Page 64 of The Dark War

“Leave that to me,” I put my hand on her shoulder. A loud scoff came from the middle of the crowd. All eyes now gathered where the sound came.

“Right, listen to you? Did you just hear what she said?” The vampire pushed forward, standing before Jasper and me. “This is why we shouldn’t trust you, some half breed and your werewolf! You aren’t even fighting for the vampires!” Jasper growled, stepping forward. I let him go, he had been too quiet, and maybe this was what we needed. What we both needed to have the skeptical ones fear us.

“Did you just hear what she fucking said?” Jasper pulled the vampire by the decorative collar on his tunic. He was of the upper middle class, not quite a noble, but still prominent in his community. “She isn’t here for a quick fix; she’s looking at the long term. Did you want Lord Virion to come back later and fuck us up then? Or be rid of him for good, so your children, the next generation, can live in peace?”

“Shut up, O’Neal,” a low-class witch stepped up. “You’re just pissed because you lost your human blood bank.” Anger spread like wildfire, vampires arguing with one another, accusing each other of human feedings. Shoving began, children cried, and claws came out.

“Enough!” I yelled so loudly a bright light came from my body, giving me more attention than I intended. I gulped, watching the crowd go silent once again as it faded. “You can do it,”Jasper linked me, still staring down at O’Neal.

“There will be no feedings on unwilling humans! This law has been enacted for years!” Some nodded and others rolled their eyes, but filtering through every vampire would be difficult. Sure, we had the rogue vampires. Those were easy to spot. They had evil entrap them with not just their selfishness, but black magic now gave way to a different smell they acquired.

“If you want safety and security, I will do my best to provide that for you. We will rebuild.” I paused again. “If you do not wish to follow, you may go on your way and find shelter on your own. If you end up becoming rogue, following the darkness, you will see me fighting against you because you are no subject of Vermillion.”

Turning my back, I sighed, putting my hands to my face. It felt hot, scalding for that of my average body temperature. Breathing heavily, my hand leaned against the tree, trying to catch my breath.

“Your wolf is trying to force a shift.” Jasper moved my hair away from my neck, kissing it. “We need to go to the Crimson Shadows pack. Their wolves will help assist you on the shift. We do best in numbers.”

“Fuck my life,” I muttered. Jasper chuckled, pulling me to his chest. “She isn’t coming now, but soon. It will give us time to get everyone to the pack. I’ve already linked Kane. It has become a central hub full of warriors and refugees seeking shelter.” Wrapping my arms around Jasper, he kissed the top of my head.

“You did so well.” Jasper rubbed my arms up and down. My rigid walls began to fall. Now I just felt the bond holding us together. “We are going to get through this.”

“Are we really?” I questioned him. The surprised look on his face had me close my eyes in shame. “Because right now, things look grim. There is no more Vermillion.” I whispered, looking at the burning palace. It once stood tall at the highest point of the country. Now, it sat in ash. Nothing was left.

“I’m trying to give them hope.” I looked over Jasper’s shoulder, only for him to push me into his chest. “But I don’t know if I am strong enough.” A tear dripped from my cheek, landing on his chest.

“You came here to rebuild a nation that was barely standing. This place would have fallen far quicker if you weren’t here. There would be more starving children, more deaths, more darkness if you didn’t do what you did.” Jasper rubbed my back, his head leaning on my head. “We aren’t the only ones fighting anymore. We all fight against one darkness.”

Chapter Thirty-five

Clara

“Wherethefuckiseveryone!?” Kane’s booming voice echoed through the halls of the pack house. He was in a mood, as he should be. We were snuck up on by a warlock and three rogue dragons. At least, we think they were rogue. There wasn’t a smell on them at all.

We traveled back to the pack territory with the warlock in tow. He was gagged with vines to keep his mouth shut so he couldn’t chant out any spells. His body was strong, and the wounds he sustained from being wrestled to the ground had healed. Even with the magical powers of witches, warlocks, sorcerers, and sorceresses, they all healed like regular humans. Taking the time to use their magic to heal themselves took a different mindset, like meditation.

As he was dragged down the mountain, Kane cursed a storm. The bodies crushed by one of the dragons were carefully placed inside the carriage forcing Kane and me to walk. Not that I minded. Each body was to be respected for its sacrifice to protect the rest of us. I just prayed to the gods they would be well received even in death.

“Marcus!” Kane roared out. His fur ran down his back and covered his arms lightning fast. Even though we do not age, I swear I saw white hairs sprout from the fur.

“You better go to him,” I stood at the top of the stairs. Raine cajoling me to join my mate. I had so much work to do by finding rooms for so many elves, shifters, and the stray fae that had come to visit the Cerulean Moon Kingdom territories that I had neglected Kane. A pang of guilt hit me, but it was hard to be in several places at once.

Raine held my shoulders, having me look her in the eye. “Give me orders, Luna.” My lip shook. Raine had been nothing but a wonderful sister to me. She was there from the beginning, always drawn to help me even when I swore I didn’t need it. Leia came up behind her, her hand resting on my cheek.

“You’re a queen now,”Leia mind-linked. “You can’t do everything. You have your subjects, your pack. We are here to serve you, Little Fox.”I chuckled, listening to my old nickname. Nodding my head, I spouted out my running list in my head.

Rooms need to be cleared out, extra cots for the bedrooms. The pack house was becoming a bunker, housing for the sleeping warriors, protection for those who couldn’t cross the portal. It was all we had now that the last soldier had arrived from the Cerulean Moon palace, saying it was now boarded up. We couldn’t risk anyone staying there. It was the first place the rogues would go to find the nation’s rulers.

Now that was Kane and me.

“You want to tell me how those damn dragons snuck up behind us?” A crash of expensive vases fell to the floor. I winced hearing Kane entirely losing his temper.

“I don’t think I have ever seen him this upset,” I whispered to Raine.

“Oh, he has been this upset, all right,” Raine mused as she pulled another cot from the closet. “When you got captured by Darius.” Ew, I was gone for a week then.I bet living with Kane was insufferable.

Grunting came from downstairs. I hopped down the stairs in the breathable leather pants and tight corset top. Kane was hoovering over Marcus, his arms trying to cover his face from the next blow. Marcus’s wounds were already healing, but the snap of his femur bone bending back into place made me shudder.

“My Alpha.” I went up behind Kane. He froze, standing up straight instead of hovering over Marcus. “Thank the gods,” Marcus uttered, sliding away. My hand wrapped around Kane, and his furry arm returned to his normal skin.

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