Chapter 77 Gathering Storms
ARYA
The next five days passed in a whirlwind of controlled chaos.
The Moonborne lands transformed before my eyes. What had been ancient ruins were now partially restored, enough to house and feed hundreds of guests while maintaining the sacred, historical atmosphere.
Workers swarmed everywhere. Lycans and wolves working side by side, something that would have been unthinkable mere months ago. Tents were erected for overflow guests. Security checkpoints are established at every entrance. Magical wards shimmer in the air like heat waves.
And overseeing it all was Luca, who had apparently decided that “adequate security” meant “military fortress.”
“Is that a sniper post?” I asked, pointing to one of the newly constructed towers.
“Three of them, actually.” Caspian appeared beside me with a tablet. “Plus another five hidden positions. Your mate is taking no chances.”
“This is excessive.”
“This is Luca being restrained.” Caspian smiled slightly. “You should have seen his first proposal. It involved a moat.”
“A moat?” I raised a brow.
“Filled with blessed silver water. He was very disappointed when Bardon explained it would interfere with the magical wards.”
I rubbed my temples. “Where is he now?”
“Interrogating the catering staff. Again.” Caspian’s tone was amused. “He’s convinced someone might try to poison you through the food.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it? You’re hosting a summit where half the attendees want you dead. Poison would be the easiest method.”
He had a point.
I found Luca in what had been restored as the main dining hall, grilling a terrified-looking chef about ingredient sourcing.
“—and you’re absolutely certain the herbs came from a certified supplier?” Luca was saying, his voice deceptively calm.
“Y-yes, Your Majesty. I have documentation—”
“Documentation can be forged.”
“Luca,” I interrupted. “Can I speak with you? Privately?”
He looked up, his expression immediately softening. “Of course.” To the chef: “We’ll continue this later. Have your supplier information ready.”
The chef practically ran from the room.
Once we were alone, I crossed my arms. “You’re terrorizing the staff.”
“I’m ensuring your safety.”
“By interrogating chefs?”
“By examining every possible vulnerability.” He pulled me close, as if he couldn’t help himself. “Aeliana, in two days, this place will be filled with people. Some allied, some neutral, some actively hostile. I need to know that every meal you eat, every drink you consume, every breath of air you take is safe.”
“That’s impossible to guarantee.”
“Then I’ll die trying.” His arms tightened. “I can’t—I won’t go through what I experienced during the cleansing ritual again. The fear of losing you nearly destroyed me.”
I felt the truth of it. The barely controlled terror that simmered beneath his composed exterior.
“I’ll be careful,” I promised. “I’ll have food tasters. I’ll stick to secure areas. I’ll do everything reasonable to stay safe.”
“And unreasonable things?” He looked almost like a child with how he was looking at me. I cupped the side of his face, inching closer.
“Those too, if necessary.” I kissed him softly. “But Luca, you need to sleep. Actually sleep. You’ve been up for three days straight.”
“I’ll sleep after the summit.”
“You’ll collapse before the summit if you keep this up.”
“I’m eight hundred years old. I can handle a few days without sleep.”
“Your age doesn’t make you invincible.”
“No, but my determination does.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “Two more days. Just two more days and then—”
“Then what? You think the danger ends after the summit?”
“No. But at least the major threats will be gathered in one place where I can see them.” His smile was dark. “Much easier to eliminate enemies when they’re standing in front of you.”
“You’re not eliminating anyone.” I tried to make my voice stern.
“We’ll see,” he flashed that his smile that made my insides quiver.
Before I could argue further, Sage burst into the room, her expression urgent.
“We have a problem. Multiple problems, actually.” She was breathing hard, like she’d been running. “But one very big problem that needs immediate attention.”
“What kind of problem?” Luca demanded.
“The kind where I was doing reconnaissance on the coalition forces and discovered they’re not planning to attend the summit.”
My stomach dropped. “What?”
“They’re planning to attack it. From outside.” Sage pulled up a map on her tablet. “I tracked one of their scouts to a meeting point about five miles north. They’re amassing forces. A lot of forces.”
“How many?” Luca’s voice had gone cold.
“At least three hundred warriors. Maybe more.” Sage zoomed in on the map. “They’re planning to wait until everyone’s inside the temple for the main ceremony, then attack from multiple positions simultaneously.”
“Son of a bitch.” Luca was already moving, his phone out. “Caspian, we have a situation. Conference room. Now.”
Within minutes, the war room—a restored chamber in the temple’s lower level—was filled with our core team. Luca, Caspian, Sage, Ryker, Bardon, and me. Maps covered the table, showing the Moonborne lands and surrounding territories.
“Show us everything,” Luca commanded.
Sage laid out what she’d discovered. Three main staging areas where coalition forces were gathering. Supply lines established. Communication networks set up. This wasn’t a spontaneous attack—it was coordinated, planned, professional.
“Theron’s not playing around,” Ryker observed grimly. “This is a full military operation.”
“Can we move the summit?” I asked. “Find another location?”
“Too late. Guests start arriving tomorrow. We’d cause a panic.” Bardon studied the maps. “Besides, moving wouldn’t solve the problem. They’d just follow.”
“Then we fight,” Luca said flatly. “We reinforce our positions, call in additional forces, and make it clear that attacking this summit means war with every kingdom and pack that stands with us.”
“That could trigger exactly the kind of widespread conflict we’re trying to prevent,” I pointed out.
“Then what do you suggest? We let them attack?”
“No. We… we invite them.”
Everyone stared at me.
“Explain,” Luca said carefully.
“The summit is supposed to unite supernatural beings, right? To give everyone a voice, a choice.” I moved to the map. “What if we publicly invite the coalition to attend? Make it clear they’re welcome to voice their opposition peacefully, to debate our vision, to participate in shaping the future?”
“They’ll refuse.”
“Probably. But then the attack becomes their fault unambiguously. They were offered a peaceful option and chose violence.” I looked around the room. “Right now, they can claim they’re defending themselves against a power grab. If we invite them openly, that narrative falls apart.”
“It’s risky,” Caspian said. “If they accept, we have to allow them in. Give them a platform.”
“Better than giving them an excuse for war.” Sage was nodding slowly. “I like it. It’s either checkmate or calls their bluff.”
“And if they accept just to cause chaos inside the summit?” Ryker asked.
“Then we have three hundred troublemakers in one place where we can control them, rather than outside where they can attack freely.” I looked at Luca. “What do you think?”