Page 24 of Vengeance and Fire

“Uneasy about the Wolves?”I ask quickly before we are interrupted.

“Uneasy about what may come out of the portal.”Torin looks behind us, out into the darkness beyond, his worry thick within our bond.

“Miss Cordelia. May I call you that?” Falyn smiles, bringing us all back to the conversation around us.

“Of course, Cordelia is fine.” Cordelia turns to the towering man who dwarfs her and looks up at him.

“What brings you to my wonderful part of the world?” Falyn folds his arms over his broad chest. Stretching his neck from side to side, I can hear his bones shift and crack as he moves. Suddenly Falyn is all business. I’m reminded of how lethal he actually is. He is always so smiley, luring you into a false sense of security. It is disarming, until it isn’t. He is a Wolf through and through.

“I want to give the magic back to all Shifters. To offer you all a safe place to live where you don’t have to worry about secrecy or fear of exposure. I want to offer you a new place to live in Arcadia with the Dragons. I want to reunite us.” I can tell by Falyn’s wide eyes that he is shocked by Cordelia’s offer. The Shifters have been on Earth for centuries, and not once were they offered something like this. We all watch the Beta’s reactions, some look excited by the prospect, some look at Cordelia in disbelief. I notice the latter group exchange eye rolls behind their Alpha’s back.

“Do you know how many species of Shifters are extinct due to lack of magic? How so many Packs, Prides, Sloths, Convocations, and Pods are suffering from low birthrates? Fewer and fewer of us are born every year. This is what the Shifters lost when we lost ourRealm. Some of us can’t shift at all anymore. The Fae queen got exactly what she wanted. To cut us off completely. You come here with your lovely words, and I want to believe that you can do what you say.” He looks around at his Betas, eyes landing on Reise in silent conversation. Reise turns on his heels now fully clothed and leaves the circle.

Cordelia looks at us, her worry seeping into our bond.“He doesn’t believe me.”Her eyes widen, asking for help without asking.

“Some people need to be shown. Show him who you are?”Dravyn smirks with a knowing smile.

“I am not going full Dragon out here, Dravyn. I doubt that will help the situation anyway,”Cordelia rushes out while Falyn’s betas slowly leave the area one by one as he dismisses them.

“Who said you had to show your power with just your Dragon?”Torin inclines his head, indicating her back.

“Fuck yes,”Gales growls out at what Torin is implying.

Cordelia slips off her coat, passing it to Torin just as Falyn turns around to talk to us.

“Cordelia, I’m sorry but—”

“You need proof, right?” Cordelia holds up her hand to stop him mid-sentence.

Falyn watches as Cordelia steps back out of the light of the bonfire. Some of the remaining Beta's tense around us, as if wondering what she’s about to do, but being Dire Wolves, curiosity has them glued in place. “I’m a Dragon, the Red Dragon, not much else, right?” She shrugs. Falyn looks at us, brows raised in question. We all gesture for him to watch.

“I didn’t mean to offend. That is not what I meant. But you look—”

Cordelia cuts him off. “Looks can be deceiving, Alpha Falyn.” At those words fire erupts from Cordelia’s hand, showing her bright white angry flames. Growls breakout all around us, we all quickly rush over to block any anxious Betas from trying to attack her just in case. Cordelia ignores it all, her massive Fae wings sprout from her back. Everyone around the bonfire goes still and quiet, no one moves as they watch her lift above us, wings spread wide, fire dancing along her hands and up her arms. A tiny display of her power, of who she really is. It’s enough. Not to show-off but to show that she will use it for the good of everyone around her. Cordelia is kind and loving, putting others before herself. If she has to prove it this way, then so be it. A loud whistle breaks the silence.

“Well damn, she’s full of surprises.” Falyn walks over to us, eyes on Cordelia as she glides down to the ground. She walks between us once she lands and approaches Falyn.

“I want to help. It’s not going to happen overnight, but I will offer refuge to any Shifter willing to live in Arcadia. I can’t speak for Celestia, andIncantatia is a bit unstable at the moment. But I have a plan. I know your trust has to be earned, I don’t expect you to decide right now. I ask that you approach your council, and you bring them my news.” All business my mate, and I couldn’t be prouder of her than I am right now.

“I will raise this with my Pack. We are all that’s left of the Dire Wolves. Even though I am Alpha, I will let my people decide. This is life or death for us, Cordelia. For now, your usual place has been made available.” He looks over to Torin and gestures to the cabin we normally stay in when we are here. “I am sure all of you need a few hours of rest before the fun starts.” Falyn says with a smile.

“The Whitecliff Mountain Dire Wolf Pack welcomes you, Cordelia, Queen of Arcadia.” Falyn does a bit of a show bowing dramatically, effectively lightening the mood all around us. Some Betas sense the shift and toss their heads back to howl.

“Well, that could’ve gone south real fast,” Gale says quickly to all of us.

“I had no doubt that our girl could pull it off. She’s a force to be reckoned with.”I reply with pride. Damn she is good at this.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

DRAVYN

The hardest thing about my new life, because I truly believe that I was given a second chance to live, is being around a lot of people. It feels strange to be seen all the time. I guess that is why I sought the shadows for most of the night. I walk behind my family and try to be as inconspicuous as I can. Always watching, eyes trained on everything and everyone around us. Always calculating threats. I know I’m not the only one, even though Gale, Torin, and Adrian have been here plenty of times.

I can tell Adrian is doing the same. We are more alike than I initially thought, and I feel a sense of kinship with him. The same darkness that resides in me resides in him too, and we both want to protect the others from the pain we’ve both witnessed. It is easier to see them now, Torin the unelected leader, Gale the smart comic relief, when he isn’t being an asshole, and Adrian the broody guardian. I am and always will be one with the shadows.

So, I watch and observe the Wolves around us. When Cordelia displayed her power, the Betas were wary but in awe. Falyn is singing her praises. I can see through his cocky façade; the Shifters are in far worse shape than he is letting on. I could practically feel the relief pour off him when Cordelia made her offer to help them reclaim their magic.

We all know it will take time. We still need to perform a miracle and restore theBarren Lands.I still feel like we all have so much to do and learn, regardless of what the seers told us. We are so clueless, but maybe we need to let our Dragons guide us. Let them take the lead, and eventually our Human sides will catch up.

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