Chapter 90: Clan DeWinter At Your Service

I sit on a velvet-cushioned bench behind the throne at Castle Wilhelm, hands folded in my lap though I long to wring them out of my need to act. Sunny sits across from me, handsome Frank Hayle standing behind her, sympathy in his blue eyes as he smiles at me. Isabelle sits next to her queen, tense, but eager as the ruler of the Wilhelm clan turns to her tall, attractive counterpart lounging next to me beneath the stained glass window. Sebastian's dark curls shine in the light as he nods to Sunny.

"Clan DeWinter is at your service," he says to the queen before smiling at me with his charismatic flair turned on to maximum. "And at yours, Your Highness."

Everyone is calling me that, ever since Femke's little speech. I know it's a reinforcement of assurance. They need to feel they are doing the right thing, and the constant reminder is their way of shoring up their own courage. Though, in Sebastian's case, I know he's doing it to tease me because he can.

I don't argue with the title. I have to at least try to play the part if this is all going to be even quasi-legal. Femke is right now assembling the Council to tell them of her decision and I can only hope they don't kick her out of Oxford.

I will not worry about her. Femke is more than capable. And regardless of whether or not I have her assistance, I'm taking back the palace and saving my grandfather.

"Has anyone seen Syd?" I am concerned for her, if only because no one has brought her up and she hasn't made an appearance.

Frank shrugs, a little frown replacing his smile. "Mir told me Max dragged her off before we found out you were taken. Something about an emergency in the veil." His sympathetic expression makes me almost angry, but not at him, or at Syd. At the fact he thinks I would be angry or upset at her for not being here. "She has no idea you were taken, or she would have been here for you." I wave off his assurance, since I already know it's true. But that also means Sage went looking for someone who wasn't here on this plane. So where did he end up? "I'm sure she'll be back as soon as she can."

"Her tasks with the drach take priority," I say, only a tiny petulant part of me wishing it wasn't the case. "And the hunt for Sage?" I haven't been able to track him, even with full power at my command. Which leads me to two fears-either he's dead and lost to me, which I refuse to accept, or he's shielded.

And only one kind of power would be able to keep him from me.

Blue fire shimmers and Femke steps through. She looks harried, points of red at the tips of her cheekbones standing out against her pale skin, but she nods and smiles at me, if with a crackle of anger in her.

"The Council agrees with my decision," she says, crisp, sharp and I know she's paid a price for the win. "We will assist. But, this must happen by the book."

"Which means?" Sunny greets her with a bow of her head, gesturing for Femke to sit. She does, pulling off leather gloves, her black robe shoved back from her button up and black dress pants.

"We have to give them a chance to surrender," Femke says. "At least, my Enforcers do."

"Leaving the rest of us to hit first and ask questions later," Sunny says.

Femke winces. "Not exactly." Her deep sigh stirs my empathy and I pat her hand as she goes on. "They've agreed to the coalition," she says. "But only if I'm running it. Which means the forces must be at my command and follow my rules of engagement."

This is a problem. Sunny appears instantly irritated, though Sebastian laughs, shattering the tension before it has a chance to build too far.

"How typically witchy," he says, winking at Femke. "The DeWinter Clan is willing."

Sunny stares at him with open shock. "You can't be serious."

He shrugs. "If something were to happen in this first coalition, a few of our people acting without our knowledge or permission, why, that would simply have to be blamed on the infancy of our agreement, would it not?"

Sunny's anger fades into a gorgeous smile. "I suppose that's true," she says before nodding to Femke. My witch friend looks slightly ill, but when she laughs with them, I know she'll be fine.

"I don't want to know," she says. "Okay? Just don't tell me and it will all work out."

I scent him before he appears, though this time I look up and greet my father with a nod when he joins us. "News," he says abruptly, collapsing onto the bench beside Femke.

"Tell us." She turns to him, offers her hand glowing with power. He rejects her generosity, head hanging, weariness rolling from him, tainting his scent.

"The sorcerer Rupe is indeed at the palace," he says. "I've only just come from there and have seen him with my own eyes."

Sunny raises her fingers to a pair of young vampires who hover nearby, both dressed in cloaks, looking back and forth between their queen and my father. They nod to her and retreat and I realize they must have volunteered to be his transportation.

"Perfect." Piers rubs his hands together. He's on a low bench a few feet from me, long legs stretched out before him. "That leaves me free to act and Mum can't say a word about it."

"She'll expect you to include her," Femke says. Sighs. "And the Council will, too."

"The Steam Union aren't an official part of this coalition," I say.

She rolls her eyes at me, but she's smiling. "You're getting good at this, you know."

I fake shudder. "Save me."

"There is more." Raoul leans around Femke and finally meets my eyes. "They are planning to kill Oleksander at dawn. They know you're coming for him and I'm certain this knowledge came to me as part of a trap to capture you."

"Maybe so," I say, "but are they aware we're all working together?"

He shakes his head. "I do not know," he says. "I doubt it."

"A werewoman and her friends aren't much of an army," I say. "Even with such powerful people on my side. But a gathering of magical forces such as has never been seen before?" I find myself grinning in wonder. "Let's see if their little plan can be turned on them."

Raoul is quiet as the others murmur their assent. "Oleksander," he says, "isn't the only bait for this trap, Sharlotta."

And in that moment, my fear is realized. "They have Sage."

He nods, misery rising from him. Why is he so upset? Surely not for me. He's always been too selfish to care about the hearts of others.

"The wolf he's become," Raoul says, "is a revenant."

I shake my head. "That's the sorcerer control," I say, though I have no idea if I'm right, if Sage will return to me after Rupe's hold over him is broken. "Shutting down his mind. Once he's free, he'll be fine."

Even Femke hesitates, but I cut off all argument by standing, jaw set and determined. "Sage is mine to deal with, no matter his condition. Agreed?"

No one moves.

"I will go in alone," I say, voice quiet, deadly. "I will rescind my request for aid and ban all of you from the werenation and this conflict. Sage is mine."

"Like hell you will." And Syd is there, arms crossed over her chest, pony tail swinging as the cut in the veil she traveled through seals shut behind her. I beam a smile at her, a tremor taking me at the sight of her. There were moments, in Andre's care, I wondered if I'd ever see her again. Having her here, so close to me, her familiar presence and scent giving me courage, I can't imagine we'll fail.

The gathering of leaders all nod at last, even Femke, though she is the final one to do so, blue eyes on Syd.

I exhale heavily and shake out my tense hands. "Excellent," I say. "Shall we invade my nation?"



***