Chapter 11

“So much has changed in such a short amount of time. Sometimes I wonder if, when the smoke settles and all is said and done, there will be anyone left standing, or will we destroy each other and the world right along with us?” ~Lilly

“You sure you’re up to doing this right now?” Cypher asked.
Lilly nodded. It was late and she was tired, but Vasile and Alina had a right to know what she’d already told the girls. They had a right to know because it meant potentially having the sprites stand alongside them against the battle with the Order that was coming.
After their meeting with Costin and Sally, Lilly had spent some time with Slate while waiting on Cypher to arrive. She’d told the warlock that morning she needed to talk to the Alpha pair. He’d responded, “You won’t be doing it alone, so you better wait until I get there.” She knew he just wanted to be there to support her. He didn’t want her to have to handle it on her own, not because she couldn’t, but because she didn’t have to. She had him now. Just like he had her.
“I’m sorry to keep you both up,” Lilly said, looking at Vasile and Alina. They were quite a striking pair sitting together on the couch, both so poised and elegant, yet also strong.
“It’s not a bother,” Vasile said. “Sleep hasn’t been something that has been very plentiful for some time now. We’d still be awake even if you weren’t here.”
Lilly took a deep breath and then dove into her story. She told them the same thing she’d told Sally a week ago in Texas and Jacque only a couple of days ago.
By the time she was done, both Alina and Vasile had scooted to the edge of the couch and were leaning forward, their attention completely focused on her words.
“So that’s it,” Lilly said. “I solved the mystery of why I’m able to do what I do and found out Sally’s mother is a supernatural being as well. It took me a while to tell anyone because I was still trying to wrap my head around it myself.”
“It’s a lot to take in,” Alina agreed.
“Have you talked with them about what’s going on outside of their realm?” Vasile asked.
“Yes, that’s another reason I wanted to meet with you guys. The queen of the sprites would like to meet with you, as does Cindy Morgan. I figured you would be on board with that and took the liberty of contacting the high fae for assistance.” Just as she finished talking, there was a knock on Vasile’s office door.
“Come in,” Vasile said loud enough to be heard.
The door opened, and Nissa walked in with Cindy Morgan and three other women. Lilly recognized one of them as the queen of the sprites. She couldn’t remember the names of the other two. Though she’d been to the sprite realm several times over the past couple of months, her brain was overflowing with information and she couldn’t remember every name of the sprites she’d met.
“Vasile, Alina,” Nissa said as she gave a slight bow.
“Nissa, thank you for being willing to help with travel,” Alina said as she stood and walked over to the high fae.
“It’s the least I can do. The fae have sat back for far too long. We realize that now. I am sorry that it has taken so much loss and pain for us to join Peri in her cause,” Nissa said.
She stepped to the side so the other four women could come further into the room.
Cindy stepped forward first, hugged Alina, and shook Vasile’s hand. “It’s good to see you,” she said.
Alina chuckled. “It’s good to see you, as well, Cindy, and I am sorry about the magic I used on you. I wish I had known you weren’t human.”
“You were protecting your pack. I understand that. Sally loves you all, and I know she is safe with you.” Alina started to interrupt but Cindy held up a hand to stop her. “What happened to Sally is not your fault. It is nobody’s fault except those who took her. It could have happened in our care, as well, probably much sooner, and it could have been worse.”
“You are gracious, Cindy Morgan,” Vasile said as he stood and moved next to his mate. “And we thank you for that.”
Cindy nodded and then motioned to the three women beside her. “Please allow me to introduce Andora, the sprite queen, Diedre the leader of the luminous sprites, and Aurora, the leader of the elemental sprites.”
Andora stepped forward and bowed her head to Vasile and Alina, who did the same in return.
“It is an honor to meet you, Vasile and Alina of the Romanian Grey Wolves,” Andora said and then turned to Lilly. “It is good to see you, as well, Lilly.”
“Thank you, Queen Andora,” Lilly said.
“I must admit, it has been over two centuries, nearly three, since I have thought of the sprites,” Vasile said as he motioned to the seating area in his office. “The last time anyone even spoke of the sprites was when I was a child. That was when a new queen ascended the throne.”
Andora settled herself on the couch, folding her hands in her lap, her long silver hair cascading down her shoulders. A small smile formed on her lips. “Yes, it’s been about three centuries since I took my mother’s place as queen. And they tend to try and keep to themselves, though I realize that it wouldn’t be prudent of us to stay silent in the current state of affairs.” She paused, her eyes becoming momentarily unfocused as she seemed to get lost in thought, but the diversion lasted only for a second. “We have much to discuss, Alphas,” Andora finally said as she looked at Vasile and Alina. “The Order is on the move, attempting to recruit supernaturals, and they aren’t being secretive about their actions.”
“That either means they’re confident or desperate,” Cypher said as he stood, leaning a shoulder against the wall next to the door. Lilly noticed he hadn’t joined them on the couches and, when she met his eyes, she could see his worry.
“Which do you think?” she asked him.
“Probably desperate.”
Vasile nodded. “I agree. They are acting out of haste.”
“I think we must not hesitate at this critical juncture,” said Andora. “I suggest we have all of the leaders of the supernatural communities meet. We need to know who will align with us against the Order. We also need to know and understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. As such, we shall be made stronger. For example, Aurora and the rest of the elemental sprites can control the weather. This might allow us to bring unplanned chaos to the Order, thereby offering us an advantage. We can attempt to thwart their plans while we try to organize our own.”
“I agree,” Vasile said. “And thank you for being willing to take such risk upon yourselves.”
“We must all take such a risk or there won’t be any of us left to worry about,” Andora said. “Things are going to get worse before they get better.”
Lilly felt a churning in her stomach as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Have the seers seen something?” She glanced at Cindy, though she didn’t ask the other woman out loud because she didn’t know if Cindy wanted others knowing about her ability. Cindy gave a small shake of her head.
“Nothing specific,” the queen said. “Only the usual gloom and doom that comes when contending with complete psychopaths.”
Vasile stood and turned to the high fae who had been quietly listening. “Would you please ask Peri to come? I know she has a lot going on in the fae realm and a home full of healers and wolves, but I believe she needs to be involved with this.”
Nissa gave a tight nod and then flashed from the room. In a matter of minutes, she was back with Peri at her side.
Peri glanced around the room, and her eyes widened a bit when they landed on the sprites. “They’ve managed to get you to leave your realm,” Peri said to the sprite queen. “So either you’ve suddenly become a glowing socialite or all hell is about to break loose.”
Andora’s lips twitched ever so slightly. Lilly was intrigued by the high fae’s ability to get an emotional reaction out of the sprite queen, no matter how small. In the time Lilly had gotten to know Andora, she’d only seen the woman smile a handful of times. The sprite was a tad frigid, though not unkind.
“It is good to see you, as well, Perizada,” the sprite queen said coolly. “It is a nice change to see the fae, too, interested in affairs other than their own.”
“I can’t even fault you for that one,” Peri said with a sly smile. “We’ve been a tad self-centered in the past, I can own that. But our apathy has changed. The fae have a vested interest in the happenings of the human realm, and we will do what is necessary to protect it and its inhabitants.”
Andora stood and the rest of those sitting followed. “That is very good to hear,” she said. “Likewise, the sprites will no longer be keeping to themselves. The Order cannot be allowed to have any lasting power. They need to be destroyed once and for all. We convene with the leaders of all supernatural races in a week’s time. The sprites will host a summit.”
Peri’s eyes widened. “There hasn’t been a Summit in—”
“Over five centuries,” Vasile finished for her. “Since before my time.”
“It’s been five centuries too long,” Andora said. “If we’d been meeting on a regular basis and sharing information, maybe the Order wouldn’t have been able to rebuild their numbers.”
Peri gave a sharp nod. “Agreed. It’s time the supernatural communities come together. Nissa and I will begin gathering them. We will see you in a week.”
“You know the old tree portal to our realm?” the sprite queen asked Peri.
Peri nodded.
“I will have guards on both sides, human and sprite, seven days from today, to usher in our guests. Weapons will be allowed, though they will be set aside before the meeting begins.”
“We will see you then.” Peri turned to Vasile and Alina. “It might be wise to begin evacuating your wolves, especially now that you have pups.” Before the alpha pair could respond, the fae turned to Nissa. “Once you’ve returned the sprites to their realm, meet me at my home., We need to begin recruiting immediately.” Before she flashed, Peri glanced at Lilly. “Please tell your daughter and her friends to refrain from doing anything stupid. I realize it will be a miracle if they listen, but I’m attempting to believe in the impossible these days.” Then she was gone.
“I’d forgotten what a warm ball of sunshine she is,” Andora said dryly.
“Cut her some slack,” Nissa said with a small smile. “She’s mated to a Canis lupus.”
Lilly nearly jumped when the sprite queen suddenly burst into laughter. She glanced over at Cypher who was smirking at the laughing queen.
“I suppose I should go easy on her then,” Andora said as her laughter subsided. She looked at Vasile and Alina. “No offense, but any of us who have known Perizada of the fae for any amount of time realize how she feels about you wolves.”
Alina smiled. “None taken. And yes, it is a kind of poetic justice to see her mated to one of our own.”
Lilly noticed that Diedre and Aurora were both smiling as well. Apparently, they all knew Peri well enough to appreciate the irony. Nissa held out her arms for the four women. They each placed a hand on the high fae. Andora gave her a small smile. “We will see you soon, Lilly, queen of the warlocks.” Then she turned to Cypher for the first time since arriving. “Lilly is one of mine. If you hurt her, or let any harm come to her, I will let the mentalist scramble your brains, the luminous fry your body, and the elementals scatter your ashes to the four corners of the earth.” Nissa flashed them from the room before Lilly’s mate could respond.
“Good talk,” he said to the empty space where they’d just been standing.
Moments later, Nissa was back and ready to take Cypher and Lilly home. Lilly gave Alina a hug.
“I will try and talk the girls out of coming,” Alina told her, obviously feeling the same worries as Lilly.
Lilly snorted. “You’d have better luck getting water from a rock.”
“Or blood from an orange,” Vasile added.
“Or taming a shark,” Cypher said.
Alina sighed. “I could convince Peri to bind them.”
Vasile laughed. “Please do. It would be worth it just to see Jen’s response.”
“Fane and Decebel would never forgive us,” Alina pointed out.
Vasile shrugged. “It would still be worth it to see Jen unable to make good on any of her threats.”
“Just promise me you’ll get pictures if Peri does it,” Lilly said as she placed her hand on Nissa and tucked herself close to Cypher.
“I’ll frame it and give it to you as a Christmas present,” Alina promised.
Lilly was laughing as Nissa flashed them from the Romanian mansion.
When they were finally home and tucked away in their bed, Lilly let out a tired sigh. “Why does it feel like the calm before the storm?” she asked her mate.
Cypher pulled her against his chest as he wrapped a large arm around her waist. “For the same reason that it feels like the world is going to fall off of its axis at any moment.”
“That isn’t reassuring,” she told him dryly.
“Wasn’t meant to be. Now go to sleep, female. I’m tired and more than likely I’m going to have to help save the world in a week. We need all the rest we can get.”
“Love you, too, king of mine.”
Cypher pressed his lips to the back of her neck. “I adore you. Now sleep.”