“It’s not a war. It’s a battle,” I said.

  Tordis scoffed. “There is no difference. Lives will be taken, some families will be ruined. This cannot go on.”

  “And I agree. However, that is the price for freedom, whether you agree or not. I was considered to be human scum before I became a zaglis. And now that I have a title, my word carries weight. Amazing how that happens, isn’t it?”

  I was fucking pissed, trying to contain my rage and my words because I did like Tordis. She was a nice person, kind and helpful. But this, let the humans be because they’re nothing, shit was infuriating. Even though she said she didn’t have an issue helping humans, there would come a point in time where it would pose an issue. This separation of paranormal beings was not a new occurrence to Quivleren though I hoped it would be the last. It had to be. And it started with us working together.

  Furthering my aggravation, she didn’t seem to know the difference between a war and a battle. The war was Diomedes, multiple nations of paranormals, multiple fights, skirmishes and more, over the course of the last few months before it finally came to a head. Granted wars lasted longer, but we were lucky to terminate the threat quickly. This against the dragons was going to be a battle, a quick one time I’m gonna kick their ass event and call it done.

  “I understand where you’re coming from,” Tordis finally said, emotion lacing her strained voice. “But we’ve lost a lot.”

  “And we may lose more,” I countered. “If they are allowed to go unchecked, then the time may come, maybe not in this generation, but many from now, where complantacy gives way to annihilation. If we cannot coexist now, then what chance does Quivleren have at surviving years from now?”

  Tordis nodded, hanging her head. “You’re right.” She wiped the tears from her eyes and sniffed. “I’m struggling because… I lost my sister. I lost my best friend. I want this all over with. It’s why I offered to heal because I just can't… can’t go back out there into that.”

  I walked over, embracing the witch in my arms. I held her close to me as she cried. The poor thing had to hunch over since she was so much taller than me and wearing heels to boot. But I held her, squeezing her tight.

  “I understand,” I whispered, smoothing her hair. “I want it over with too. Sometimes war and battles are necessary despite how awful it is.”

  She nodded, sniffing and hugging me back. Pulling back, she wiped her eyes and let out a long hard breath. I smiled wanly at her, rubbing a hand on her arm. I felt terrible that she lost her sister and a best friend all in one day. I was fortunate I hadn’t lost Evander. I don’t even know what I would have done.

  Tordis grabbed my hand, sniffing as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s-”

  Before I could even summon magic to my hands to counter whatever the fuck Tordis was doing, I was standing in the front foyer of Kadia Castle. The prettiness of the place was now dark, giving a foreboding cave-like feel. Dragons stood around me, their vermillion eyes glaring daggers at me.

  “Well fuck.”

  EVANDER

  Having her disappear in front of me was a strike to the chest. It felt like I was dead and having a heart attack at the same time. It was absolutely horrible. No doubt the damn witch took her to Jadiza. So much for wanting to stay out of it and be peace loving idiots, I growled. I'm gonna kill her!

  I fought the shift crawling on my skin. I couldn’t allow myself to go into the wolf form because I knew I might not ever come back. I stormed out of the meeting room, heading straight for the dining hall where I knew there would be more paranormal beings and hopefully a calmer head than my own.

  My furious gaze landed on Molner first. I went to open my mouth yet I couldn't speak. My throat was thick. The wolf rose to his feet and came to me without me having to say a word.

  “Alpha?” he questioned hesitantly.

  The entire dining hall went silent, looking at me and the fur trying to crawl across my skin into a full shift. I cracked my neck and swallowed. I could allow myself to fall into the shift.

  “The witch took Zuri,” I bit out, forcing out the words as coherently as possible. “Gather allies. We’re going to Kadia.”

  Molner nodded, immediately spreading the word amongst the pack. I closed my eyes, focusing on regaining my composure enough to save my mate. Attacking the dragons in three days was no longer going to happen; it was happening tonight.

  I sat at the table. Every emotion of helplessness and anger coursed through me. I felt inadequate to be able to save her. I couldn't teleport. I couldn't do all the incredible things my mate could.

  I gleaned around the dining hall, seeing spots in my vision. My muscles tensed then relaxed. Everything in my body was at war with itself over what to do while my mind tried to reason with the wolfish side of me to rein it all in. I didn’t know if I could.

  Bertok slid in the seat beside me, clamping a hand on my shoulder. “I bet you all the money I got, that they’ll return Zuri before the sun sets.”

  I snorted, appreciating what my friend was trying to do. This hurt my heart more than I could describe. Even with our mate-bond and knowing she was alive did nothing to alleviate the helplessness of the situation.

  I wanted to condemn the witches. Part of me wanted to kill them all but it would just thicken the pot. Just like what the wolves went through with Uther. Just because one wolf, or this case witch, was bad, didn’t mean they all were.

  Xenos slid into the bench across from me. His blue skin reflected off the polished table top. The change in color and light made me squint.

  “I don’t have many ogres here,” Xenos began apologetically. “But what I do have, they’re yours.”

  I smiled, shaking his hand that easily swallowed my own. “Thank you, Xenos.”

  “I thought there was something off about her today. I’m sorry I hadn’t stayed behind to help.”

  “None could have predicted,” I sniffed, feeling the sting of her being gone overwhelm me.

  I rose from the table abruptly. The only thing coherently in my mind was to go get her. I had to be there to protect her as I should. My feet took me toward our bedroom with a determination to reach the destination; as my mind reasoned if I could just peek inside, she could be there - whole and sound like nothing was amiss. And if she wasn’t there, then her scent would be. I could smell it. I could hold her aroma close until the moment came to go get her.

  I walked inside, seeing the empty room. The bed she made that morning was still pristine and tidy. The pile of clothes from the night before laid by her bedside nightstand. I glanced around the room, as if seeing it for the first time with fresh eyes. The bassinet I had made sat empty at the foot of the bed. I ran a hand over my stubbled jaw, choking back the tears and the anger.

  “I’m gonna kill them both, Tordis and Jadiza,” I growled to myself.

  My wolf form forced itself through my skin. I fell to my knees, trying to contain the shift that burned in me to allow it to happen. I growled darkly that turned into a mournful wailing howl as I still fought. I didn’t want to lose control. I couldn't allow myself to go so far into my shift where I couldn’t make it out, yet this felt so good, so right.

  “Fight it,” Bertok said, resting a hand on my right shoulder. “Zuri needs you.”

  My hands dug into the stone floor. Sweat poured from my brow, getting into my eyes.

  “Fight it,” my friend urged.

  I leaned back on my heels and cried. “I need her back.”

  “And we’ll get her back. Let’s go. The ogres are gathered in the courtyard. We have wolves and a few cyclops,” Bertok said, helping me rise to my feet. “Surprisingly there are a lot of vampires.”

  I wiped my eyes, trying to compose myself. The task was frustratingly difficult. I kept my eyes focused on the pile of her clothes instead of the bassinet to my left. I picked up the dress she wore last night, inhaling the fruity guava scent of her with a hint of some kind of flower. I closed my eyes, relishing her aroma and committing it to memory.

  I felt lost without her. A piece of my completed self was missing, a piece I hadn’t known was so utterly whole until I made her mine. And without her, breathing was harder. The beating of my heart was more strenuous. Everything felt tumultuous, incomplete, so dark without her. And in this moment I realized, if she were to die, then my own death wouldn’t be far behind.

  “Come, Alpha,” Bertok said, “Let’s go get her.”

  I spun on my heel, clutching her dress in my hands. “If anything happens to me,” I paused, laying the dress on the bed. “I want you to be alpha.”

  Bertok nodded, shifting on his booted feet. “Come on,” he persuaded, smiling wanly.

  I strode out of the bedroom, heading straight for the courtyard. Ogres sat on the stone steps, patiently waiting while speaking to some wolves, bears and vampires. When I came into the middle, all conversation stopped, eyes were on me and their undivided attention was had. Some centaurs clopped in, waiting to the side.

  “Tordis took Zuri to the dragons, more than likely at Kadia Castle,” I began, my voice thick. “No doubt I want her back.”

  “I bet she kills the dragon queen before we ever get there,” an ogre shouted, grinning broadly.

  The tusks coming out the side of his jaw made the smile appear ferocious yet the twinkle in his dark blue eye spoke volumes of his opinion of my mate. I nodded, swallowing hard. My wonderful mate had made quite an impression on everyone last night, showing everyone her truly giving and thoughtful heart. She was the life of the party. More so, she was the light in my life.

  I cleared my throat, staring at each person stoically in the face as I said, “Once we have Zuri back, we destroy the castle. Kadia castle is perched on a cliff. Once we get bombs, we need to ensure the castle falls over the cliff side.”

  “It might damn up the river,” Vidar countered, rubbing his chin. “Blowing it up, I absolutely agree though maybe not over the cliffside.”

  I dipped my head, conceding his point. “Alright? Suggestions?”

  “Blow it up and have magic make it be a part of the Espowyes?” Xenos offered.

  Approving nods met my gaze. I really liked that idea, returning the stone back to where it came from. It was something that was discussed at the meeting earlier about giving the landscape back to itself with trees and vegetation like how it previously was years ago. Kadia Castle was only a few hundred years old and has been a thorn ever since it was built.

  “We only have one bomb,” a cyclops announced.

  “I’ll shuttle more when they’re ready,” a vampire standing by Vidar offered.

  The vampire leader clapped his comrade on the shoulder. “Thank you. Let’s head out.”

  I peeked at the sky, noting that it was just a touch past midday. Shifting into my wolf form at this moment wasn’t a swell idea for me. I didn’t trust myself enough to break out of it if it ever came to it.

  Beings rose to their feet, heading toward the portcullis gates to pass under them. It would take us hours to get there if we ran full speed. Even in a car or a massive truck, it would take us hours still. I had no idea if we would make it there by nightfall but we had to try.

  I sighed, running a hand over my face and followed everyone out. I focused my mind on the castle, and the thrill of blowing it up. If I gave into thinking of Zuri, I knew I wouldn't be able to control myself for much longer.

  Vidar walked side by side with me out of the castle. The vampire took his left hand from his pocket and rested it on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

  I smiled wanly at him. “Thank you,” I offered. “I’m glad to be fighting alongside you.”

  “As am I. Vampires and wolves have always been amiable. I’m thrilled to be able to continue peaceful relations with everyone.”

  “You and your colony are always welcome here.”

  “I’ll carry you when we fly,” Vidar offered. “It will be quicker than running to Kadia.”

  I embraced the rigid vampire. “Thank you.”

  Vidar patted my back awkwardly.

  “I know what else is quicker,” a deep red haired witch snarled from behind me. It took me a moment to register that it was Bethany. A few other angry faced witches stood behind her, arms crossed over their chests. “Teleporting.”

  ZURI

  I was surrounded by lizards and magic. I tried to summon my own magic yet it was somehow being repressed. It only served to piss me off further.

  “You got a lot of fuckin’ nerve, Tordis!” I seethed.

  The witch stepped back with her head bent like this situation sucked for her. It was laughable. The damn woman was a coward, believing a deal made by forked tongue liars was better than mutual friendship and camaraderie. Like the last several past history lessons of being betrayed by dragons did nothing to penetrate her idiot skull. “Fucking stupid bitch,” I growled.

  Taking a step back from my predicament, it made me realize just how hypocritical the dragons were. They held grudges with other paranormal beings for centuries over land, being scorned or whatever petty thing they believed they got screwed in, yet it was them who started most of the bullshit that led to severed ties between nearly every paranormal being. Congratulations to them that their mind was a library of history but it apparently did them no damn favors. They were still jerks, having learned damn near nothing.

  “I’m pretty sure a dead mouse has more common sense,” I grumbled. I crossed my arms over myself, kicking back on a sneakered foot. “So, you got me here,” I began smarmily. “What the fuck do ya want?”

  “What we want,” Jadiza cooed from the second floor, “is your magic.”

  “Over my dead body.”

  She cackled, coming down the steps slowly like it was intimidating. It was fucking annoying. “Oh, it will be dead,” she quipped. The black sparkly dress hung on her like a wet discolored rag. Her vermillion eyes shine darkly over a perfectly plucked brown arching brow that matched her dark hair.

  I laughed sarcastically back. Dumb dragon bitch, grinning condescendingly at her. “Darling, you couldn’t pour water from a boot if the instructions were on the heel.”

  “Aren’t you cute,” Jadiza purred, walking down the steps. “Well done, Tordis, your coven is more than welcome to remain here since you delivered on your promise. Now… How to best deal with you...”

  “I’m more than cute. I’m fucking gorgeous,” I clapped back. “You can try to take my magic to make yourself seem better, get rid of some crows' feet, but darling, ugly is forever. No amount of magic can fix that.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Fact. But I have to know something first before this escalates any further.”

  “And that is?”

  “Can you lizards lick your own eyeballs?”

  “I’m going to have fun destroying you.”

  I rolled my eyes. So many times I’ve been told that and yet, here I was - still standing, still breathing, and absolutely tired of their arrogant talk. They couldn’t put money where their mouth was if I inserted a wad of cash in it myself. Like I’m more of an unapologetic asshole than I was arrogant. I was not going to permit her to kill me. That was basic survival - don’t allow anything to kill you.

  A quick thought of Evander flitted through my mind and I pushed it back despite the quick, sharp, erratic pain in my heart of not being near him. I refused to allow myself to think I wasn’t going to make it back.

  I swallowed, turning in a small circle to gauge who was around me. A dozen dragons closed in, forming a tight circle around me. I closed my eyes, falling into myself and I honed in on my magic. The blue magic threaded itself around my heart. I grasped onto it tightly. The magic and my heart thundered in my hand as I fell inside of myself.

  It was like I was standing inside of my heart, on a valve, watching the blood pump through me as light illuminated my skin, veins, and whatever else that made up where I was. Out of my peripheral, I saw the babe I carried turn and move. I gasped, counting the fingers and toes, seeing the outline of a small chin, nose and eyes.

  “Stop her!” Jadiza screamed. “Whatever she is doing, stop her!”

  Jadiza yelling forced me to focus back on my magic. I tested it, wondering if I could teleport back to Evander. I couldn’t. Somehow, I couldn’t even get my magic to do what I wanted though I still had it strongly in my possession. Me being in this state was enough to freak out the lizard lady. That fact made me grin.

  I pulled out of my trance, grinning wickedly at her. “Still think you can take the magic from me?” My voice boomed in the domed foyer.

  I shook my hair back and out of my face, tying it all up with an elastic. I fixed my coral v-neck shirt, pulling it down and over the top of my dark denim capri pants with an awesome elastic waistband. Evander had gotten me maternity pants to see how I liked them and I’d forgotten to change before the meeting. But hell, these pants were great!

  Noticing my indifference to her threat, Jadiza blanched slightly, throwing her head back slightly. “I know I can.”

  I shrugged. “Remains to be seen.”

  “Darling,” Holdur’s deep voice rumbled in the room.

  His vermillion eyes locked on me for a moment over his red spectacles. I crossed my arms over myself and curled my upper lip. I wondered where the line in the sand was drawn in regards to me since we were always amiable toward each other. I tilted my head back, narrowing my eyes as I concentrated on him and his game.

  The scent of his pipe struck my nose, applewood and maple. His once dark brown hair was flecked on the sides with gray. The top of his hair was thinning enough he attempted to hide it all with a sophisticated school boy look where it was all parted to the side, making him look older instead of whatever the fuck he was going for.

  He straightened his button down shirt sleeves under his maroon cardigan. “Lock her away for the time being-”