Page 15

Rue

Durin and I deserve a day in bed. The emotional beating we took yesterday certainly calls for one. But the realm needs him. I’ll just have to settle for endless lazy days in bed after the battle is over.

Because he’ll win, and he will survive. Then, we can have the perfect life that fate owes us.

I step out of the bedroom and find Durin at an empty table. “No breakfast?” I ask, frowning. “I guess the elves are done providing for me.”

He walks over and scoops me into his arms. “You don’t need them. You have me.”

I smile and snuggle against his chest, enjoying the strong, steady beating of his heart. He carries me out of the hut, and I make no move to get down. The stuffy elves can think whatever they want. I love my mate, and I want everyone to know it.

He may be the realm’s savior, but he was mine first.

Durin carries me down the path and out into the clearing. Vaegon and his mate-group are sitting in a circle, enjoying the bright morning sun. They’re eating a typical elven breakfast of oats and fruit, with a generous side of smoked meat for the hungry Alphas.

Jade’s face lights up with a warm smile when she sees us. She waves us over and scoots closer to Vaegon to give us room.

“Come, sit,” Paren calls, patting the empty space between her and Jade. She spots the bite marks on Durin’s neck and gives me a knowing smile.

I briefly smile back. Even though her rounded belly reminds me of what I lost, there’s a soft spot in my heart for her. She stood up for Durin when that Beta tried to spread hate against him in their realm. She gave Vaegon some hope that his father wasn’t as horrible as the Beta made it seem.

As we move to join her, the seer suddenly appears behind Vaegon. Durin and I instinctively take a step back. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel comfortable around that elf. She’s a destroyer, masquerading as a spiritual guide. She’s too powerful. There’s so much she can manipulate to suit her own desires.

“Please, eat,” she says, locking eyes with me. “There is much to do.”

I let out a small growl but sit down next to Paren and accept the bowl she hands me. Durin follows, and I eat quickly before the seer can say something that ruins my appetite. She has a knack for souring my stomach.

“Frederick,” she says, setting her gaze on the young Alpha. “You will stay here with your mate. I know your instincts will urge you to fight, but she needs you more.”

Before he can protest, she shifts her focus to the rest of us. “Durin, you and the other Alphas will be delivering supplies to the kelpies today and assisting the shifters with the common fae.”

Movement catches my eye across the clearing. A group of elves has emerged from the trees, their arms loaded with stacks of pale green fabric. Another group follows with woven sacks, clinking with the sound of glass. They come to a stop behind the seer, waiting for instructions.

“What about the rest of us?” I demand. I can see my irritation mirrored on Jade’s face. “And don’t tell me we’re just supposed to sit here and wait.”

“The more of you in the forest today, the higher the risk of being discovered,” she states, raising her chin at me. “We don’t have time for rescue missions. The rest of you will indeed remain here.”

Before I can argue, Vaegon, the elf, appears to the side with a group of shifters. As I look over them, I realize they’re members of my old pack. There are a dozen Alphas, along with Arya and other vulnerable members of the pack.

But most importantly, my mother is there.

“Madda!” I shout, jumping up and running into her open arms. Durin follows after me and joins our embrace.

“Oh, Rue,” she whispers against my cheek. “I tried. I really tried to convince the whole pack to stand with Durin.”

“It’s okay, Lasha,” Durin reassures her, squeezing her arm. “I wouldn’t expect them to.”

“But some of them did!” she says, pointing to the group of Alphas who are already introducing themselves to Jade’s group. “They were impressed with your power, Durin. After you and Rue left, they started seeing Bock in a different light.”

When I pull away from my mother, Arya steps in for a quick hug. “Bock began mistreating your mother and the Alphas who supported Durin,” she tells me. “I think he felt threatened by Durin’s power. That elf showed up out of nowhere,” she says, pointing at Vaegon. “He gathered up the Alphas who were willing to fight and the Betas and Omegas who wanted to leave. Now, here we are,” she finishes with a grin.

“The Betas and Omegas will remain here until the battle is over,” the seer announces, snatching everyone’s attention away. “Alphas, you’ll help with preparations today.”

With a wave of her hand, Durin and all the Alphas except Frederick vanish. I stagger back, clutching my chest as devastation and despair slam into me yet again.

She hasn’t just taken Vaegon from me this time; she’s taken my mate, too.

She approaches me and takes my hand. My fangs shoot out in response to her threatening touch. I stare menacingly into her eyes, fully prepared to rip her apart. But I’m surprised to find a flicker of compassion in the eyes staring back at me.

“They will all return safely this evening,” she says calmly.

I feel the life return to my heart, but Jade’s panicked expression ignites a fury in me. I yank my hand away from the seer’s grip and wrap it around her throat.

A few of the elves step forward to defend her, but she raises a hand to stop them.

Let them come. I’ll set them straight, too. I won’t roll over for elves or anyone else. No one has a right to treat me the way she has.

“If you ever pull that shit again, I’ll fucking kill you,” I growl. “I don’t care if Durin and Vaegon haven’t returned yet. The pieces are in place. You’re no longer needed, and I’m done with your bullshit.”

I release her throat but hold my ground. The way this realm stands aside when leaders overstep their bounds infuriates me. It’s gone on long enough.

The seer stares blankly back at me. I need to make sure she heard me, so I press on. “You say you’re a servant of fate, but the way you treat others shows you’ve forgotten your place. You’re here to keep everyone on their paths? Well, someone needs to remind you of yours. I’m more than willing to take on that role.”

A tense silence hangs in the air as everyone waits for the seer’s response.

Naturally, she doesn’t give one. The battle is coming, and I know that should be everyone’s focus. But this isn’t over between us. I won’t be a pawn in her games. She has her visions, but I have my will.

No one, not the seer nor fate nor anyone else, can take that away from me.