Page 91 of Luna Rising

That night, in my dreams, was where the idea started to take shape. Ewan’s talk of using a different approach when dealing with the humans was also fresh in my subconscious, so he deserved some of the credit, too. And sure, it probably had something to do with the fact that I had finally gotten my prince, my fairytale ending.

Was it really so wrong for Mat to want his as well?

Accords Anarchy

The arguing—um, meeting—started after breakfast, though the news alerts and messages began pouring in before sunrise. The vampire attacks had left thousands of casualties across New Your, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and Hong Kong, with witnesses claiming the streets ran red with rivers of human blood. After I got over the enticing image of drinking from such a river like the kid in that candy factory movie who toppled into some fast-moving chocolate, I was suitably appalled.

There was one upside to the attacks. Ewan’s proposal to send pack enforcers and any fae willing into the human cities to keep the peace went over pretty well. No one argued against the idea altogether, just the logistics like which cities. Luckily, Walter had a semi-solution that I personally found suspicious, but as Ewan later pointed out, I found most things involving Walter suspicious.

All major world cities had a sizable supernatural population, most of whom had nothing to do with the Zodiac Councils and some who didn’t even know the system existed. Different well-known crime families controlled supernatural activity in each of these cities and with one call from Walter Stolly would mobilize to help us cover more ground.

No one loved the idea. A few people, including myself, openly questioned why Walter was even involved in the conversation since he hadn’t signed the accords. Still, we needed more boots on the ground or whatever and he was offering soldiers. Interestingly, no one doubted that Walter could convince the other families to go along with this plan, not even me, and I had met Lucca Guerra and knew about the feud between his family and Winter’s.

Between sleep and space to think, convincing the others that banishing Mat to another realm permanently wasn’t nearly as difficult as the previous day. Both groups of fae, Taurus and Gemini, were surprisingly vocal in their support of working with the human governments to facilitate a peaceful transition to this new reality where shifters, fae, and vampires existed. My brother and Drake were less receptive to the idea but willing to go along with it, while the Capricorn alpha argued we would never be able to trust the humans. Which, well, fair.

History had taught us to fear them as much as they feared us. Our ancestors had gone to great lengths to protect themselves, and their actions had only perpetuated the fear on both sides. The humans still outnumbered supernaturals significantly. Even with magic on our side, winning a war against their tanks and bombs and whatever else wasn’t guaranteed. The casualties would be great and the losses felt for centuries to come. I didn’t need a seer to tell me that.

So, after hours of back and forth, a lot of growling, two flying chalices and a candelabra, the alliance voted unanimously in favor of helping to restore order in the human cities and banishing Mat. Foolishly, I thought with the decision made, at least a few of us would be off to Traitor’s Hell before the moon was high overhead. But no. First, we needed to speak with Director Jones and Elder Verdes, which meant another trip to the diner.

The same human woman was on duty when we arrived. The suits were already seated with steaming mugs of coffee and plates of eggs and sausage that neither had touched. There weren’t any other customers, yet the woman had, like, a dozen hamburger patties on the grill and baskets of fries in the fryer.

Personally, I felt Director Jones and the fae council elder could have been a little more gracious when we agreed to help them. They were a tad entitled in my opinion and seemed to think that allowing the mortal eternals and protectors to continuing existing was somehow payment enough for our services.

“You need us, while we don’t need you,” Drake told the men with a barbed smile. “The Zodiac Councils turned on the Ophiuchus pack a long time ago, and we have thrived without your help. So, no Elder Verdes, the Ophiuchus will not agree to mere existence.”

“And we agree with Drake,” I said before Ewan could speak up.

“What is it you want?” Director Jones asked, directing his question to the entire group but looking at me.

I folded my hands on the table and met his gaze. “A guarantee. For us and our bloodlines. Come for us, any of us, and we will kill two of you. From the pool of high-ranking fae we want as hostages.”

“Wards,” Ewan corrected me. “The people traded as part of peace talks are called wards, not hostages.”

“Yeah, well, the women traded as part of marriage alliances are called mates, but they’re still hostages.” I shrugged. “Call them whatever you like. I want them. Some humans, too.”

“That might be harder,” Director Jones said. “I can guarantee you some human wards, probably not as many as you are thinking.”

Considering I wasn’t thinking, I didn’t see his caution as a concern.

The others asked for a varied range of additional things. The Capricorns wanted someone freed from the councils’ dungeons. Essie wanted her great-grandfather’s name cleared posthumously of some crime. Zach wanted the Gemini pack lands returned as well as the Virgo lands as compensation for Liam killing Gemini wolves. While I had already asked for something big, that didn’t stop me from asking for Liam’s head on a spike.

Okay, well, not literally. But I wanted him punished for his role in stripping my wolf. I wanted everyone to know that violence against eternals and protectors wouldn’t be tolerated going forward.

Within a few hours, we’d drawn up a loose agreement with Director Jones and Elder Verdes, outlining the general terms and conditions for all parties involved with the understanding that we’d hammer out the details once we dealt with Mat. Elder Verdes was ready to escort us to Traitor’s Hell before the ink was dry, but Essie insisted there were still logistical concerns like where we were going to get enough power to open the pocket dimension and free Demi. Ewan wanted to “tie up loose ends” before embarking on an endeavor that had every chance of ending badly.

“Midnight. Those going to Traitor’s Hell will meet you here, Elder Verdes,” Essie said. She turned to Ewan. “That’s about eighteen hours. Is that enough time?”

He nodded. “Plenty.”

“Don’t forget the food!” the waitress called as we all stood to leave. She pointed to the bags of takeout containers lining the countertop and three of the booths behind us.

Ewan smiled at her. “Thank you, Shirley. Charge it to the pack’s account, will you?”

“Of course, dear. Send the boys down when you need more.”

“Who is all of this for?” I asked, draping bags over my arms.

“There’s a group of strays in Bowl Canyon. They’ve been too scared to leave their area with everything happening. Birch has been running food to them. Shirley’s daughter is married to a one of them,” Ewan said.

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