Chapter 25
Derrick looked startled when he saw Hunter and Freja sitting on the living room couch.
Freja chuckled. “Right on time, I’d say.”
“What are you two doing out here?” Derrick asked as he took a seat across from them.
“We were waiting for you. We figured we’d be hearing from you again tonight.” A small grin played on Hunter’s lips as he looked at Derrick. They knew their daughter well … well enough to know that she would plant doubts in Derrick’s head.
Derrick sighed. “The thing is … she has good points. I don’t know what’s right or what I should do. But if the situation was reversed, I wouldn’t leave her side either.”
Hunter smiled and looked at Derrick’s amber eyes. “Of course you wouldn’t. Who would rightfully leave their mate because of the danger to their own life? The only way you would is if you were ordered to by your parents.”
“We know our Lucie very well. She wasn’t leaving your side on her own. She would need to feel like she had to, which is why Hunter ordered her to leave. We needed to go to that extreme to make her listen,” Freja said.
“Ryan.” Hunter made sure to use his cover name since they were not in a soundproof room.
“The thing is, this is an unknown and dangerous situation. For now, we’ll be taking Lucie back with us.
We’ll analyze the situation and consult with our allies.
But if the time comes and we decide to fight, Lucie will also be fighting. ”
“I wish you could come back with her …” Freja’s voice trailed off. She remembered how hard it was being apart from Hunter when he was poisoned by the blood potion and wanted to kill her. It was torture to be away from one another.
Derrick sighed and ran his hands through his hair. He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward, burying his face in his hands. “I don’t know how I’m going to manage to be away from her either.”
Hunter nodded his head thoughtfully. “This right here is only a small fraction of your lives together. You’ll still have eternity together.
It isn’t going to be easy, but all you can do is focus on the now for the sake of the future.
If you must be here, she’ll understand, but don’t get sloppy because you’re trying to rush things.
The witch certainly hasn’t rushed things.
This must be something she’s been plotting since she was a child. ”
“And you have allies. If you need help, remember to call on those around you. Reach out to us. Don’t hesitate to use the resources you have,” Freja added.
“It isn’t the witch I’m worried about. Not where my army is concerned.” Derrick looked up from his hands. “It’s this Wicker. We’ve been keeping tabs on him for a while now. We’re fairly certain he’s a deity, but we don’t know what his game is. You know that if he is what we think he is …”
Hunter nodded his head. “We’ll need to have a discussion with Levi about this.” He turned to Freja. “It’s impossible for any of us to fight against a deity. Levi and Jade … and probably Alexa would be the only ones capable.”
Freja nodded her head. “Of course, if Alexa fights, I’m sure Ken will show up. He’s avoided the poor girl for so long. He wouldn’t let her fight on her own.”
“If she ends up in danger, I’m sure he’ll show up. Levi has mentioned more than once that even as a deity, you can’t ignore the desire to protect.”
Hunter frowned. Wicker was a problem they couldn’t handle. He would have to talk to the only ones that could and see what they knew. Levi had to know about this Wicker and who he really was.
Hunter directed his attention back to Derrick. “Anyway, Ryan. I don’t think we can concern ourselves too much with things that are beyond our power. We’ll make sure the ones who can do something know about him.”
“I understand. I was hoping to be able to have more information to give. But I guess I can’t expect much, if he is a deity.
” Derrick nodded his head. They could only do what they could, and ending Beryl was within their means.
But they needed to find her. She was rarely at the hideout that they’d discovered, and she was very clever.
She often used disguises and cloaks. He knew she would surface again, though.
In the meantime, they would just have to keep doing what they were doing and wait.
He would send for extra guards to be at the ready as well.
“Before we showed up, what was your plan with our daughter?” Freja asked curiously.
“I was so thrilled about finding her that I couldn’t see any further than keeping her close.
I couldn’t believe I ended up finding my fated mate, let alone who she was.
” Derrick chuckled. “I honestly wasn’t thinking about anything.
All I wanted was to keep her close. But I know there’s no way I can keep her here without her joining in the battles.
When I started thinking about that …” He sighed and shook his head.
“I knew she would have to leave this area and go where she would be safe. Where she would be away from all of this.” He motioned around them.
“All I know is if I were Lucie, I’d be livid.
I’d be furious with Hunter for sending me away.
What if something happened to Hunter, and me being there could have protected him?
However, as a mother, after hearing about what you have witnessed …
I am selfishly worried for my daughter’s safety.
And not just her safety, but the safety of our pack.
They’ve had time to mass produce this. They could strike every werewolf and kill them with ease.
” Freja frowned as Hunter’s hand found hers and pulled it to his lap.
“It sounds like the wolves are at a stalemate for now. We need to find out what this substance is and have the covens study it so that they can create an antidote if possible.”
“In my opinion, this is not something she’s been able to mass produce.
It seems more to me like these were precious tests.
” Derrick’s gaze shifted between Freja and Hunter.
“We can’t know for certain right now, of course.
But I think this is something she’s trying to perfect so that she can take out the targets she really wants. ”
“This isn’t a war she is trying to win,” Hunter said quietly. “This is a grudge she wants to settle. Our family bested the demons. We killed her grandmother. She knows she can’t win against all of us.”
“She plans to just take us down. The four of us.” Freja squeezed her eyes shut, feeling dumb.
Of course this was Beryl’s objective. It wasn’t about the werewolves.
It was about Freja and her family. It was always about her.
She was the abomination, and Beryl would have been taught this.
They had destroyed her grandmother and her future, This was all about ending her line.
Derrick frowned as he listened to this. He felt a flame ignite in his chest in anger. The idea of someone targeting his mate made him ready to kill. His desire to protect Lucie was overwhelming him.
“I’m sorry to say this, but this is how I feel.
” Derrick’s voice was a whisper as he stared at the silver and green eyes in front of him.
“I want Lucie in the vampire kingdom. She will be safer with my … the king and queen there. We know Beryl will be targeting the Black Ice Pack. But she wouldn’t dare go into vampire territory.
Not even to look for your daughter … or children.
Yes, send Lucie and her brother to the vampire kingdom together, where they will be safe.
You know, you two would be welcome there too. ”
“We can’t leave our packs. The king and queen need to be there so the packs don’t get restless and nervous.
We’ll be fine.” Hunter’s eyes glazed momentarily, and he nodded to Freja.
“But we both agree. We want our future protected. Aedan and Lucie will go stay with the vampires. At least until after the ceremony.”
“I don’t—”
“Let me finish, Ryan.” Hunter smiled as he interrupted Derrick.
“After the vampire ceremony, they will either go to Elysia or the West Dragon Kingdom. The vampires may be safer than the Black Ice Pack, but they aren’t safer than the fairy kingdom or the dragon kingdom.
There they have family, where it will be easy for us to visit them and where we feel the most comfortable having them. ”
“If your sister thinks you’re in danger, won’t she leave the dragon kingdom to stay with you?
” Derrick frowned slightly. He wanted Lucie back at the vampire palace.
But he could understand her parents’ feelings.
And the dragons had few enemies. Who could afford to be enemies with the dragons?
And Elysia was well protected by a living barrier.
Her safety was the most important thing, so she would have to go wherever they thought it would be safest.
“No. We can’t risk something happening to Reiya.
She’s also a werewolf. Her mate isn’t about to risk her life.
Been there, done that.” Hunter chuckled.
“She’ll look after our kids for us. And IF there is trouble, the dragons will come to our aid, since it seems like the witch hasn’t prepared anything against dragons. ”
“The dragons and Elysia are far away from here,” Derrick said with a frown. “It won’t be easy to visit her.”
Hunter chuckled. “If you want to see her, just come to the Black Ice Pack and we’ll take you to her.
You know my family was gifted with these special black pearls that allow us to travel to the others.
” He watched Derrick’s eyes light up a bit at that idea.
He smiled and squeezed Freja’s hand. They both felt better about sending their children away, for more reasons than one.
Not only were they precious to them, but they were also the future. If something happened to Hunter and Freja, it would be up to Aedan to lead. The werewolves couldn’t lose their king after finally getting one, but Aedan would be able to take over as Werewolf King.
“We’ll escort you back to the Black Ice Pack tomorrow. Given the conclusion we just came up with, I don’t feel comfortable with you traveling on your own.” Derrick straightened up and watched as both Freja and Hunter’s eyes danced in amusement.
“Son, we travel with a demon and a guardian. Plus, we are well-seasoned in war.” Hunter chuckled.
“All it takes is a second. If that stuff is loaded in a sniper gun of sorts, one hit is all it could take to lose everything.” Derrick shook his head. “This is a special situation. Besides, this way I’ll get to be with Lucie a bit longer …”
“Well, boys, if we are traveling tomorrow, then I suggest we all get some rest,” Freja said, standing up and Hunter joining her.
Derrick stood up and glanced at his room. “She’s already asleep. I, umm …”
Freja placed her hand on Hunter’s back and gently shoved him.
“Don’t wake her. Just let her rest.” She put a bit more force against the back of her protective mate with a small smile.
How quickly he forgot what it was like to find your mate.
She winked at Derrick and then walked out of the room with Hunter.
She remembered. Nothing could tear her apart from him. Not even him wanting to kill her.
Derrick smiled in appreciation and slowly crept back into his room. He eased back into the bed and curled his arms around Lucie, who snuggled right back into him. Tenderly kissing her head, he closed his eyes, taking in her sweet scent and her comforting warmth.
Holding her while she slept was therapeutic, everything inside him calming down. He was happy knowing he would be traveling with them tomorrow, too. It would give him more precious time with her … his little mate.