Kael t us at the pack house entrance and the look on his face said he’d felt everything that happened through the bond, which ant he knew about the alliance and Draven’s bargain and the desperate sex against a tree on the highway.
Embarrassing. But also I didn’t have the energy to care right now.
"We need to talk." His voice was carefully neutral. "All of us. Now."
Right. Because I’d just made a deal that affected all four bonds without consulting the other three first.
Great decision-making skills, Selene. Really stellar.
Riven and Thorne were already in the study when we got there, and the way they looked at Draven made my chest tight—not angry, just concerned and maybe a little bit murderous toward the vampire who’d called him a weapon.
"You agreed to what?" Kael’s voice was very quiet. Very controlled.
The kind of quiet that ant he was furious.
"I agreed to return to the coven if we fail to stop the demon." Draven’s voice stayed level. Clinical. "In exchange for the coven’s alliance in the fight."
"Without consulting us." Not a question.
"There wasn’t ti."
"There’s always ti." Kael’s jaw was tight. "You’re not just yours anymore. You’re ours. All of ours. And decisions that affect you affect all of us."
Through the bonds I felt Riven’s agreent mixing with Thorne’s feral possessiveness, and yeah, they weren’t happy either.
"I’m sorry." Draven looked at each of them in turn. "But it was the only way to secure the alliance. Lysander doesn’t negotiate."
"Then we don’t negotiate with Lysander." Kael crossed his arms. "We find another way."
"There isn’t another way." My voice ca out rougher than I ant. "The coven is the largest vampire faction in North Arica. If we can’t get them, we can’t unite the vampires. And without the vampires—"
"We’re missing a piece of the prophecy." Riven finished for . "I know."
Silence while everyone processed that.
Then Marcus appeared in the doorway looking like he’d run the whole way from wherever he’d been.
"We have responses." He was breathing hard. "From the other packs. And the witch councils."
My heart kicked against my ribs. "And?"
"Four packs agreed to alliance. Three declined. Five are still considering." He pulled out his tablet. "The witch councils want to et with you before they decide."
Four packs. That was better than zero but worse than twelve.
"When do the witches want to et?" Kael’s voice had shifted back to Alpha King mode.
"Tomorrow." Marcus checked his notes. "The head of the Northern Council will co here. She wants to assess the Hybrid Queen in person."
Assess . Great. Another test. Another person deciding if I was worth the risk.
My thumbnail found my finger but I forced myself to stop before I drew blood.
"Fine." I heard my voice go flat. "What else?"
Marcus hesitated. "There’s been activity at the eastern border. Sa place the demon attacked before."
My blood turned to ice. "What kind of activity?"
"Tracks." He pulled up images on his tablet and my stomach tried to stage a revolt. "Multiple sets. Moving in formation like they’re coordinating."
The images showed claw marks in dirt and stone, too deep to be from any normal predator, arranged in patterns that definitely looked intentional.
"How many?" Draven moved to look at the tablet.
"At least six." Marcus swiped through more images. "Maybe more. They’re circling the territory but haven’t crossed the border yet."
"Yet." Kael’s voice was grim. "They’re preparing for another attack."
"Or they’re waiting for sothing." Riven moved closer to study the images. "The demon’s injury from our last fight should have kept it dormant for at least another week. This is too soon."
"Unless it’s healing faster than we thought." I couldn’t stop looking at the claw marks, deep enough to gouge stone. "Or it’s not alone anymore."
Everyone turned to look at .
"The prophecy says the demon will consu the factions." The pieces were clicking together in my head. "What if consu is literal? What if it’s been recruiting? Building an army?"
Through the bonds I felt four different versions of oh shit that’s actually possible.
"We need to scout the area." Kael was already moving. "Now. Before whatever this is gets worse."
"I’m coming." The words were out before I could stop them.
"Absolutely not." Four voices, all through the bonds, overwhelming in their certainty.
"It’s my fault we’re in this position." My hands were shaking and I fisted them at my sides. "The demon woke up because of . The least I can do is—"
"Is stay alive long enough to unite the factions." Kael’s voice left no room for argunt. "You’re not going to the border where six demons or demon-things are circling our territory."
"He’s right." Draven’s hand found my shoulder. "We need you here. Safe."
I wanted to argue. Wanted to point out that hiding away wasn’t going to stop the demon from coming for eventually.
But the look in all four of their eyes said this wasn’t up for debate.
"Fine." The word tasted like surrender. "But you take twenty wolves and you don’t engage unless you have to."
Kael’s mouth twitched like he wanted to smile. "I’m the Alpha King. I don’t take orders."
"You do from ." The words ca out before I could stop them. "Because I’m your mate and I need you alive, so you’re going to be smart about this."
Through the bond his amusent mixed with pride. "Yes ma’am."
They geared up quickly—Kael and Thorne in wolf form, Riven and Draven staying human but ard—and then they were gone and I was left in the study with Marcus and my anxiety.
"They’ll be fine." Marcus’s voice was gentle. "Your mates are the strongest wolves in the pack."
"Doesn’t an they’re invincible." I sank into one of the chairs. "Doesn’t an the demon can’t hurt them."
He didn’t argue because we both knew it was true.
I sat there for two hours trying not to focus on how the bonds felt distant with all four of them far from the pack house, and when they finally returned Kael’s grim expression told everything I needed to know.
"There are ten." His voice was flat. "At least ten creatures circling the border. All demon-spawned or demon-touched. All coordinating."
My stomach dropped. "An army."
"Essentially yes." He pulled up images from the scout’s caras and my blood ran cold.
The creatures looked like nightmares—twisted versions of wolves and vampires and things I couldn’t identify, all with eyes that glowed red and claws that left marks in stone.
"When?" My voice ca out small.
"Soon." Kael looked at . "We have days at most. Maybe less."
Days to unite the factions.
Days to prepare for a fight we might not win.
Days until Draven’s bargain might beco reality.
My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
"Then we train." I forced myself to stand. "We train harder. We prepare. And when they co we’re ready."
Through the bonds I felt four different versions of pride mixing with terror.
Days.
We had days.
God help us all.
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