Page 102 of Cosmic Power

“Don’t you remember the last time we implemented one of your plans?” Lenore asked calmly, raising her brows.

Praxis scowled. “That was different.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Zvetari scoffed. “You’re letting your anger cloud your judgement now, like it did back then. You act first and think last, like always. We don’t have the numbers to take them on—not with just our warriors. We need to enlist more. The only way to do that is by reaching out to as many of them as we can via their Regents.”

Vargas leaned back in his seat, drumming his fingers lightly on the arm rest. “How do you propose we protect ourselves in the meantime, Zvetari? The moment the fae step foot on Earth, we’ve lost.”

“We do things differently this time, that’s how. When the fae invaded Alterra, what did they do first?”

Elias used his magic to right his chair, plopping down on it with a look of sadness. “Go after the mages,” he whispered with sorrow.

Zvetari nodded. “They knew the mages posed the biggest threat to the— to their plan—so they targeted them, wiping out as many of them as they could. This time, we don’t give them that chance. We put all mages on high alert. Recruit as many of them as we can to monitor the air from every corner of the planet and keep an eye out for any portals. All we need is a few days to get our forces together, and then we take the fight to them.”

“If they don’t bring it to us first,” Praxis growled.

ChapterThirty

There weren’t many things Zamorra found intimidating. A life on the run toughened her up real quick, made her skin thick and her mind sharp. She feared very little, having the utmost faith in not only her abilities, but also her werewolf to keep her safe from any threat. But standing in a room with the five most powerful beings on the planet made unease flutter through her and fear creep down her spine.

They put her werewolf on edge, the entity moving about her mind with restlessness. Zamorra kept tight control on her, just in case she decided to act on the anxiety riddling her.

Even I’m not stupid enough to attack an Ancestral,her werewolf said, watching the beings closely.

Zamorra snorted. Her werewolf was liable to do anything when she felt threatened. Nothing was off limits to her. She had a level of crazy that nobody could match.

I’d believe that if I didn’t know for a fact that you have a temper with an extremely short fuse,Zamorra replied.

Her werewolf gasped, offended.Like you’re one to talk.Do I need to remind you of the Tim Tam incident?

Hey! We both know you’d react the exact same way if I ate all of your treats.

Her werewolf huffed in annoyance, knowing Zamorra was entirely right.

Tension hung deep in the air as the Ancestrals continued to argue amongst themselves, their voices rising, becoming more aggressive. Zamorra leaned towards Luther and tugged on the sleeve of his suit to get his attention. He was so damn tall, he had to bend so she could whisper in his ear.

“When can we go?” she kept her voice soft, trying to make sure the other powerful beings couldn’t hear her.

Luther’s eyes flicked around the room before he nodded toward the door, signalling for them to make their escape.

The floor creaked under her feet as she took a step back, Luther right beside her. They made their way out before anyone even noticed, slipping into the hallway completely undetected. Considering how preoccupied the Ancestrals were, it was easy.

Once they were far enough away, Zamorra breathed a sigh of relief. She hated how uneasy the Ancestrals made her feel. It was something she wasn’t used to experiencing, an emotion that made her feel weak.

Her mind raced as she walked through the gilded halls, following Luther’s fast-paced lead. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, not taking any time to pause before turning a corner or walking up a flight of stairs. He was taking her somewhere. Somewhere secluded. Away from prying eyes. Zamorra was glad.

The last time they were alone together felt like a lifetime ago. So much had happened in between. She almost felt like a completely different person. One thing hadn’t changed though, and that was her feelings for Luther.

From the moment she met him, there was something about him that called to her. She wasn’t one to believe in soul mates. But from the way her soul brightened in his presence, the way her heart raced at just the mere mention of his name, made her second-guess that.

She loved his ruthlessness. His unforgiving nature. His complete loyalty and devotion to those under his care. But the thing she loved most about him was the way he made her feel; like she was the most precious thing on earth. He made her feel smart, powerful. Like she was capable of doing anything she put her mind to. No one had ever made her feel that way.

He understood not only her, but her werewolf; her other half. The few men Zamorra had been with never understood the bond she shared with the entity. Most thought the creature living within a shifter was nothing more than a rabid animal, a savage. Of, course, they definitely had the propensity for it, but they were so much more.

From the beginning, Luther saw that.

Luther eventually came to a stop in front of a door and opened it, stepping through. He held it open for Zamorra, a heated look in his eyes.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out what that look meant.

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