43. THIRTY-EIGHT

THIRTY-EIGHT

Wren

Westeppedoutof the shadows into the Supernatural Council’s camp within human territory.

The land where we were was flat. Scrubby bushes grew in clumps, and there were small patches of grass in the dirt. In the distance, I could see the dragons were already attacking the facility, and a chill skittered down my spine at the sight.

Rumbling thunder roared ahead. The skies were dark from the clouds rolling in, but there was no rain yet. Though, I could sense the storm brewing in the air.

I stumbled over the rocky ground as the wind blew across my face, but Damien’s hand caught my wrist.

“Little bird,” he croaked, taking a small piece of hair that had fallen in my face and tucked it back into the bun on top of my head before dipping down and pressing a kiss to my lips. “If anyone hurts you, tell me. I’ll make sure they die a painful fucking death.”

“Same to you.” I tilted my head back and kissed him again.

Rhett pulled me from Damien and into another scorching kiss. “Stay safe for us, baby.”

“You stay safe for me, too,” I murmured against his lips as he pulled away.

A painful sound left their throats as Damien’s shadows shrouded them both as he took them toward the demon army.

I swallowed the hard lump that had formed in my throat.

“You have to stay safe for us, sweetheart.” Kian’s voice cracked.

I nodded and stepped close to him, moving my arms around his neck and pushing my lips against his.

“And you have to stay strong for me.” I gazed into his bright green eyes as he gave me a subtle nod.

Lachlan tugged me out of Kian’s arms and into his. “Stay incorporeal until you have to go corporeal, tiny fox.”

“I will. Remember that I’m always in your court.”

He crushed his lips to mine, the bump of our teeth clanking as he slipped his tongue in my mouth for a quick brush and pulled away.

Kian stepped next to him before his purple magic flashed around them, teleporting them to where they needed to be.

I swallowed hard and glanced at Alister, who smirked at me. “Your ice fae will be just fine.”

He ran a hand down the back of my head and pulled me in for a kiss. His fangs nipped my bottom lip as he sucked on it and pulled it back.

“I know he will. I just wish that he was able to come with us.”

“Well, he’s commanding two armies, fledgling.” Rowan stepped up next to me and Alister.

“I know.” I sighed, my stomach in knots.

Rowan’s gaze flickered to the facility in the distance. “We’re going to have to go now.”

Sabine stepped up next to us and gave us a small nod, gripping my dad’s shoulder before walking away.

“Wren.” Dad’s voice was crackly as I stepped toward him, and he pulled me into his arms. “I don’t particularly love the role you’re playing, but I do know that you’re going to fulfill your destiny. Just the way the Fates want, and I am so proud of you.”

His eyes glossed over as I glanced up at him, and I nodded. “Thank you, Dad.” I held back the sob in my throat. “What are you going to do?”

“I’ll be with my mate.” He smiled as she stepped up next to him.

“Watch out for him?” I asked, my tone borderline pleading.

Faith reached out and touched my shoulder. “Of course. I’ll watch out for him, and Wren, you will destroy that relic.”

My heart fluttered at her confidence in me, and I loved the way that she looked at my dad.

I ran a shaky hand down my face and took another breath. “Both of you be safe.”

“We will.” Dad and Faith shot me a meaningful look before they stepped away to go fulfill their roles.

Trixie rushed over and threw her arms around my neck, pulling me into her. “Listen here, babe! You are going to do fucking amazing, and you’re going to destroy that damn supernatural relic that is putting Kalista at risk for us! Do you understand me?” Her words were sharp, and her gaze was sure.

A smile cracked my face as I stared at my best friend. “You’re right, and you are going to go kick some human and siren ass. Do you understand me?”

She giggled and nodded, but I could see the stress tighten around her eyes. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do.” She pulled away.

Blair stepped forward and gripped my hands with hers. The coldness of her hands sent a pleasant chill through my body. “Your role all depends on if we fulfill our roles properly. It’s on the same wavelength. If we don’t fulfill our role and you don’t fulfill yours, we will not win this war. But if we can all fulfill our roles properly, then this war will be over and peace will come to Kalista in a way that it has never been before. Peace with all of the supernaturals but also peace with humans.”

I sniffled and nodded at her. Her glowing white eyes used to make me uncomfortable, but now they were comforting. “I understand.”

“You must remain confident, Wren.”

I smiled and patted the bag that Thorn had given me so long ago with the contraption that Norman had made with the crystal nestled within it. “I have what I need to take it down.”

“And you’re going to look amazing doing it.” Trixie gestured toward the body suit I had on. It was all black and covered everywhere except for my face—and it was tight. It reminded me of the wet suits we wore when we collected the hailtz crystal, but we all had on the same suit. It was something that the Supernatural Council gave all of their agents to fight in. And it was enchanted to withstand everything, even against firedrake flames.

“Are you ready, fledgling?” Rowan asked with Alister next to him.

Rebeka stood next to her son with a warm smile on her face as she looked at me. “Let’s get you to that relic.”

I nodded, stepping away from my best friend and shooting her a longing look. “I’ll see you after.”

Tears filled her eyes. “You better fucking get her there.” She narrowed that glossy gaze at Rowan and Alister, who nodded their heads.

“Of course.”

Everyone seemed to spread out as Rowan took his firedrake form. His large reptilian body took up most of the space in our camp, and he bent down.

Alister wrapped me in his arms before jumping up and landing safely on Rowan’s back.

Rebeka teleported up on his back as well, and my stomach dropped at the sudden change of height.

“I didn’t know you could jump that high.” I squeaked, and Alister’s chuckle sent a comforting chill down my spine.

“There’s a lot you don’t know yet, sweet ruby. I look forward to showing you all of it,” he murmured in my ear, holding on to me tight as Rowan leapt into the sky.

His powerful wings slapped against the air, and we closed the distance faster than I expected. Thunder rolled in the sky, and flashes of lightning struck around us as we flew.

When we reached the facility, the carnage from the academy and the carnage that I had witnessed at the Demon Capital was nothing in comparison.

Supernaturals of every type fought on the battlefield, all except for the werewolves that I could see. Blood soaked the grounds of the human territory in a way that would haunt this land forever.

Rowan landed in front of the facility as rain started to fall in small droplets, and Alister gripped me tight as he jumped down. We landed next to Rowan’s large head.

“Rowan, stay safe for me.” I reached out and ran my hand down the center of his eyes, scales smooth and hard under my palm.

Huge plumes of smoke snorted out of his nose, and Alister’s eyes widened as he gripped me and jumped us backward, barely dodging another dragon that swooped in.

Large talons dug into the ground where we had been standing, and my breath snagged on something inside of my chest as Alister and Rowan shared a look.

Alister dipped his mouth next to my ear. “Go incorporeal now, sweet ruby.”

My magic burst within my chest as my incorporeal form took over.

I stared at the large dragon sizing up Rowan. He was huge, but still not as big as Rowan, and yet I knew that he was just as powerful.

Rowan’s eyes slanted into slits as he stared down the dragon.

Humans and human specimens shot out of the doors of the facility, and Alister and his mother flew into action. Rebeka used her magic to explode their heads while Alister splattered the blood out of the veins of the regular humans while ripping the heads of the specimens off their bodies.

My stomach churned, but I pulled myself together and rushed into the facility, going right through the closed doors. If I had stayed to watch, I would’ve gotten involved according to the visions.

I knew I had to be quick and locate the relic, but I also knew Rebeka was the only one who knew where it was. So, I had to wait for them to fight their way into the facility, but my role was coming. It was only a matter of time.