“I know it sounds crazy, Dillon, but it’s true.” Wadim implored Jacque’s father and the Alpha of the Denver pack. He had called the American Alpha at the request of Skender, who, in Vasile’s and the other top wolves’ absence was carrying much on his shoulders.

  “You’re telling me that the Great Luna contacted you?” Dillon asked, incredulously.

  “As I said, I know it sounds crazy. She’s calling the packs.”

  “The packs?” Dillon’s voice was tight with apprehension.

  “As in all of them,” Wadim confirmed. “She gave the Fae moonstone. You know what that means.”

  “She means to have the Fae call us with it,” Dillon’s words were not a question.

  The line was silent as they each thought about the ramifications of what was about to happen. Dillon knew the situation must be dire if the packs were going to be together in one location. There had been such division among them for so long he wasn’t sure how they would be together without dominance posturing and bloody fights. It was quite possibly going to be the biggest damn disaster in their history.

  “Who else knows about this?” Dillon asked.

  “Only the Fae, myself, and now you.”

  “Once the Fae use the magic of the moonstone none of us will be able to resist the call.” Dillon knew he wasn’t saying anything Wadim didn’t already know, he just felt the need to voice it, almost as if saying it out loud might help prepare him for the inevitable.

  “There’s something else,” Wadim’s voice dropped. “I haven’t heard from Vasile or Decebel since they left.”

  “They went traipsing off, attempting to take on this witch on their own. What the hell did you expect to happen?” Dillon growled. “Contrary to what you all believe Vasile is not invincible.”

  Wadim returned the Alpha’s growl. “He’s handling a situation that should be all of our responsibility. You never should have left.”

  “He told us to leave!” Dillon snarled.

  “You’re an Alpha. You knew what he was taking on. You knew that this could affect more than just the Romanian Grey Wolves pack. It’s your job to discern when you are needed, so don’t preach to me about whether we hold Vasile in too high esteem.”

  “Are you giving me orders?” Dillon’s voice was low and challenging.

  “I’m only telling you what you refuse to acknowledge. This isn’t a Romanian pack problem. This is an all packs problem. You are needed. All of us, are needed and the Alphas are going to have to step up and set an example for their pack mates.”

  “You aren’t telling me anything I don’t know Wadim,” Dillon let out a frustrated breath. “I will begin to gather my most dominant wolves. Give me a couple of days and we’ll be on our way.”

  Though Wadim knew Dillon couldn’t see him, he closed his eyes in relief.

  “Wadim, do you know if Jacque is alright?” Dillon didn’t mask the worry in his voice.

  Wadim didn’t answer right away. Finally, he breathed a resigned sigh.

  “She was with the others, I have no idea what has become of them. So, to be honest, I don’t have a clue. I’m sorry to have to tell you that.”

  “We’ll be there soon,” Dillon told him, without responding to Wadim’s explanation, and then hung up without a goodbye.

  Wadim looked at the phone after Dillon had hung up. He shook his head as he considered the Alpha’s words. He had to agree, this could definitely be the biggest catastrophe known to their kind. So many dominants together, ready for battle. Yeah, he thought: the world, as we know it, could be destroyed by Desdemona, or just maybe, by the wolves themselves.

  ***

  Cypher ran full speed, with a screaming Lilly, thrown over his shoulder, and Cyn on his heels. He dodged trees and low hanging limbs. He jumped over holes and stumps, his feet moving at an inhuman pace.

  “YOU SAID THEY WOULD HELP!” Lilly bellowed over the sound of the wind whipping past her face.

  “NOT NOW LILLY,” Cypher yelled back.

  Lilly rolled her eyes as she attempted to hold on to Cypher’s waist as he ran. She couldn’t believe they were in this position. Cypher had assured her that this being could help them understand the ramification of opening the veil now that Cypher had found his mate. Cypher had been all: he can help; he knows what I will need to do, he… blah, blah, blah. Instead, they had met a group of creatures out of Lilly’s worst nightmares. Now the monsters…no, monsters wasn’t the right word. Now, the dragons were streaking towards them, jaws agape, and ready to swallow them whole.

  Lilly looked up when she heard the loudest screeching sound that had ever pierced her ears. Her eyes widened as she saw the shape of wings impossibly large and a long tail soaring through the air. A giant dragon took a nose dive at them.

  “Uh CYPHER, COULD YOU PLEASE SHIFT INTO 5th GEAR NOW.” Lilly’s voice shook a little as she watched the dragon get closer and closer.

  Just as Lilly was sure she was about to become the creature’s noontime meal, Cyn turned and in a move worthy of a Hollywood movie, stretched her arms out as she flew back through the air. A bright light flew from her hands streaking towards the dragon. It hit the creature right between the eyes and it abruptly changed its course, lifting itself back up to the sky. Before Cyn hit the ground, she pulled her legs up to her chest and threw her body backward, wheeling her legs around, and landing on her feet. She turned without missing a beat and continued running.

  Lilly looked up at the Fae and gave her thumbs up. She swore she saw a small smile on her usually stoic face.

  Cypher continued to run. After a mile, there had been no sign of the beast and he finally slowed.

  Lilly tapped him on the back. “Could you put me down, now so that I can chew you out properly?”

  He stopped and placed her upright on her feet. She looked up into his handsome face as she crossed her arms across her chest. Her foot started tapping of its own accord as she tried to formulate the words she wanted to say.

  “So, what the hell was that?” She growled.

  “Well, to you it would probably be called a dragon, but it’s actually called a draheim."

  “I wasn’t talking about the freaky beast chasing us; however we will get to that in a minute. I was talking about you saying that we would get help from your brother, but instead, we nearly became lunch.”

  Cypher’s eyes narrowed. He turned from her and stared back in the direction they had just come. It had been a very long time since he had talked to his brother. Although the last time had been quite tense, he hadn’t expected such hostility.

  “Maybe he didn’t realize it was me,” he said, weakly.

  “Cypher look at me.” Lilly uncrossed her arms and reached up to tighten her ponytail that had come loose in the race to get away from the draheim. “Is there a history between you and your brother that you haven’t mentioned?”

  “It’s complicated,” Cypher answered.

  “Try me,” Lilly said, dryly.

  Cyn leaned back against a tree seemingly unaffected by the run or stunt that she had pulled. She watched Cypher with sharp eyes and waited for his explanation. If Cypher’s brother really was their only chance, then whatever had come between them was going to have to be dealt with.

  Cypher gazed off into the distance as he let the memories that he had buried come to the surface.

  “It’s been centuries since it happened and I really thought he was over it by now.”

  “It was a woman wasn’t it,” Lilly asked.

  “Yes, but not like you are thinking. He was mated. She was one of the sweetest females I had ever known. She didn’t deserve what happened and I couldn’t save her. He blames me for her death and rightfully so.” Cypher’s usually confident tone dropped in defeat.

  “I don’t believe that. If you didn’t save her then it couldn’t have been a choice by you. It must have been the circumstances. All of you alpha males think that everything falls on your shoulders and you forget that you aren’t perfect.”

  The side of his mouth lifted slightly as he watched the woman he now called mate defend him. If only she knew the “circumstances” as she called them. Would she think less of him? Would she refuse to trust him to protect her, to protect her daughter?

  “There is rarely peace among the supernatural races.”

  “You don’t say?” She snorted, sarcastically.

  Cypher chuckled. “Is your daughter like you?”

  Lilly smiled. “If you mean is she the coolest thing ever? Then no, she is even more amazing than me.”

  Cypher smiled. “I can’t imagine that.”

  “Don’t get off topic.” She narrowed her eyes at him.

  “When there is peace,” he continued, “it is not long lasting and is tenuous at best. Something as simple as a perceived disrespectful word can break the truce. There had been peace for some time between my kind and the trolls that live in the mountains.”

  “Trolls?” Lilly's eyebrows rose.

  “Surely you realize there are more supernaturals than just the ones you know about, little one.”

  Lilly shrugged. “Doesn’t mean it’s not still freakish.”

  “Thea, that was my brother’s mate, was hell-bent on uniting us and creating an alliance with the trolls. My brother warned her to stay out of the council business, but that only spurred her on. She sought out the leader of the trolls to try and speak with him, but it wasn’t the leader she met in the mountain that day.” Cypher paused and thought back to that day. He could still see Thea walking away from him after he had told her that as her King her forbid her to seek out the trolls. He had seen the defiance in her eyes and knew that she wouldn’t listen. If only he had followed her, if only he had told his brother sooner. He was drawn from the memories by a warm hand on his arm. He looked down at Lilly, her eyes full of understanding. It gave him the courage to continue.

  “She came to me, imploring me to see reason, those were her words. I told her that she was not to go, but something in her eyes told me she would defy me. I had met with the leader of the trolls and I knew that he wouldn’t hurt her. He was actually an honorable male, but like any leader, he not only had loyal followers but corrupt followers as well. I figured he would walk her back to their keep, all the while sporting a dubious smile, chuckling at her innocence. And, he would have, had it been him who had met her. But, when she went to the troll mountain, she was met by two of the trolls that spoke out against the peace between their races. They saw an opportunity to destroy that peace. She never had a chance. And, they succeeded in destroying the peace. The enmity between warlocks and trolls still exist to this day. I can’t even describe the things they did to her. I should have followed her. It was my job, as her King to protect her, even if it was from herself.”

  Lilly shook her head. “It was your brother’s job, and even then, she had free will. Regardless of the outcome and how horrible, Thea made that choice. I don’t say that to be mean, but you cannot take responsibility for her choice.”

  Cypher couldn’t believe that he didn’t see condemnation in her eyes but instead saw understanding and empathy. He didn’t deserve it. Regardless of what Lilly said, she didn’t understand the responsibility he had for his race. He had failed to protect that which was most precious to his brother and he had known she would go. When he and his brother had found her body, he had lost it. His torment and pain were so tangible that Cypher felt it in his soul. As soon as the shock wore off he had turned on Cypher. He could hear the words reverberating in his mind, a broken record of endless truths.

  “You are our King; you knew what she would do! You should have come to me! You should have warned me. This is your doing; her blood is on your hands.” His brother screamed at him. All Cypher had been able to do was bow his head in defeat. He fell to his knees in shame at the truth behind his brother’s words. He allowed his brother to beat him until his closest guards saved him from his brother’s wrath. He wanted to die, wanted his brother to kill him. It was what he deserved. The council locked his brother up until they felt he was no longer a threat. But, Cypher knew that if his brother were given the chance he would kill him. Time passed, years, decades, centuries, and still, there had been no word from him.

  “Cypher.”

  He realized that Lilly had been saying his name while he was remembering that horrible day. His vision refocused on her and he smiled at the determination in her face.

  “It’s not your fault. Say it with me,” she coaxed.

  Cypher shook his head. “I’m sorry love, but this time it is.”

  Lilly could see that nothing she would say was going to change his mind. She knew when to back off. Now, was not the time, but the day would come when she would make him understand.

  “So, what now?” she asked him.

  Cypher looked over at Cyn. “Do you know how my brother could have gotten the draheim in this realm?

  Cyn frowned as she thought. “It’s actually quite a surprise to me that he was able to get them to cross through a veil. They are very suspicious animals.”

  "Do you know anything about draheim, like any weaknesses they might have?” Lilly asked.

  The expression on Cyn’s face did not look promising. “There are very few things that can kill one and they aren’t the friendliest of beasts."

  “You don’t say?” Lilly laughed, sardonically. Cyn continued as if Lilly hadn’t spoken.

  “Your brother appears to have convinced them to serve him as guards. This is a mystery to me. Their skin is thicker than leather, nearly impenetrable. If that weren’t enough it reflects light so that a glare that blinds their opponents. It is like water being hit just right by the sun, it can be blinding. Their eyes have a clear sheath that slides into place when they are in battle, their tails are lined with deadly spikes and their mouths excrete a poison when it pierces flesh that causes paralysis.” Cyn explained, dryly as if she weren’t describing a nearly indestructible foe.

  Lilly thought for a moment, going over the description that Cyn had just given them. Her brow furrowed as she considered it.

  “Wait,” she said, stepping towards Cyn. “You said its skin is near impenetrable. That means that it isn’t impossible, it can be done.” Lilly’s eyes filled with a small amount of hope.

  “Is there some sort of weapon that can get through their thick skin?” Cypher asked.

  Cyn looked grim.

  “Why do I think this is going to be some other impossible task that could most likely get us killed?” Lilly asked, wryly.

  Lilly nearly laughed when the corners of Cyn’s mouth tipped up in an almost smile.

  “There is one weapon that can kill them. It is an arrow made of a special metal that is only forged by…”

  “The elves,” Cypher interrupted, ominously.

  Cyn nodded. “The elves,” she agreed.

  Lilly held up her hands as her eyebrows rose. “Wait one second. Elves?” She shook her head and let out a frustrated breath. “I know now why my daughter and her friends are constantly using words like bloody hell, shut up, and mother of pearl.”

  Cypher tilted his head to the side as he watched his mate.

  Lilly looked over at him at laughed at his confused face.

  She waved him off. “Don’t ask. Okay, so exactly how many supernatural species are there?”

  Before Cypher could answer, they heard an all too familiar thundering sound above them. They each looked up just as one of the beasts they had been discussing flew overhead, its great wings beating the air around it.

  Just when they thought they had not been noticed, the beast turned his head down and pierced them with its freaky eyes.

  Cyn’s usual composure cracked for a brief moment as her eyes met Lilly’s.

  “Did I mention that they have an excellent sense of smell?”

  Lilly’s eyes widened. “Um, no, you sure as hell didn’t.”

  Cypher grabbed her and smoothly lifted her into his arms, this time cradling her against his chest.

  She groaned. “Here we go again.”

  Cypher took off at a sprint, his speed increasing with every step. Lilly looked over his shoulder and saw that Cyn was right on his heels. Lilly looked up into the sky, attempting to block out the speed at which Cypher was moving, ignoring the trees blurring past them. She saw the huge draheim and cringed when a roar pierced the sky. How on earth can the people within a 50-mile radius not hear and see the beast, Lilly asked herself. When the beast made a nose dive for them she decided that it was a question that could wait for an answer, provided they lived through this.

  ***

  Mona stood on the hill, looking out over the Carpathian Mountains. She felt the disturbance in the air. The magic causing her skin to tingle and she had answered its call. She didn’t understand why Peri would conjure a storm, and she was sure it was Perizada based on the purity of the magic. Whatever it was Peri was up to, Mona had taken the wheel. She wouldn’t keep it up for long because she had other matters to deal with, but she felt like it was a good way to let them know that she had not forgotten their little group, wandering lost in the woods. She was surprised to see them out of the Transylvania Alps, but oh, she had definitely not forgotten them and knew just who she would have the demons dispose of first.

  She stroked Octavian’s mane and felt his restlessness as he stomped his hooves on the withered grass.

  “Ready for a run my old friend?” She asked the large, black steed.

  Octavian replied with a snort. Mona continued to hold the storm with her mind as she climbed up onto the horse. She would make them suffer a little longer and before it was all said and done, she might just throw in for fun an ice storm.