Chapter 25
Homecoming
Damien
Ireturn to Aendor with a stag over my shoulder, the largest beast I could find.
Although I’m careful to reenter the city through the darkest shadows, I know it’s a risk, and I’m relieved that I make it from Wickham Wood to the compound without interference.
But I could not return empty-handed, not after my second attempt at getting the Rivertoads to help us failed so valiantly.
One stag will not go far to feed thousands of hungry men, but it is something. The least I can do now.
“Thank you, Damien,” Tempest says. Thane thumps me on the shoulder.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I must tell you that my visit to Jaqual, while well received, did not result in his alliance.”
“Damn Rivertoads,” Thane seethes.
I shake my head. “He’s doing what he thinks is best for his people. He’s wrong, but I could not convince him.”
Tempest frowns. “Then we wait for Eloise.” She exchanges worried glances with Thane and me.
It’s been five full days since my mate left. She will return. I must have faith in that. I must trust in her strength and discretion. But every day she is gone, my mood sours further.
I lead the troops through drill after drill, knowing I may be training them to fight to the death, watching old friends like Warbill and new friends like Percy train to exhaustion for a war we cannot win.
And I lie awake at night fighting the notion that this is for me, for my power, for my rule.
But if this were only for me and my family, I would call it off now.
This is for Stygarde. This is for the children.
“Again!” I yell as we move into our fifth hour of drills.
Warbill rolls his eyes toward the ceiling. “Who knew that training for war would literally require fighting a war? Goddess, man. You’ll send us all to the Darklands with these exercises!”
“Are you questioning my methods, old man?” I grumble.
He wipes sweat from his brow. “Simply hoping to survive another day.”
Before I can answer him, purple light shoots from the center of the sparring area, sending every soldier scattering away from the energy it’s throwing off. I shade my eyes and draw Dawnbreaker.
“Elven magic?” Warbill yells over the buzz coming off it.
“I don’t know!” I yell back.
Swords drawn, we wait for the attack, but it’s Eloise who appears, holding out her arms at the center.
This is no ring. It’s the key symbol! And she’s not alone.
My jaw drops as Cassius steps through the light, followed by a stream of vampires.
A hundred! No, a thousand. And more. I recognize some of the men from Night Haven.
They keep coming, the shades in the room having to move back to give them space.
They’re still coming through when Cassius sees me and rushes to my embrace.
“Brother! You’ve come to our aid.”
“It’s been too long,” he says.
“How many?” I sputter.
“A thousand from Lamia and two thousand from Night Haven.”
“Night Haven?”
“George. He lent her his men as well. They’re all vampires, but they’re trained.”
I turn my attention back to my mate and the symbol, to the parade of men who pour out of it. “Is she strong enough?” I mumble, but no one hears me.
“Goddess, bless us all!” Tempest yells, arriving at my side and greeting Cassius. “She’s saved us! Damien, Eloise has saved us all!”
I’m not listening. I leave their side and walk straight for her, stopping at the edge of the spell and seeing the strain on her face, the sweat that drips from her temples.
“Eloise?” I call. She doesn’t seem to hear me.
The last batch of men runs through the portal, and the light dies like a fizzling fire. She sways on her feet, and I rush forward to sweep her into my arms. “Bed,” she whispers.
I kiss the side of her head, fighting back the burn in my eyes. “Always so eager.”
“Very funny,” she says sleepily. “I never took you for a necrophiliac.”
“The term is somnophiliac. You’re not dead. You’re simply passing out.”
“Don’t count your chickens…” she says. “I’ll need food and blood. I’m so weak.”
I hug her tighter to my chest and increase my pace, shoving past a blur of nameless faces. “I’ve got you, little bird.”
She rests her head against my chest. When we reach our room, I tuck her into the bed and promise to have everything she needs here when she wakes. Her eyes are closed as she says, “Three thousand.”
“Cassius told me. You did well, little dragon. More than we ever expected.”
“Not enough,” she mumbles.
She’s right. Our army is now eleven thousand strong to their fifteen thousand. Even with this help from Earth, we are vastly outnumbered, and no vampire will ever be as strong as a shade. We’re outpowered too. I kiss her temple. “Don’t worry about anything right now. Just rest.”
Her breathing evens out, and I know she’s asleep.
Once I’m sure she’s sleeping peacefully, I return to the war room, where I find Cassius, Thane, Undaku, and Prandle huddled over the tactical map on the war table. Their faces tell me they see what I see.
“You’re sure? Fifteen thousand?” Cassius asks.
“All of our intelligence confirms that number,” Thane says.
“Some of them are our children, barely old enough to hold a sword, and enchanted by elf magic to fight,” Undaku adds.
“Our soldiers from the Borderlands may find themselves battling family they know and love. The emotional weapon New Stygarde is wielding against us makes up for any advantage we have in experience.”
“The west villages have contributed fewer children than the Borderlands, but we are weaker. The price my people in Zephrine paid for not sacrificing their children was starvation. Many have not yet fully recovered,” Prandle adds.
I turn to Cassius. “You have no other men to spare?”
As always, his voice is cool and unruffled as he answers. “Your mate did her best, but you must remember, these are not my men. They are the Lamia coven’s. My master was generous to send the number she did. And George—”
“George.” My brow tightens. I still don’t know what to make of him.
“We are lucky to have the gift of his men. He could not come himself because they’re still restructuring Night Haven, but he sent them with strict orders to follow my commands.”
I frown. My little bird truly left no stone unturned. I hate that she had to face George alone. That couldn’t have been easy. “It’s not enough. We are still at an enormous disadvantage,” I say.
He meets my eyes. “Eloise was unable to tell me what has happened to my parents.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
But Thane raises his brows. “They are alive, Cassius. Safe, and living in the Borderlands in hiding.”
I watch my friend’s shoulders sag in relief. “We will find a way, Damien.”
“I wish I could be so confident.”
He lifts his chin and rests a dark hand on my shoulder. “Good will always triumph over evil. Love will always triumph over hate. You know this is true. You and I have seen it play out again and again.”
“Over time, yes. But on the backs of fallen heroes. I’d very much like our men not to be the heroes who fall.”
He nods sadly and removes his hand from my shoulder. “I’m afraid that every generation is faced with a cause that calls to their heroes, and this time, the voices might ring for us.”
“I should get back to Eloise.”
“But there is no time to waste. We must start training together to bring the vampires on board,” Thane says.
“Cassius can do it,” I say. “He knows everything I do and more. I need to care for my mate.”
Thane bows his head, and they all stare after me as I rush from the room and return to Eloise. Someone has brought her a meal as I requested, but she’s still asleep. I sink to my knees beside the bed, and I pray to the goddess for a way to win this war.