Chapter 187

Chapter 187
Drew

“Head to the conference room. We need to regroup.” Drew heard David yell as they exited the temple. He turned and watched as the walls crumbled. The unsupported roof fell in chunks as smoke bellowed from where the Forbidden Tree had once been. It was utterly decimated.

Drew’s heart felt as if it were being ripped from his chest. The Temple of Tempestra had been a symbol of hope for many generations. He had spent so many years within its walls. In his youth, it was a reminder that the concepts of new life, love and unity existed. After meeting his mate, Stormy, for whom the temple had been built, it had become more. It was a literal testimony to who she was and her inner light. It was the story of her family and how his people had come to be. All that history was now lost. Drew struggled to wrap his mind around the idea that it was truly gone.

Almost as if she could hear his inward grief, Stormy reached out and touched him softly. She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. She placed her head against his forehead and gazed silently in to his eyes. She smiled as she looked at him with all the love in the world. Drew could feel her compassion through their new bond.

The temple was just a building. The things it stood for cannot be contained in stone walls or under a roof. It doesn’t need priests or a symbolic statue. Faith, love and life are found in the hearts of our people. Living each day to it’s fullest is how we celebrate. As long as we honor who we are, the meaning of the temple goes on. Stormy gestured. She slowly pointed to all of the Kindred and then to herself.

Drew nodded his head. He knew she was right. She was the essence of the things that their faith taught. Loving her and the things she stood for was his purpose. Her love for him meant more than all the buildings in the world.

“Let’s go.” He whispered as he took her hand. They followed the other mates, and Shawna to the conference room. They had barely entered the room before Nathan, Luscious and Argus appeared. Drew realized someone must have summoned them through the mirrors. They looked almost as disheveled as those who had been at the temple.

As they took their seats around the round conference table, Drew leaned over and picked a piece of rubble out of Stormy’s hair. She smiled and bit her lip to stifle a giggle. David hung his head.

“Drew, I am so sorry. I thought I might cause a few burnt walls. I never expected that.” David said sheepishly.

“What happened?” Nathan asked as he brushed temple dust from Dean’s shoulder.

Dean shrugged and chuckled. “Our fearless king lost control of his power and blew up a fae temple!”

“I didn’t see you coming up with a better solution.” David said indignantly.

“I’m lost,” Luscious said as he stared at the group. “I thought the fae were being attacked.”

“I think we better start at the beginning.” David said pointing to Shawna.

“Just under an hour ago, I received a report that shadow warriors had invaded the temple. However, when I sent my soldiers to investigate, I found out the Forbidden Tree was being used as a gateway to bring the shadow warriors to our land. However, they didn’t attack. Instead they teleported away. I don't know how many there are or where they went.” Shawna said. Her eyes glowed blue with worry and her butterfly wings flapped with emotion. She pointed to David to continue the report.

“Stormy, and the Kindred were alerted of the danger. We rushed to the temple to try to close the portal. After several tries, I used my dragon breath. But I was not prepared for how much my power has grown, so it got away from me. I destroyed the fae temple.” David said. “It really was an accident. “However, there is some relief because the portal is now closed and cannot be used again.”

“Did we know that the tree was a portal?” Argus asked with a raised eyebrow. He had huge circles under his eyes and scorched places on his shirt where he had been burping the baby.

It wasn’t. Mara must have channeled it’s magic as she did the Rhine Frost. She doesn’t have the power to open a portal so she had to steal it from other magical objects. Stormy signed.

“As your dark twin, shouldn’t you have a similar amount of magic. Why would she need to steal it?” Luscious asked with a frown.

Stormy shook her head. While some of our magic is inherent, it is made stronger by faith. The more people that believe in me, the stronger my magic becomes. Since my mates love me unconditionally, our bond acts as a conduit. As part of the reason their magic has also grown. Stormy explained with fluent motions.

Drew was amazed. It had never occurred to him that something as simple as his devotion was helping her in the quest to save the world. He had a new understand of how bad Daniel’s and Dylan’s choices had harmed their chances. Had they been true, she would have six times the power, instead of four.

Dylan, he could somewhat excuse. He had never met Stormy and hadn’t had the chance to see how wonderful she was. However, Drew wanted to punch Daniel. He knew her, mated with her and threw her away. Drew could feel the rage building in his chest. Stormy reached over and lightly grasped his hand which instantly calmed the heat in his blood.

As Drew was dealing with his frustration, a soldier ran into the room and whispered into Shawn’s ear. The fae’s eyes went wide, she nodded a thank you to the soldiers and motioned to politely dismissed him.

She turned the look at the room. “An army of shadow warrior has amassed near the crossroads.”