Page 15 of Within the Veil

My throat closes up, and I attempt to swallow back my emotions. She sighs and turns away, "Hudson, just know that just like before, I cannot interfere in battle unless a God does so first. I cannot believe Uranus would be that callous, although he's always been a dick," she rolls her eyes and I choke back a laugh at her lack of formality. "This time you will have to truly prepare, plan, train, fight, and come back around and do it again. I am limited in the advice I can give, however anything I can share, I will. Trust your mates, trust your sentinels and trust your familiar. Together you will accomplish everything."

She starts to fade and I suddenly feel as if I'm floating, "Hudson, before we leave eachother, I will promise you one thing," her voice was sharp as knives. "Your children will always be safe. I swear on my soul. I cannot interfere in battles but I will be there to protect them during. It is not interference if they bring the fight to me." I felt the power of her promise weaving its way into my heart. The floating sensation intensified, "Wait! How do I get back?" I yelled as the clouds started to gather and she faded faster.

Suddenly Gaia's hands solidify and she shoves me off the edge of the clouds.Sometimes all you need is a little push,her voice tinkles in my head with a laugh.Bitch, I think to myself. Her laughter echoes around me and I floundered a bit before I stopped fighting, allowing myself to fade and I floated back to where I knew I had a future to protect and a life to get back to. Even if I was going back several weeks later... as a Goddess Fae Hybrid.

ChapterFour

King

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I felt her.It was like a jolt of electricity straight into my soul. No, it was more like a part of myself had woken up finally. I looked at Jensi and Luca and nodded inconspicuously. They felt it too. The need to get to her, as a friend and as a sentinel, was overwhelming. I feel my marks thrum with my heart as excitement and joy course through my veins. I tune back into the council meeting as I control the wave of elation and longing that flows through my body, trying not to pull out my hair.

I scowl at the repetitive bullshit and sit up to my full height and I feel skin heat. "I'm tired of this endless deliberation," I begin, my tone sharp. "Hudson, our Queen, has been in a magical coma for far too long, more than enough time to come up with a solid plan for when she awakens and yet..." I pause, eyes narrowing as I sweep my arms out, indicating the table full of no solid plan. "We continue to waste time discussing the same issues over and over again. You know damn well Hudson will want to start finding allies as soon as possible. Nici has had a 300-year head start, 200 of which she knew of the prophecy, and still we are playing catchup. Regardless how well Kalen prepared the people, trained the soldiers, and amassed an army. Regardless of how Shea was able to go on secret missions to gather a few allies, which we still don't have full knowledge of. And regardless of how Oberon has gathered intel that would otherwise be beyond our reach...." I bite back a smile as they all wince at the mention of Oberon's name, his presence still making them uncomfortable as a whole, even though the people have gotten more comfortable with his overall presence. Well, they didn't run away, that is. I, for one, have a newfound respect and admiration for Oberon.

"These meetings have become pointless. Circles and circles and nothing to show for it."I growl, tossing my head back in annoyance.

Jensi and Luca exchange a look but I know they are just as annoyed and pissed as I was. Even more so, considering their input, as they were Fae, should count for something but no. We have been fighting nonstop to be more diplomatic with this ridiculous council but at this point, I was ready to pull the 'your days are numbered, once Hudson gets here' card. As her original sentinel, I was sort of her second in command when she wasn't here and when the guys weren't with the people or training so I took point during war meetings. Jensi and Luca, also here since taking on the sentinel mark when Hudson went into her coma, as well.

That was an interesting turn of events, but considering the spike of energy and magic that verberated throughout the land once Hudson's mind was finally in a 'coma-state,' having Jensi and Luca here made sense from a magical perspective. The entire Sentinel process fascinated the hell out of me, speaking to my nerd side but in the end, I was just grateful for their presence, knowing that they would be crucial in the battles and planning. It also helps that they had years of invaluable, inside knowledge, and being new to the entire Fae world was overwhelming enough without having to take control of a Kingdom like some sort of adjunct professor King.

Too bad they couldn't control this council of merry-old-fucks.

The council members exchange uncomfortable glances, but I plow on, my muscles quivering with the need to do something. "We need to make a decision, and we need to make it soon. Our enemies are closing in, and we cannot afford to be caught unprepared. Every moment we delay is a moment they use to strengthen their position." I wasn't sure how I knew that our time was growing limited, but it was growing overwhelming every day.

"It's not that we do not understand the need for strong alliances. Sentinel, simply that there is no need to go to such lengths to get them. I mean, magic users? Surely her mates..."

I cut off council member Eitri. He pissed me off the most, his condescending attitude towards humans a royal pain in my ass. How someone can have so many opinions but no viable solution was beyond me. And without Ealdon and Radella to bulldoze the Counsel, Kalen dead and Shea, Gaia knows where, we needed to put certain things in place, that is until Hudson woke up and shoved all these fucks into a tree somewhere, maybe a grove. I wasn't picky, but even Dumbledore had his limits and I was just about at mine.

I hold up a hand and tick a finger, "I'll say this again, I understand that some of you may have reservations about involving human magic users in our conflict, but we cannot afford to be picky about our allies. Their magic may not be as strong as the Fae, but it is still powerful and can be used to great effect. We need to be open to all options if we are to emerge victorious. Number two," I tick a second finger, my eyes flashing, "her mates, your royal leaders, just figured out who they were again and are doing the best they can to contact members of their family and various courts and connection. In the meantime, they are out there providing solace to the people and training our soldiers. You know very well that either one of them jumping headfirst into missions when Hudson isn't conscious is dangerous, not only to the people but to them as well. It is suicide to even suggest that they do it all, especially when there is still no knowledge of possible enemies, or how many changes were made in all this time. Again, there are too many unknowns."

They were out of their minds to still continue to suggest that Hunter, Ryder, Zane, Grayson, or Remi go out to find their old connections without sending silent inquiries to get a general idea of how things were. We were at war. Enemies at every turn. Oberon had his own people working overtime, and as much information as we were gleaning from his side, it wasn't enough. Oberon had a reputation. His word might pack a punch, but in the end, without the backup of the current council, he could be seen as another Nici. Just an old king thirsting for power, spreading falsities. Although, I dared anyone to say that to his face.

"Exactly our concern with finding our own alliances," Brighad, beamed with pleasure.

I blinked. Is she? Can she? There is no way someone with these many years of life can possibly be this stupid. Or think that I was a fucking idiot.

Luca sits up straighter, leaning his elbows on the table, "You three have the means to go on your own missions. There is no need for missives. You have the experience, the power, and the capabilities to do more. Should we just assume that you won't? Or that your abilities are...lacking...that you cannot?"

* * *

Oh,he hit them right in the pride.

* * *

Their eyes flash,and Jensi adds in, "that's an excellent question, Luca. Looks to me that despite all we have been doing over the last three centuries to prepare, you three are now running scared. But the facts are...we have people who depend on us, people imprisoned. We have more allies in our vast history; we have to pick and choose which one will be less likely to turn on us for their own favors."

I sigh, as all three of them just sit there. Useless. Well this conversation was going swimmingly. I was reluctant to mention that we could utilize the magic community, at first, it was clear how they felt about humans, but I knew Hudson would not only listen but would be all for the idea and Zane, Hunter, Grayson and Ryder were all for it. Even Oberon had already dispatched his whispering spies to get a feel for the campus after the upheaval all of us leaving, and then Alvor being a traitor must have caused. We figured we could start with the students there and then get a feel for the magical community. It may be important to contact Hudson's dad but one thing at a time. If only they would get on board. Politics are a bitch, especially here; apparently.

"Right," Luca stood up, "I have a feeling we will be needing a better plan from you all sooner rather than not. Make a list, bring it to us, and we will review it and determine who will be a good fit," he held a hand up before there was any protest, "we will do the same. We need to come up with a plan. Let's get it done. In the meantime, we will go see to our Queen." He nodded and hightailed it out of the Council chambers.

You fucking punk, I growled mentally.

You're just mad you didn't think of it first, he laughed.

I nodd at the members and looked at Jensi and we 'blinked' out of the room. Stalking Luca on the path, rushing to get to Hudson just as fast as we could.

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