Chapter 32: 32: Drug War

Rowen

I glanced in the back seat, staring at the spot Kat had occupied, and exhaled, finding it empty. “I owe you, Viona. Where did you send her?”

“Do you see the look on that evil woman’s face? We don’t have time for small talk, Alpha Wolf,” Viona whispered through clenched teeth. “She’s safe. I sent her back to Lucas.”

“Exit the vehicle!” Queen Celestria’s voice boomed, sounding like she was in the SUV with us.

“Can she hear us?” Fiona asked, peering at me with widened eyes.

“No.” Viona leaned up between the seats, keeping her speech low. “But she can project her voice. Listen, Kat is fine, and I bet thrilled to find herself with that hot wolf, Lucas.”

I heard Rian scoff from behind. “That’s what you are worried about? Leave it to a woman to care more about—”

“Stifle yourself, wolf pup! We all best start worrying about ourselves. I’m powerful, but I can’t fight this evil creature alone.” Viona leaned back and shot Rian with a venomous glare.

“She’s right. We can’t put it off any longer,” I said, watching the queen striding toward the vehicle.

“Why are you here?” I asked, exiting the SUV and keeping my gaze on Fiona. She, along with Rian and Viona, met me in front of the SUV.

Celestria peered at us before studying her fingernails as if she were bored. As we neared, her gaze zeroed in on Fiona. “We had a pact,” she said. “I’m ready to uphold my end of the bargain… are you?” Her pale blonde brows raised, and she cocked her head to the side. “Tell me where Princess Araqiel is and I will inform you who, in my court, is helping your father with Sexflex.”

“You know who aided my father?” Fiona made to move toward the queen, but I grabbed her.

Queen Celestria folded her arms, drumming her nails in irritation. “I know everything, secret or not, that happens within my court.”

I bit back a curse. “So you made a deal with Fiona to find your daughter in exchange for information you already had?”

Celestria smiled. “That’s correct, wolf! Why would I impart my knowledge without getting something in return?” She looked down her nose, sneering. “You may be a shapeshifter, but you do not understand how sacred a pact is between the fae. Nothing comes without a price.”

Rian stepped in front of Fiona and Viona, shielding them, and stood beside me in solidarity. “I am more than a shapeshifter. I’m Alpha O’Connell, and this is my province. You have crossed my borders uninvited and, therefore, I want you to leave.”

“And I am Celestria Einar, Queen of Fae, who travels wherever she pleases. You are nothing more than a mortal beast.” She held her head high, but I saw the challenge in her expression.

“You’re just a bitter old fairy,” I retorted, lifting my head and squaring my shoulders. “But we are not here to exchange names and ranks…”

Rian reached out, touching my shoulder. I knew it was a gentle reminder to control my temper. Though my anger was justified, it wasn’t wise to antagonize this all-powerful foe.

The queen scowled at us with hatred and venom seemed to pour off her in waves. “You have a young sister you should worry about,” she announced before a coy grin lifted her lips. “Just as I am worried about my young daughter.”

“Princess Araqiel isn’t a child,” Rian said, sounding far more calm and collected than me.

“She is still a child to me and my kind!” The queen narrowed her eyes.

“That may be…” Fiona spoke up. “But she doesn’t know you. You gave her to my wicked father! What kind of mother does that?”

The queen whipped her head toward Fiona, her displeasure clear. “Her place is now with me. She will understand why I did what I had to do for the Fae Realm. Being a queen forced me to make sacrifices. But I don’t intend to lose her because of those sacrifices.”

“And if she doesn’t want to be with you now or forgive you…” Fiona lifted her shoulders.

“Are you going to tell me where my daughter is?” Celestria asked.

“No!” Fiona shook her head.

“We made a pledge,” the queen seethed.

“Wrong. You made a pledge, but I never accepted,” Fiona spat.

“I am your queen, and it’s now an order.” Celestria glided toward us.

I positioned myself in front of Fiona. “You have no authority here!”

She glared at me with fury in her eyes. “I am the Queen of Fae!”

“Yes, you are. But you hold no power here. Go back to your kingdom and rule over your subjects. Leave my territory now,” I shouted, feeling my inner wolf raging inside.

“You are making a fatal mistake, wolf mutt.” Celestria’s face contorted in anger. “Starting a war with me would be a horrible idea for your entire race.”

“No one is declaring war,” announced Rian, shaking his head. “We just can’t give you what you are asking of us.”

“To me, that’s a declaration of war, foolish wolf.” The queen shook with rage. “If you’re keeping my daughter’s location a secret, you’re my enemy. I will eliminate you, your pack, and all you hold dear.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” I crossed my arms over my chest, matching her heated stare.

She nodded. “You leave me no alternative, Alpha Wolf.”

A strange roar erupted, causing us to look around while the queen remained unruffled as figures emerged like ghosts in the night. Each one appeared to be a creature from the fairy realm. Yet, it was hard to tell, since it seemed they were all dosed with Sexflex. Some dressed in torn, dirty rags, and others in elaborate battle gear, but all looked wild-eyed as they clambered through the snow on a rampage.

“Just what the feck are you doing?” I asked the queen, bellowing with fury. “This onslaught violates all treaties between the Creatures of Primordial!”

“Your race violated the treaties by kidnapping my daughter,” yelled the queen, lifting her haughty chin. “Now tell me where she is, or accept the repercussions!”

“We did not kidnap Princess Araqiel!” Fiona stepped around me and I held my arm out, keeping her out of harm’s way.

“Knowing where she is and not telling me is the same thing!” She held up a slim hand, and fairy servants surrounded her, carrying syringes filled with a deep blue liquid and large bottles of pills. It wouldn’t take a genius to identify the source of the drug—Sexflex.

“Stop!” Fiona pushed past me, throwing up her hands. “You’re gonna cause a bloody disaster!”

Queen Celestria stalked toward Fiona, and I watched the muscles clench in her jaw. “Then tell me where my daughter is and I’ll call off this impending disaster.”

“No!” Fiona wailed, crossing her arms.

“Rowen, now!” Rian yelled from behind, and I knew what he meant.

“You’re crossing the line, Celestria Einar!” I gritted my teeth and howled out to my pack through the mental bond that united us. “This will ignite war!”

The queen just smiled. “If you so desire, Alpha O’Connell…”

“No!” Rian yelled and charged at the queen, but it was too late.

The servants of the Fairy Realm distributed the Sexflex to the drug-addled soldiers, who ingested, inhaled, and injected it.

You could almost feel a regenerated sigh in the air as the addicted creatures succumbed to their high. For a second, it felt like time stood still until a collective roar lent the air.

“Get in the house NOW!” I warned, shoving Fiona toward the door. “Where’s Viona? Rian, grab the witch.”

I watched Rian scoop up the tiny witch—who put up a hell of a fight—and then pushed Fiona inside.

“See you in Hell, Alpha.” The queen threw a saucy wink and blew me a kiss before disappearing, leaving behind the creatures whose shouts defied silence.

Inside the house, Rian rushed past us carrying a kicking and screaming Viona. I gaped outside in fear, watching the devastation erupt like doomsday. Then an alarm sounded, ringing in my ears and hundreds of wolves poured out of their homes, dashing around and preparing for battle. The frenzied wails of children and those too old or sick to shift erupted, and I knew it was time.

Wolves, gather up! I busted through the door and shifted. My mind connected with all the wolves that made up the O’Connell pack. There were over four hundred of us, and the Sexflex-induced fairy warriors appeared about half of our numbers. And still, I feared this battle.

In my head, I heard my pack mates calling from all directions. I sensed their thoughts converging with mine. I watched them howl, pulling flesh apart while the opposition did the same. But their misery, their rage, their panic, and their deaths would become mine.

My body crashed into one of the Sexflex goblins. Its screech soared into the air like a war cry. The monster fell to the earth and its claws swiped at me. I sensed its fangs close to my hide and, in response, I sunk my canines into its jugular, and chemical-tasting, rotten blood filled my mouth.

As I grappled with the goblin, I felt Fiona’s fear throughout my body. Through Rian’s eyes, I watched her run, steading herself at his side and grabbing Viona’s hand.

They ripped our home apart, leaving broken windows, doors, and complete chaos. Rian hoisted Viona and Fiona onto his back and rushed out of the house, followed by at least five fairy goblins, who chased after him. I knew what Rian was trying to do, and I dropped the goblin’s limp body, leaving my pack to hunt the rest, and ran to catch up with him.

Rian charged out of the house with Fiona and Viona clinging to his fur. I caught up to him right when one of the monsters lunged at them. Fiona’s scream rose into the air, and I leaped over the creature, ripping its midsection apart as shrieks of anguish escaped the monster’s mouth.

Rian rushed Fiona and Viona to the SUV and left them beside it. I saw Fiona open the door, ready to get in, when I sensed something dark, causing my hackles to rise. A desperate howl from the pack made my fur stand on end as I noticed an additional threat.

My eyes closed for a moment, and then I observed six black armored pickup trucks emerge amidst the pandemonium. The first stopped a few feet before reaching us, and a lone figure jumped out.

“Did you miss me, daughter?” Cormac Quinn asked, holding a rifle on Fiona and Viona.

Rian’s outcry crashed around me as I watched Fiona hit the ground. I felt the pain burst inside me and knew the bullet had hit Fiona, but it hadn’t killed her. As she screamed out in pain, Viona kneeled in front of her, and I rushed to her aid while Rian threw himself on Cormac.

The old hunter chuckled and fired the gun at my brother, who evaded the shot and tackled Cormac to the ground. Then the hunters scrambled out of their trucks, and all around me was more chaos. I knew we didn’t have the time or capability to deal with the new danger unleashed out of nowhere.

We must run! I used my mental link to the pack and raced toward Cormac Quinn to stop him.

“But this is our home, my lord!” one wolf shouted, and I heard it through the air and through my mind.

I understand, but we can’t defend it. Not with Cormac, and his hunting buddies added to the mix. I wanted to scream the words into the night, but I wouldn’t give Cormac the satisfaction. I refuse to sacrifice my pack members to defend a bunch of houses. Get everyone to the underground tunnels. Vacate the territory. Those who can fight, please keep the goblins and hunters occupied while the children, sick and old, make a quick getaway.

I knew many of the wolves wanted to refuse my command, but an order given by the alpha was indisputable.

Cormac Quinn grinned and sprinted toward me. “What a delight it is to see you again, mutt!” He fired the gun at me again.

I was quicker than him and evaded the bullet, but I knew it wouldn’t last long.

Fiona! I called her using my mind, hoping the connection might make it possible for us to communicate. I prayed she’d understand my thoughts. Put your ass in the car with Viona and get the feck outta here now, lass!

Never! Relief washed over me, hearing her voice in my head. Our fated mate bond worked! I refuse to leave you, Rowen.

Stubborn lass!