Page 106 of His True Beloved

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” he boomed, his hands resting on a podium that stood in front of him. Pulling Christine tighter to my chest, she rested her face against it, waiting for Rowan. Part of me had hoped it was news of Bergarian, but then, if that was the case, how did our home fare?

“I have news from home,” he muttered. The cafeteria filled with whispers and humming of supernatural chatting now ceased. Even the children that usually ran around the room had stilled, hanging onto their parents and their beloved.

“The portal has opened.” A gentle smile rose on his face. “And the gods have blessed us with a sweet victory.”

Chapter 43

Christine

Abeatofsilenceswept across the room. Many expressed concerns to their mates and beloveds like it were some sort of joke. The war in Bergarian was a hot topic for days, but always talked about in the seclusion of their homes.

Nights spent in the living room with Rowan, Adaline, and my parents were nothing but hushed whispers while the assassin stood in the corner. Just watching. Even he was unsettled as we whispered of the gloom that could rapidly come to Earth.

The dark wizardry had been contributed to by something we didn’t know, the portal closing almost without warning. The Bergarian royals had brought the strongest alpha werewolf of Earth along with his luna, that had experience in beating a demon that had inhabited a witch’s body. This brought more questions.

More rumors and more speculations as we sat around in the small circle of friends. Suron did not make many comments, but Enzo certainly had his theories.

Enzo had returned before the declaration of the portal to be closed. He wasn’t asked to stay to fight, but it may have been because of his schooling at the Alabaster Academy. Enzo was considered a student and not noticed as an alpha like he truly was. He wanted to be trained as tough as those that wanted an alpha title to gain more experience. Many had to drop out of school because of the rigorous program trying to create more strength in their wolves. It was just too much for some of them.

Those that graduated from the academy gained alpha status, able to create their own packs or be one of the toughest warriors in a pre-existing one. The top few that graduated were given an invitation to join the royal army, to become bodyguards to the royals, and protect their family.

“It was a mess,” Enzo mentioned. “Vampires, witches, and shifters turning on the royals and becoming rogues of their own free will. For some dark power and a demon to let them use their bodies for their own purposes. I came home to protect my pack, to let my father know so we could prepare if they failed.” He growled.

Ever since that night, Enzo had been quiet, but with the help of Pamela, he remained optimistic. The fear in an alpha’s eyes wasn’t something to be looked over, and Pamela mentioned she felt the worry through the bond.

The crowd was still silent as we sat at our tables. Sebastian’s arm tightened around me as we waited for more. Rowan frowned, gripping the podium. “I said we have won, and yet you do not believe me?” He chuckled. “You dare doubt Queen Clara, Queen Taliyah, with this victory?”

“The threat is gone?” A female vampire stood. “It’s really gone? What is left of Bergarian?” Rowan ran his hand through his hair.

“Many lives were lost, but with sacrifice comes new beginnings. The Kingdom of Vermillion, the palace was destroyed. It is expected to be rebuilt within the next year with the help of the Golden Light Kingdom and the Cerulean Moon Kingdom. The ground is beginning to grow, a rebirth if you will.” Rowan glanced over the crowd, looking at our table.

“Horus, King Osirus’s dragon, as well as the elves, have made sure of that. Green grasses cover the plains, the trees have taken root, and new species of our kind have been brought out from hiding.” He smiled. “Orcs were a great benefactor in helping us win this war.”

The room murmured, and my lips brushed against Sebastian’s ear. “What are orcs?” Sebastian had his eyes trained on Rowan, who ticked his head for us to come to the front of the room. His arms squeezed mine, whispering back, “I’m not entirely sure. If they are anything like ogres, it makes me worry. But if they help, there isn’t much we can say.”

Sebastian took my hand, pulling me up, and led me along the wall of the cafeteria. “Like I said, the portal has been opened. Our land is safe, and the threat to Earth has now been defeated.” Like a snap in a tightly wound rubber band, the quiet of the room was eliminated by the wails and cheers of the supernaturals. Enzo jumped on the table, roaring loudly. Pamela quickly followed. He dipped her into a searing kiss.

Blood wine was brought from the cellars, the children running and screaming, likely just excited that the adults were so happy. Hugging, crying, and cheers erupted so loudly, I had to cover my ears at the tremendous noise. Sebastian quickly covered my ears to help muffle the sounds still too intense for me.

“We can go home!” one screamed. Vampires often traveled to the Black Raven coven to see if their mates had somehow appeared here. Many found their mates, but the few that didn’t would head back to Bergarian after a short time. “I’ll still have a chance to find my beloved,” another slapped his back.

Rowan tapped on the microphone, his voice clearing. “I know this is a lot of information.” He straightened his suit. Adaline gripped his arm, clenching it against her body. “But there is other news, specifically from Queen Clara: For those humans that wish to travel to Bergarian that know of our ways of the supernaturals and that have at least one parent with a mate may travel through the portal.”

My eyes skimmed to the corner with Amber. Her eyes hid hurt, but the tilt in her head made me question if she was considering going. Dealing with Ashton and his quick disappearance and finding out he was, in fact, batting for the other team had to hurt. She was hunting for affection in the wrong places, and since one of her parents had a beloved, maybe she was more open to finding one of her own.

One night, when Pamela and Enzo joined us in our small living room, we asked how Ashton was doing. He was obviously fine, already mated and marked to one of Enzo’s best warriors. The couple was still getting to know each other, Ashton still getting used to the idea of being with the man since he had, in fact, never been with one before his mate, Izan. Not that Izan mind teaching him all the ways of pleasure before he was officially marked just a day ago. Now they stayed at the local hotel in town, waiting for his alpha to return to the pack.

The crowd continued to celebrate, Suron picking up the little boy Allen, whose mother could finally see him, and handed him to her. Allen clung to his mother but also kept his hand in Suron’s when he noticed his mother’s eyes were now bright red.

“Glad you both are here. Mind if we go to the house? I’ve got some requests for you both.” Rowan eyed warily as he had us follow him through the back of the kitchen and along to the house. The cheers continued, the sounds leaking to the outside.

I smiled, looking back at the vampires coming outside to jump around. It was an entire burden lifted from the coven. As much as it was quiet about the war on the other side of the realm, they let their happiness flow freely now that it was over.

“We can talk here.” The sunroom to the back porch was opened with a small click. We sat in the white wicker furniture as Adaline went inside to grab more tea. “We know what this is about.” Sebastian laced our fingers together while we sat on the floral cushions. The small candles to keep the flies away swayed until Rowan sighed.

“And what do you think I’m going to say?” Rowan grabbed the tray from Adaline. She sat down, putting three tea bags in the hot water of the kettle.

“That we are to return and help rebuild a kingdom. Help Queen Taliyah with her people,” Sebastian said with confidence. “We will do that, right Christine?” I nodded, resting my head on Sebastian’s shoulder. “Ah, a goddess was sent to you then. That is how you know?” I hummed in agreement.

---