“Before you guys get any more Rambo on us, maybe give me a shot to see if I can circumvent the magical barrier. I set most of them up in this town, so I might actually know what I’m doing.”
“Why the fuck didn’t you do that straight away?” Maximus growled.
Louis just grinned. “It was good to see my magic hold up against the famed Compass quads.”
I couldn’t tell if the boys were pissed at his tactics or kind of pleased that he thought they were that strong. Looked like a bit of both to me. They said nothing more though, and stepped back to allow the sorcerer access to the doorway. His shit-kicker boots were loud as he strode over. He touched his hand to the building, muttered a few phrases, and stepped back as the doors swung open.
“Still a friggin’ showoff,” Tyson muttered.
I hid my grin. He had such a competitive streak and was going to stop at nothing to reach sorcerer before the age Louis had. He wanted to have something to lord over the legendary magic user.
I was in the middle of my pack as we scrambled to get inside, all of us wanting to be first.
“Jess!” I heard the shout before I saw who was in the room, but I would know my father’s voice anywhere.
I pushed through the boys and dashed along the aisles. The long pews and chairs were still set out in the same pattern used for our town meetings, and at least two or three of these rows were filled. There were quite a few members of Stratford here. I ran until I crashed into Jonathon, his strong arms and energy wrapping around me. All shifters felt better when they were close to their alpha and I had been spending so much time away from mine.
“You’ve been gone for so long,” he said, voice low over my shoulder. “We were worried you wouldn’t make it back in time.”
I pulled back to see him. “For me it was only another day or so in Faerie.”
“It’s been three weeks here. Larkspur has gathered his army from the sanctuary. They’ve been moving on the supernatural prison communities through Europe. After he smashes through their securities, his army takes out the inhabitants and Larkspur kills their council. Then he captures their Book of Guidance, which allows him to control the town, its magic, and any members who were not cut down in the battle. He makes all survivors swear fealty to him in the ancient language, the same as when council leaders are elected. If they don’t, he cuts their heads off.”
“Holy shit,” I said breathlessly. “How many towns has he hit? He must have a massive army now. Is that why there’s no one here? You sent them out into the human world, didn’t you?”
Jonathon nodded. “Yes, we received word that he was moving on Stratford next. He has taken at least five of the European cities that we know of, gathering numbers. He must have many thousands now, and there have been a lot of deaths. It’s damn chaos.”
I had expected chaos, and yet … I rubbed at my face, trying to control my emotions and thoughts. It was so odd. In the small time I’d spend with Larky he had been polite and cultured, even caring at times, not at all like a murderous crazy tyrant. If it hadn’t been for Rose’s stroll through memory lane, I’d forget how much he had been feared, how much carnage he had wrought the last time he had tried to take over the five races. I had no doubt that he was making sure he was at full power before confronting me and the Compasses. He knew the five of us would be together, and he wanted my magical dragon baby. Another means to achieve his endgame of ruling all five supe races.
“If he controls all copies of the Book of Guidance, and all the towns and their people, that means he will receive energy from them also, right? He’s going to be so much stronger than the last time we saw him.”
I knew the quads and whoever else was in the room was listening, but I was so focused on Jonathon I didn’t even have a clue who else was here. Except for Mischa. I could feel her quite strongly, though it was strangely muted, like she was in the room next door with walls between us or something.
Jonathon’s answer was quick, his features tightening. “Yes, all council leaders and alphas receive portions of power from their people. Larkspur will now be reaping the energy from all those he has forced into his servitude. Not as strongly as the ones who voluntarily pledge their allegiance, but enough to make him formidable.”
We couldn’t rely on Braxton to beat on him this time. Larky would be back to his full power, all his followers behind him. I turned and found Louis in the crowd. The sorcerer was chatting to some of the magic users. I could hear them discussing strategy and backup plans.
“Louis!” I shouted, uncaring that I was interrupting. “Remember that thing you needed to do?”
Lots of faces were staring at me, and I gave zero fucks. He nodded, then turned and walked straight out the front door. He would take care of the mystics, I had no doubt. We had to make sure that part of Larky’s power was locked down before he got here.
When I turned back to Jonathon, Lienda was right behind him. I barely flinched when she swept me into her arms. I hadn’t known my mother for most of my life, but she had proven time and again that she was worthy of being a member of my pack. She had sacrificed and fought for her children, and now, possibly carrying a young of my own, I understood why she had to do what she did.
I wondered how my parents would react once they knew everything we had learned from the golden dragon. I shifted to find Braxton’s gaze on me, and as if he knew what I’d been thinking his eyes dropped to my stomach, before lifting to my face again. He gave me a gentle smile, something I’m sure he was trying to work on – the gentle thing. It wasn’t really in his nature, and yet didn’t seem that odd either. I was kind of liking this side of him, because it was all for me.