Chapter 256 To War


    E


    “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” Cora grouses, shooting me a death re as we gather at the Royal


    docks. Vanarium–hulled ships fitted with cutting edge defense and weaponry systems are moored


    along the wharf, their crews flitting around like hundreds of tiny ants as they prepare the vessels for


    departure. One, the smallest, is bound for the Altaran Inds and my mother; the others are all headed


    back home to face Damon.


    None of us want to say goodbye.


    Sinir bundles me in his arms and nuzzles my neck, his wolf grumbling and growling as he nibbles


    my mating mark, repeatedly reminding me that I’m his – as if I could forget. Mine, mine, mine. He


    proims, his wandering hands moving over my round belly. We don’t leave for another half hour, but


    I’m already beginning to worry he won’t let me go when the timees. Isabel is in the same boat,


    cuddled up with James and Sadie, trying to pretend she isn’t crying as the big Soldier soothes and pets


    her. She focuses her attention on her young daughter, rocking and shushing the perfectly content child


    – as if Sadie is the one in need offort instead of her mother. James doesn’t say a word, merely


    kissing Isabel and holding her a bit tighter.


    Of course, when I say no one wants to say goodbye, I’m excluding my sister, who is stillining


    about the fact I didn’t warn her Roger would be joining our journey as added security. “Seriously E,


    you had to know I wouldn’t approve!”


    “I’m not listening!” I sing in reply, closing my eyes and kissing my mate. I slide my arms around his


    neck, and Sinir chuckles as he ims my lips. That’s it. His wolf croons in my head. Just ignore her


    and let me gobble you up, little mate.


    I can’t help but giggle into his wolfish grin, catching a sh of emerald fire in his eyes as he captures


    my nape and drags my mouth back to his. I lean into my mate, letting him support my weight as we get


    lost in one another. Heat pools in my belly, and I can feel my inner animal starting to get excited.


    Scenting my arousal, Sinir pulls back with a reluctant frown – there’s not enough time for us toe


    together again before we go, and continuing to rile one another up before parting is a recipe for misery.


    Thus I don’t really mind my sister’s whining, because at least it’s a wee distraction from the


    imminent separation of our party. I’m painfully aware that this might be thest time I ever see my


    mate, but it isn’t only Sinir I’m going to miss – nor is he the only one for whom I’m worried. When all


    this began I didn’t know any of these people, now I feel as though I have a deep and abiding bond with


    each of these wolves – forged through the crucible of mutual trauma. Of course it’s more than that too.


    They’re my family, my pack. 1


    I don’t want to lose any one of these people… but we’re going to war and the unavoidable reality is that


    come of these shifters won’t survive. The mere thought forces me to mp my eyes shut. If I continue


    watching them, I’m sure I’ll start to cry – though today I think tears are inevitable. Anger is easier, so I


    direct all my pent up feelings towards the person who truly deserves them: Damon. Standing here,


    looking around at the somber, solemn faces of the people I love most – it’s painfully obvious how much


    we all have to lose, and I’d happily destroy anyone who tries to steal more from us than has already


    been taken. It honestly makes me want to forget finding my mother so I can go straight home and


    destroy that tyrant.


    “You’re glowing again, trouble.” Sinir tells me softly, leaning his cheek against my hair. I crack an eye


    open and take a peek at my skin. At first it seems like nothing more than a shimmer – like the iridescent


    sheen of snake scales in sunlight, or the glimmering luster of pearl dust. However the effect only grows


    stronger as I watch, and soon it appears as though my pores are emanating their own white light. I feel


    like I’m back on the Ether – as if my altered consciousness is bending reality to ensnare my senses.


    “I’m fantasizing about how you’re going to kill Damon.” I confess, breathing in his wonderful scent as


    grisly images fill my mind. I share the pictures with Sinir through our bond, hoping to inspire him.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Decapitation, disembowelment, beating him bloody with his own dumb leg… or maybe you could tie


    him up and sick some rogues on him.


    “Mmm, my bloodthirsty mate.” He purrs, letting me feel the steady vibrations in his chest. There’s a


    sh of sadistic appreciation through our bond, but Sinir’s wolf seems much more interested in


    exploring every inch of my glowing skin. “I can’t wait to see all the incredible things you learn from your


    mother.” He lifts my hand to his lips, holding my gaze as he bestows long, luxurious kisses over my


    knuckles. “You hold such mysteries for our kind, E. There’s no telling the secrets you’re about to


    uncover.” He murmurs, rocking me back and forth in ce. “I can’t wait to see you figure it all out and


    unlock your power… to watch youe into your own. My E.”


    I can hear the words he’s leaving unsaid, his hope that he lives long enough to see these gifts


    manifest, and to see our sone into the world. Oh Goddess, I think as his mood grows heavy. It’s


    getting close to our departure time, but I’m not ready to say goodbye, not yet. I’ll never be ready. I nod


    eagerly, “I’ll learn. And I’lle to you as soon as I can. Maybe we can castrate Damon together?” I


    suggest hopefully.


    Sinirughs, “Whatever happened to that innocent little nanny who wouldn’t hurt a fly?”


    I hup and sniffle, fighting the emotions seeking to drown me. There’s a new frisson of tension in the


    air, a sense ofmunal understanding that we need to finish up. I try to smile, “She was corrupted by


    a big bad wolf, of course.”


    Sinir kisses me, pouring all his tenderness and passion through our bond. “Listen to me, baby. We


    don’t have a lot of time left.”


    I shake my head, the tears hovering on myshes immediately tumbling down my cheeks. Thest


    time I said goodbye to my mate he almost died, and that was supposed to be a safe trip. Now he’s


    actually going into battle. Primal fear and bad memories rage and roil inside my chest, and part of me


    wants to cling to my mate and beg him not to go.


    “I know, sweetheart.” Sinir assures me, not needing any exnation for my sudden panic. “It will be


    okay.” He soothes, stroking my trembling lower lip with his thumb. “I know I can’t promise us a future,


    but Goddess… if I could…” He shakes his head in frustration, holding me a bit tighter as his green gaze


    seers me. “When we get through this I’m going to write you a whole book of promises and spend the


    rest of our lives fulfilling them.”


    “The only promise I need is for you to always remember how much I love you.” I counter, trying to


    steady my shaking voice. “How much Rafe loves you… and your pack.” I want to bury my head in his


    chest and sob, but somehow I manage to keep going. “I need you to promise that whatever happens,


    you always keep reminding yourself how worthy you are of all that love – because you are. You’re


    brilliant and selfless and deserve so much more credit than you take.” I’m trying to think of all the things


    I need to say to him, just in case this is the end. I don’t want to leave a single word unsaid. “And you


    musn’t me yourself for whateveres to pass. You have given everything for this pack, and you’re


    about to give even more. None of this is your fault, Dominic.” “Right back at you, gorgeous.” He smiles


    sadly, and a pulse of uncertainty escapes me. Now that the moment is upon us, the idea of running off


    to remote shifternds without him is too daunting to contemte. Self–doubt assails me, and Sinir


    doesn’t ept it for a moment. “I believe in you.” He professes intently. “I know you will seed, I


    know you will find the answers you seek, and I know that you will master your powers with flying colors.


    You have an incredible future ahead of you, no matter what happens in this war, you know that?”


    Sinir’s eyes are shining as he returns my sentiments, trying to fit a lifetime of love and emotion into a


    few words.


    “I believe in you.” I reply tearfully. “Damon is no match for you, Dominic. He’s a little boy who got hold


    of a big stick and he thinks he can make us all back down. You’re going to prove him wrong, you’re


    going to show him what a weak little insect he is.”


    “I love you so much.” Sinir deres, dragging me into his arms. “If Damon wants to keep me from


    you, he’s going to have to do a lot worse than kill me.” He drops onto his knees then, pressing his


    palms to either side of my tummy and leaning his forehead against my navel. My precious pup. I have


    to leave you now, and I’m so sorry. It’s thest thing I want in the whole world, but I promise I’m going


    to do everything in my power toe back to you. I can’t wait to meet you, Rafe. I’m expecting to feel


    confusion or offense through my bond with the baby, but instead I hear the tiniest, garbled wail. It


    almost sounds like a person speaking underwater, only much for garbled and high pitched. My eyes


    widen as I realize that our unborn pup is crying within my womb – for the first time. Sinir looks at me


    in surprise and absolute misery as we reach the same conclusion: Rafe understands. And he is not


    happy.