Page 90 of A Warrior's Fate

“He couldn’t shift either,” Sebastian added.

Isla sipped her water. “I rest my case.”

“Warrior Princess since the beginning,” her brother said.

“I’d say Warrior Queen now. I mean, look at you,” Wren quipped, gesturing to the people gathered for her achievement. But the only reaction she elicited was a choke between Adrien and Isla and a mischievous grin from her date for the night.

Sebastian stroked his chin. “You know, that does have a better ring to it.”

Isla kicked him hard under the table, and Sebastian howled, but before any other blows could be dealt, there was the sound of the clinking of silverware against a glass. All heads were directed towards the head of the table, and Isla’s eyes widened in fear as none other but her father began rising to his feet.

Since he’d finally returned home earlier last week, he hadn’t been very forthcoming with his location. Isla knew better than to question him about anything. Not about Lukas. Not about being distrustful of Deimos. And not about if he’d known about the Imperial Alpha’s plan to allow Isla to believe herself a killer.

Isla had refused to look at the man—who was supposed to be someone she trusted as her leader, as her family’s greatest ally—the entire night. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to keep off her scowl, if she could restrain herself from saying something. She wondered if Alpha Cassius knew that she was aware of the truth. If he’d expected to tell Adrien that Lukas wasn’t dead and have his son carry on with the fabrication.

“I’ll keep this short,” her father said, his already gravelly voice just that much more rasped with emotion. He looked to Isla. “And I won’t embarrass you, my daughter, I promise.”

Isla sank lower in her seat as she became the center of attention. “Oh, Goddess…”

The reaction garnered a collective laugh from those at the long banquet table.

“When Cassius told me he’d gotten a call from the high general about approving you for duty,” her father began. “I’d asked him to confirm he denied it. And when he told me he didn’t, that he’d given you the okay, I was ready to wring his neck.”

Another chorus of chuckles, though a bit more uncertain with the pass at the Alpha only the Beta would get away with.

“I see more and more of your mother in you every day. She was a fighter and never what anyone expected her to be—she was better. And you have gone down the same path of showing me, showing everyone, that you’re meant for more, that you are more than we could ever imagine. A warrior today, a warrior general tomorrow, and who knows where you’ll go beyond that.”

As tears stung at the corner of her eyes and a tight feeling lingered in her chest, Isla felt Sebastian’s gaze fall upon her at their father’s last words. She’d kick him again if others weren’t watching her too.

Her father cleared his throat. “I know she is just as proud of you as I am. As we all are. And it makes me feel better sending you off knowing that she’s watching over you.”

Isla bit hard on the inside of her cheek and hurriedly brushed away a tear. Seeing his daughter breaking seemed to be taking a toll on the Beta who failed at masking a sniffle. Sensing the impending waterworks and probably sparing the table a show, Alpha Cassius stood up and placed a hand on his longtime friend’s shoulder. He lifted his glass.

“To Warrior Isla of Io,” he proclaimed, glancing over everyone before focusing on Isla.

That look alone seemed to dry up her tears. Dulled the pride she’d felt hearing her new title. Made something inside her harden.

She couldn’t help but catch the emphasis he’d left on the name of their pack. Almost like a reminder. A challenge to her precision during their meeting over a month ago now.

She was a warrior—she was working to help others on the continent—but Io was her home. Where her greatest allegiance lay.

Swallowing hard, she steeled herself and without breaking his gaze, lifted her glass to him and took her sip. Not in acceptance, but acknowledgment.

“We’ll be reaching the borders of Ifera soon.”

Isla directed her gaze from out of the window to Eli as he stood in the aisle of their transport vehicle addressing the members of the squadron. She felt her heart thrum at the words.

Ifera. Deimos. They were almost there.

“It should be a couple more hours until we reach Mavec after that. Likely well after dusk.”

Her heart jumped again.

“We’ll be lodging there until we arrange our assignments on the southeastern borders by Abalys. I’ll have a meeting with the Commander of the Guard and beta tomorrow morning while all of you get to know the rest of the order that hasn’t been dispatched yet. There’s a lot going on in this pack, but remember our objective is the rogues. While some here may be grateful for our help—and they should be—others may think we’re overstepping and want us out before we even enter. Don’t give them any reason to call for our removal.”

Isla nodded before trailing her eyes over the rest of the members of the team. One member, in particular, was her focus.

So she’d learned, Eli was an idiot. A brilliant strategist and a great leader—but a stupid, stupid man.

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