Chapter 263 – War


    Sinir


    God damn it, I think, looking around at the hastily set–up headquarters that looks like a little more than


    a rickety table surrounded by anxious wolves. If this isn’t hell, then I don’t know what is. We arrived at


    the edge of the capital days ago and set up here, in an abandoned warehouse that Damon didn’t


    bother protecting because it’s not worth his time.


    –


    A mistake, I think, one of many that he’s making. The fact is that Damon made a huge misstep in


    releasing the secret of our being to the humans he expected, I think, to cow them with fear, to take


    control of their resources and use them against mine. What he didn’t expect was that the humans


    would entrench and fight back. And now, his army is fighting on two fronts – against the humans and


    against me – stretched thin. Being pulled in two directions is making him miss things, like this


    warehouse at the edge of his territory, which we were able to sneak into and set up shop.


    –


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Still, though, looking around, it’s nothing like the quality of amodation that I’m used to. The walls


    are crumbling, the ceiling has fallen in a few ces, and what rusted rafters are left look ready to fall


    down at any moment. My wolf grumbles within me, pacing unhappily. Let’s get this moving, he growls,


    we have to get back to her – we have to get to the baby –


    –


    “I know,” I mumble to myself aloud, angry. God damn it, I know. I don’t need my wolf inside me


    constantly nagging me about it. My mind is on her every minute my beautiful mate, with her rose–gold


    hair and that troublesome smirk. God, what I could do to those smirking lips if she were here now with


    that teasing mouth. I’d use my tongue to part those lips, slip inside. I’d holding her against every inch of


    me while I tasted her, feeling her moan reverberate in my own mouth…


    I press my eyes tightly shut, forcing my mind back to the subject at hand and gritting my teeth almost to


    dust as I dismiss these thoughts of what I’m going to do to my mate the moment I have her in my arms


    again. This is better, at least, than the thoughts of what can go wrong with her not by my side at every


    moment, but –


    –


    Damn it. I take a deep breath and open my eyes, forcing myself to look at the tactical maps on the table


    in front of me. This would all be much easier if she was here with me, so that I could protect her. I can’t


    stand her being away. Inside of me, my wolf gives a little howling yip of agreement. He wants her back


    too, wants her near.


    “Sir,” James says, walking over to the table where I consult with a handful of the other Alphas.” The


    mission is in ce. We are ready to proceed.”


    I take a deep breath, straightening up from the table and looking around at the men around me. Okay,


    everyone,” I snap. “This is the big push. Our only shot at the element of surprise. Are we ready?”


    We’ve been working on this n for days, putting it together piece by piece. Everything needs to


    happen just so but…if it works? We could take the city by nightfall.


    Around me, all of the Alphas nod. Everything in its ce, everyone ready, It’s zero hour and time to


    attack.


    “Goddess’s speed, then,” I growl, my eyebrows drawn down and my eyes alight with the fire of the wolf


    within me. “And good luck.”


    With that, everyone springs to action. And the war truly begins.


    3rd Person


    Damon stands at the head of the empty table in his board room, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on


    the door. His left eye twitches slightly with the intensity of his gaze. Any minute now, he thinks, almost


    willing the door to open so that his ns can finallye to fruition.


    He received a message this morning, from his ally.


    We’ve got him.


    That’s all it said, but that was all he had needed to hear. He knew that he could use Sinir’s foolish


    trust in his so–called allies against him. That all it would take was one well–ced bribe, and all of his


    little soldiers would fall one by one. Like dominoes.


    As the prince stares, the door begins to creek open. With it, Damon’s smile grows.


    “Wee, Kieran,” Damon purrs, quickly scanning the group he sees before him. “So nice to see you


    on this…momentous asion.”


    “My Prince,” Kieran replies, giving him a deep bow.


    “King, now,” Damon growls, ring at the weak Alpha to whom he has promised a kingdom. Promised,


    Damon thinks, but not yet delivered. He smiles at his own cleverness, knowing that this is just the start


    of his ns.


    “King when you are crowned,” Kieran replies evenly, stepping into the room. “Until then? Prince”


    –


    “Formalities,” Damon snaps, watching the rest of Kieran’s group filter in. Guards, mostly – his own, as


    well as Kieran’s – the stupid man had insisted upon his own troupe – but…there. Damon’s grin glows


    as he sees Alpha Sinir being dragged into the room, his huge shoulders struggling against the


    chains wrapped around him, against the handcuffs behind his back.


    The guards bring Sinir forward, throwing him to the floor at Damon’s feet.


    “Well well,” Demon teases, his cruel smile showing all of his wicked teeth. “How the mighty have


    fallen.”


    Sinir res at him from his spot on his knees, shouting some curses that are muffled by his gag.


    Damon justughs, lowering his face so that it’s nearly even with Sinir’s.


    “Do you not wish,” Damon jeers softly, “that you had just bent the knee weeks ago? When you had a


    chance? All of this could have been avoided. You would have been powerful, under my rule.


    Comfortable. At peace. And now? Now you have lost everything.”


    Sinir res at Damon as if the look could burn him. As if he could light him on fire with just the force


    of his eyes. Damon justughs, straightening up and shaking his head at the man.


    “I don’t like this,” Kieran insists, looking around the room anxiously, drawing Damon’s eyes to him.


    “Killing him like this – I don’t think it will have the effect you think it will”


    “Cut the head off the snake,” Damon responds, his voice harsh. “And the body will…” he draws a hand


    through the air and then lets it fall limply to his side. “Die.”


    “I don’t think it works like that here,” Kieran refutes, shaking his head. “It’s not like with you, with one


    leader to whom everyone bows. In the past weeks Sinir has rallied many to his cause – has


    convinced them of the morality of his position. If you kill him here,” Kieran looks seriously at Damon,


    hoping he will understand. “Another will simply rise to take his ce. Perhaps you should let him go, or


    keep him as prisoner instead. Don’t make a martyr for them to rally around.”


    “Never,” Damon snarls, ring at Kieran. “He will die today, solidifying my position as King. And if you


    suggest any alternative again, you will go with him. Am I made clear?” Thest word is a horrible growl


    that sends shivers down Kieran’s spine. His eyes go wide as he takes a step back, clearly believing


    Damon. “Besides,” Damon continues, looking back towards his prize, taking pleasure at how Sinir


    looks on his knees. “I’m going to enjoy killing this one. And we wouldn’t want to take away any of my


    fun. I’ve been deprived for so long.”


    Damon takes his time pulling a wickedly ded knife from his belt, pressing it close to Sinir’s throat.


    “After all,” he whispers, low enough that Sinir is the only one who can hear. “It’s been so long since I


    killed your first mate. And then I’ll take you. And then, when I’m done, I’ll bring this knife to your new


    mate’s pretty little neck. And I’ll drink the blood I spill with it.”


    A menacing snarl rips from Sinir’s throat as he hears this threat. As the knife presses closer, a single


    drop of blood begins to drip down his neck.