Chapter 93 Why?
Chapter 93 Why?
/Luca/
Nelson looked toward the bed, toward her sleeping form, something softer crossing his face. “Probably.”
For a brief moment, we both smiled, the shared understanding of her stubbornness the only lightness in an otherwise heavy conversation. Then the seriousness returned, settling back over us like a second skin.
“We need our people to know we’re united,” Nelson said.
I nodded. “Not just the leaders. Everyone, down to the newest recruits.”
“Why?”
“Because if they don’t understand what’s happening, fear will spread faster than the enemy ever could.”
He thought about that for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right.”
“We announce the alliance tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Surprise flickered across his face.
“At first light.”
“That’s fast.”
“We don’t have time to wait.”
He nodded again, more firmly this time. “Agreed.”
“We also establish joint patrols along both territories.”
“Vampires and wolves working together,” he said, testing the words like they tasted strange in his mouth.
“Yes.”
He smiled faintly, though there was little humor in it. “That’s going to be interesting.”
“Your warriors already look at my people like they’re waiting for someone to give them permission to start a fight.”
“Your vampires aren’t exactly friendly.”
“We’re not supposed to be.”
“Neither are wolves.”
I gave him a pointed look. “Then perhaps your warriors should stop staring at mine.”
“Perhaps your vampires should stop staring back.”
I sighed, dragging a hand down my face. “This is going to be a nightmare.”
“Probably.”
“But necessary.”
“Definitely.”
I moved another marker across the map, my mind already several steps ahead. “We also need witches.”
Nelson’s expression shifted. “For the barriers?”
“For the barriers, tracking, communication, and whatever magic we’re going to need once we figure out exactly what we’re fighting.”
He nodded slowly. “And fairies?”
I looked toward the sleeping woman between us, the weight of everything she carried settling heavier in my chest. “Edlyn.”
“She’s not the only fairy in existence.”
“I know.”
“But hers is different.”
“I know that too.”
The silence returned, thicker this time. There was something about Edlyn’s powers that none of us understood, something ancient and unformed, and I had a growing feeling that understanding it was going to matter more than any alliance we could build.
Nelson looked at me, something shifting in his expression. “There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“If we’re going to unite our kingdoms, we need to trust each other. Truly trust each other, not just tolerate one another for her sake.”
I stared at him, something almost bitter rising in my throat. “You’re asking a vampire to trust a werewolf.”
“I’m asking one mate to trust another.”
That answer caught me off guard, landing somewhere I hadn’t expected it to. I looked toward Edlyn again, at the woman who was the entire reason we were standing here having this conversation instead of trying to tear each other’s throats out the way instinct demanded.
I slowly extended my hand.
Nelson looked at it for a long moment, something unreadable crossing his face. Then he shook it, his grip firm and certain.
“Temporary alliance,” I said.
“Until the war is over.”
“And until we find whoever is behind this.”
His grip tightened around mine. “Then we destroy them.”
I nodded, something settling into place between us that felt, for the first time, less like obligation and more like resolve. “Together.”
The word still felt strange coming from me, foreign in a way I hadn’t expected. But this time, I didn’t hate the shape of it in my mouth.
A sudden movement from the bed made both of us turn sharply.
Edlyn shifted beneath the blankets, her eyebrows drawing together as though she’d been pulled into another dream, her breathing catching in a way that set every nerve in my body on alert.
Then she whispered something, and we both froze.
“Don’t…”
Nelson moved closer first, his voice low and urgent. “Edlyn?”
Her eyes remained closed, her face twisted with something that looked like fear.
“Don’t let them…”
Her voice faded into nothing.
I exchanged a look with Nelson, and whatever tension had eased between us moments ago snapped instantly back into place.
Then Edlyn gasped and sat upright so suddenly it startled us both.
We rushed toward her at the same moment, reaching her side almost in unison. Her eyes had opened, but they weren’t focused on either of us. They were glowing, a strange light flickering just beneath her skin like something trying to break free from within.
“Edlyn,” I said carefully, keeping my voice steady despite the alarm clawing up my throat. “Look at me.”
Her gaze finally moved toward us, unfocused at first, then slowly sharpening. Her breathing came heavy and ragged.
Then she whispered something that made every instinct inside me scream.
“They found the Northern Pack.”
Nelson went completely still beside me. “What?”
Edlyn’s eyes filled with a fear I’d never seen on her before. “They’re alive.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. “Who?”
She looked directly at me, her voice trembling with the weight of whatever she’d just seen.
“The people who took them.”
Her voice broke.
“They’re coming for us next.”