Chapter 87

ERIA

I met Dominic at Belmont pack. It seemed more fitting, than going back to the outskirts of the city to where the mystic pack was camping. Not that there was anything wrong with their Japanese setting. It was just a little weird to see Japan in the middle of America and if, when I went back, Alpha Micheal had decided to go Asian, I wasn't sure I could take it.

Dominic approached me, exactly 5 minutes late, I thought glancing down at the watch strapped on my wrist. Tardiness was a bad sign. And hopefully, by the end of the week, enough to call off the engagement over.

Dominic stopped in front of me, a black coat that reached his boots draped over his broad shoulders, with tapered suit pants, his hair perfectly slicked, giving him an out of the movies view, further accentuated by the gold chains hanging off his coat. If I was going for the sweet and harmless bride to be, then he was definitely the Victorian prince.

I stood up from the bench that I was waiting for him on. Tourists moved all around us, and natives going about their daily business. It was weird, seeing them and knowing that there was a war just around the corner. One that might affect them.

"Did I keep you waiting?" Dominic asked, his accent British. Why was I only just realizing that?

"No," I shake my head. It wasn't like it mattered anyway.

He assessed me. I could feel his eyes roaming across my small frame. "Is that a dagger, Eria?" He asked, genuine confusion in his voice.

I shrugged, a smile on my lips. "Who knows. You might get annoying."

He sputtered, his words unintelligible as I walked past him.

I searched my mind. There was only so much dry humor could get me. I needed to get to know him and within that same time, I needed him to come to the conclusion that the marriage arrangement was unnecessary. Dominic caught up with me as I made my way past the people.

He offered me a hand.

I stared at him like he had grown a big watermelon on his head.

He rolled his eyes. "I assume you want to actually pretend to be couples. Isn't that what the whole delay is? So that you can get to see your boyfriend one more time before the war takes him away."

"Don't talk about Vance like that!" I snapped, glaring at him.

"That's his name, huh?" He raised an eyebrow. His hands took mine and he linked our fingers, drawing me closer to him.

I nearly fell, the movement taking me by surprise but instead crashed against his chest.

He brought his free hand up, and tugged the pin out of my hair. "Better," he whispered.

"You might as well think you're doing this for him. If it makes you feel any better." He pulls back from me and heads inside the restaurant. I hadn't realized we were near one.

I stopped to glare at him. The nerve!

I followed after him into the main restaurant.

He led me to a private booth at the corner of the restaurant. Music was playing. The chatter of people drowned around us as I slipped into a chair.

"What's it like," I asked, "being forced into a marriage arrangement?"

I was never one for pretense or delay. I could hardly go a minute without speaking my mind.

Dominic looked up, his long fingers holding up the menu list. His expression was unreadable. Maybe even guarded.

"You know more than I do, Eria, that this is something that has to be done. Preferably without one or the both of us kicking and whining along the way," he said in a lazy drawl.

"I know," I snapped impatiently. "I don't need another person telling me that. Fuck the expectations for a minute."

I leaned closer, my eyes searching his. "I'm asking how you feel about it. Angry? Overjoyed, indifferent? Isn't there someone you love? Someone you would be willing to fight this for?"

His grip tightened on the paper, a flicker of emotion in his eyes but it was gone and if I wasn't paying attention I might not have even noticed it.

"No, Eria," he said stiffly. "If I tell you yes, then I assume you would want to strike some sort of deal with me, so no. You will not complicate this more than it already is." His tone carried an air of finality that would make anyone shiver into silence. But I wasn't just anyone. And I could tell that there was something he wasn't telling me. That this was more than just a pack alliance.

Before I could open my mouth, the waiter came up, smiling at us both. "Welcome to Twin Flames. Can I take your order?" She asked in a well-practiced voice.

"I'll have the Tuscan ravioli," Dominic handed her the menu without looking at me. The waiter turned to me expectantly.

"What he's having," I said. My eyes were on Dominic, wondering why he was hell-bent in following whatever his father had in store for us. His phone rang, he brought it out, his eyes turning cold as he stared at the screen.

He muttered an excuse, standing up and he was barely out of earshot before whispering harshly. It was impossible to tell if it was because of my question, or the phone call, but Dominic was distant throughout the rest of the afternoon.

Dominic dropped me off, casting a thoughtful look at the stronghold that I didn't read any meaning to as I ran up, the golden gates rolling open as I touched them.

"You wouldn't believe it. He's like a rock. A really boring rock that I can't get through," I muttered to Maya minutes later.

She laughed, not that there was anything funny about it. I was back in my room with Maya who was all geared up in a navy vest that I suggested were bullet proof and camo pants, with black combat boots that reached her knees.

I kept my leather jacket, but changed into black sweat pants. I drew open a locker on the table and took out the bow and arrows.

"At least you're back to the action," Maya commented, rising on her feet.

I nodded. "At least I got to see Vance today. Hopefully." It kind of made up for the afternoon.

"Are we really not telling Raven?" I asked, looking back at Maya. She was already across the room, her hand around the doorknob and tugging it open.

She gave a shrug. "We owe that to Lukas. And besides, Merrick will tell them once we give the signal."

The rest of them, Jared, Lukas and... Jonah I saw, were waiting outside the back gate. Out of the stronghold. We weren't under protection anymore.

Jonah was white-faced, standing a little apart from the two men, his eyes down. He looked smaller, in a faded tweed jacket but his jaw was set in a determined line.

"We'll get your family back," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He stiffened, his eyes meeting mine. "You should hate me. I knew they were taking Orion away," he muttered.

"Alright, that's all of us," Lukas's voice rang through. I turned away from Jonah. Lukas was standing in front of us, a light pen in his hand. I watched as he drew a circle on the air. A door slowly materialized, its sides blazing with a golden flame.

"Ready?" He asked, his eyes resting on mine for a brief moment.

"Isn't that portal magic?" I raised an eyebrow.

He shrugged. "Merrick had one. It's going to lead us to the ritual spot, where everything more or less started." I felt a shudder. I still remembered a very mad Darian chanting demonic words and shedding Kael and Raven's blood on the stone platform along with his. Blood freely given... Before the darkness consumed him.

Maya nudged me before I could zone out. She and Jared went first. Jonah stepped in next. I followed in. It was like the world was swirling fast around me and the air was knocked out of my lungs. Then my feet landed on solid ground. I stumbled back, glancing around.

The sun had just began to set, casting red glows across the mountains. I could see a building towards the mountain peak, tall like a warehouse. I might have not recognized it if it wasn't for the shimmering letters printed across the wall, spelling the word ORDER.

"High up," Lukas muttered beside me. "Where it's impossible for anyone to sneak up on them."

His eyes were grim, a sword strapped to his side. He looked ready for war.

"How do we get in?" I asked.

Maya, and Jared were around us, looking at Lukas, the same question mirrored on their faces. Only Jonah looked like he knew what was going to happen. And he didn't look thrilled about it.

"We hide," Lukas said. His voice taut. He didn't look at Jonah as he continued. "And wait for them to come for Jonah. Then we know what to do."