Chapter 95 What do we do now

Chapter 95 What do we do now
/Nelson/

Edlyn’s eyes narrowed, though I could see her searching for a way around it. “So what do you want me to do?”

“Stay here with the strongest guards we have.”
She immediately shook her head. “No.”
“Edlyn.”

“I’m not sitting in a room while you two walk into whatever trap they’re preparing for you.”
Luca sighed, rubbing his temple. “I knew that was coming.”

I rubbed my forehead, feeling the fight drain out of me even as I tried to hold onto it. “Fine.”
Edlyn raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Fine?”
“We take you with us.”

Luca looked at me sharply. “You just said she should stay.”
“I know.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m realizing she’s going to follow us whether we like it or not, and I’d rather have her where I can see her.”
Edlyn’s mouth curved into a small, satisfied smile. “Smart man.”
I pointed a finger at her, unwilling to let her win completely. “But you stay between us at all times.”
“Okay.”

“No wandering off.”
“Okay.”

“No chasing strange voices.”
She frowned, offended. “I wasn’t going to.”
“You absolutely were.”
“I was not.”
Luca nodded solemnly. “You were.”
She looked between the two of us, exasperated. “Traitors, both of you.”
I almost laughed. Almost. The moment didn’t leave enough room for it.
Then the doors burst open.
Timi rushed inside, followed closely by Jasmine and several warriors, all of them wearing the same grim urgency.
“Supreme King.”
I turned immediately. “What happened?”
Timi was breathing hard, like he’d run the entire way. “The scouts returned.”
“From the Northern Pack?”
He nodded. “We found something.”
“What?”

He looked toward the map, hesitating for just a moment. “Tracks.”
I stepped closer, my pulse picking up. “What kind?”
“Not wolf.”
“Dragon?”
“No.”
“Vampire?”
He shook his head. “None of the known species.”
Luca’s expression went cold and still. “Where?”
“The northern forest.”
Timi placed a small piece of black material on the table, setting it down like it might bite him.
I stared at it, something instinctive crawling up the back of my neck. “What is that?”
“We don’t know.”
Jasmine stepped closer, her voice tight. “The scouts found dozens of these pieces scattered around the area.”
I reached toward it without thinking.
The moment my fingers brushed against it, my wolf snarled violently inside my head, and I pulled my hand back like it had burned me.
“What?”
Jasmine looked at me, alarmed. “Your wolf reacted?”
I nodded, unable to shake the unease coiling in my gut.

Luca picked up the material carefully, turning it over between his fingers. His expression shifted, something unreadable passing behind his eyes.
“What?” I asked.

He stared at it for several long seconds before answering. “This isn’t ordinary material.”
“What is it?”
“Dark magic.”
Edlyn suddenly grabbed her head, a sharp gasp tearing out of her.
“Wait.”
We all turned toward her at once.
She stumbled backward, one hand braced against the table for balance. “Edlyn?”
Her eyes widened, fixed on the black material like it had spoken directly to her.
“I know this.”
My heart stopped completely.
“You’ve seen it?”
She nodded slowly, her voice thin. “In the vision.”
Everyone in the room went silent, waiting.
“Where?”
She looked at the black material like it might move. “Under the Northern Pack.”
My stomach dropped straight through the floor. “Then we know where we’re going.”
Luca nodded, already turning toward the door. “We leave now.”
I looked at Timi. “Prepare the warriors.”
“How many?”
“All of them.”
Timi’s eyes widened. “All?”
I nodded, feeling the weight of the decision settle over me like armor. “If the Northern Pack is being held somewhere beneath that forest, we’re bringing them home.”
Jasmine stepped forward, her voice careful. “And if it’s a trap?”
I looked at Luca. He looked back at me, and for the first time since we’d met, there was no hatred left in either of our eyes. Only determination, sharp and shared.
“Then they’ll learn something tonight,” I said.
Luca’s mouth curved into a cold, dangerous smile. “Attacking one kingdom was a mistake.”
I looked toward Edlyn, standing steady between us now despite everything. “Attacking both of us was worse.”
She stepped forward, closing the small distance until she stood right between us, her eyes flashing with a strange, fierce light.
“And coming for me?”
Her voice dropped, certain and unshakable.
“That was their biggest mistake.”
My wolf growled with fierce approval, something like pride rolling through me. Now they will learn exactly who they chose to fight.
I grabbed my sword from where it rested against the wall and turned toward the door. “Let’s go.”
Behind me, I heard Edlyn’s footsteps fall into step. Then Luca’s, close behind hers.
For the first time, the three of us walked toward the same enemy, united by something stronger than either kingdom alone.
And somewhere beyond the northern forest, something was already waiting for us.
I only hoped we weren’t walking exactly where it wanted us to go.