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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

T hat's exactly why we should attack now. I pulled out of his grip, letting the night air separate us. Think about it. They think I'm dead. They know the prison witches are drained from the fighting. They know several of us are injured, which means they won't expect us to strike back now.

No. Ryker shook his head and growled. We need time to regroup and plan. We need—

We need to seize this opportunity. The fire that had healed me was still burning in my veins. They've taken the wolf shifter royal palace. They've killed our kind. And now we have a chance to end this before they recover. We did damage to them back there. And the last time Ashlyn revealed their true forms, the vampires couldn’t cloak for at least a few hours.

Ryker gritted his teeth. You nearly died tonight, Ember. I held you while you bled out in my arms. I'm not about to watch you rush toward another death. I barely survived this time. The only thing that kept me going was your beating heart. But living through that again… I can’t handle it.

I agree with Ember, Kendric interjected. She’s right, and that’s coming from me, who is injured. They won't expect us tonight. The element of surprise could be our greatest advantage.

We need to end this, Gage added. I'm tired of being hunted.

It’ll be sweet vengeance to kill her where she killed our pack and royals, Xander linked.

Ryker's jaw clenched so tight I could hear his teeth grinding. The truck hit another pothole, and he steadied me automatically, his touch gentle despite the fury radiating from him.

This isn't a democratic vote , he snapped.

I scooted closer to him, lowering my voice so no one in the cab could hear us. "This isn't about democracy, Ryker. It's about survival."

His irises glowed brighter in the darkness. "And rushing in half-cocked isn't survival. It's suicide."

"It’s not half-cocked. Look at me." I placed my hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat thunder beneath my palm. I continued, “Really look. I'm healed. My fae magic made me stronger."

The truck swerved around a sharp bend, sending us sliding. Ryker's arm shot out, steadying me against him. For a moment, we were pressed together, the electric shocks of the bond jolting between us.

"I can't lose you again," he whispered with raw vulnerability in his voice.

I cupped his face with both hands, my thumbs tracing the sharp angles of his cheekbones. "Listen to me. I'm not going anywhere." I leaned in, pressing my forehead against his. "I feel even healthier than I did this morning."

His hands found my waist, fingers digging in as if to anchor me to this world, to him.

"We have to strike while they're weakened and not expecting us," I continued. "Every hour we wait gives them time to regroup, to strengthen. To prepare for us."

Something flickered across his expression—a moment of clarity breaking through his fear.

"I need you with me on this." I kissed his lips since the next part was going to sting, though I truly didn’t want it to. But as Dad always said, intent didn’t matter if it upset someone. “I'm not asking for your permission, Ryker. I'm asking you to step up and be the alpha I know you are."

His face crumbled. “Lil rebel, please. Don’t ask this of me. I don’t give a fuck about anyone else. I just need you safe!”

But I had to. He didn’t want to hear the truth because then he’d have to agree. "Your pack is ready to fight. They're willing to risk everything because they believe in this cause—in ending the threat before it grows stronger. Waiting doesn’t just put everyone else at risk; it puts me right there with them."

He closed his eyes and rasped, "Fine, but we do this my way. No going rogue on me. I won’t budge unless you promise me that." His eyes opened once more, staring straight into my soul.

That decision was easy. I’d follow him anywhere. “I promise.”

He reopened the pack link. We attack tonight .

About damn time, Gage replied. I left you alone because I was hoping she'd talk some sense into you.

A flash of irritation flowed into me via the bond, making me slightly edgy.

Kendric connected, The longer we wait, the more time they have to recover from our attack and Ashlyn weakening the witch who’s cloaking them.

The truck slowed, turning into a section of Blue Ridge National Park.

We’re almost there, Ryker interjected. Let me think for a minute, and we can discuss when we get there.

I laid my head on his shoulder, enjoying the last few minutes we’d have of solitude until after the war. I could only hope that we would win.

Don’t worry. Ryker tightened his hold on my waist. This time, I won’t let anything happen to you. I’m sorry that I didn’t protect you like I should’ve earlier.

The guilt oozed through our connection, weighing it down like an anchor.

Don’t you dare. I turned toward him and pointed at his face. Me getting hurt was not your fault. I ran out of your hold. You tried to stop me. That was on me. Not you.

He hung his head, casting his gaze downward. Protecting you is the most important responsibility I have.

"Hey." I hooked my finger under his chin, forcing him to meet my eyes. "That logic works both ways. If you're responsible for my safety, then I'm responsible for yours. We're partners, Ryker. If either of us gets hurt, it's not a failure of the other."

His face twisted. "It's different."

"How?" I challenged, dropping my hand to his chest where his heart thundered. "Because you're the alpha? Because you're male? Tell me exactly why your life matters less than mine."

The truck hit another bump, but neither of us moved.

"I can't breathe without you," he whispered, voice rough. "Because the thought of you not existing in this world makes everything meaningless."

My heart clenched. "And you think I feel any different? When you were injured, when I thought I'd lost you? Was that my fault too?”

“Fate no.” He grasped my hands. “That was out of your control.”

“Then how was tonight any different? Because if you feel guilty about tonight, then I need to feel guilty for each time you got hurt and I couldn’t protect you.”

The truck lurched to the right, and we drove past a weathered wooden sign that stated Blue Ridge Campground - Site 7 with an arrow pointing down a narrow gravel path.

A storm of emotions brewed on his face, but before he could respond, the truck crested a small hill, and my breath caught.

The clearing stretched before us, bathed in moonlight. This wasn’t a campground, this was a staging area. Dozens of vehicles—trucks and SUVs—were parked in a loose semicircle.

Wolf shifters and witches mingled all together. They all looked tired, but there was an edge of eagerness to them. Each one stared at our truck as Reid pulled up and parked.

The moment the engine died, Ryker captured my face between his palms. The love and affection he felt for me exploded into my chest.

You're right about all of it. His thumb traced my cheekbone. I'm sorry. It's just— Loving you this much feels like carrying my heart outside my body.

Before I could respond, Gage's face appeared, and he smiled as he lowered the gate of the truck. "You're really okay!" He jumped into the truck bed and pulled me away from Ryker, giving me a bone-crushing hug.

Ryker snarled and jumped to his feet, smacking Gage in the back of the head. He snarled, “She almost died not even an hour ago. Let her go.”

Gage released me with a sheepish grin, raising his hands in surrender. "Just making sure she’s real."

The truck doors opened and shut, and soon Reid, Sun, Briar, and Ashlyn joined us.

I scanned the clearing, noticing I couldn’t locate the two remaining members of our small pack. "Where are Xander and Kendric?"

"In the SUV at the end," Gage answered, nodding toward a black vehicle parked at the edge of the clearing. "Kendric’s not doing well, and Xander is trying to help slow the bleeding.

My stomach twisted. I'd been so caught up in my own recovery and the argument with Ryker that I'd forgotten how badly Kendric had been injured.

I stilled as a thought came to me. If I could heal myself, could I heal others? My memory went back to when Ryker was near death, and the warm magic that I now knew was fae had flared in me and pulsed out of my hands into him. If I’d helped Ryker, maybe I could help Kendric.

I jumped down from the truck bed. Greats Grandfather’s warnings echoed in my mind—I needed to keep my fae lineage secret. But Kendric's life hung in the balance.

Where are you going? Ryker asked and caught my arm.

I met his gaze steadily. I think I can help Kendric.

How? he linked.

I explained to him my hypothesis.

Okay, you should try, but we keep it a secret outside of our pack. Only the six of us know. He released my arm with a reluctant nod.

Deal. I didn’t like keeping things from our pack members. Doing so had caused a lot of problems after all.

I hurried across the clearing, my heart hammering against my ribs. The black SUV loomed ahead, its back door hanging open. Inside, Kendric lay across the backseat, his face ashen beneath his tan. Xander knelt beside him, pressing a blood-soaked washcloth against the jagged claw marks in Kendric's chest. The metallic scent of blood filled the confined space.

“I think I can help him, so can I take your place?” I lifted a brow.

Xander’s brows furrowed, but he moved out of the vehicle. I can’t believe you’re standing here. I thought we’d lost you.

Well, you’re stuck with me for at least a little longer. I took Xander’s spot and moved between the captain row seats next to Kendric.

His seat was leaned all the way back, and I placed one of my hands on the warm, soaked towel.

Kendric’s breathing was shallow, each inhale rattling in his lungs. The wound was worse than I'd realized—deep gouges that exposed muscle and bone.

Still, Kendric opened his dark eyes and gave a small smile. It’s good to see you unharmed, but I don’t understand how it’s possible. Either way, I’m glad I kicked some ass before I completely go out.

You're not going out, I replied, placing my other hand beside the first on his chest. Not if I have anything to say about it.

Briar appeared at the SUV door, her light copper hair gleaming under the moonlight. Her eyes widened at the sight of Kendric's wounds. She linked to just me, Oh Fates. He looks worse than I remembered.

I’m going to try something. Don’t worry.

"What do you mean?" Briar climbed into the vehicle beside me, her forehead lined with confusion.

I didn't answer. There wasn't time for explanations. I closed my eyes, concentrating on the strange heat that had saved me. It wasn't as intense now, more like embers than flames, but still much warmer than it had been before I’d nearly died.

I reached inside myself, tugging at the fire that had saved me earlier. For a terrifying moment, it didn’t respond.

Then it flared like it had when I was healing and spread like wildfire through my veins. My hands grew hot—almost unbearably so—as energy surged through them.

The washcloth sizzled beneath my touch, causing me to startle. I yanked it away, revealing the raw, torn flesh beneath. Without hesitation, I pressed my bare palms to the wound.

Kendric's back arched, and he gasped, his eyes flying wide open. “What the hell?” he moaned.

"What’s happening?" Briar cried, reaching for my arm. “Are you hurting him?”

"Don't." Ryker's voice cut through the night as he appeared behind her. "Don't move her."

The heat from my palms intensified, pulsing with a rhythm that matched Kendric's heartbeat. Sweat beaded across his forehead and trickled down his temples as his body shuddered beneath my touch. His eyes rolled back, revealing the whites.

"Ember," Briar whispered, her voice trembling. "What's happening to him?"

I couldn't answer. Every ounce of my concentration was focused on the energy flowing from my core, through my arms, and into Kendric's mangled flesh. Beneath my fingers, I felt his skin knitting back together. The sensation was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Ryker moved behind Briar, placing his hands on her shoulders and gently pulling her back. "Give them space," he murmured, his eyes locked on Kendric's face.

Kendric flushed as his body jerked and trembled beneath my hands.

Enough, Ryker commanded. That's enough.

I couldn't stop. The energy continued to flow, my hands locked to Kendric's chest as though fused there. His wounds were closed.

Ryker's hand clasped my shoulder and tugged me back. Ember, stop. You're draining yourself.

He was right. I could feel the magic leaving my body and depleting me. With a gasp, I finally broke the connection and fell back against the other seat. My vision swam, darkness creeping in at the edges. Kendric lay still, his chest rising and falling in deep, even breaths.

Where moments ago there had been gaping wounds, now only fresh pink skin stretched across Kendric’s torso, crisscrossed with silvery scars.

Xander leaned in the open door, his face pale. How is this possible? He was bleeding out less than two minutes ago.

Briar's had also gone ghostly white, and her gaze darted from Kendric's healed chest to my exhausted form. Wolves can't heal others like that.

I leaned against the seat behind me, fatigue washing over me in waves. I linked with just Ryker, Can you tell them?

Of course. He sat next to me, his own face tense, but he didn’t hesitate. He added everyone to the link just as Gage appeared on the other side of Xander.

How’s our guy… Gage trailed off, taking in what I’d just done.

Ryker connected, and the thrum of his alpha will laced his words. What you just witnessed..." Ryker paused, taking a deep breath. "What I'm about to tell you cannot leave this pack. Not a word to the witches, not to Reid's wolves, not to anyone."

You don’t have to alpha will us for that. Gage rolled his eyes.

We have to be safe. Ryker then informed the others about Briar’s and my heritage.

Briar gasped, one hand flying to her mouth. Fae? We're part fae? I didn’t even know they truly existed. She wrung her hands. Mom and Dad would have told us.

They didn’t tell me either. But the man that was in your bedroom—he’s like our great great great great… I trailed off. Fuck, I don’t know how many greats to put in before grandfather, but that was him.

The creepy guy in my bedroom? Her head jerked back. Ew. And why didn’t you tell me?

I just found out today, and everything has been going to hell since then. My head spun. And I wasn’t sure if I believed him.

Briar's expression shifted, the shock of the revelation giving way to determination. "We'll talk about this later. Right now, we have vampires to kill."

I nodded, relief washing through me at her understanding.

Kendric's hand suddenly dropped from his chest and touched my knee. His fingers trembled slightly, but his grip was surprisingly strong.

"Thank you," he whispered, voice raw with emotion. His eyes, clear and alert, held mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. "I was dying. I felt it. And then... fire. Your fire pulled me back."

Before I could respond, shouts erupted outside the SUV.

"Ryker! Ember!" several voices called in unison, their tones urgent. “Reid, Sun, Bruce, and Cassi want to talk to you. We need to move.”

"Stay here. Keep an eye on him." I glanced at Kendric. "He needs rest."

Briar pursed her lips and leaned her head back. "Go. We'll handle things here."

Ryker helped me out of the SUV, his hand at my elbow steadying me as my legs trembled. The energy drain from healing Kendric had left me weaker than I wanted to admit.

You should rest too, he linked, the skin around his eyes tightening.

I shook my head. Not a chance. I'm not sitting this out.

He inhaled deeply, but he didn't argue as we made our way toward Reid’s truck. Reid, Sun, Bruce, and Zoya were huddled around a map spread across the hood.

Reid tapped his fingers on the map. "We need to move fast. Ashlyn says the cloaking spell will start regenerating in about two hours."

"What can you tell us about the palace?" Sun rocked back on her heels. "You know it better than any of us."

Ryker leaned over the map, studying it for a moment before placing his finger on a spot near the center. "Here. The royal palace sits in the heart of what used to be the Grimstone pack's territory since we were their protectors." His finger traced a circle around the building. "It's fortified, designed to withstand attacks from all sides, but there are hidden tunnels."

Bruce frowned. "Entry points?"

Ryker nodded.

"This approach is solid," Zoya stretched out her fingers. "But if these tunnels have been there for centuries, could the vampires know about them too?"

"They were known only to the Grimstone pack’s inner circle. Even most of the royals didn't know they existed." Ryker rolled his neck.

I leaned my head on his arm. "Then we split into two teams."

"We’ll need a mix of our packs and witches," Reid replied. "Bruce, do you have any men who could meet us there?"

Bruce cleared his throat. "Yes, I’m mobilizing them now. Since the place is four towns over, we’ll be getting there right when the witch could be strong enough to cloak them again. We need to move quickly before they recover, but we can't leave our injured unprotected. There are about forty of them."

With her amber eyes flashing, Zoya stepped forward. "Ashlyn's unveiling spell can be performed again. She’s stronger than any witch I’ve ever seen, and she’s only ten." She gestured to the little girl, who was huddled near a circle of stones, watching us.

"That little girl is amazing." Despite my exhaustion, hope spread in my chest.

Ryker's hand slid to the small of my back as he addressed Bruce. "The injured can stay here. This is a campground, and they should be safe this far away.”

Sun clapped her hands together with a sharp, decisive sound that cut through our discussion. "Sounds like we have a plan. Let's load everyone up and go. If we're going to hit them while they're weak, every minute counts."

Around us, shifters and witches began moving with renewed purpose, their earlier exhaustion replaced by the electric energy of impending retribution.

Ryker squeezed my hand. "Are you sure you're strong enough for this? Healing Kendric took a lot out of you."

I straightened my spine, ignoring the lingering weakness in my limbs. "I’ll rest on the way there.” I linked with our pack, It’s time to roll.

Worry lined his forehead, but Ryker knew there was no point in arguing.

We split into the vehicles, and I couldn’t help but notice that only a few parents and children were staying behind. Even the injured wanted to fight against the woman who’d tried to steal everything from us.

Pointing at a vehicle, Reid led our group to an SUV so we could all ride together. I sat in the front passenger seat and leaned it back while Ryker drove. I needed to regain some strength before we got there. Within seconds, sleep had taken me.

* * *

My heart raced as Ryker and I stood by the three fallen oak trees. We’d need to climb over the huge trunks to find the hidden entrance. We’d run into no issues getting here, and my skin was crawling because of it.

I checked my weapons to make sure I’d secured the gun and dagger each of us had been given. A late Grimstone pack member’s junk yard had still had a locked safe where backup weapons were stored, and we’d stopped there on the way. With our total numbers of one hundred, we had enough weapons to arm everyone, even the witches.

Briar, Ashlyn, Zoya, Bruce and fifteen of his pack, forty of Reid’s people, and fifteen more witches stood behind us. I hadn’t been surprised when Adara had demanded to be in our group. She was still hiding her true face, but she was eager to get in there and see her mom.

Are you sure you’re strong enough? Ryker’s troubled face twisted in concern.

I promise, I’m fine. The short nap was all I’d needed to recharge, but he didn’t seem to believe me.

Kendric, Xander, and Gage had gone with the other half of our army so that we could effectively communicate. We were all dodging questions about why both Kendric and I seemed fine. We’d gone with stating it was clearly a blessing. That it had seemed like we were worse off than we truly were, which wasn’t untrue. If I hadn’t been blessed with healing power, neither of us would be here.

Ryker looked over his shoulder, noting everyone was ready. “Okay, let’s—”

But then gunshots fired.