Chapter 37

 

Whatever reaction Octavian had been hoping for, Zara doubted it was the silence that followed his offer. Marcus and Edmund shared a fleeting glance before reverting their focus back to Octavian with matching looks of puzzlement. Neither said a word, nor was there a sound anywhere in their heads, but it was reassuring to hear Victoria’s curiosity, her questions, her certainty that this wasn’t normal. The latter had Zara digging deeper into the woman’s head, pushing around the mundane strains that cobwebbed off every thought to find the meat.

She could feel the glimmer, that tiny nugget of something edged deep in the soft tissues of Victoria’s mind. It was important, but slightly overshadowed by the events of that second. She just needed to nudge against it…

“Darling,” Edmund tilted his chin towards Victoria. “Why don’t you retire for the evening?” It was placed as a question, but the entire sentence ended in finality, a warning not to argue.

Victoria heard it as well and frowned. Her mouth opened, her mind bubbling with outrage.

“Now, love.” Marcus set a long-fingered hand on her knees where the hem of her navy-blue wrap ended and skin began. He met her gaze, his gentle and patient. “We will be up in a moment.”

The reassurance was met with pursed lips from her, but she rose in an elegant flow and stalked from the room. The heels of her shoes snapped in rhythmic melody, a symphony to accompany the willowy sway of her hips. The way she walked was like a dance, hypnotic and seductive. Zara wasn’t the only one riveted. Marcus and Edmund couldn’t pull their eyes off her. They were mesmerized the way moths were drawn to a flame, the way a wolf was to his prey. They scarcely moved until her foot falls had faded. Only when it was no longer echoing off the walls did they seem to remember they had guests.

Marcus reverted his attention to them first. “I apologize,” he said slowly. “Victoria is very new to our ways.”

“She’s human,” Zara interrupted.

Red orbs swerved in their socket and fixed on her. “She is.”

No other information was given, but then, it didn’t matter what species she’d been. With her gone, Zara was essentially useless in the conversation. It made her wonder if they knew and if that was the reason they’d asked Victoria to leave, but how could they?

“You were saying about the war,” Edmund prompted.

Octavian nodded. “It has begun and earth has become the battlefield once more.”

“It has been quite some time, but was there not a treaty forbidding us from partaking?” Edmund recalled, glancing at his comrade.

Marcus nodded. “We gave our word that we would not take sides.”

“In the first war, yes, but this is new and the rules have been changed.”

The two men exchanged brief glances.

“Changed how?”

“Mortlock has joined with the demons … one demon,” he corrected. “Baron. He’s orchestrating the entire war with the help of the Gravedigger … and Mortlock.”

Marcus slid a glance towards Riley. “Is that his handiwork?”

A muscle twisted in Octavian’s jaw. “Yes.”

“Is she in his clan then?” Edmund asked.

“No.”

He went on to tell the men the full story of Riley’s transformation. It continued to describe what Baron did to Valkyrie, what he’d nearly had done to Zara. He told them about his mother and the arrangement they’d made with the angels. He put everything down on the table, except Jacinda’s involvement. A wise decision, in Zara’s opinion. Jacinda was their inside informant. Telling just anyone about her defeated the purpose of having an inside informant.

Marcus and Edmund listened with a stillness that unnerved her. They’d all but become beautiful statues in their seats. Even their eyes refused to blink. But once Octavian had finished and the hall was no longer ringing with the sound of his story, Marcus shifted. He adjusted his lithe frame more comfortably in his seat and bent his head from the left, to the right.

“And what was the purpose of bringing a telepath into our home?” He motioned with a finger towards Zara. “Did you think we would not recognize her kind?”

So, they had known.

“I was not brought for the purpose of reading your thoughts,” Zara interrupted before Octavian could think of a proper excuse. “I am Zara, queen of the southern clan. I come as an ally. My abilities are a mere side effect of what I am.”

“Queen.” Edmund raised both eyebrows high. “I have heard of the dragon queen, but you are not what I imagined.”

“And I thought her name was…” Marcus squinted at his friend, asking without words for the proper name.

“Katrina?” Edmund ventured.

“Tiana,” Zara corrected, “was my grandmother. She is dead.”

“You have our sympathies.” Marcus inclined his head. “Unfortunately, we have complications of our own at the present and are unable to assist you with yours.”

“Thousands of humans have already died,” Zara pointed out before he could finish. “Thousands more will be killed before this war has ended. I have seen it. I have seen the streets running with rivers of blood. I have seen fire falling from the heavens. I have seen mountains of bodies, man, angel, and demon.” She paused to swallow as memories of her vision rose up over her, filling her senses with the stench of death and smoke. “We will all live in a world of pain and fire. Everything you cherish will be gone. I have seen it and I can show you what will happen if you turn your back on this fight.”

She offered her hand to Marcus in emphasis.

He stared at it with a mixture of contemplation and surprise. “It is not our fight.”

“It’s everyone’s fight,” Octavian insisted. “If we don’t stand together, there will be nothing left.”

“Especially if Mortlock has already joined the demons,” Riley piped in for the first time. “It won’t matter how hard we fight, we won’t win. You know that.”

“We apologize.” Edmund rose, signaling an end to their meeting. “But we are unable to help you.”

Octavian got to his feet as well and faced the man. “At least think about it,” he urged. “We wouldn’t be here if this wasn’t life or death.”

“We appreciate that.” Marcus stood. “But we swore an oath to never meddle in outer affairs. This is quite unfortunate to be sure, but we have seen many battles and there will be many more after this. Kingdoms rise and fall every day. We cannot interfere in every one.”

“We’re not asking you to interfere in every one,” Riley snapped, bolting to her feet. “We’re asking you to stop the annihilation of the human race.”

“We understand,” Edmund assured her. “But it simply cannot be done.”

“Bullshit!” Riley burst out. “Your buddy Mortlock doesn’t seem to have any trouble deciding, so it’s clearly not an oath issue. You’re selfish.”

“Riley.”

She ignored Octavian, her fury overriding her common sense. Zara could feel her changing, feel the animal in her struggling to be freed.

“You’re selfish,” she spat again. “You think that if you stay here in your fortress, the war won’t affect you, that you will somehow walk away unscathed, but need I remind you what your food source is. You need humans, and this is the war that will end all wars. This is the one you need to break your oath for. This is the one that will make all the damn difference.” Panting, she curled her lips over her serrated fangs, now jagged and protruding over her bottom lip. Her talons clinked at her sides, but remained out of sight. “You may be old, you may be powerful, but you’re weak and pathetic.”

She stormed from the room before anyone could stop her. Her heels thundered up the stairs and she disappeared into the darkness above.

In her absence, silence ensued. No one knew where to look, but it was clear it was time to go. Magnus seemed to realize this as well as he pushed to his feet and took Zara’s hand. He helped her up and nudged her towards the stairs.

“We hope you will reconsider,” Octavian stressed. “We may not all survive, but at least we will be fighting for something worth dying for.” He inclined his head once. “Thank you for your time.”

He and Magnus started for the stairs, but Zara paused. She turned to the two still standing in place watching them leave.

“Your woman is human,” she pointed out softly. “Can you look her in the eye and tell her you let everyone she loves die because you couldn’t be bothered? You may have been created before humanity existed, but you’re not monsters.” She gave them a small nod. “Have a good evening.”

They made the ride back to the manor in silence, pausing only once to motion Gideon to follow. There didn’t seem to be room over Riley’s billowing fury. It roared through the car, an overwhelming wave of toxic heat. It was just as well, Zara didn’t have anything to say, and from the stray thoughts coming from Magnus and Octavian, neither did they.

Final Judgment greeted them with its familiar gloominess, but it wasn’t a sinister beast looming over them. Lights glowed in the windows and the sound of laughter and chatter greeted them at the door. It dimmed slightly when they pushed inside, but resumed just as quickly.

Zara shrugged out of her coat and turned to the others. Riley had run out of most of her anger and only looked defeated. She fixed apologetic eyes on each of them.

“I’m sorry, guys. I screwed up.”

“I thought you were wonderful,” Zara assured her. “It could have been slightly worded differently, but you made some good points.”

Octavian nodded and set a hand on the small of her spine. “You probably could have done without calling them weak and pathetic.”

“Or selfish,” Magnus mumbled, speaking up for the first time since they’d left Final Judgment.

“What happened?” Gideon tugged on the zipper of his coat. “Did they agree?”

“No,” Octavian said. “We’ll tell you guys about it upstairs.”

Riley groaned and covered her face. “God, I’m such an idiot. I was just so … pissed! I don’t understand how they could just sit there and be so blasé about this. How do they not realize this could mean the end for all of us?”

“Because they’re old,” Magnus said. “They’ve seen hundreds of wars so to them, this is just another blip in a long history of violence.”

“But it’s not!” Riley cried.

“It doesn’t matter.” Octavian opened his coat. “They’re not going to help us so…”

“What?” Magnus prompted.

His brother shrugged. “There’s two more leaders. We’ll just have to talk to them.”

“You mean do this again?” Riley blurted.

“We don’t have a choice.”

He stalked off the steps and started towards the kitchen. Riley clattered after him. Gideon and Valkyrie both looked to Magnus, waiting for an explanation, but he only waved for them to go on ahead.

“We’ll talk upstairs,” he told them.

The pair didn’t press. They made their way into the kitchen, but Zara turned to Magnus.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He nodded. “I honestly didn’t think it would work. That’s the problem with ancient beings. They think they’ve seen it all.” He peered at her, his gaze searching. “You were crazy hot back there. In case I forgot to mention.”

Zara laughed and let him take her hand. He led her away from the crowd gathered in the diner. They walked together through the back and up the stairs. At the parlor, they paused to peek inside. Riley and Octavian had already beat them there. They sat on the sofa with the boys between them, looking at stacks of papers littered with an assortment of hand drawn things. Agnus sat on the opposite sofa with Reggie. Both were silently watching the delighted family with different expressions.

Agnus’s forlorn one dissolved when Zara and Magnus walked in. She broke into a grin and bounced to her feet.

“Hooray! You didn’t get eaten!” she cheered.

Zara chuckled. “Did you have fun?”

“Meh. It was all right.” She looked between them. “Did you bring me a chocolate bar?”

Zara winced. “I’m so sorry. I completely forgot.”

“Plus, we didn’t stop,” Magnus added, moving around the girl towards the sofa. He ruffled her hair in passing.

“Didn’t go so well?” Reggie guessed.

“Nope.” Magnus dropped down next to him and closed his eyes.

“Found it!”

To Zara’s amazement, Liam stalked into the room holding a large, leather bound book. He moved straight past Zara and claimed his usual armchair. The book was balanced on the armrest and he motioned Alec over.

Alec beamed and scrambled out of Octavian’s lap and straight into Liam’s. No one said a word as they watched the boy snuggle into place. Otis dumped his butt down on the carpet at Liam’s feet, legs crossed, eyes big and expectant.

“What are they—?” Zara’s question to Agnus was met with the girl’s back as she hurried to join Otis on the floor.

On either sofa, the other adults shifted higher in their seats, none of them taking their eyes away as Liam propped the book on Alec’s lap and flipped it open.

“Jesus!” Reggie breathed. “I remember that thing.”

“Our old storybook,” Octavian murmured, barely above a whisper.

“Mom used to read it to us every night,” Reggie added.

“I haven’t seen that thing in…” Magnus blew out a breath when even he couldn’t remember. “Christ, centuries.”

“Not since we were kids,” Reggie agreed.

Gideon and Valkyrie joined the group. Both took their usual places on the sofa. They eyed the book, but only Gideon sucked in a breath.

“Is that…?”

“Shh!” Reggie hissed, leaning forward as Liam began to read.

His rich, warm voice spilled through the room, a soothing ripple of words unwinding off the pages. Each one rose and unfolded before them, revealing the secrets and danger locked within the tale. The children were captivated. Not one moved as the fairy princess traveled the moors of Ireland, searching for the troll who stole the key to her kingdom. Even Alec sat still, yellow eyes fastened on the hand painted pictures.

During a particularly suspenseful moment when the fairy princess was captured in the web of a spider, Magnus motioned Zara over and pulled her down into his lap. He snuggled her close and rested his chin on her shoulder and the story continued.

“The troll snored on his bed of bones. His bulging belly rose and fell with every rumbling sound. It shook the cave as the princess crept closer. The princess held her breath, her eyes focused on the gold key dangling from the troll’s fat neck. All she had to do was reach out one hand and her kingdom would be hers again. But just as her fingers curled around it, the troll stopped snoring.”

Otis and Agnus both gasped.

“What happened?” Otis cried, practically on his knees.

“Did the troll eat the princess?” Agnus chimed.

Liam smirked and shut the book.

“What are you doing?” Agnus lunged up. “You can’t stop there!”

“Yeah, that’s not fair!” Otis agreed.

“One chapter a night,” Liam said breezily. “You’ll have to find out tomorrow if the princess makes it.”

The children stared at him in absolute horror.

“Can he do that?” Otis asked Agnus, who, for the first time since Zara had met her, was actually out of words.

Grinning, Riley pushed to her feet. “Okay, it’s time to wash up and get ready for bed.”

Zara rose to help and together, they rounded up all the protesting children and ushered them to their rooms. Agnus was still muttering about child abuse when Zara pulled the blankets around her.

“You know, you don’t have to tuck me in,” she said. “I’m not a baby.”

Struggling against the hurt welling in her chest, Zara nodded. “Okay.”

“I mean, unless you want to.” Agnus bolted up right. “I’m not going to deprive you if it’s something you feel you need to do.”

The contradictory back and forth in the girl’s mind had Zara baffled. Her mouth said being tucked in was childish, but her mind regretted actually saying it out loud. It had been a long time since anyone had cared enough to tuck her in and make sure her teeth were brushed. It felt nice, even if she refused to tell Zara as much.

“I do feel like I need to,” Zara decided.

Relief sparked behind the girl’s eyes, illuminating the grin she quickly tucked away. “Hey, whatever floats your boat.”

Zara pulled the blankets back up around her. “Goodnight.”

Agnus flopped gracelessly over onto her stomach. “Night.”

She shut the door behind her and made her way back to the parlor.

Riley was still missing, but the others were going over the events of that evening. Liam listened attentively, actually listened and processed what was being said. His mind churned with each new piece of information, gathering and storing, and analyzing. It was the same mind Zara had first met, except for the pale ghost still haunting the corners, but she expected that. He wouldn’t forget Kyaerin overnight, or ever, but at least he was making an effort to return to his sons.

“I will accompany you when you visit the other leaders,” he decided. “Reggie should join us this time.”

The room stuttered to a choppy stop where no one knew where to look or what to say. Even Reggie’s jaw had unhinged as he stared at his father.

“Seriously?”

Liam frowned. “You’re a Caster, aren’t you?”

“Yes?” But even he didn’t seem sure.

Nevertheless, Liam was assured. “When are we leaving?”

“Tomorrow?” Octavian blurted.

Liam nodded. “The sooner the better,” he agreed. “This isn’t something we should delay. Also, Zara,” he turned in his seat to find her, “you and I have matters that require discussion, and no cheating trying to read my thoughts.”

Flushing, Zara nodded.

He turned back to the others.

“We have a lot to do,” he said slowly. “This is how we will make history. As a family, we will keep our home safe. We will protect each other and we will do what we have always done—win.” He shoved to his feet. “I’m going to send a letter to a friend of mine and see if he has some spare bedrooms to take our guests. He owes me a favor, and if I’m not mistaken…” he peeked at his watch. “He should be awake right now. Valkyrie, I want a rundown of everything Serinda told you tonight.”

“Now?” The Harvester was already pushing to get up.

“In the morning.” He turned to Gideon. “Also, in the morning, you and Magnus are going to take all the weapons out of the armory. I want every blade, every axe, every arrow sharpened. Octavian, You, me, and Reggie are going to pay a visit to the other strigoi leaders. Zara, you come with me. The rest of you, get to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow.”

The group dismantled as Liam marched Zara to the door and out into the corridor. They moved in the opposite direction of the stairs. Zara hadn’t bothered to explore the place, but it seemed to go on forever.

“I will never be all right,” Liam said. “I will never be the man I was. Maybe it’s weak and cowardice, but I only was who I was because of her. I became that man for her. Without her, that man is dead.” He stopped and faced her. “I do love my sons. They were created from love, but what am I supposed to do when that love is now gone? Don’t,” he warned suddenly. “I know you want to read my thoughts and understand why, but you won’t, because even I don’t understand it. A large part of me is gone, the part that matters the most. This,” he palmed his chest, “I don’t know what this is. It feels like an empty shell I can’t crawl out of. Every part of me feels trapped, unable to go forward, knowing that there is absolutely nothing beyond this point for me.” He paused, his gray eyes gleamed with a plea she didn’t understand. “I’ve reached the end of my infinity, Zara.”

She studied him, not allowing herself to crawl into his head and hunt down the truth, but to see the man in front of her, the parts of himself he was allowing her.

“It’s not over,” she whispered. “Not for you. It’s not your time, Liam. You still have many more years with your children, and your grandchildren, and their children. You’re grieving and the idea of another century is unbearable, but you’re a father. You’re a leader. Octavian isn’t ready to take your place. Not yet.”

He closed his eyes. “I know, but there is nothing left for me to teach them, nothing else left for me to give.”

“You’re wrong,” she whispered. “They have never needed you more than they do right now.” Her hand rested lightly on his arm and she let what she knew filter through the touch into him. “You have a greater mission still to come.”

The image was the same as before, roaring flames, rivers of blood, the screams of the dying, but she showed him only his part, the image of him and the beast.

Liam sucked in a breath. His nostrils flared, reflecting the sharp hitch in his chest. He stared into her eyes, his dark pits of horror.

She released him and took a step back. “You have a purpose. It may not seem like it right now, but when the war is at its peak, you will be the final stone that will tip the scale.”

Magnus was in her room when she returned after leaving Liam alone in the corridor. He looked up from undoing the laces of his boots when she pushed open the door and slipped inside. His gaze roamed over her face, taking in her pinched lips and tight shoulders with a cock of his head.

“What is it?”

She shut the door and went to him. His hands were already outstretched, waiting for her to step into them. They closed in the soft fabric of her sweater and dragged her into the V between his thighs.

During her walk back, she’d already decided not to tell Magnus about his father. The conversation they’d shared was private, something Liam wouldn’t appreciate the world knowing about, even if that world consisted mainly of his sons. In their eyes, he was larger than life, a monument of bravery and strength. She would not be responsible for taking that image away from them, nor would she betray Liam’s trust.

Instead, she slid her arms around his shoulders and tucked her face into the side of his neck.

“Zara?”

“What’s going to happen to us?” she blurted the same time he spoke.

He lightly stroked her hair. “What do you mean?”

She raised her head and studied his eyes. “This is your home and your family. I can’t ask you to come with me when I…” She couldn’t even bring herself to say it.

“When you become queen?” He tugged teasingly at a lock of hair. “Is that what you want to do?”

She gave herself a chance to really think about it. The idea still terrified her, but the pros outweighed the cons. The only biggest con was him and leaving him behind if he decided not to join her. She had no idea how that would work, him being here and her being there. Would they even be together? And what if they had children one day?

“It is, but—”

“There is no but,” he interrupted. “That’s your rightful place. It’s where you belong.”

It dawned on her that maybe this was his way of getting rid of her. What better way than sending her off to run a kingdom while he did whatever it was he wanted. The implication hurt far more than she realized.

“It’s not a far distance to travel,” he went on, twining her hair around his finger. “I used to do it all the time when I’d visit Kyros.”

Visits. That was what he was getting at. He would visit her in between battles. Make sure she was eating and sleeping, and maybe squeeze in a quick tumble in bed before he returned.

“Is that all you want?” she blurted, wrenching out of his hold. “To occasionally drop by and see how the children are doing and maybe spend a couple of nights before waltzing back over here to be with your real family?”

Magnus simply stared at her, which only managed to infuriate her all the more.

“Well, you can forget it, Avery. I will not be set aside until it becomes convenient for you. You will come with me.”

“Are you kidnapping me?”

She considered that. “Yes,” she decided. “Your brothers will have to understand. I’m your wife and you should be where I am.”

“Huh.”

She folded her arms defiantly. “What?”

He shoved to his feet, forcing her neck to tip back. “Nothing. I just find it funny that you think I’d let you go anywhere without me.”

Zara bristled. “Let me? You think you have any say in … wait, what did you say?”

Magnus smirked. “If you’d let me finish, I was going to say, I can easily make it back here if the guys needed me.”

“You’re coming?”

“Well, not at this moment, but if you take your clothes off…”

She swatted at him. “Be serious.” But she was laughing even as she threw her arms around his shoulders. “You’re really going to move to the south with me?”

“Sweetheart, I’d move to the moon with you.”

Squealing with happiness, she pushed up on her toes and kissed him.

“But,” he mumbled around her mouth, “Let’s keep it to ourselves until after you’re queen, okay? Octavian has enough on his plate without worrying about me leaving.”

Zara stopped. She drew back and studied him.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

His fingers were warm cradling her face. “I love you, so yeah, I’m sure.”

Nothing had ever sounded sweeter than those three little words coming from his lips. They sang through her, a rising harmony that sent shivers all up her spine. Her heart danced in her chest, an elated jig that shot her through with euphoria.

She kissed him, needing to taste them while they still lingered on his tongue. She let the sweetness pour through her, a river of freedom. Nothing in the world could have made her happier.

“We can’t keep him.” Valkyrie glowered at the table of women taking turns fussing over Devlin. “Either kill him or stick him back in the hole until he rots.”

“Dad wants to send him along with everyone else to live on some farm his friend owns in Montana,” Reggie said.

“A farm?” Valkyrie curled his lips. “Who lives on a farm?”

“Old McDonald?” Riley offered, and earned herself a swat from the Harvester.

The diner was a flurry of movement and disorganized chaos. In the light of mid-morning, the floors were overrun with bags, blankets, and essentially everything in the world the refugees owned. It was all layered in heaps with the children using the discord as a playground, tumbling over and around the barricades. Their laughter echoed in the confined space, drowning the low hum of chatter as parents checked and double checked their bags.

“I think it’s a great idea.” Gideon saddled up next to Riley and leaned back into the counter. “Mom would have liked it, too.”

Valkyrie huffed. “Still think we should kill him.”

“Not today.” Octavian burst through the kitchen doors and joined their little party in the corner of the diner. “Dad already has someone on the way to pick everyone up, including Devlin. Then he, Reg, and I are heading out to meet one of the strigoi leaders. Zara and Magnus are going to claim her throne, and Gideon…”

“Is going to stay home and nap,” Gideon volunteered.

“Gideon is going to polish the weapons,” Octavian reminded him.

“What about Magnus?” Gideon looked to his twin. “Dad said he had to help.”

“Magnus is going with Zara to the south, so you’re on your own.”

“What the fuck…?”

Magnus smirked and got the middle finger in response.

“Children!” Riley hissed, nodding in the direction of where Otis sat with Alec. Unlike the other children, they weren’t running or playing. They sat on their own, watching the others with longing, and anger on Otis’s part.

“Why are they sitting there like that?” Octavian asked.

“After that asshole yelled at Alec, the other kids don’t want to play with them,” Riley mumbled. “Alec even tried, but the boys yelled and ran away. It nearly broke my heart.”

“Those fuckers!” Gideon snapped. “They’re learning from their idiot parents.”

Riley shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. They’re leaving anyway.”

“Yeah, it matters.”

Gideon stormed forward, large feet rattling the floorboards. He reached the boys, and without warning, scooped Alec up and tossed him into the air. The boy shrieked the whole way down before Gideon caught him. They both laughed, delighted. The boy was hoisted up high once more then dumped on Gideon’s shoulders. He said something and Alec nodded enthusiastically.

Otis didn’t. He eyed the two warily even as he scrambled to his feet. He started to shake his head, backing away, but Gideon was already tearing after him, roaring. The boy yelped and bolted with Gideon and an ecstatic Alec hot on his heels.

“Well, there you go.” Valkyrie grinned. “Now, you have one big kid to play with your kids.”

Octavian wasn’t nearly as impressed. “He better not be trying to get out of sharpening weapons.”

“Come on, Oct. We have to wait for the Yeti farmer anyway,” Reggie said, taking Gideon’s abandoned spot.

“Did you say Yeti farmer?” Riley turned to him.

Reggie nodded. “Yeah.”

“Your dad’s friend is a Yeti farmer?” she said again. “He farms Yetis?”

“What? No!” Reggie laughed. “That’s weird. He is a Yeti who is a farmer,” he clarified. “But he prefers Bill.”

“Bill the Yeti who farms cows…” Riley mumbled slowly, processing. “Nothing weird about that.”

“Corn,” Reggie corrected.

“Jesus,” Valkyrie muttered shaking her head.

“Okay, guys, please focus. Is everyone ready?” Octavian asked. “The bus will be here any minute.”

“What about Agnus?” Zara interrupted. “Does she have to go to this … farm?”

“Realistically, she probably should. We had to have a whole family vote when we got the boys and Agnus is equally dangerous.”

“She’s not—”

He put his hand up to stop her. “I’ll leave it up to you guys. If you think it’s a good idea, then she can stay, but you’re in charge of her. She hurts anyone, or causes trouble, it’s on you.”

“She won’t,” Zara promised.

Delighted, Zara turned to Magnus who offered her a lopsided grin.

“Do you want to tell her, or should I?”

The decision was never made when a honk from outside had them all turning to the door. Octavian glanced at his watch.

“That has to be Bill.”

“Bill the Yeti,” Valkyrie muttered under her breath.

As Octavian hurried to answer the door, the rest of them followed, curious to see Yeti Bill. They piled onto the porch and watched Octavian jog to the long, yellow car type machine parked outside. Most of the paint had flaked off, revealing a patchwork of rust. The wheels were massive and the whole thing took over most of the driveway.

A set of glass doors sprung open along one side and a man emerged clad in jeans and a white T-shirt. A straw hat sat on his head, matching the straggling bushel of hair peeking out underneath. He ducked slightly when exiting the narrow opening.

“You must be Octavian.” He hit the gravel path with both feet. “Your father said you’d be meeting me.”

The two clasped hands in a brisk shake.

After quick introductions, Octavian led him inside.

“He looks normal,” Riley observed. “Am I the only one disappointed?”

“That’s not Bill,” Reggie said. “Must be a work hand. Bill wouldn’t fit in a bus.”

Riley clicked her tongue. “That sucks.”

They journeyed back inside and watched as Octavian gave the man the quick rundown. He kept making wide gestures with his arms and shaking his head. It would have been comical, but Zara spotted Agnus amongst the crowd. She was dressed in her jeans and coat with her backpack slung over her shoulder. She stood towards the back, looking so small and abandoned it broke Zara’s heart.

She took Magnus’s arm and gave it a quick shake before hurrying towards the girl.

“Agnus?”

The girl’s head came up. “Hey.”

“What are you doing?”

She fidgeted with her cap, tugging at the corners and deliberately not looking at Zara.

“What? They said everyone.”

“Not you!”

Magnus joined them. He took in Agnus’s backpack and coat and lifted a brow.

“Going somewhere?”

A crinkle formed in the bridge of the girl’s nose. “Look, guys, it’s cool, okay? I didn’t think this would be like some cheesy country song anyway. It’s been real.”

“Of course it was real,” Zara protested, concerned that the girl was losing her mind. “It wasn’t a dream.”

Agnus snorted. “No, I mean it’s time I should get out of your hair.”

Zara didn’t understand any of her expressions, but it didn’t matter.

“Why are you leaving?”

“I’m too old to be adopted by a couple of Disney characters. You guys will have your own kids one day and where will that leave me? Just another weirdo chick who eats people. I mean, what if I eat your baby? You ever think of that? Mom used to tell me how the urge just springs up on you, like you have no control over it.”

“We’ll get you a muzzle, it’ll be fine,” Magnus interrupted.

Agnus glowered at him. “Dude, so racist.” Her features softened. “You guys already have two wolf cubs. On a scale of fucked up you guys are batshit crazy, that’s insane already. You don’t want me around.”

“Yeah, we do,” Magnus murmured, expression genuine. “You’re just the right amount of batshit we look for in this family. You’re in kid.”

Her eyes were bright when she glanced from him to Zara. “You mean it?”

“Well, now that I think about it…”

“Magnus!”

He smirked and ruffled Agnus’s hair, knocking off her cap. “Put your stuff away, and try not to eat anyone on your way upstairs.”

Agnus rolled her eyes, grinning. “You’re such a freak.”

But they watched her jog towards the kitchen doors, backpack thumping against her back. They watched her disappear through.

“When do you think we should tell her we’re moving to a castle made of gold?”

Zara never got to answer when Octavian ordered everyone onto the bus. Magnus and Reggie helped carry bags out. Gideon, with Alec still on his shoulders, refused.

“Fuck ‘em,” he muttered. “Anyone who treats kids like crap can suck my … finger,” he amended when Otis squinted up at him.

“That’s gross.” The boy laughed.

The last refugee boarded. The doors were sealed shut. The engine rumbled. Everyone watched from the porch as it awkwardly turned and teetered down the path.

“Finally got our house back,” Reggie declared, grinning at the others.

But the moment of celebration was short lived when a figure appeared through the thick cloud of dust left behind by the bus. He stopped at the entrance to the forest and took a long second to admire the building before starting towards them.

Riley nudged Magnus. “Hey, isn’t that…?”

Octavian came out of his surprise first. He hurried forward to greet Edmund.

“We weren’t expecting a visit,” he said, leading the man up the porch.

“It was very last minute.” Crimson eyes drifted to Alec clutching fistfuls of Gideon’s golden hair. He didn’t recoil as Zara had expected. He softened. His whole face seemed to settle on an almost human smile without showing teeth. “Well, aren’t you a handsome little devil.”

Alec beamed and kicked his legs dangling over his uncle’s shoulders.

“That’s our son Alec, and this is Otis,” Octavian introduced.

Edmund lowered his gaze to Otis squished between Riley and Octavian. “You have beautiful children.”

Zara wasn’t the only one who wondered if he couldn’t tell the boys were werecubs. It circulated through all their minds, but no one said anything.

“Thank you.” Octavian set a gentle hand on Otis’s shoulder. “Did you come alone?”

Edmund seemed to come out of whatever thought he’d been having and blinked. He turned his attention away from the children and focused on the adults.

“Marcus and Victoria are in the car. Being human, she would not have seen this place anyway.”

Octavian nodded. “Would you like to come in?”

The leader followed them over the threshold and into the diner.

Reggie and Magnus pulled a table away from its shoved position against the wall and placed two chairs on either side. Gideon went off to get Liam while Edmund peered over at the rest of them.

“You have quite an intriguing family, Octavian.  A strigoi, a Harvester, a demon dragon queen, and wolfcubs.”

So, he did know about the boys, Zara thought. His kindness to them made her like him a little more.

“There’s an empusa running around here somewhere as well.” Octavian grinned. “It takes all kinds to make a family.”

Edmund hummed. “Indeed.”

Gideon and Agnus returned with Liam holding Alec right behind them. He set the boy down when moving across the room to take Edmund’s hand.

“Welcome.” He gestured to the table. “Please.”

As they sat, Edmund studied Agnus. His curiosity had Zara moving to stand at the girl’s side and placing a hand on her shoulder.

A ghost of a smile turned Edmund’s lips up. “I met an empusa once. She was beautiful and wild with her hair of flames and embers under her skin. She walked into a village and by dawn there was nothing but a mountain of ash and a thin trail of smoke in the distance.” He sighed, lost in the nostalgia. “What a time it was for our kind. We creatures of the night would sit in the shadows and wait for our prey. Our stories were passed on from village to village, said in secret, in whispers, warning others to fear the dark.”

A chill passed through the room.

“I’m not afraid of the dark,” Agnus said tightly, but with a slight tremor.

Edmund beamed, a full, beautiful turn of his lips revealing a picket of straight, white teeth and two needle sharp fangs.

“No, you are a child of the night. The darkness is where you belong. You should never fear it.”

Zara tightened her hold on Agnus but the girl didn’t seem to notice. She was mesmerized, enthralled by Edmund’s ethereal beauty and the seductive purr of his words.

“What happened to her?” Agnus asked. “The empusa.”

Edmund shrugged. “The last I saw her, she was in Italy, married to an accountant with two children. Boys, if I recall correctly.”

Agnus bulked. “She’s alive?”

Edmund laughed, a deep, husky sound. “Annika will outlive us all.”

Liam cleared his throat and Edmund faced him.

“Thank you for coming,” Liam began. “You’ve traveled a great distance, was there something we can do for you?”

The chair under Edmund whined as the man shifted his weight back. One leg was passed over the other.

“After your children had gone last night, Marcus and I discussed the matter at great lengths. We both agreed our original decision was accurate. This war, like all wars, is not our problem. It is unfortunate, but a matter of opinion. However, this morning, our human was placed in mortal danger. That … we will not tolerate. We would have gladly remained neutral had our hands not been twisted.” He rose unexpectedly, startling everyone. “You will have our swords, Caster. In return, you will leave Mortlock to us. He has matters to account for and I will see him hang for what he has done.”

Just like that, he started for the doors. At the top of the steps, he paused and glanced back.

“One other thing, you will not delve into Victoria’s mind again. We are from this moment allies and we will both take it as a personal betrayal. Do I have your word? Not yours,” he cut off when Liam opened his mouth. “Yours, Your Highness.”

Zara nodded. “You have my word.”

Satisfied, he inclined his head and started to turn.

“May I ask what happened this morning?” Liam called before Edmund could pass the threshold.

He cast a solitary glance over his shoulder. “No.”

A silence descended over the room even as the sound of his footsteps faded to the quiet whisper of trees shivering outside. No one seemed entirely certain what had just happened, or what the proper protocol was.

Reggie came to his senses first.

“I guess that’s it then, huh? We win.”

Liam shoved away from the table and rose. “You do not win until you have won.” He smoothed a hand down his shirt front. “This means nothing. Two leaders is nothing. There are still two more unclaimed and if they side with Baron, this will have been for nothing.” He glowered into each of their eyes, driving the importance of his speech into them. “The plan remains as is. We will still meet with the other leaders. We will sway them to our side. Even one more will make all the difference.” He swept another glance over the room. “Does everyone know what they must do?”

Nods went through the crowd. Bodies shifted as they prepared to follow their orders. Everyone, except Zara.

“There is something I would like before everyone leaves,” she cut in softly. “Tonight, after I have claimed the throne, I would like each of you to be present.” She caught the immediate refusal in Valkyrie’s mind and turned to her. “Please. You are my family. My only family. Your presence will mean the world to me.”

A vein pulsed at the Harvester’s throat. It mirrored the muscle in her jaw and the fire in her eyes. It remained even when Gideon settled a gentle hand on her lower back and murmured quietly into her ear.

Valkyrie shook him off and stood squared off with Zara. “I swore to myself that I would never return to that place and I have already betrayed that promise when I went to get you out.” She brushed Gideon away when he reached for her again. “But fine.”

Zara exhaled. “I promise you will not regret it.”