2: Chapter 42

As we had lost a few days in the Fae realm, courtesy of how time moved so much differently there versus here, we had begun researching possible alliances with the other realms. The soulless problem already affecting two realms that we knew of, but how many more were having this issue.

“I contacted my father about the twilight realm, so far there have been no sightings of soulless.” Rugan said

“Mother said their have been a few cases, but they are still unsure if it was demon or black magic that caused them.” Shura added.

“The aerial realm is unscathed as of now. Father has his eyes and ears open for any possibility.” Alastar spoke.

“We know of my realm.” Elre sighs heavily.

“I am unsure of the others but the villages here haven’t seen or heard anything yet.” Lazarath said.

“The shadow realm is quiet.” Ariscot whispered as he clung to my shadow.

“Mother and father have said if anything is going on in the celestial realm it’s being kept hush hush.” I sighed.

“Well, our next step is to see who is on our side, against the idea, and who to stay away from.” Shura’s voice was edgy since we had gotten back. I feared he was keeping something under the radar, which saddened me he couldn’t come to us but, I understood somethings take time. We left to our offices, finishing stray paperwork and since we finally got the equipment, we now search our internet for any help in our current issue.

Taking out another notebook, I wrote down different gods, goddesses, and deities opposed to the idea of chaos, darkness, and the world going to ruin. I wrote descriptions of each, what they ruled over, and what their specialty was. My hand hurt and the notebook was near full when I leaned back in my chair to stretch. My back protesting the movement as I stood up and walked about grabbing a few more notebooks and another collection of pens. Tossing them on the desk I walked out to the greenhouse, the sun setting as I looked out over the kingdom, there was still so many to find, and so much work to do, how was I ever going to even start finding them to ask for an alliance, or just for their help in the matter.

“Well, you could always just start asking us, that would be a start.” An unknown female rose from the Moon flowers, chills spiralled up my spine as she caught us off guard. Ariscot, covering me in his shadow as she chuckled lightheartedly. “I do not bring trouble with me, but I did come to offer my help when the time comes.”

“Excuse my rudeness, but who are you?” I stood guarded ready for a fight.

“ I am Flora, goddess of flowering plants. Your gardens are exquisite, so when I heard of your mother asking around the celestial realm about the soulless or certain deities helping create them, I decided to pay you a little visit.”

“I see.” I sat there racking my head about her name and my ongoing list.

“If the world went to chaos and darkness, flowers would wither and die. I would fall with them. So, if you need special herbs, flowers, or whatever plant I will get it and bring it to you.” She smiled as she bowed her head slightly to me.

“That will come in handy especially with healing herbs for the upcoming battle.” I nodded my head back to her. She went to walk away but stopped suddenly, turning to me, she tossed something small towards me.

“Almost forgot,” She smiled again. “here’s one of my pearls, rub it and I will answer.” She wisped away as I stood there stunned. A pearl with a flower inside of it was in my palm. Ariscot had alerted the guys as they stormed out ready to fit, Shura being the first.

“Are you okay my love?” His hand against my cheek as he studied me.

“I am okay, I promise.” I placed my hand over his, pressing my face to his palm. “Flora was in here, she has given me a pearl, and wishes to assist us in our fight.”

“How does she know?” Rugan’s voice was steely.

“She overheard my mother asking about the soulless.”

“Ariscot you did marvelous.” Shura complimented. Ariscot’s shadow rippling with pride. “Well, it seems we may start experiencing a lot more visitors. We need to be well guarded, especially you Anya. I would be devastated if I lost you.” He pecked my lips as the sparks flew through me.

“I would be lost in the planes of despair if it weren’t for you all.” I smiled at them all. I needed to make it up to them, they have had my back since we first met, never doubting me, well except Rugan but even I was a little forlorn with him. I had a plan to have a big dinner for all of them, but I needed to find a way to do it secretly without risking my safety.

“Matty, I want to have a surprise dinner for the guys but I’m on major safety lock down.”

“Say no more, I’ll get the others” He giggled through our link making me smile bigger.

“Oh I don’t like that smile, it usually means you’re up to something mischievous.” Rugan’s body tensed as his eyes widened.

“I am up to nothing, I am standing right here in front of you.” I shrugged while pouting my lip.

“Yeah, she’s definitely up to something.” Alastar commented.

“Nope I am returning back to my office and continuing my research.” I smiled as I walked past them to my office sitting down at my laptop. They sat at my door watching me suspiciously as I continued writing things down as I had previously.

As the night continued the guys frequently stopped to check in on me, never moving from my screen their guard came down a little, what they didn’t know was Matty was in constant communication with me about each of their likes and dislikes, who to invite, where it should be, and so many more questions.

“Everything is set, now how are you going to lure them?” He snickered.

“Oh they are all on guard, I smiled mischievously earlier and now they won’t leave me alone.” I giggled.

“Ariscot, alert the guys I am getting ready to run.” I whispered as I stretched and took off out my door, ducking, sliding, and twirling just out of their grasps.

“Anya.” They ran after me as I bolted down the steps, I was playing a game of keep away but they all saw the massive grin on my face so they knew it was a game of catch me if you can.

“Anya, this isnt safe.” Shura called, however I kept my pace as I slide down the rails of the stairwell. They were hot on my heels, poor Ariscot followed my shadow as he tried to keep up with me.

Hitting the front doors I ran quickly through the tunnels going straight to the grand hall. Never missing a step, or they would catch me for sure. Bursting through the doors I hide within the shadows of the darkened hall. As the men came through they all stood together searching for me as the lights flipped on and everyone yelled surprise. I stood beside Matty as I beamed at them.

“I told you she was up to something.” Rugan ran his hand through his hair with a massive grin on his face. Shura had a relieved expression, and the others looked around hungrily as they all panted.

“You all have done so much for me, and though I am thankful for everything you do, I could never express how much. Even now this is small compared to how grateful you all make me feel.” I beamed at them.

“Well, after the heart attack, the run, and now seeing what you had up your sleeve, you being beside us is thanks enough.” Alastar said as he panted beside the guys.

“We love you, Anya. We love our family, our kids, in laws, adopted family. We love all of you Anya. We do it because you and those kiddos are our world. No matter what, that will not change.” Lazarath smiled ear to ear as the guys nodded, agreeing to every word.

“Well, I hope this shows a little bit of how much you all mean to me, to all of us.” I waved my hand around as everyone smiled at them, Lucian and Edna running to them as little Aspen cooed on my hip. Alastar grabbing his mini me and heading to the buffet of food as everyone joined in. I wish I could do this more often for them, celebrating our union, birthdays, and so much more but even as we ate and happily chatted, I could feel the dread weighing on my heart as I felt the war of right and wrong coming nearer. I held my smile, masking it from the others but my Kings would glance over at me as I would let my guard down and they would feel it through our bond. Shura rubbed my thigh as he carried a conversation with Alex, Lazarath pecking my cheek as he passed entertaining Aspen now. Each one showing they knew what I was dealing with but I wasn’t alone, I had them to lean on when I felt the weight becoming to much on my shoulders. I breathed a little deeper knowing I always had them, no matter what the future brought, I finally had true mates that supported me. Never making me jealous on purpose, cheating, manipulating me, but actually showing me everyday how much I meant to them