Page 23 of Their Crowned Mate
I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "I know. And I could say the same to you."
"I'm here as long as you are," he insisted, glancing over his shoulder to where Jax and Damon were standing, watching us even though they immediately looked away as if pretending they weren't. "We all are."
"Thank you," I said, taking a deep breath as I turned back toward the portal. "Let's just hope Joram is ready for us."
I had no idea how much time would have passed on the other side of the portal. It always passed faster than it did here, but this wasn't an exact science. Not by a long shot.
"Come on, wolf," I muttered under my breath, closing my eyes and trying to focus on the feeling of my feet against the earth as I called her to the surface. This was another science I was far from perfecting.
But then it was happening. I could feel the change coming over me, the fur covering my skin and the feral instincts kicking in. I heard a few gasps around me as the others noticed, but nobody said anything even though my wolf was very far from normal. I could only assume Aurelius had given them the heads up about that, but they were already here.
And then I was running, sprinting through that portal as fast as my four legs would carry me. My wolf's instincts took over, and all my fears that she wouldn't know the way melted.
It was clear that somehow, the fae side of me had gotten wrapped up in her as well. She really was something else.
I could feel the others behind me, and hear Alexander's voice growing distant as he commanded them to follow me through. The familiar whooshing sensation of traveling through the portal took over, but this time, in my wolf form, I was more prepared for it.
When the portal opened up on the other side, a wave of energy rushed over me. It was like coming home, and I felt my wolf's enthusiasm for being back in this world. I could feel her joy as our paws hit the earth of the familiar woods and knew when I saw the plume of smoke in the sky she hadn't led me astray.
I looked back over my shoulder to see an army blanketing the colorful woods like a shadow as the others emerged from the portal behind me.
The others followed close behind us, their eyes wide with wonder as they took in the lush greens of the trees and the vibrant colors of the wildflowers that blanketed the land. Even Aurelius seemed to be enjoying himself, despite his initial reservations about being here.
He had shifted into the form of a great white wolf, and when his emerald eyes met mine, I couldn't help but laugh at the wonder in them.
I smiled at him, feeling my wolf's contentment settle over me like a warm blanket. I walked over, nuzzling his cheek instinctively before I fully knew what I was doing. He stiffened up and stared down at me as if he was just as shocked, but when he nuzzled me back, I was at once flustered and relieved.
The others were catching up, so I stepped back and turned to face them, relieved when the guys reached us.
"All right," Alexander said, looking majestic as ever with his hand on the sword at his side and his cloak billowing in the wind. "Lead the way, little wolf."
Cole had shifted into his coyote form, and Marcus had his favorite pistol in hand. Jax and Damon looked pretty formidable in their own right, having both shifted into their wolf forms as well.
We finally had an army, and combined with Joram's, assuming he'd managed to scrape together what was left, we might actually stand a chance. I could hope.
I took off into the woods in the direction of the smoke, hoping desperately Joram was still there. But the truth was, I didn't know how many days or even weeks might have passed. What if he thought I had abandoned him? Considering I knew how that felt, it shouldn't have bothered me as much as it did.
When we reached the cabin, there was no sign of him, but there was still a fire going, so that had to mean something. Before I could reach the front door, Alexander intercepted me and motioned for everyone to stay back as he opened it. He stepped inside and returned a couple of minutes later, shaking his head.
"No one's home."
My heart sank. Another possibility occurred to me. What if Joram was the one who'd turned his back on his realm? What if he had gone MIA again, and this time, there would be no finding him?
Before I could think of what to do, I heard something moving in the woods behind me and my fur bristled. Marcus and Alexander both raised their weapons, bracing themselves.
When I saw Joram slipping through the woods, looking completely stunned as he took in the massive crowd of warriors gathered around him, I felt a surge of immense relief.
I ran over to him and he leaned down to pat my head. "What's all this?" he asked.
I wasn't sure if he could even hear me in this form, but it was worth a shot.This is that army I promised you.
His eyes widened slightly, and he chuckled. "So it is," he said, taking another look at the group that was still teeming in from the forest, surrounding the small cabin. "You really delivered, didn't you?"
Always,I said, holding his gaze.Tell me, old man. Did you hold up your end of the bargain?
His eyes lit up with amusement as the guys came to flank me on either side. "I've spent the last few weeks crossing the country, rallying all the support I had left. It's more than I feared, but less than I hoped. Although, I dare say with the forces you've brought, we might actually stand a chance."
"Good," said Cole, having shifted back into his human form and donned one of the same outfits Alexander's men were wearing. "Now we just need a plan."
