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“Forest has been involved with the Tempests since before we were born. Our births were orchestrated in order to open this portal. I only have very limited information on the Twin Soul Bond, but I’m positive he knows more. And I bet he’s been allowing us to use our bond to unknowingly weaken the veil for him like we did with the beastie-bear.” When I didn’t answer, he continued, “It makes sense that he went to great lengths to keep us apart when I lived at the palace. Perhaps his plan wasn’t ready, so he manipulated us until the time was right.”

I felt numb. What the hell had my life become?

Orion spoke again, “While we will soon have theBook of the Arcanethat will provide us with more answers and clarity, it should be known that Harlow informed me that Forest also has a book. I presume it came from these Tempests. It’s a dark tome. According to Hogan, their intel gathered that, through the tome, it’d be easier to open the portal if he had one of you, but it’d be more efficient to have you both. A higher success rate. However, it can be done without you altogether. It would simply take longer and be much harder to achieve.”

I could no longer focus on all the lies and secrets regarding me and my origins. All I could do was focus on what could be controlled. “This three-month wait will allow us to test what this bond of ours is capable of. We can learn to control it and prepare for the worst. Use it to our advantage.”

Orion nodded. “That sounds like an excellent idea, Gray.”

“I’ll talk to the others. We’ll increase training for everyone in the Hollow and stock up on the antidote while we wait for Hogan’s arrival. We need to be prepared for an attack since it seems Forest suspects Gray and I have linked up,” Chrome added.

I felt Chrome’s piercing stare willing me to look at him. I refused. I wasn’t sure how I felt toward him at the moment after the rollercoaster of emotions tonight. A simmering hint of vengeance belied his exterior. His internal emotions, however, were a raging inferno, threatening to burn the world to the ground. He wasn’t fucking around. And I’d be lying if I said the anticipation of mass bloodshed didn’t thrill me, too.

Chapter 40

Chrome

“Great, so we’re fucked,” River said.

I stood before my core crew in the war room to fill them in on the extent of Forest’s plans, my full knowledge of Arcadia, and the bond I shared with Gray. It was time everyone knew. Just because I feared it would lead to my own secrets being revealed didn’t mean that I had the right to withhold important information.

“What does it mean if Forest gets ahold of you and Gray together? Can he force you two to open another portal for him?” Void asked, sitting beside River at the long meeting table.

I moved to sit at one end, while Gray headed the other. Onyx and Orion flanked either side of me, as Aella and River flanked Gray’s.

“Don’t know,” I said. “There’s a lot to our bond that has yet to be discovered.”

“But if we can explore it, learn some control over it, then we’ll know better how to protect ourselves from Forest,” Gray added, holding my gaze in solidarity.

“What do you need?” Kodiak sat straight in his seat, his beard looking just a tad longer than usual.

“Since Forest is looking for us, we need to be prepared for an attack. From now on, everyone at this Hollow is to be armed at all times. No bracelets either. We also need to build up a reserve on antidotes because everyone will need to always have a syringe on them, too.”

Kodiak nodded. “I’ll talk to my mother about the antidote. I’ll also schedule ways to increase training for the warriors.”

“Everyone, warrior or not, will need to be included in training.”

Onyx leaned forward on his forearms, lacing his fingers together. “I’ll coordinate with Orion and Kodiak to organize that.”

“I’ll handle hand-to-hand sparring,” Void said, and everyone nodded in agreement. “I don’t know if I’ll have time to be present for weapons, as well, if everyone in the Hollow is to be trained. But I can put the Rambo triplets in charge of weapons.”

I looked to Orion. “You’ll take magic combat?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll organize the schedules and delegate the trainings to those most experienced in their element.” He turned his gaze to Aella. “So that means you’ll take the lead with air elementals, yes?”

Aella offered a gentle smile and a dip of her head. “Thank you, Orion.”

“No, thank you. You have a way of working with others.”

River and Kodiak agreed to take up the combat training for the earth and water elementals while we couldn’t choose the right fire elemental just yet.

When all that was settled, we ventured to the topic of preparing for Sergeant Hogan’s arrival. He was said to be bringing at least two others with him, so it wouldn’t require much. But we wanted to provide comfort for the humans. Especially since it had been far too long since they’d experienced any sort of luxury.

“I’ll make sure two cabins are cleaned and prepared,” Orion offered.

“I’ll continue to work with Gray on mastering her Kinetic and Elemental abilities. And, Void, whenever you get the chance, it would much be appreciated if you continued to work with her in sensory awareness?” I asked.

Void shifted in his seat and turned his silver-rimmed gaze onto Gray. He didn’t answer right away, clearly pondering his response. “As difficult as the princess can be, I’ll accept. Only because I don’t want her ignorance to get us all killed.”