Page 46 of The Dark War

“It’s going to be fine,” I told her sternly. “She’s healing. We are going to go check on them, all right?” Nodding her head frantically, we exited the bathroom, and she threw on one of my shirts I forced her to wear. My scent would calm her just enough to get her through.

My mother stood in the doorway, watching us intently. “August told me.” Mom put her hand on my forearm. “I’ll watch Evelyn.” Clara ran up to her, wrapping her arms around her body. “It’s all right, Clara, go.” She hummed, kissing her head.

It was all I could do to hold my mate back. She was tripping over her own feet. Her heart raced in her chest so quickly I worried it would stop from exhaustion. Once we arrived at the infirmary, I finally let my hand go watching her bare feet slap the floor.

“Mother?” she cried in panic, pushing the drapes away. The doctors hovered over the queen, pulling blood from her body. Clara’s hand went out to touch her mother’s head, her head bowed, letting the light pass through her hand.

“Baby, hang on,” I muttered. Clara mumbled to herself, letting the light pass through her palms. Wrapping my hands around her waist, I waited until she finished with her mother, who gave me a grateful look. I growled, watching her. My anger continued to boil about how her mother was treating her own daughter. Even through my mate’s damn pregnancy, she hovered over my mate as she studied stupid manuscripts and history books.

“Thank you, Clara. I think I’m all right.” Eden pulled her daughter’s hand away from her. Elijah hovered over the two most important women in his life, but damn if he wasn’t a pushover. Eden wore the pants in that relationship.

Then again, didn’t Clara control me?

“What happened?” My voice came out harsher than I planned, but fuck it. I’m tired of playing nice. With a full-blown war about to implode, being nice to the in-laws was no longer on my list.

“We were traveling back from one of the outlying packs, we had limited warriors to not look suspicious, but that proved to have backfired.” Elijah grunted. “We transformed into our half beasts, even Eden, and we fought them off, but damn they were strong. Stronger than we ever could have imagined,” he said, exhausted.

“Won’t that hurt the baby?” Clara questioned, rubbing her mother’s stomach.

“It should be okay.” Eden rubbed Clara’s hand. “I didn’t have much choice. That’s why I wanted to get checked, make sure everything was okay.” Clara hummed, barely looking her mother in the eye.

“We’ve heard what’s going on, what happened to you both last night. It’s getting too dangerous to travel with the rogues. They may not have numbers, but they have dark magic. August mentioned that Cyrene was coming?” Eden asked. Grunting, I confirmed.

“Wesley and Charlotte from the Black Claw pack of Earth are coming as well,” I added. “Bringing warriors and more witches from their coven,” Elijah swore, his hand running through his dirty hair.

“This isn’t good,” he pressed. Pulling Clara to me, I had her face pressed against my chest. Her demeanor calming as she felt the fire on our skin.

“Clara, it’s time,” her mother pressed. “It’s time you take over.”

I growled loud enough for the room to shake. The nurses outside the room screamed while picture frames, supplies, and knick-knacks fell to the floor. The room shuttered, and the bed buckled beneath Clara’s mother, causing it to groan.

“What is the meaning of this?” Elijah shouted at me. Torin’s fur sprouted from my neck, fangs growing larger. “You have no right.”

“No!” I snapped. “You both have no right! Ever since you both got your hands on your lost daughter, you have been pressuring her, damn it!” Clara kept her mouth shut, her fingers balled into fists leaning against me. “Her entire pregnancy, she was shoved with learning the ways of our land, the ways how a queen should rule. This is getting ridiculous. She feels she must be a perfect luna, princess, future queen, daughter, ambassador, mate, and a fucking mother. She’s been with us barely seven months, and now you are going to throw the crown at her!?” I slung my hands at the king. I didn’t give a fuck anymore.

Elijah’s eyes softened, his claws retracting, sitting with Eden on the bed. Eden’s eyes didn’t look at Clara while she pulled the sheets up her small stomach. “I know it’s a lot to ask,” Eden whispered. “It’s just, I can’t fight.” The silent tear that left Clara’s cheek almost made me groan. I didn’t want Clara guilt-tripped into this.

“And I can’t leave my mate to fight, you know this,” Elijah added. “Mates pulled apart, especially in pregnancy, is dangerous.” Before a word slipped out of my mouth, Clara jumped in.

“I understand.” Her head bowed. Growling, I pulled Clara away from her mother.

“No, she isn’t ready. She needs stability right now. Shit, the entire land is falling apart. Can you not rule from the palace while we take orders?” I snapped. Elijah came around the bed, standing in front of his mate.

“Eden knows Clara can run the kingdom. Eden is not physically able, and surely Clara can understand that.” Clara only nodded to me, her sweet face pleading.

Fuck.

“What do you mean?” I huffed. “From what I can see, you are dumping your problems all on my mate. You both have more experience. You’ve been through the Shifter War. Can’t you delegate this one?”

“We can, from afar.” Elijah sighed. “Eden won’t be able to fight. The pup growing in her won’t allow her to shift as you can, and we all know that. The vampires also know she is with a pup, making it extra tempting to come after her. With the witches and possible sorceresses and sorcerers using this dark magic, they will surely find her. They are hitting it where it hurts, taking out the leaders, and I won’t let my mate take the fall.” Elijah paced to the window.

“So, you paint the target on your daughter’s back!?” I roared. “You will let her die?”

Fucking selfish prick.

“No, that isn’t what I’m saying.” Elijah spat. “We aren’t just dropping this shit in both of your laps. We also have a plan. A plan that is going to help save thousands, but yes, we do need Clara to become queen to control the land here in our realm.” Elijah’s tall stature only reached the base of my nose, his breath haggard, his wolf showing his true colors. Fire in his eyes told me one thing, but the fear inside his heart for his family told me another.

“As royals, we have an obligation to protect our people. You know this, Kane. And unfortunately, it’s going to take my family to make sacrifices.” His eyes softened, his hand calmly touching Clara’s cheek.

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