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Royal pendants of Adosh, just like the Ekdolian one he wore around his neck. They were Phoenix and Griffin's birthright, the symbols of their bloodline and claim to the throne of Adosh.

He held them close to his heart. Closing his eyes, Lars felt that warm glow emanating deep inside of him, the energy of his twin children. He felt the mate bond connection and it hummed through him, synchronizing with the pulse of light in his belly.

He could feel them. He could almost see them in his mind: Two wolves, their jaws dripping with the blood of their enemies. Their loyal men following them into battle, arms blazoned with the Adosh sigil. He pictured them hunting the Emperor as he fled from them like the coward he was, throwing his men in their way to slow their pursuit. He saw Phoenix shift to human form and aim his rifle at the man, who must've thought he'd managed to get away.

Flame erupted from the barrel as he squeezed the trigger, the bullet making a perfect arc across the expanse to meet its intended target. It burrowed into flesh and shattered the bones in the man's leg. The Emperor fell.

At that moment, the images on the viewscreen were replaced by static. Lars's heart leapt to his throat. Then they appeared on the screen, just as he'd seen them in his thoughts. They flanked the Empire of Xyletia, who was nothing but a weak old man. His leg was destroyed; he knelt at their feet, begging for his life.

Griffin held a pistol to the man's head and spoke to the camera. "Today, a new era begins. The New Adosh Empire will dismantle the reign of old Xyletia and liberate the conquered nations. King Griffin Greer of Adosh will insure it. Fly your flags high. Freedom has come at last."

The room shook. Lars looked up at the ceiling. He could hear a commotion up on the ground level—there was fighting going on. He ran to the door and opened it—the two soldiers outside had their rifles aimed down the hallway towards the elevator.

"Get back into the room, sir," one of them said.

"What's going on?" Lars asked. "What's happening?"

"Controlling the loyalist threat," he replied. "Please go inside. We'll tell you when it's safe."

On the viewscreen, a crowd of Ekdolians had formed around them, many holding makeshift weapons.

"Take back your homes," Griffin continued. "Take back your countries! Take back your honor!"

Phoenix had unfurled Adosh and Ekdolian flags and raised them on a pole where they caught the wind and stretched to their full grandeur. The crowd erupted into cheers. Griffin holstered his weapon and he and Phoenix walked away from the Emperor, leaving him alone in the circle of the mob. It didn't take long for them to act. They rushed him and enclosed him, hundreds of hands clawing for a piece. It was impossible to see him any longer in the crush of people vying to taste their own personal vengeance.

Lars watched, but he didn't feel the satisfaction he thought he would, only relief that they were safe. It was over. They'd won.

But he knew that this was only the beginning. The Xyletian Empire stretched across the entire world. It would not fall in a day. Loyalists would remain, especially in the most remote colonies of the Empire, and it would be up to his Alphas to lead the fight to eliminate them and free the nations that remained under their domination. It was a lifelong mission.

The image on the viewscreen blanked out and turned back to the hush of static.

Phoenix and Griffin returned to the base followed by a marching army of Feral Fangs guardsmen all bearing the Adosh sigil Armband. There were even Ekdolian civilians in tow. Word had come in from the capital—Ekdolian freedom fighters had joined with the New Adosh forces and taken back the city. Similar reports were flooding in from the other leaders. The Xyletian capital was also now in their hands.

They took Lars into their arms, and he kissed them. Then he pressed his palms into their hands. The brothers looked down at the two triangular pendants that Lars had transferred to them. A smile blossomed on Griffin's lips. They both put the pendants around their necks where they belonged.

The flags of Adosh and Ekdol were raised over the former Xyletian encampment. When Lars looked up to admire them, he watched as a fire-red royal warbler took flight from its perch on the top of the flagpole, ascending to a vast and infinite sky.

Epilogue

The twins were coming,and Phoenix was nowhere to be found.

"Your highness, please try to relax," the healer told Lars.

"Where is he?" Lars groaned. "It's not that big of a ship.”

"Who is looking for him?" Griffin roared.

"Keep your voice down," the healer said. "Your mate needs to relax."

"Iamrelaxed!" Lars said before cringing with pain. "Arghh!"

"I'll find him," Griffin said, standing.

Lars nodded, wincing. "Hurry."

Griffin had an idea of where his brother could be. He burst from the cabin and stormed up to the deck of the warship. A salty breeze rustled his hair, which quickly became fur as he shifted into wolf form. The ocean stretched out around their fleet. Three days to the north-east waited Adosh. After two and a half months of securing Xyeltia, they were finally returning home.

He sniffed at the air and sure enough, he caught his brother's scent drifting from exactly where he expected. He followed the trail, winding up stairways until he reached the command deck. The scent trail continued to the roof, and he shifted back to human form and ascended the access ladder.