Page 74 of The Dark War

“Zeus is bullheaded and can’t look to the future. Hades will have nothing to do with any of this right now. He’s too pissed off about Persephone leaving him for her mate. That is a story for another time,” she snapped. “The point is, we can’t intervene, Zeus is law, and he won’t budge. Now, I can help in small ways.” She smirked. “And I have a weapon that will help you.”

Hecate waved her hand. An enormous man with a beard, leather apron, and heavy boots walked toward us. He held a sword. It looked so ordinary I wanted to laugh if this was to take down Virion. “This is Vulcan. This is the last piece of magical weaponry he said he would create. This sword needs to be impaled through Virion’s heart. It will dispel the demons, kill his body, and return the demons to the deepest parts of the Underworld.” Vulcan put the sword on the table. He nodded until he vanished into thin air.

“I’ve given you the tools, Taliyah,” Hecate warned. “And unfortunately, your time using your powers is almost up. I needed you to cast the ward over this territory to keep the sword safe until it was time.”

“What?” I whispered.

Good gods, was I going to die?

“Silly little witch,” Hecate whispered. “You will not die. All will be well if my warnings are heeded and the sword impales Virion.”

“Then why will my powers be gone?” My fists tightened. “Did I do something wrong for you to take them away? I have to help, I have to do what I can, I have to—” Hecate placed a finger on my lips, and for the first time, she smiled at me.

“You and Jasper concentrate on your people. I have other chess pieces that will come into play.”

Chapter Forty

Kane

Charlottegracefullywalkedintothe room. Her band t-shirt and black leggings made me chuckle as Wesley held his arms crossed over his chest. It certainly wasn’t something my Clara would wear, but it suited Charlotte. She had her black-rimmed glasses, the ones with that reflective blue glare. Not sure why she was wearing them when her eyesight was just fine.

“Tea, Alpha?” Charlotte smiled, pouring a cup. I frowned as she offered it. It only made me remember the happier times when Clara offered tea so playfully to me.

“No, thank you, and call me Kane.” Charlotte blushed, bringing the cup and saucer beside the bed for Clara.

“Sorry, I’m still learning.” Wesley chuckled, pushing against the wall and coming to put his arms around her.

“You are doing fine. You worry too much.” Wesley kissed her cheek. “Being thrown into a luna position isn’t anything to worry about. Especially now.” he frowned. “Sorry our honeymoon was cut short,” he told her as his knuckles traced her cheeks.

Charlotte had a shitty upbringing, along with battling a demon a few months ago. We felt guilty requesting them to come, but Wesley was a hell of an alpha, and both he and his mate would help us win.

“I just hoped I helped as much as I could. I didn’t have a set way to kill her. I just knew that the demon had invaded a body. Kill the body, and the demon returns to hell, or that was what Hades said.” I let out a breath, my head hitting the headboard. Clara’s head rested peacefully in my lap as she slept.

Our bond had healed her nicely, but she was tired. Maybe she was growing tired of my inability to take care of her. Of course, she would put that to rest damn quickly. She woke up crying, saying how sorry she was. She didn’t know she was pregnant and didn’t even pay attention. We both didn’t listen to her body, too busy worrying about everyone else.

I rocked her gently. Gods, it was so fucking hard. We both cried together well into the morning. It was then we decided it was neither of our faults, that we would continue and have more children if the gods granted it.

Hell, they fucking better after all this shit we are going through.

“So, this Virion has three demons instead of the one that Charlotte dealt with.” Wesley pulled Charlotte into his hold. Plus, he was a sorcerer, so that meant what? He was unstoppable? Did we know what kind of demons we were dealing with?

I shook my head. We had talked this to death with Marcus, Jasper, and Taliyah. We just didn’t have answers. Just vague statements from Goddess Hecate that only seem to speak with sorceresses.

“And we need to do it with this sword.” Wesley rubbed his chin. Charlotte noticed the tension in the room as Clara groaned in her sleep.

“I do have some good news, Kane,” Charlotte chirped. She pulled a phone out of her side pocket and tapped on the screen. You couldn’t call people in the Bergarian realm, only internet and emails, but those didn’t work anymore because the portal was closed. “I’ve made contact with our pack back home.” She smiled, showing me the screen.

“H-how did you do that?” My back leaned up from the headboard, causing Clara to move. Stroking her hair, she went back to sleep.

“Magic, science, and technology all working together. Cyrene was helping me with it before we got called here, and I finished my side of the tech part. I had to fiddle with some wires and use some of Cyrene’s enchantments, but it worked. It was meant to only work while the portal is open, so it was an awesome surprise to find it working.” Wesley beamed at Charlotte. “Videos are too large to send or receive, but I did get an email back after requesting how Evelyn is doing.”

Reading further into the email, Evelyn was doing fine. A picture of her riding around in a stretch limo with her head hanging out had me smile. She was going to be a crazy child, just like her dad.

Along with the email, notes of how the packs were adjusting. Ever Green and Black Claws were at full capacity, no different than here. The children laughed and played, and they continued praying to the gods that things would work out.

Fuck, I hoped they would too.

“Clara’s parents sent another email if you want to read it. I didn’t open it,” she hastily said. I shook my head. Hell, there was no privacy.

---