As the Alphas gathered on the ledge outside the mouth of the main cave, I knelt in the circle of stones to finish the summoning spell. The witch spent much of the summer teaching me, and I’d spent many hours practicing the craft. When I used flint to light the fire for the final step, the wind buffeted the tiny flame, but it did not go out. Within seconds, Yseult appeared.

“Alphas,” she nodded to the leaders.

Samuel sat on his throne, Daegan standing nearby. Brenna had her own stone seat between them. With a thick fur robe draped over her shoulders, she looked like a queen. And she was—the Berserker Queen.

My own mates were on either side of me, Ragnvald stood facing the wind, Maddox crouched close. One of Muriel’s mates, Wulfgar, completed the circle.

“Well met, Ysuelt,” Samuel’s voice fought the wind. “It is a dangerous time to travel. We are glad you have come.”

“This mountain is well protected,” Yseult’s eyes were shiny black, an alien obsidian that told me she was handling heavy magic.

“The safeguards are holding, for now.” Samuel sounded so tired. My sister leaned into him, placing a hand on his leg as if seeking comfort. The head Alpha didn’t move, but I sensed he drew strength from his mate’s touch, rather than the other way around.

“Then I bring good news,” Yseult said. “His assault will stop with the first snows. My sisters and I have Seen it.”

“That is good news,” Daegan observed.

“He is weakened.” The wind kicked up at the witch’s words.

“This is weak?” Ragnvald raised a brow. The cold wind brought a smattering of snowflakes. A few white sprinkles dotted the ground.

“Since the raid on the abbey he has loosed all his powers to recapture the spaewives. You must hold out for a few more days.”

“Should we attack?” Maddox asked.

“Your first task is to protect the spaewives. He can use them to increase his power.”

“We have missing warriors. Several of them, along with the women they rescued. We fear his forces have captured them.”

“Then a fight is inevitable. But take care. You must keep the spaewives from the Corpse King, at all costs. They are the main source of his power.”

“Then it is decided,” Samuel said. “We will send a group of warriors to find the lost and aid them. One of us should lead.”

“I’ll do it,” Daegan and Wulfgar spoke at once.

“With respect,” Ragnvald said. “You two are the most familiar with the mountain pack. You are needed here.”

“I’ll go,” Maddox volunteered. “I can take a contingent from our pack, as well as volunteers from here.” My two mates led a separate pack. Over the past few moons both were merging slowly, but there was still rivalry among some of the warriors.

“We also should take shifts searching via the pack bonds, rotating so we are not too tired,” Ragnvald continued. “I can take a shift.”

“So can I,” Daegan nodded at the wisdom of this. “That way it will not all fall to Samuel.”

“Is there another strong warrior who can help?” Ragnvald asked. “One of the pack?”

“There is one who can easily reach the entire pack,” Wulfgar said. “An old warrior named Odin.”

“Odin?” Maddox half chuckled.

“Yes, they call him that because he has but one eye.”

“He did not go to carry off a mate?” Daegan asked.

Wulfgar shook his head.

“If his mind is strong, he can help. Send him to the summit when I am there,” Samuel said.

“Then it is decided.” Maddox struck his leg. “Samuel and Ragnvald will continue monitoring for missing Berserkers. Daegan and Odin will help and take shifts. Wulfgar will manage the pack and patrols, along with Knut and Thorbjorn. And I will lead a fresh band of warriors to retrieve the lost.”

“We are grateful for your aid, Yseult,” Samuel addressed the witch. “You and I must confer to keep this mountain safe. I know you’ve been searching for a way to stop this ancient mage. With the winter reprieve, we could be ready to fight in the spring. If you will help us.”

Yseult nodded. Over the past few minutes, her pupils had shrunk, her eyes becoming more human.

“Well?” Maddox rose and crossed his arms over his chest. “How do we defeat him?”

Yseult licked her lips. For some reason, she looked at me. I sensed a hint of sadness before she turned to Samuel.

“I will tell you.” The witch threw up her hands, casting a spell before our eyes. Figures appeared before us, light reflecting on all our faces from a shared vision. Yseult’s voice spoke over it.

A young spaewife was taken as bride to the mage who would become the Corpse King. A necromancer, he took many wives, and committed abominations to increase his power, birthing strong children and consuming their flesh to become near immortal. When she found out his plans, she prayed to the goddess for a way to defeat him. She was given a spell, and the children born to her were more powerful than ever. Together they defeated the mage. They couldn’t kill him, but they could lock him in a tomb for a thousand years.

The Corpse King’s wife sacrificed her life to seal the tomb, and her sons were all slain. She was the mother of the Berserkers.

I blinked as the vision faded. Brenna looked pale, and the warrior’s expressions ranged from fierce, to worried, to thoughtful.

“This one woman had a spell to contain the mage?” Samuel asked.

“My witch sisters and I are still searching for the spell.”

“But if you find it,” I spoke up, “it might require great cost.”

Yseult pressed her lips together and nodded. “To bind the mage, one or more spaewives may have to die.”