Chapter 305

【Elsa POV】

I wake to the soft murmur of voices around me, my consciousness rising slowly like surfacing from deep water. The first thing I notice is how heavy my limbs feel, as if someone has filled my bones with lead. The second thing is the concerned faces hovering over me—Linnea's worried blue-green eyes, Leif's amber gaze steady and watchful, and several others I recognize from the pack.

"Thank God, you're finally awake," Linnea breathes, her hand immediately reaching for mine. Her fingers are warm against my cold skin.

I try to sit up, but my muscles scream in protest. Every movement feels like I'm pushing through thick mud. "How long was I out?" My voice comes out as a barely audible croak.

"Two days," Leif says, shifting closer to the bed. His hand finds my shoulder, steadying me as I struggle to prop myself up. "You've been unconscious since the attack."

Two days. The memory hits me in fragments—the sphere above us, the silver light pouring from my hands, the vampire shrieks cutting off abruptly. My body remembers the sensation of being completely drained.

"I feel like shit," I mutter, finally managing to lean back against the pillows. "Like someone sucked all the life out of me."

Linnea's grip on my hand tightens. "You had us scared. Your temperature dropped so low we thought..." She trails off, but I can see the fear still lingering in her eyes.

Karl steps forward from where he'd been standing by the window. "The pack's been asking about you constantly. Everyone wants to know if their Luna is okay."

From across the room, Grand Sage clears his throat. The dwarf leader looks more serious than usual, his weathered face creased with concern.

"Now that our Luna is awake, we need to discuss our next move," he says, walking closer to the bed.

I push myself up straighter, ignoring the way my head spins. "What's the situation out there?"

Grand Sage clasps his hands behind his back. "The vampire attack was devastating—for them. Your magical strike eliminated at least thirty bloodsuckers in a single blow. Our scouts report that the Forgotten Cities are in complete chaos right now."

He pauses, letting this sink in. Leif's hand moves to rest on the bed beside me, close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating from his skin.

"This gives us a critical window," Grand Sage continues. "But we need to decide how to use it. We have two options."

"I'm listening," Leif says.

Grand Sage begins pacing, his boots clicking against the wooden floor. "Option one: We strike immediately with a small, elite team. Hit the Forgotten Cities while they're weakened and eliminate the Mad Prince before he can rebuild his forces."

"How would we even get there?" Karl asks, crossing his arms.

"The metal sphere. It can transport up to five people directly into the heart of their territory. With Elsa's magic energy boosting it, we can provide invisibility coverage within a one-kilometer radius."

I lean forward, interested despite my exhaustion. "And option two?"

Grand Sage stops pacing and turns to face us. "We contact our supernatural allies—the Fae courts, the remaining witch covens, any werewolf packs willing to stand against the vampire threat. Build a coalition and plan a larger, coordinated assault."

Leif's jaw tightens, and I can see him working through the implications. He turns to look at me, his amber eyes dark with concern.

"If we go with option one, you can't be part of the strike team," he says bluntly. "Not in your current condition. Look at you—you can barely sit up. It could take weeks for you to fully recover from the magical drain."

The protective tone in his voice is unmistakable, even without his memories. He moves closer, his body language screaming that he wants to shield me from whatever danger is coming.

"The second option would give us time to prepare properly," he continues, his gaze never leaving my face. "Stabilize the current situation, reach out to potential allies. Keep you safe."

I close my eyes, feeling for the familiar presence in my mind. Grimoire?

Here, comes the immediate response, his mental voice tinged with amusement. Wondering when you'd think to ask.

How much energy do you have left? I feel completely empty.

My reserves are barely touched. The energy you used came from your own magical core, not from me directly. I can replenish what you've lost.

Why didn't you offer this before?

Because you were unconscious. I can't just dump power into you while you're out—that's how magical overload happens. The power transfer has to be a conscious choice.

Understanding floods through me. I open my eyes and look at the faces around me—Leif's concerned expression, Linnea's worried frown, Grand Sage's patient expectation, Karl's protective stance by the window.

"I choose option one," I say firmly.

"Elsa—" Leif starts, but I cut him off.

"If we wait, the vampires will recover. More people will be turned into those ice corpses. Every day we delay makes them stronger."

Leif's expression darkens. He runs a hand through his hair.

"You can barely sit up," he says, his voice tight with frustration. "How can you possibly—"

"Give me one day," I interrupt, pushing myself to sit up straighter despite the way it makes my head spin. "Twenty-four hours, and I'll be back to full strength. Maybe stronger."

"How can you be sure?" Linnea asks, her voice high with worry. She's still holding my hand, and I can feel her trembling slightly.

I tap my temple with my free hand. "I have my sources."

Grand Sage nods slowly, as if he's been expecting this response. He pulls out a small device from his robes and begins making notes.

"I thought you might choose the direct approach. The strike team can carry a maximum of five people in the sphere. We need to choose carefully—this is a one-shot deal."

Leif stands up from the bed and begins pacing, his movements sharp and decisive.

"If we're doing this, I pick the team," he says, his voice brooking no argument. "This is my pack, my responsibility."

"Agreed," Grand Sage says, looking up from his device. "Who are you thinking?"

Leif stops pacing and turns to face us. "Elsa, myself, Karl, and Edda. We'll need Edda's healing abilities if things go south."

"What about Freyja?" I ask, glancing toward where my wolf is lying by the fireplace. She raises her head at the mention of her name. "Will she count as a separate person?"

Grand Sage chuckles grimly. "Have you seen the size of that wolf? She's definitely taking up a slot."

Freyja huffs indignantly, and I can't help but smile despite the seriousness of the situation.

Leif nods. "Right. So that's our five." He looks around the room, his gaze settling on each face. "We leave the day after tomorrow. That gives us time to prepare and gives Elsa a chance to recover."

Karl shifts by the window. "What about the pack? Who's going to lead while you're gone?"

"Vetle will handle things here," Leif says without hesitation. "He knows what to do."

Through our mental link, I feel Grimoire's approval. Smart choice. By then, you'll be operating at levels you've never experienced before.

What do you mean?

You'll see. Just be ready for some... enhancements.

I look at Leif, noting the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands have unconsciously clenched into fists. His protective instincts are in overdrive, and I can practically see him running through every possible scenario in his head.

"Are you sure about this?" he asks me quietly, moving back to sit on the edge of the bed. "Really sure?"

I meet his amber eyes steadily. "The Mad Prince has to be stopped. If we have a chance to end this before more people die, we have to take it."

Linnea squeezes my hand. "I hate this plan," she says quietly. "But I understand why you have to do it."

Something in my tone must convince Leif, because his expression softens slightly. He reaches out and brushes a strand of hair away from my face.

"Alright then," he says. "The day after tomorrow, we go to war."