Chapter 25 Flicker of Movement #2
“Even if the spell kills half of that, she’ll have five hundred alpha-level shifters at her beck and call.” Cas pushed away from the wall to pace.
“Cruor! And we still don’t know which kingdom she’s going to strike.” Zane ran his hand through his hair disaster.
“It’s down to me or your father,” King Julian said. “Logistically, she can’t reach the Ice Cloud Kingdom or the Woodland Realm in time for the spell to hold. She needs proximity.”
“So both kings prepare to be attacked at full moon.” I rubbed the scar along my jaw as I thought. “Gather allies. Reinforce defenses. Secure your vulnerable points and people.”
“Seri, you know Arabesque on a different level than we do.” King Julian fixed his eyes on her. “Do you believe she herself will lead this attack?”
“Absolutely. For several reasons. She’ll want to make sure nothing gets messed up. She won’t trust someone she deems lesser, which is nearly everybody, especially with her big moment. And…”
“And what, beloved?” I prompted when she paused.
“And there’s something inside her that craves the blood and the screams,” she whispered, fidgeting with her fingers. “Maybe it comes from whatever Darkness she’s dealt with most of her life—”
“Or maybe she’s just an evil cunt,” Zane cut in. “I agree with honeybee. For what we’ve seen and studied, the Harrow bitch will wanna be center stage, all spotlight, for this.”
“Wouldn’t we all?” Cas countered. “If we had planned and invested in one massive move for years, would any of us be absent during its execution? Whether she fights or not, whether she shows herself or not, she’ll be there.”
“We’re overlooking the Gravewrought,” Foster said. “Rogues, even supercharged, stay dead. The Gravewrought? We could kill them a hundred times over, and they’ll just keep coming back. Unless we destroy their hearts.”
“Then we destroy the hearts.” Seri’s quiet voice held nothing but determination. “They’re in Arabesque’s stronghold. My old farm. Brummy and I can go. Quiet. Fast. I’ll shadow walk us there, destroy the hearts, and shadow walk us back.”
“No.” The word burst from my mouth.
Zane echoed it at the same instant, his face hard. Cas said nothing, but his silence roared with disapproval.
“You know it makes the most sense.” Seri met my gaze.
“I know you’re our beloved.” My voice dropped to that dangerous register that usually made people step back. “And that if something happens to you while we’re chasing her fang-rotted army—”
“Then you’ll trust me to survive it,” she interrupted, steel beneath her softness. “You know I can do this.”
The memory flashed through me. Seri, standing in the yard under the moon, her eyes closed as the air had shimmered around her, the very night holding its breath.
None of us had been prepared for just how powerful she truly was.
She’d glowed not just with light, but with a magic so strong and vast, it had taken my breath away.
It was like watching the stars rearrange themselves. Beautiful. Terrifying. Untouchable.
And yet…
“You’re asking us to let you walk into the shadows,” Cas growled, “and not follow you.”
“I’m not asking that.” There was no defiance in her tone, just certainty. “I’m telling you that. It’s what needs to be done. Trust me to do it just as I trust you to hold the line wherever she attacks.”
“If she can destroy the Gravewrought’s hearts, it levels the field.” Foster glanced between us as he weighed in. “You won’t get overwhelmed by unkillable monsters and can just focus on the super rogues.”
“It’s a solid strategy,” King Julian added. “Arabesque and her rogues won’t expect a strike at their heart. Literally.”
Zane’s face had gone tight, his knuckles white where he gripped the back of a chair, but after a long moment, he gave a short, sharp nod.
“Good call on Brumous, moonbeam. Zaddy’s good boy won’t let anything touch you.”
At the sound of his name, the dire wolf pressed closer to Seri’s side, his blue eyes shining with what could only be described as determination. The wolf’s connection to Seri ran soul-deep; he’d die a hundred deaths before letting her come to harm.
She smiled a little as I met her gaze again. My pulse hammered in my ears like thunder, but I forced myself to think past the urge to shield her from all danger. She wasn’t a fighter, but she wasn’t harmless, either. Power lived in her, in her words, in her hands, in that steady, unflinching heart.
And I trusted her like I trusted the ocean to meet the shore.
“Then we do this,” I said finally. “We wait for the attack. The moment we know where she’s landing, we move. The three of us will focus on the Gravewrought, coordinating with Seri, who’s with Brummy at the farm.”
“And both King Lucian and I will prepare for war on the full moon,” King Julian wrapped up the plan. “I’ll have Angelo della Morte and his team here with me, and I know your father has his own ways to deal with a Dark witch.”
“Remind Angelo to bring his grenade launcher,” Zane smirked.
“As if I have to.” The wolf king rolled his eyes.
“I’d recommend capturing Arabesque if possible.” Kaori settled back in her chair. “If you cut the head off of the snake, the body still writhes. One of her rivals or supporters in her so-called witch mafia won’t hesitate to take her place, then you’ll be fighting this war again in a few years.”
“Agreed.” King Julian nodded. “If at all possible, contain her, but don’t risk your life to do it. We can suss out her followers one by one after this is over and dig her poison vines out by the roots.”
For a long moment, silence stretched, filled only with the hum of electronics and the enormity of what we were about to attempt. Then King Julian narrowed his eyes, breaking the quiet.
“You realize Arabesque won’t leave her stronghold unguarded. If the Gravewrought hearts are that vital, she’ll have traps. Wards. Maybe even guards.”
“That’s why Foster’s going with me.” Seri said it like it answered everything. And it did.
“What? Did you just volunteer me, Little Boss?” Foster’s eyes widened as he stared at her. “Listen, I still ain’t over the last time you shadow walked my ass.”
“Saved it, more like, Fossykins,” Zane cackled.
“While it burned with Devil’s Breath,” I smirked.
Foster ignored us as he locked eyes with Seri.
“Foster? Will you go with me? Guard my back while I help end this?”
“You ain’t leaving without me.” Slamming back into his chair with a huff, he crossed his arms and didn’t break eye contact with her. “And I’ll take care of the hearts while you guard my back. No need for your little hands to get bloody when a butcher’s around.”
“And Brumsy can guard you, Seri,” Zane added. “Trifecta.”
“Good.” Kaori gave a nod of approval. “Then you’ll need counter-wards and sigil breaks prepared ahead of time.
I’ll send you a list of glyphs to look out for.
Dark magic lingers, so be careful. Oh, and the Council of Elders is providing two teams, one to deploy to each location.
In case Arabesque brings anything Diabolical along with her, you’ll have nephilim on hand to banish it. ”
“Wow. That’s generous.” I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
“The archangels’ proxy, Helene Chapman, was not amused to hear about the demon-core shadows Arabesque used at that day camp you raided.”
“If one of those teams is led by Kerry Harker, send him my way,” King Julian requested. “He and Angelo have worked together often enough that their teams can integrate seamlessly.”
“I’ll let Helene know,” she assured him.
“Queen Kaori, King Julian.” Cas’ tone said this conversation was over for now. “We’ll see one of you in two days.”
I ended the call, screens dimming back to black, but the air still buzzed like a coming storm. I looked around at my people. Cas, Zane, Seri, Brummy. Even Foster. Our little ‘ohana. The family we’d pieced together against all odds.
Two days. Forty-eight hours to prepare for what could be the bloodiest confrontation we’d ever faced. To end a war before it began.
“Make sure she gets in and out, wolf boy.” Zane’s voice was steadier now, the mania fading a bit in his eyes.
“That’s a guarantee.” Foster nodded once.
“Listen, you’re walking into a darkness I can’t follow, and I’m walking into one you can’t.” Seri’s gaze swept across me, then Cas, then Zane. “But we’ll all be walking toward the same dawn. A dawn that will endure. Just like it says on Evermere’s gates.”
Foster looked away, jaw tight, scrubbing a hand through Brumous’ fur. Zane locked his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling, a muscle jumping in his jaw. Cas’ arms crossed over his chest, his eyes hard and cold. As for me, I just nodded.
Because I believed her.
Believed her and believed in her.
The ‘aumākua sang hard now, and I listened, just like I’d vowed to do after the Dark-corrupted shadows had nearly consumed my beloved. The whispers of my ancestors, flowing through me like the ocean itself, carried no warnings, only a quiet certainty.
A tiny smirk flickered at the corners of my lips.
Let Arabesque try to stop Serafina. Harrow bitch would learn quick enough that pawns didn’t move queens.
#
Two days later, I stood in Evermere’s armory with my brothers. My hands moved automatically, checking weapons I’d already checked three times, making sure every blade was sharp, every gun loaded, every defensive charm active.
The ‘aumākua whispered at the edges of my consciousness, their voices a current beneath my thoughts. Not warnings, but presence. They would stand with us today, whatever came.
My brothers moved around the room with the same contained energy, Cas organizing tactical gear, Zane bouncing on the balls of his feet as he double-checked his ammo. We were ready. As ready as anyone could be when facing down an army of magic-infused rogues and three unkillable monsters.