Chapter 18
Protection.
Henley
Though the morning was glorious, the happiness didn’t last.
When I got up, I knew something had happened because of the somber mood of my guards. My chest squeezed a little when one of my guards informed me that I was needed in my uncle’s office. At his words, I grab Parker’s hand and pull him along at a quicker pace.
Did somebody attack again? But that couldn’t be—last time there was an attack, there were sirens. There is no way Parker and I would’ve slept through that. It has to be something else—a threat, maybe?
By the time we get to my uncle's office, I don’t bother knocking. I throw the door open and immediately regret my impatience. Uncle Ferno isn’t alone. King Basilicus is sitting in his office along with Alpha Devin, Queen Tori, Prince Stellan, and Princess Wisteria.
“Henley, good,” Uncle Ferno says, sighing in relief. “You and your mate should come sit.”
For a moment, I almost forgot that I’m a princess too. I don’t feel important, but I suppose in the world of supernatural politics, I am. There is no need for me to feel uncomfortable busting into an important meeting because I belong here just as much as anybody else.
Parker and I squeeze into a couple of chairs at the side of Uncle Ferno’s desk. Everybody else is spread out in front of him.
“What happened?” I ask as I take a seat.
Uncle Ferno’s chair squeaks as he leans back. “Last night, over a dozen phoenixes were murdered.”
I gasp, sitting forward. “But the alarms never went off. How were they able to break through all the wolf shifters guarding our island?”
He shakes his head. “Not here. They were in Canada. Not every phoenix lives on this island. Over the years, many have had to leave as our population grew.”
My chest aches at the loss of life. “What can I do?”
“Nothing,” he says. “There is nothing that can be done for the loss of life. For now, I have called everybody to come here. All the phoenixes from across the globe will be arriving in the next few days. The island is likely about to get very crowded.”
It’s already crowded thanks to all the supernaturals who are guarding us.
“Will their travel be safe?” I worry my bottom lip between my teeth.
Alpha Devin leans forward. “I have several packs escorting them. If somebody tries to attack them, they won’t be alone.”
“I have also dispatched some dragons,” King Basilicus says.
Princess Wisteria smiles. “My grandfather has also sent a group of elf warriors to help ensure safe transportation.”
“Thank you,” I tell them, making sure to make eye contact with every single one of them. “Your support means the world to us. I can’t thank you enough for the sacrifice you’re making for my people.”
“It wasn’t long ago that the dragon shifters were hunted down almost to extinction,” King Basilicus says.
“We weren’t nearly as dire as the phoenixes, but we were close.
If it weren’t for the assistance of other supernaturals, we may have perished.
I know some wish we had. But know that you’re not alone, Princess Henley. The dragons will stand with you.”
My heart warms at his promise. We aren’t alone. And even though lives were lost, they won’t be lost in vain. We will once and for all end this shadowy group that has been coming up against us, and nobody will be able to stop us.
We’ll be safe and free. My children will never have to know the suffering our people have endured.
“I imagine everybody will be eager to meet their princess,” Queen Tori says.
My eyes widen at the red haired queen’s comment.
I hadn’t thought of that. With everybody coming in, it will mean meeting a lot more phoenixes.
“Their future queen.” Uncle Ferno grins. “Yes, they are very excited. We always knew she was out there somewhere. We just couldn’t find her until she got more powerful. My only hope was that I would find her before the others did.”
Parker slips his arm around me. “She was safe with my pack. We protected her as best as we could.”
“But now, a single pack isn’t enough.” Alpha Devin’s eyes flash gold.
“We have to put an end to this. If they were ever truly successful, their arrogance would grow. Next, they’d come after dragons or elves, but wolf shifters would be high on that list, too.
I will not allow them to carry our genocide. ”
I hadn’t thought of that.
Phoenixes may not be an ‘easy’ target, but we are small in numbers.
But the only reason they’re coming after us is because they think we’re too powerful.
Alpha Devin is right in saying they wouldn’t stop.
Once they were finished with us, they’d keep going until all supernaturals were extinct, or at the very least, until only the least powerful remained.
And what would happen if humans caught wind of it?
It would be war—a pointless one. We can all live in harmony.
“How did the group even find the hidden phoenixes?” I ask. “I thought the only reason they found us now is because of my aura.”
At that, the room goes quiet.
King Basilicus lowers his head for a moment before he lifts it and looks me in the eyes. “It seems that the Alpha Council has a traitor. And I can promise you that they will be found and swiftly dealt with.”
A traitor?
But who would betray us? And why?
I understand that phoenixes have a pretty dark history, but we’ve stayed hidden for over a millennium. Surely, they know by now that we don’t mean anybody any harm—if we did, we would’ve done it by now. All we want is peace.
I remind myself it’s not about our history.
It’s about them not liking somebody who they deem more powerful.
Though from what I can see, many supernaturals are just as powerful, if not more so.
I can feel the power coming from King Basilicus, but his son, Prince Stellan, is just as powerful.
Alpha Devin exudes power—maybe less than the dragons, but surely he is just as powerful with all the wolf shifters backing him.
I glance at Queen Tori. She’s quiet, but nobody could ever accuse her of being weak.
And Parker has told me stories of how powerful the elves are—no doubt Princess Wisteria is the strongest of us all.
I glance at her flowing white blonde hair and her pink flower crown.
She looks like a true princess, but I can tell she’s a warrior too.
She will fight for what she believes in.
That is how I know that this won’t be the end of the phoenixes. I will fight. And I won’t be fighting alone.
“What should I do?” I ask.
“What do you mean?” Uncle Ferno cocks his head to the side as he studies me.
“I want to help. I want to fight,” I answer.
“No,” Uncle Ferno says.
“No,” Parker echoes.
I grind my teeth together. “If I’m supposed to be a queen, I should be able to help protect them. What kind of leader am I if I sit back and watch them get slaughtered? What good is all this power if I don’t use it?”
“You staying safe is what will save your people. Because without you, we’re all as good as dead.
” Uncle Ferno crosses his arms over his chest. “Without you, there is no future for us. History forgot us once, and they’ll forget us again—only there won’t be any of us left to remind people who the phoenixes are. ”
And how can I fight that? I get what he’s saying. I’m important. Not because I’m a princess, but because of the magic in my blood.
“If I may.” King Basilicus sits forward and meets my eyes.
“You should stay out of the fight, of course. You’re not nearly trained enough to go to war.
But I do think it would be prudent for you to learn how to defend yourself.
Wolf shifters surround you—allow them to train you.
There are plenty of dragon shifters here—ask any one of them to train you, and they will. ”
I nod, letting the idea sink in.
Of course, I can’t fight yet. But in the future, maybe. At the very least, I should know how to defend myself. I’ve trained with Will, Blaine, and Parker, but not in a few months. Not since everything settled with Blaze. I got complacent.
I glance at Parker, trying to read his thoughts. He has me blocked. “Will it bother you if I train?”
“Yes and no.” His eyes are golden. “I am strong enough to protect you. I will protect you. But King Basilicus is correct—you should learn how to fight. What if something happens to me? I need to know that you’ll be okay. I need you to live, even if I don’t.”
My chest aches at his proclamation.
I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to Parker. He is my entire world. I don’t think my heart would survive without him.
You would, he says through our mate bond. Because you’re people need you. But don’t stress—I don’t plan on going anywhere.
I smile at him, the ache in my chest lessening. Parker is strong. He’s an alpha. He is more than capable of protecting himself.
“I’m afraid you may not have long to learn,” King Basilicus says. “If this group isn’t backing down after the Alpha Council has backed you, they truly fear nothing. That, or they’re delusional. The coming weeks are going to be tough, but we will protect you and your people as best as we can.”
My body relaxes at his vow.
It’s time for the phoenixes to stop hiding, and it’s time to join the rest of the supernatural community. This shadowy group has targeted us for far too long. It’s time to end this war.
Parker
After the meeting, while Henley is talking with Princess Wisteria, I wander off to find Will and Blaine. I’m not surprised to find them both in the dining room. Blaine’s mate, Keagan, is by his side. He’s almost as bad as I am with Henley these days, though he does give her more freedom.
I wish I could give Henley more freedom.
I don’t like being her constant shadow. But I know that she’s the main target.
If they get their hands on Henley—if they kill her—they will take care of phoenixes for good.
So I can’t leave her side. I must protect her.
Once they’re taken care of, she can have all the freedom she wants.
“Is everything okay?” Will sits up straighter when he sees me walk in.
I nod, sliding into a chair across from them.
“You don’t look okay.” Blaine glances at me, a worry line creasing his brow. “You look like you’re about ready to go hunt down some rogue supernaturals. I am all for this plan.”
Will nods. “I’m not usually with him on his crazy ideas, but I am today. We need to end this threat. They’ve come after Henley and the other phoenixes long enough. I want to protect my luna and her people.”
“And I want to protect my princess and future queen,” Keagan says. “Whatever you need me to do, I will.”
Blaine frowns, not liking the idea of his mate fighting in this war.
I get it—I wish I could protect Henley from it. But she’s their leader—she’s their target.
I run my fingers through my hair, wishing there was something I could do. “I feel so powerless.”
Will and Blaine share a look, one that I can easily read after over eighteen years of friendship—they’re worried about me.
No alpha is ever intended to be powerless. We were born to rule—born to protect. And our instincts to protect our mate are the strongest we have. There is nothing more important.
“I don’t know how to keep her safe,” I admit. “How can I protect her from her own magic?”
“You’ve prepared your whole life to be an alpha. You don’t know how to be a consort,” Will says. “But what you do know how to do is protect. When it counts, you’ll keep her safe.”
Will isn’t one to use empty words. He truly means what he’s saying.
I take a moment to just breathe—it’s more difficult than it should be.
Blaine grins. “A consort, huh? I suppose that is your new role.”
I narrow my eyes at him and laugh when I meet his eyes. The tension slowly eases from my shoulders.
“You’ll never be a mere consort,” Will says after a long moment. “You’ll rule at her side and you’ll care for the phoenixes, just as you’ve cared for the pack for all these years.”
“And you won’t be alone.” Blaine grins. “Will and I are coming with you.”
I am thankful that they are moving here, too.
This isn’t what I imagined my life would be, but somehow, this is so much better than being alpha. I get to help protect the future of an entire supernatural species.
I won’t allow anybody to take this from me.