I look down at the thousands of people on the ground watching me. It’s strange to think how many different races there are down there, mixed races, and yes, they all may have differences, but we are here together. All of them are dressed for war, even the women and children are standing with weapons in their hands and determined looks. There are so many people that they stretch out into the forest edges as they wait for me to speak. I try not to remember the human woman who would have laughed if I told her she would be doing this in a year. I’m not her anymore; I’m the queen of four races of people who need my help. They need to see me strong, to remember me like this. Remember me leading them into war for one thing: for peace. For a life for our children. I glance to the side of the balcony, where Freddy is standing, dressed every bit the prince he is, and the small crown on his head reflecting the sunlight. The sun is high in the sky as everyone looks up at me and my mates. I glance behind me once more to see all four of them standing next to each other, each one looking every bit like the kings they are. Wyatt is the only one without a crown, but he doesn’t need it; he commands power on his own, like they all do. The crown is nothing without the powerful king that wears it. I believe that. I turn back to the people; the silence is only broken by the cold wind as it blows against the castle. The fray are standing to the left of the supernaturals, a clear gap between them, and no one seems to want to move. The fray all have strange, bright-coloured hair and old, ragged clothes, and they clutch weapons in their hands. They honestly look terrible, and over half of them must be teenagers or women. There are even some children dotted around, and one woman holding a baby in her arms. Right at the front of the castle, is a group of fray, all big men with determined eyes as they look up at me. A ward is around them, and I know they must be the fray that started the fights and killed the angels. Not the best way, but then if they have been kept in dungeons for years it’s likely their families have been too. I know I would do anything to keep my family safe, and I bet they think coming here is just Lily’s way of killing them.

“Thank you for coming. For those who do not know who I am, I’m Queen Winter. These are my mates, King Jaxson, King Wyatt, King Dabriel, and King Atticus.” I introduce them, and there is silence as I look back at the people. I want to say they can call me Winter and not be formal, but I doubt it’s a good idea when I’m trying to get their alliance.

“I have heard that the fray are at war, a war very much like the one that comes for us today. I’m not going to stand here and ask people who have been kept in dungeons for years to fight for me, for supernaturals who they don’t know, and frankly, don’t give a damn about. I’m no fool to ask that of you,” I say, my words seeming to be carried by the wind.

“This castle was my grandmother’s and my great aunt’s. They were Goddesses, and my aunt made the first witch, vampire, wolf, and angel. They all lived together in peace in this castle until my grandmother fell in love with a demon. She loved him blindly, and my mother was the only good thing that came from that love. The demon king destroyed this castle, murdered her other mates, and has murdered every blood relative of mine,” I say and pause as some of the people start whispering.

“I know the queen of the fray must have killed some of your family, killed people you love.” I tell this to the fray and then look to the supernaturals.

“The same way the demon king has killed many of our loved ones in this war.”

There are mumbles of agreement through the crowd as I wait for them to be a little quieter, so everyone hears my words.

“I’m not going to demand you fight for me, or ask. I only stand here and tell you that I will fight for you. For every single one of you, and the fight is for freedom. No more wars, no more death, and a life for our children!” I shout, and cheers follow my words. I wait for them to calm down before I shout.

“I will kill the demon king and make sure that you are safe. Many of the fray here may not want to fight, and if you don’t, we will keep you safe, regardless, because we are not evil. We are not the bad guy here. We want peace and a safe place for all kinds. It’s that or death, and I hope everyone here agrees with me that I choose to fight.”

“But, if any of you can fight, please join us,” I direct that at the men in the ward, and a few of them nod at me.

“I’m not asking for me, I’m asking for a chance of freedom here. I will welcome you to live here and your children will be taught alongside ours,” I say, and I wait for them to say anything. A man steps forward and bows his head, and then another. The rest of the fray follow and so do the supernaturals.

“Freedom!” Wyatt shouts as he moves next to me,

“For Queen Winter,” Dabriel says as he steps forward.

“For those we lost,” Jaxson says as he stands next to me, and his hand finds mine.

“And, for the future,” Atti finally says and steps forward. We all hold hands as the people cheer and for the first time we watch as they actually help each other. The first step in creating peace. Now, we need to win the war.

* * *

“Be safe,” I tell Dabriel, and he gently kisses my nose, making me giggle. Dabriel doesn’t need to say any words as we look at each other, all the love he feels for me is written in his eyes. Dabriel only nods before walking away and out the doors of the castle, to his angels to be at their side in the war. I wouldn’t expect him to be anywhere else, but worry still fills me when I watch him walk out.

“Queen Winter?” a small, familiar voice says behind me, and I turn to see the half fray child, Nathaniel.

“Nathaniel, right?” I ask, looking down at him a little. Nathaniel pulls out a dagger from his cloak, the blade is glowing purple and there’s silence around the room as several people stop to stare.

“I can make weapons more powerful than fray touched, and I made this for you. I’m not that strong, yet, and this took me days. I want you to win,” Nathaniel says, and I pick the dagger up from him as Soobeen walks over to us. The dagger feels powerful, I can tell. I slide it into a space on my dagger belt.

“Thank you. I won’t forget this, and it will help me win,” I tell Nathaniel, who shyly nods.

“Nathaniel, we must go,” Soobeen says as she wraps an arm around her son.

“You have an amazing son, you must be proud,” I say, and Soobeen looks down at her son.

“Very proud,” Soobeen says and walks off with her son as I watch.

“Winter?” I hear Alex say, and I look behind me to see her with Drake and Atti. Drake is dressed for war, there is literally no other way to describe him. He has weapons on every single part of his body and some of them I’m not sure I would even know how to use. They just look like sharp things. A small sob comes from Alex, who wipes her eyes with the men’s jumper she has on over her leather leggings.

“You okay?” I ask her, and she nods quickly, putting on a brave smile. I know that smile because it’s all I’ve done all day when I’ve spoken to anyone. Act brave, or that’s what I kept telling myself.

“I can’t lose you,” she says, and I hug her. I can’t give her words of encouragement, not when I know I have to die to close that portal. There isn’t another way. I hate that I won’t get to meet her little one, but at least I know her child will live. Since Atti saved me, I’ve tried to swallow the fear and guilt of leaving my mates behind, but I know it’s no use. It’s me or the rest of the world, and as I pull away and look at Alex, I know she has to survive this. Her baby needs to be born into a good world.

“You go and kill him,” Drake says to me, and I nod. Alex kisses my cheek before walking off with Drake. I smile at Harris as he pulls Leigha into a deep kiss by the door. I know they will look after each other.

“Be right back,” Atti says and walks a few steps away from me to talk to a couple of witches who seem to be arguing.

“Winter!” I hear Freddy shout and turn to see him running over to me from the stairs. I hold him close as he nearly knocks me over when he gets to me. I pull back when I see his swords strapped to his back, and the reality that he is going to be protecting the women and children with Alex sets in. It’s strange that the kids of this war are needed to help, and what childhood Freddy could have had is lost in war. The poor boy has lost so much, and I don’t want him to lose anyone else. I don’t want to leave him.

“You do as Dabriel and Atti ask, okay? I need you to be safe, Freddy,” I whisper to him and pull him closer one more time. I don’t want anyone else to hear my words.

“I will,” he whispers back, and I pull back and look down at him.

“Why do you have your swords on your back, then?” I ask, and he grins.

“Just in case they come near the women and children. I might need to kick some demon–”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” I say with a laugh, and he grins.

“I’m not a kid, anymore. I haven’t been just a kid for a long time,” he tells me, and I know he is right, but it doesn’t make the situation any sadder. I hope after all this is done, he can have some part of a childhood again, but I doubt it. He is on the vampire council, and he will be the heir to all of the thrones when I finish this war.

“Just think, this all started with me finding you in that parking lot, another time where you didn’t do as you were told,” I murmur, and he smiles at me.

“I’m glad you saved me, Winter,” he says.

“Me too, Freddy, me too,” I say and hug him once more before letting go and having to wipe my eyes a little.

“You can do this, I know it,” Freddy tells me, and his bright-blue eyes stare up at me.

“I will try,” I tell him, and he nods. I look away for a second as I feel Milo come and sit on my shoulder, and I can’t help the chuckle that slips out of my lips when I see Milo’s war outfit.

“Dude, we need to work on your fashion sense, I don’t even have words for that,” Freddy says, and I agree with him as I take in the strange, pink, glittery jumpsuit he has on. There is no way to miss Milo with that outfit and the pink headband in his hair to match.

“You know what?” Freddy tells me.

“What?” I ask.

“You’re an awesome step-mum,” he says with a cheeky grin and runs off as I laugh. My laugh is cut off when a scream, followed by a loud bang comes from outside. I feel Milo hold onto my neck as I step backwards as the castle shakes a little. There’s more sounds of screams, and all the people in here run outside. I look over as Wyatt and Jaxson run down the stairs, both of them have their swords strapped on their backs and are wearing tight clothes in black. Jaxson’s crown makes him seem like he is lightly glowing, and Wyatt is oozing power as they run over to me.

“It’s time to go,” Atti says walking to my side, and he links his fingers with mine as Wyatt and Jaxson run over to us. I duck as a demon comes flying through the door, and lands in the entrance hall. I pull a dagger out of my belt and throw it at his head, watching as it hits, and the demon disappears into blue dust. I hear a scream and turn to see Leigha fighting three demons who must have snuck in somehow, with Alex behind her. I go to step forward when Harris runs past me.

“Wait, we need the hundred people we are meant to be taking with us,” I say to Atti, and he shakes his head.

“They came too early, we need to go now. We can’t afford to wait, Winter,” he says, and I look back at Alex, Leigha, and Freddy, wanting to help them.

“Go, I will sort them,” Harris shouts at us as he runs towards Alex, and Leigha follows him, with a small nod at me as she passes. I feel Atti’s magic pulling us away only a second later.