that I’ve spelled to keep their physical bodies from breaking down.” She paused and swallowed down the bile. The thought of her friends’ bodies decomposing made her want to turn and run from the room, but she managed to stand firm. She noticed Lilly’s jaw clench, but the warlock queen raised her chin and kept her composure.
“Fane and Jacque have taken the yoke of the pack bonds,” Lucian continued, giving Peri the minute she needed. “As a pack, we must check on his wellbeing and also make his position official.”
“You’re going to do the Alpha Rites?” Tyler, the Springfield alpha asked. “Don’t you think we need to be—”
“What we think is that the Romania pack has lost their beloved alpha pair, and they need to know they have a leader.” Lucian’s eyes narrowed on the younger male. “You know if the dominant wolves don’t have someone powerful in place to keep them in check, they will start challenging one another for the alpha spot. Fane must be given the Rites by the Great Luna. Even though he is already tethered to the pack, it must be completed and blessed since the former alpha was his sire.”
Jeff Stone, the Coldspring alpha, spoke up, his eyes wide. “The pack bonds have attached to him? Not the beta? Decebel is old, powerful.”
Lucian nodded. “But Fane carries the blood of the most powerful alpha in the history of our race. He may be young, but this is his destiny. He was born to lead his pack.”
“What about you?” Jeff asked. “You’re Vasile’s brother. And damn dominant. Don’t you think that in this time of strife, you would be the more appropriate choice for the position, at least in the interim?”
Peri almost rolled her eyes but stopped herself. Jeff was relatively young and had not been in a healthy pack. There was probably a lot about the nature of the Canis lupus that he needed to be taught.
“It doesn’t matter that I’m of Vasile’s bloodline. A lot goes into the appointment of an alpha, including the former alpha’s will and pack magic. The final decision lies with the Great Luna. Vasile chose Fane long ago. If he hadn’t, then when he died, the bonds wouldn’t have tethered to Fane. If he’d thought I would be the better choice, then he would have made sure to pass his magic to me. But he didn’t, and I agree with him.”
“Fane is so young,” Tyler pointed out. “He’s only, what, two decades old? He’s practically an infant.”
“He’s powerful,” Peri said. “He’s honorable and was raised by two of the most amazing people I have ever known. Does he have much to learn? Of course. But he’s perfectly capable of leading his pack.”
“And what about those who disagree?” Jeff asked as he folded his arms across his chest.
“Then they have the right to challenge,” Lucian answered. “But they do so knowing that he has the right not to just make them submit, but to take their life if he feels it is what is best for the pack.”
“I don’t think any of that is a priority right now,” Thalion, the elf prince, spoke up, and Peri wanted to applaud him. There was no point in arguing if Fane should or shouldn’t be alpha. He was. Period. “Not only do Peri and Lucian need to help with the Romania pack, there is still the matter of the pups and mates in the hands of the Order. All of those are members of the Romania pack and are no doubt feeling the loss. Jacque, Fane’s mate, is enduring this without the help of her mate. These are the things we need to be focused on. We need to be working on a plan to get them free. I think the Order is riding pretty high right now on their recent victory over the deaths of Vasile, Alina, and the Warlock King. Given that, they might make mistakes. It might give us the edge we need in order to reclaim the captured.”
“Thank you, Thalion,” Lucian said. “You’re right and make very good points. Alston is arrogant enough to think we will be falling apart, and though we are hurting, we are not defeated. We will not roll over on our backs and submit. What we are asking now is that each of you go back to your respective homes and gather your warriors in force. It is time we face the fact that this isn’t going to be a quiet battle. The Order is going to force us into the open, and we need to be prepared for that.”
Peri could see the questions burning in the others’ eyes, but she was done wasting time. She felt an urgency she couldn’t explain, and it was telling her to get her butt to Colorado. “We will continue with the original plan to meet in the sprite realm. I will send fae ambassadors to each of you when it’s time.” She looked at Lilly. “Your daughter and grandson are with the enemy, your son-in-law has lost his parents, and you’ve lost your mate. Where is it that you want to be?”
Lilly looked up at Peri. It was obvious she was torn between being the queen that she’d become and the parent she was.
She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. “Cypher passed on his power and memories to me when he died.” Peri wasn’t surprised. It was something that many supernatural races did when a new leader took over. “I am now the sole head of the warlock race. My daughter and grandson have the Colorado pack and the Romania pack, the sprites and everyone else who loves them, fighting for them. I feel that I must be with the warlocks, my people.” Her eyes were filled with confusion, despite her words, as she looked around the group. “Does that mean I’m abandoning Jacque, Fane, and Slate?”
Cindy Morgan walked over to Lilly and wrapped her arms around her. “Anyone who knows you knows that you would never abandon those you love. You do what is needed most. You know that your daughter, Fane, and Slate are going to be taken care of, but without you the warlock race is going to be a mess. That means getting your people through the death of their king and preparing to take on the Order. That is what’s needed most from you. You know we will keep you updated on your child and grandchild.”
“Thank you,” Lilly whispered to her friend. Her voice shook, but her shoulders remained pulled back.
Cindy released her and wiped tears from her eyes. Peri looked away before she let herself give into her own emotions.
“Riven, Ona, and Nissa, would you mind assisting me in getting everyone home?” Peri asked the other fae, who nodded.
“We will return to our kingdom and wait to hear from you as well,” Thalion said as he took Cyn’s hand. “We truly are sorry for such a great loss.” He bowed his head again, then turned to Lilly and bowed his head to her. Then Cyn flashed them from the room.
A moment later, Lucian, Peri, and Cindy and Chris Morgan were the only ones left in the room.
“We aren’t going home,” Cindy said. “The Order has our daughter. We’re going wherever you’re going.”
Peri had known that before Sally’s mom had even begun speaking, and she completely understood. “We are going to Colorado. We need to see how Fane and Decebel are.”
“A son has lost his parents, and his mate and son are in the hands of his enemy.” Cindy sounded every bit the mama bear that she was. “I’m sure he’s not doing well at all. He will need to be surrounded by those who love him.”
“He won’t come back to his pack,” Peri told her. “Not while his mate is in the States.”
“Then we go to him.” Sorin’s voice filled the hall. “I have watched over him his entire life. I need to be with him as much as he needs to be with us.”
Peri turned to see him and his mate, Elle, walking beside him. With them was Adam, Crina, Rachel, Gavril, Wadim, and Zara.
Tears filled Peri’s eyes. She should have known that those closest to Fane would step up. They wouldn’t let him endure this alone. They would walk through the seven levels of hell, carrying him the whole way until he was able to stand on his own two feet. That was pack.
When the group reached the front of the room, Elle walked straight to Peri and wrapped her arms around her. It was not something fae did often—show emotion or embrace one another—but Peri returned the hug of her longtime friend and comrade.
“We hurt with you,” Elle whispered. “It is a pain that will not easily ease, if ever.”
When Elle stepped back, Adam was right behind her. He glanced at Lucian, asking without words if it was okay for him to hug Lucian’s mate. Lucian nodded, and then Adam embraced her even tighter than Elle had.
“I know you,” Adam said quietly. “You are blaming yourself for something you could not prevent or change. You are powerful, Perizada. But you are not a goddess. You have to let yourself grieve without the guilt.”
Peri nodded. “Thank you, Adam.” She appreciated his words, even though it would take a lot for her to believe them.
Each mated pair was either holding hands or had arms wrapped around one another. They were also standing closer together, needing the warmth that came from touch, no matter how small it was. For now, they were a pack without the foundation of leadership, and that was a scary place to be.
Peri was about to tell them it was time to go when Ona appeared once again. The fae warrior bowed her head to Peri and then the others. “I am very sorry for your loss,” she said.
“You have suffered loss as well, Ona,” Peri said. “Vale and Talia were your close comrades. I am sorry for both of us.”
Ona nodded as her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I didn’t fight in the battle because I was called back by the High Fae council to report to them on what was going on,” she explained. She must have seen the questions in Peri’s eyes. “You and Nissa have been very busy,” Ona said, “and they needed to know.”
“I agree,” Peri said. “I haven’t had time to keep them up-to-date on the seriousness of the matter, and Nissa has felt that she needed to be helping, as well, especially after Alston’s betrayal. Even when I asked for assistance from the warriors, I didn’t address the council.”
“They’re used to you doing your own thing,” Ona said good naturedly.
Lucian chuckled through their bond. Peri ignored him.
“You reported to them about the Keep battle?” Peri’s heart went out to the two high fae who had lost their children and part of her was glad she hadn’t been the one to have told them.
Ona nodded. “Dain and Disir needed to know.”
“Agreed.”
“They will be coming to meet with you in the sprite realm. And they will be bringing the fae warriors.”
Peri’s brow rose. “All of them?”
Ona gave a sharp nod. “All of them. The high fae elders who lost their progeny are out for blood. They won’t stand for the Order to get away with this travesty, and they also had great respect for Alphas Vasile and Alina and the Warlock King.”
“All of them?” Elle repeated Peri’s question. The fae army had never left Faerie, not in full force.
“It is time,” Ona said. “It no longer matters if the humans know of our existence, not at the cost of the lives of supernaturals who refuse to let their power corrupt them. If we let the Order pick us off one by one, who will be left to fight?”
“She sounds like Vasile,” Crina said. Peri saw a tear slide down the she-wolf’s cheek. She wasn’t wrong. It did sound like something Vasile would say. And Ona was right. They couldn’t let themselves be shaken by the loss. There was no one else standing between the human race and the Order.
“I would not be surprised if the other elders of my race show up, or at least one of them,” Jareth spoke up. “I am an elder, but not an active one. We take rotations on the council. So, I imagine one of the active elders will make an appearance,” he explained.
“Maybe,” Lucian said. “But Thadrick mentioned that an elder had been murdered just before we arrived at the Keep.”
Jareth’s brow lowered. “I didn’t…” He paused and closed his eyes. His shoulders slumped a moment later and then his eyes opened. “I haven’t been keeping in contact with my realm. It seems you are correct. I will need to check in with them. But I am sure they will still want me or one of the elders at the meeting in the sprite realm.”
“If I might make a request?” Lucian looked at Gavril and his mate as he spoke.
Peri knew what he was going to say, and she agreed.
“Gavril and Rachel, I know you have known Fane a long time and have been loyal to Vasile and Alina, but I think your leadership here would be the best way to serve the pack.”
Gavril nodded. “As much as we want to see Fane and let him know he isn’t alone, the Keep needs leadership.”
“You are an alpha in your own right,” Peri said. “There’s no one better to help keep order right now. And Rachel,” she said, looking at the sad face of the healer, “the injured need you, as does Bethany.”
“Will you please let Fane know we love him and are thinking of him?” Rachel asked.
“Of course.” Peri gave her a slight bow of her head.
“We will gather the remaining pack members here and fill them in. I’m sure they all know what we do: that Fane has taken the pack bonds.”
“You will need to stop any battles for dominance,” Lucian said. “Until the Great Luna blesses his position, the males, especially the more dominant ones, are going to feel the need to fight.
“We will keep them busy training and, as you said, I am an alpha, too. Maybe no longer of an active pack, but I once was. I can give orders that have to be obeyed if necessary. And Rachel’s presence will help.”
Just as he finished speaking, Riven, and Nissa flashed into the room, having finished dropping off their charges.
“All but Gavril and Rachel will be coming to Colorado with us,” Peri told him. Then Peri turned to address the fae. “Would you three be willing to stay here and help protect the Keep? I would like to put a powerful ward over the mountain, and considering we are trying to keep out Alston, who seems to be growing in power, I think all of our magic is necessary. Adam and Elle’s magic, too.”
“Of course,” Nissa said. “I will do whatever you think is best for me to help.”
Ona bowed her head. “I am happy to help however I can as well.”
“I will do anything I can to help.” Riven bowed his head as well.
“I could add my power to yours,” Jareth said.
“Just don’t bring the mountain down on top of us, please,” Adam said, sounding as if he was only half joking.
Peri motioned for the fae to gather, and Jareth joined them. The others stepped back as Peri, Elle, Adam, Nissa, Ona, Riven, and Jareth all raised their hands. Power began to glow in their hands, and Peri turned her palms outward and pressed them to Elle, who was on her right, and to Adam, who was on her left. The others did the same until they were all connected. The fae magic was white, while Jareth’s magic was blue.
Peri focused her will on the Keep. “Direct your attention to the mountain,” she told the others. “See it covered in your power. Picture it as an impenetrable force.”
Then she began to speak in the ancient language of her people. She felt the power flowing out of them, strong and powerful. She could feel the rage in her own magic, fueled by the pain of her friends’ deaths.
As she finished the spell, she added a ward that would keep any enemy who entered the forest near the mountain trapped. They would simply walk in circles, unable to get farther away but also unable to get closer to the Keep.
She dropped her hands and pulled her magic back in. “That should do it.”
“What exactly did you do?” Crina asked.
“We shut the Keep down. The only ones who can get in or out are the fae standing right here.” She motioned to their group. “Nissa, Ona, and Riven will be able to get to us if the Keep is in trouble and needs us. And they will make sure that everyone here has everything they need.”
“I will help keep up with that,” Rachel said.
“Recruit some of the other females in the pack to help. Giving them something to do will help take their minds off of things.” Peri paused and then shook her head. “No, it actually won’t, but it will at least make them feel helpful.”
Rachel smiled. “Agreed.”
“I think that covers everything,” Lucian said. “We need to be on our way.”
“I need to return to my elders and see what is going on,” Jareth said.
“I can take you to your veil.” Nissa took his hand and they flashed.
Adam, Elle, and Peri all held their arms out, and the non-fae of their group grabbed on. A moment later, they were gone.
The group reappeared in the driveway of the Colorado pack mansion. Adam and Elle followed Peri’s trail. She thought it best they not suddenly appear inside of Dillon’s home. She imagined tensions were high.
Peri was about to take a step toward the door when she was suddenly not in the driveway any longer. She was standing at the top of a mountain, and stretched out below her was desert tundra. She was in Arizona.
“I thought it fitting we have this conversation here, Perizada of the fae.”
Peri felt the goddess’ power a second before the Great Luna spoke.
Peri bowed her head. “I am honored by your presence.”
“But you are not glad to see me,” the goddess said, and it wasn’t a question.
Peri clenched her jaw. She didn’t want to say something disrespectful to a being that could quite simply wipe the floor with her.
“You know that loss is a part of life, child,” the Great Luna said gently.
Peri nearly smiled at the word “child.” Considering how old Peri was, she was as far from a child as one could get. But compared to the Great Luna, everyone was a child.
“I do know. That does not mean I have to like it,” Peri said, only after she was sure she wasn’t going to say something else. Something much less appropriate.
“But you must accept it,” the goddess told her. “You cannot lead if you are consumed with grief and bitterness.”
“Their bodies are only hours dead,” Peri bit out. “How am I not supposed to grieve?”
“There will be time for mourning, Perizada. But now is the time for tearing down.”
“The Order,” Peri said softly.
“Yes,” the Great Luna replied. “They do not have the control they think they do. There is a way to rescue those who belong to you from their clutches.”
Peri’s head snapped up. “You’re interfering?”
The goddess merely stared at her as she spoke. “I am giving you the power you need to fight this evil. This has to happen. Fane cannot take his rightful place without his mate at his side, and his child, as well, who will one day hold the mantle.”
Peri held up a hand. “I don't want to know that Fane and his mate will one day die.”
“I didn’t say they would die,” the goddess pointed out. “I said that Slate Lupei would one day be alpha. Fane must be anointed by my blessing. He has many battles coming, and he needs the strength of his Creator. Even now, the other packs have felt the ripple of Vasile and Alina’s death. They think there is a weakness, a crack in the walls of the Romania pack.”
“What packs? They wouldn’t dare try and take over Vasile’s legacy.” Peri’s blood began to boil.
“Do you think that the Coldspring pack is the only one that has remained hidden all this time? No matter how deeply I love my children, they are prone to stray, Perizada, and go their own way. They desire power that is not theirs to have. They think that their way is better than the design I have set for them. And now, they see the perfect moment to strike.
“On the eve of the first Blood Moon, I will be at the birthplace of Fane Lupei. On the battlefield where his sire won his greatest victory. It will be there that I will pass Vasile and Alina’s rule to Fane and Jacquelyn. It is also where the Romanian pack and those who loved the alpha pair can say their goodbyes.
“As my ambassador, you are to ensure all those in the assembly that are gathering in the sprite realm, as well as their people, are present at the Blood Moon ceremony.”
Peri forced herself not to let her mouth drop open. It seemed like such an undignified thing to do in the presence of a goddess. “All of the beings in each of their races?”
The Great Luna looked at her. The glory surrounding the goddess was painful to behold, so Peri dropped her eyes.
“All of those who have not chosen the darkness are to be there. They need to know the truth. They are either for me, or they are against me. It’s time they understand what they are fighting for.”
Peri could feel her heartbeat in her throat as she stared down over the desert valley. All of the supernatural races joined in one place. Her head snapped up as she thought of something. “The packs, I mean the ones we know about: Italy, Spain, Ireland, Canada, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary—”
“Perizada.” Humor laced the Great Luna’s voice. “I know all of my packs.”
“Of course she does.” Peri mentally kicked herself. “You want the fae to make sure they are all there. Everyone of your legitimate packs?”
“Yes,” the goddess answered simply.
Peri’s head bowed lower. “It will be done as you have said.”