Page 14 of The Dark War

If the witches had formed an alliance with the rogue vampires, we were going to be in trouble. Clara, who had been training in both history, war techniques, luna duties, and her future role as queen, leaned back in the chair with me. Her back filled my torso with warmth. Giana purred in her body, giving me pleasant vibrations straight to my dick.

Concentrate. Not now.

“If this is true, then we are in for a fight.” Rubbing my chin with my tattooed fingers, Clara sighed quietly. If in any way she could avoid a war, she would jump at the chance. She wanted to preserve all life no matter mated, unmated, or even if they were deemed too evil for redemption. Her heart was full of compassion and light, the perfect balance to the darkness and thirst for justice.

Marcus cleared his throat, obviously getting impatient while Clara and I pondered our next moves. There was no brilliant answer on how to handle the situation, just that we would be in for a fight. “What next, Alpha? Should we prepare the squadrons? Alert the Cerulean Moon Kingdom warriors?”

Clara remained silent. Her finger traced her name along my ring finger. She laughed when I came home and presented it to her as a human symbol of our love as a tattoo on my finger.

“What say you, love?” My nose went to her shoulder, kissing it lightly between the covering of her shirt and her shoulder. Wanting nothing more than to rip it to the side and suck the ever-living shit out of it, she wiggled her ass causing me to groan.

“I know what you are thinking without linking my mind to yours,” she whispered. Her body sat up straight, presenting herself as the regal queen she would be. Her hours of preparations, studying throughout the night, certainly showed. She was everything her mother was, but I could feel the lack of confidence in her heart.

“Ready the Crimson Shadows pack’s squadrons one through three. The remaining two will stay here to protect the pack. If we need assistance, we will call for them. The Cerulean Moon Kingdom palace warriors will remain, making sure this isn’t some sort of ploy to take the throne while my parents are away.”

August’s head ticked my way, giving a curt nod and heading out of the room to prepare the warriors. “We leave in the next hour.” At Clara’s command, they bowed their head. Then, they stood, mind-linking while walking out the door.

“What of us?” Carson chimed in. “We are your highest skilled trackers. Do you want us to hunt out the magical deities?” Clara’s nose scrunched, wiggling it from side to side. Her body shifted, eyes pleading for what to say.

“How about they fight with us? They can determine unfamiliar smells or magical properties that keep us from spelling anything.” My mate smiled at me, pecking at my lips.

“You’re pretty smart, Alpha.” Her head rested on my shoulder, body relaxing into mine.

“Out then.” I grunted, ready for the rest of the room to clear, except my beta, who was grinning like a damn idiot.

“Even in acts of battle, you are both lovesick puppies,” he cooed until his smile faltered. “I’ll meet you out back behind the pack house. We will depart when you arrive.” Marcus stepped out of the room, only looking back one more time in longing.

He didn’t long for my mate. I understood my best friend’s look. He longed for his own mate, but his mind was made up. She would never come. Why he would give up that thought, I’d never know, but soon he would have her and I’d make sure he loved and respected her. First thing my dumb ass would do is make him put his dick away or cut it off.

“I will go feed Evelyn before we leave.” Clara’s bright smile became forced. “We will be gone for a few days, won’t we?” Kissing her lips gently, I hummed in agreement.

“I expect a week.” Her head fell to her hands. Roughly grabbing her chin, I growled.

“None of that. She will be fine.” My rough lips slammed against her, dominating her mouth. My lips were the Sahara desert, and she was my oasis. Forcing my tongue into her mouth, she gripped my hair, breathing slightly through her nose since I would not let her come up for air. Clara’s lips, now red from my fangs pulling on her tender skin, pulled away. Half-hooded eyes stared back at me.

Her frown now turned, smiled, held so much love. “I know. I feel bad leaving her. She is just so young.”

“She will grow quickly,” I mumbled into her lips. My nose trailed her cheek. “A luna and being a princess will be a lot of work, but I know you can do it. I will ask you one thing, though.” Clara’s lips tried to capture mine, but I pulled away.

“Stay here,” I pleaded. Clara giggled, pulling the hair band from my hair. I didn’t want her to fight. I never would want to, and my reasons were just. My mate is a strong one. I just didn’t want to put her in danger.

“You know I can’t. Not when our pack fights for our safety as well.” A grumble rattled through me. It was true. If there was no treaty in place, we would still fight. Having Osirus as a ruler would be far better than a wicked Parliament and Court trying to overthrow the sneaky fae. I didn’t need things to get any worse.

Clara stood up, slapping her ass hard. She yelped in surprise, sashaying her body out the door. If we weren’t leaving in an hour, I’d take her to the nearest closet and fuck her there. Our daughter would soon crawl, and hiding our romps in the sheets would be limited to the pattering feet in the middle of the night. Finding new ways to take my mate in the most unexpected places was now my new goal, and closets were on the list.

Clara

My legs grew heavy walking up the stairs to the fourth floor. It wasn’t because I was weak or my body was exhausted, but that my daughter would have to be left alone for days, and the sadness radiated through my body. The few weeks of breastfeeding were wonderful. I felt like a real mother, and now she, as well as the rest of my children, would have to be raised by a nanny or by their grandmothers in my absence.

To have a ‘normal’ life as a human and raise a child as ‘average’ looked wonderful at times. Spending every waking moment with your child, loving them, caring for them, and wiping away every tear. I craved that, spending every moment with them, but that was not my life and never would be.

The loneliness some mothers felt as their mates or husbands worked through the day, to be left alone with just children would be difficult. Being a mother in general was hard, each of us facing our internal and physical battles. The grass was always greener on the other side until you found the random piece of cow poop in the middle of the lawn.

Grinning ear to ear, I had thought of all the wonderful times my children and I would spend together once this battle was over, once all battles were over. My gut told me things were coming, evil was coming rather. We were far from over from fighting just Osirus’s war to win back his crown and right to rule over his new nation. There would be others, and that brought dark, ominous clouds over my always cheery attitude around others.

Opening the nursery door, Naomi had Evelyn on the floor. My sweet pup was swatting at the beautiful playmat with hanging toys above her head. Her eyes concentrated, using her tiny hands to grab a hanging moon above her.

“There’s Mommy,” Naomi cooed, picking up Evelyn. Could it be possible that my daughter could have grown a few centimeters while I was gone? It had to be possible because she was holding her head up as strong as a human three-month-old. Her tiny fingers widened and closed to a fist as she saw me reaching.

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