4

ELIAS

THE compound was easy to pack up and clean for future teams needing a safe house. It was hard to consider it a house when in reality it would make for a decent training centre for on the ground agents in the human world.

“Are you sure you have everything, and haven’t left anything under the beds or in any of the rooms?” I asked again, gathering the bags the children had brought with them to the compound.

They’d been quiet since arriving, which didn’t surprise me. Whatever progress Ivy made with them at the last house, was all but destroyed. But I wish there was more I could be doing for them.

Maisie looked up from the page she was colouring and shrugged, before returning to the image of a unicorn. From time to time, she asked when she would see her mother again, and each time I had to tell her their mother was gone. Eloise had started explaining it like their father being gone; that they never saw him, so they wouldn’t see Kerry, either. That it wasn’t quite the same, but there was permanency in both.

Eloise stalked over to the table with three stuffed animals and several articles of clothing. “Found these shoved under a bed,” she huffed, dropping them and crossing her arms. “I told them not to do that.”

I offered her a half-smile as she sat. “It’s okay. If it turns out we’re missing anything, we’ll ask an agent to come back and give the place another search.”

Eloise sighed and slumped in a chair. Her frustration was palpable, bitter, and not something I was good at handling. If she were another agent, I would pull rank and tell her to step up and pull her head in. But this was my mate’s little sister. Unfortunately, with Eloise’s recent birthday, recent events weren’t solely responsible for her sour mood.

Sirens from the Fae Court of the Abyss were creatures I knew little about. I could identify one by scent and knew enough about the powers they wielded to fight one if needed. But I couldn’t help Eloise, especially as she began her own transition into our world.

My first shift happened around the age she was now, and it was terrifying being without my own pack to teach me how to control the beast.

Her shift would be something else entirely. And until we made it back to Avalon, we wouldn’t know the extent of her capabilities.

My gaze drifted down to the tablet and the soon to be confirmed evacuation plans. The meeting with Queen Greer and Sir Ya’Dahir would be happening in less than thirty, and Jay was with our two traitors. The useless bastards still refused to cooperate.

Thea passed the table with a sigh on her way to the kitchen. Her scent had shifted, like she was coming into her own species a little more each day. Still, I couldn’t recognise what she was. Smoke replaced her once sugary scent, and despite questioning Jay about the different demons of hell, he couldn’t tell me what the baker might be, either.

For now, I knew she wasn’t dangerous to Ivy or the kids, and that’s all that mattered. So long as she remained that way, I would protect her the same as I would the children.

The double doors to the main warehouse opened, Archer’s scent hitting me. I breathed in the old coppery blood staining his hands and his less potent scent, which was overpowered by his own fatigue.

Our eyes met across the room, and he gave me a single nod to indicate a new change.

“I’m going to the meeting,” I said, addressing Eloise first. “I’ll help you later tonight with the packing.”

She sighed but nodded. “Fine.”

“You’re leaving?” Maisie asked, finally looking up from her page.

I rose, and gently rested a hand atop her head. “I’ll be back soon. It’s just a meeting about leaving.”

Ginny made a soft sound but didn’t speak, keeping her head lowered. I couldn’t help but sigh.

I left the table, giving Eloise one last parting look that she met sternly, her bows drawn in a line, lips pursed.

I felt sorry for the agents I was leaving her with, but at least I knew the kid could look after herself. She was stronger than she appeared, and I had no doubt that was because of Ivy’s influence in her life.

I followed Archer out of the main compound and into the long hall, passing through the additional protections we’d added since arriving. Each ward tingled over my skin and lifted the hairs on my arms, but did nothing else. The magical charms were stronger, but I worried they wouldn’t be enough.

“What did you learn?” I asked once we were out in the loading bay.

Archer’s hands formed fists as he led me towards the holding rooms. One of Jay’s guys waited outside with his head bowed, a cigarette hanging from his lips.

“He said something new,” Archer murmured, pausing outside the room. “Something I heard only in my vision.”

I stiffened. “Which vision?”

Archer sighed, stepping away from me. Good. My wolf rose within me in warning. “From the second vision. The one I had while at the safe house.” I remembered which one he was speaking of; it’d been triggered by a crystal his mother sent him in Forthampton, when we’d first found Ivy. “As you know, it wasn’t much different from the first one. Still had Ivy locked away, and she was in chains. Only this time, whoever was holding her said: Death to the Queen. Let the true King rise. ”

I paused and scrubbed a hand over my face. I knew all of that, but as I watched him from the corner of my eye, I wondered if there was more he wasn’t telling me.“What else?” I asked through gritted teeth.

The mage averted his gaze, but it wasn’t fear tinging his scent—it was rage. “I focused a lot of my study on rune work,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “But in the vision, I saw runes that shouldn’t exist. Runes designed to hold Ivy’s magic.”

My stomach twisted as our eyes met. “There are runes for that?” I asked quietly.

When he shook his head, I almost lost my lunch, feeling bile rise bitterly in my throat. “They were old runes, but they took everything from her. I felt no magic from her—only magic from him .”

~

We found Jay in a private room, one hidden from the rest of the warehouse in order to protect the information within.

There was something strange about finally entering the spaces I’d never been allowed into before. I was a grunt soldier being accepted into the upper folds of the Phoenix Compound. It felt like a lifetime ago, wishing I was good enough for this. Working my way up the ranks, hoping one day I would have done enough missions and proven myself to the leaders of Phoenix I could be one of their best.

But knowing it was my mating status that put me there?

It didn’t sit right with me, but I tried to push it aside for Ivy’s sake. Regardless of whether I was here as her mate or her protector, I would still prove I was worthy of not only being here—but also worthy of standing by her side.

Archer remained one step behind me as the door to the office closed, locking us in with a protective spell. The magic brushed against me before settling over the room, but for the first time in a while, it didn’t raise the hairs on my arms.

I paused and took in the room. The only light came from spotlights in the ceiling. There were no windows, and only one door in.

On either wall were shelves with files, and two desks faced one another in the centre of the room with old computers that worked only because of the magic imbued in them. The room itself was stifling and overly warm.

Jay nodded to the set up and motioned to the three chairs already pulled. “Take your seats. The meeting will begin shortly, should everything go to plan.”

I grunted as I took the chair furthest from the screen, stretching my legs out in front of me. Archer sat beside me, his body tense. I didn’t blame him, but I wasn’t prepared to give him any comfort. Not when my mind was a mess, caught between worry over Ivy and what she was going through without me, and my duties here with her siblings.

“And should it not go to plan?” Archer snarked, peering up at the demon with a grim smile.

The old bastard sighed and rubbed irritably at his eyes. “If it doesn’t, we know we’re royally fucked, yeah?”

Archer snorted loudly and crossed his arms. He didn‘t have to respond to that, because really, we already were. Someone on the inside was coming after Ivy, and they would do anything to stop her from taking the throne.

Jay, with his own enchanted tablet in hand, connected it and started the call. His tattoos, which usually slithered across his flesh, remained still for once, like they could feel the tension in the room. Jay seemed donned his mask of professionalism like he was trained to.

My stomach twisted, and the hairs on my arms lifted as I waited for the call to go through. My thoughts drifted to what Archer had said about the runes, and the need to call Cyrus became more urgent.

Now more than ever, we needed to find that bastard of a mate.

The screen of the old computer lit up with Queen Greer’s ageing face. Her skin sagged around her jaw and eyes, lines of age marring her once clear, unblemished skin. Silver now overtook her golden hair, thinned and long, hanging loosely around her fragile frame. She looked so different to how she did all those weeks ago, like an entirely different person.

My chest tightened. One day, that would be Ivy. Her magic slowly seeping from her and into another, draining her of immortality, taking away her strength, her power.

Five hundred years didn’t seem like enough time anymore, not as I took in what her destiny held.

But I would take five hundred more years with her over the terrifying future Archer foresaw.

Standing to one side of the Queen was Sir Ya’Dahir, and on the other, Kingsley’s father, Sir Theon. Both men seemed unchanged since the last I saw them, but now I questioned if either were okay. The magic that kept Queen Greer alive also kept them alive, and as the magic seeped from her, it took from them, too.

Sir Ya’Dahir had always been a force to be reckoned with, as one of the Queen’s oldest mates, and now the ageing process had come for him, too. His dark brown hair, now lightened with grey streaks, was held back from his face to reveal pointed Fae ears and runes along his cheekbones. The tanned skin of his face was lined, revealing the centuries he’d spent alive. Violet eyes met mine, then Archer’s, and he bowed his head in greeting.

Seer Sable appeared on screen, sitting beside the Queen. She had a smug look on her face as she wagged her fingers in her son’s direction.

Another figure emerged, one I hadn’t expected to see. Kingsley’s half-brother, Dante, stepped into the frame beside Sir Ya’Dahir. The prince was almost a spitting image of his father, Sir Otto, save for his lighter hair and blue eyes. He looked bored as he dragged his eyes over us.

My wolf had never liked him, and now the beast reared his head at the arrogant prince who had no reason to be there.

Grey materialised on a separate screen, Nash at her side in an unfamiliar room. I couldn’t help but hold my breath as I awaited my mate, but she didn’t seem to be with them.

Are you not joining the meeting? I sent through the bond, crossing my arms as general greetings were made between our three parties.

Nope. Apparently, I’m not cleared for it—Hawk’s words, she replied, frustration filtering through the bond. It’s not like I’m the future Queen or anything and am very much stuck in the middle of this. Nope, not the case at all. Instead, Adrian is giving me a casual history lesson like that’s going to help because I’m so nervous.

I imagined her rolling her eyes, and although I wanted to reassure her, a small part of me was glad she wasn’t being thrown into the middle of this meeting. It would only overwhelm her, and for now, I wanted her to remain calm.

You would get bored in a meeting like this, Angel. Trust me. Let us handle this.

She huffed, but didn’t argue. The bond went silent, though the impression of her emotions said she was anxious, but calmer than she had been.

“ Thank you for taking the time to meet today,” Queen Greer started. I dragged my gaze back to the screen and found Prince Dante watching me with narrowed eyes. “ It is important that we plan every detail of this move. We cannot let another attack happen.”

I straightened in my seat. For the most part, Seer Sable and Sir Theon remained quiet. Prince Dante observed the entire meeting with keen eyes, which unsettled me. Sir Ya’Dahir took control over the details, which I expected from him.

On Grey’s end, she remained eerily silent, interjecting a few times about the situation on her end. Nash spoke only when spoken to, and he seemed more stiff than usual.

Jay controlled the conversation on our end. Even if I was the soldier of higher status because of my mating, Jay still had more experience than me, and I respected him enough to shut my mouth. Surprisingly, Archer had no quips, though he seemed too lost in his own thoughts to add anything to the conversation.

We spent several hours poring over the maps and routes we’d need to take. We were still far from the ferry point, though with staggered departures, Sir Ya’Dahir assured us we would all make it there within the necessary timeframe.

My priority would be the kids. Archer would be on Thea. Grey and Kingsley had Ivy under their supervision with direct orders to get her directly onto the ferry—no matter what.

The only thing I was worried about was the time constraints. Our group was the furthest from the drop point, so we’d need to move sooner than Grey.

But I had to believe, with Nyx watching over us, we’d all make it there safely.

“ I appreciate your patience and time, ” the Queen said, ending the discussion. “ Rest and prepare yourselves. Although I pray to the Goddess you won’t meet resistance, I ask that you are ready in case of a fight. We must be careful in these coming days. Our entire world depends on it.”

As the Queen rose, we lifted our fists to our chests and bowed our heads, and the screen on her end shut off.

Jay blew out a heavy breath and sat back in his chair. “Remind me to take a vacation after this is done.”

“You can do that?” Archer asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes. “Shit, Jay, I didn’t think you were capable of anything other than work.”

The half-demon grunted and motioned to the second screen, where Grey and Nash watched us. “Anything you two want to add?”

Grey rolled her shoulders back, her perfectly blank mask slipping over her face. “ Focus on your team in whatever happens ,” she said, linking her fingers under her chin. “We’ve made sure our future Queen is protected. ”

“Will do. Good luck.” The screen shut off, and Jay rose to his feet. “I’m going to make sure our teams are ready. You two have your jobs.”

I nodded as he left leave the office, giving Archer and I a moment alone. “You get anything strange from that?”

Archer turned to me with a frown on his face. “What do you mean?”

I shrugged, stretching my arms over my head as I stood. “I found it strange that Prince Dante was there. He’s never been interested in this side of things. I thought he was too busy lazing around his father’s estate in the north.”

Archer rose, his brows pinched. “Yeah, from what I remember of him, he never seemed interested in politics. But when Adrian and I joined the training program, he stepped up a bit more. I know Queen Greer was pleased he was getting into politics, especially at the courts.”

I grunted and couldn’t help but look back at the black screen. “I never liked him.”

Archer snorted and started for the door. “The perfect Prince who mooches off Daddy’s wealth? Really?” He rolled his eyes. “He’s a pain in the ass, but I don’t think he’s dangerous. Maybe lazy and arrogant, but he’s used to getting everything he wants and he’s probably just enjoying the fact that he gets to be a part of something so important. Strokes his ego and other parts of his manhood.”

I joined him by the door, and despite his words of assurance, I still couldn’t help but feel uncertain.

“You know,” Archer continued, walking towards the storerooms. “He was probably jealous when he found out Adrian got the mission. Dante’s good for a killer party, but it must piss him off that his baby brother, who he tried so hard to corrupt, was not only chosen for the mission, but is the next Queen’s mate.”

I stiffened, but I had a feeling he was right—even if I didn’t want to admit it. I was probably more annoyed with the fact that he was another spoiled rich kid who abused his connections more than anything else.

I shook off the feeling and ran a hand through my hair. “It’s late. We should rest now.”

Archer nodded, pressing his lips together. He didn’t respond right away, so I gave him a simple bow of my head and started for the main warehouse.

“I’m sorry,” he called, stopping me in my tracks. “I’m sorry for not telling you more about the vision that day. You have every right to want to strangle me, and you haven’t—yet. But I didn’t keep it a secret on purpose.”

I swallowed thickly and glanced over my shoulder at him. “Then why did you?”

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Because I feel guilty for not telling her about them.”

My hands curled into fists involuntarily. “Don’t.”

His eyes narrowed and met mine. “She deserves to know the truth.”

“She doesn’t need to worry about something that might not happen.” My heart gave a tight squeeze, guilt washing over me. I didn’t want to believe him, but he was right in a way. She deserved to be aware of what might be coming for her, even if I didn’t like it.

Archer shook his head. “That’s the thing, Wolfy. I don’t think we have a say in that.” His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and my jaw clenched. “There’s a reason the vision has happened twice. I don’t think it’s avoidable.”

“I’ll make sure it never happens,” I vowed, “no matter what.”

I stalked off before he could reply and made my way through the wards and into the main warehouse. Everything was quiet, the soft breaths of sleeping agents in the bunks hitting me. Although I knew I should shower and eat, my body itched with the need to be close to my mate.

Instead, I walked into the room claimed by the girls and let the shift take over, warping my bones and reshaping me into the wolf. Despite the need for sleep, the wolf trained his eyes on the three girls and waited for their breaths to even out before closing his eyes.

We’ll be reunited soon , I sent through the bond, reaching out for Ivy, my sweet mate, whose absence was slowly weighing the wolf and I down.

Her soft voice responded immediately. I know. Soon.

I felt her loss as she drifted off into her own sleep, our bond going quiet. I yearned for her, for her touch, the sound of her voice, her comforting scent mingling with my own.

And I would keep my promise: we would never be parted again. I’d go to that ridiculous academy with her and watch over her, go to all the functions Queen Greer wanted her at without any complaint.

I only had to get through the next two days first.