Chapter 28: A New Dawn for the Old King

WILLOW

We move to the packhouse under the cover of darkness, a cloak of shadows I provide. I conceal my mate within the swirling smoke, ensuring no one can spot him. Once we arrive at the packhouse, we gather in the conference room.

My parents, Boris, all my uncles, and the two witches, Lira and Demitri, are present. Lira’s mate, Eros, is still on pack duty with the dragons.

I present Andrei with the map where I have plotted a timeline to track the pack attacks. I recount the events of the last attempted attack and how I discovered my new ability. I share with him the chilling news of the old vampires creating an army of new turns to use as the front line against the packs.

Andrei listens intently, shaking his head in disbelief.

“This is worse than I imagined,” he confesses, pulling me into his lap. “My brother is either losing his mind or has already lost it. The only way to stop him is death, but only a master vampire can challenge him. He is the king. The others won’t be strong enough to defeat him. He has created enough vampires over the years to make his bloodline the strongest.”

“But what about you? You’re older than him. Could you defeat him?” Boris asks from his chair.

“I could, but my brother won’t face me alone. He fears I’ll reclaim the throne. I’ve tried to steer him away from this destructive path, but he won’t listen. He’s like our father, stubbornly believing that we are the only race that should survive.”

“I and my teams, along with our allies, can hold off the others. If we can get you to a place where you can challenge him, could you defeat him?” I ask, turning in his lap to look into his white eyes.

“Yes, my beloved. Defeating him is the only way I can reclaim the throne now that the elders are gone.”

“Then that’s what we must do,” I declare, turning back to the map.

“Where will they strike next? The next full moon is next week. Then we count down to darkness. He will have replenished his army by then with new turns. Where do you think he’ll strike, and how do we ensure Mihai is with them?” I wonder aloud.

“He will target the same pack as before. He can’t accept defeat. That alone will enrage him. You were able to thwart his plan to kill everyone there. You took the life of one of his generals. Trust me. He will return for more.

“He will assume your efforts will shift and protect another pack. He is narrow-minded and insane. He will be there this time to ensure success, and his blood lust will be high. His mate and her brother will join him. It’s just how she is. Where he goes, she goes, and always she brings her brother.”

“So essentially, we could be bringing their whole house of cards down in one fell swoop?” Roman asks.

Andrei nods.

“He is predictable if you know him. And no one knows him like I do. I suggest you start moving more aid to the pack you just defended. But not all at once. Mihai will have spies on the pack. Keep them in the general vicinity but not in the pack. Keep them hidden with witches’ spells. That way they can move to the attack at a moment’s notice.”

“I like this plan,” Boris confirms. “The dragons can fly overhead and watch, and the teams can move in close by and be within a moment’s reach. If we don’t tell the pack of what is going on, then the vampires will be left unaware as well.”

“Did you say that this pack has a lot of human mates?” Andrei asks.

“Yes,” Lyric responds. “Willow had them send their mates to the city for their protection, but I’ve heard some have chosen to return.”

“I can guarantee you that one or two have been enthralled. It is a very well-known method vampires have used to gain the upper hand.

“They pick a victim, but rather than kill them or turn them they enthrall them and use them to spy and report the activities to better enable them to move freely through a group without detection. They call them to their sides and get whatever information they need.”

“Can’t they break away from the vampire?” Kaiser asks.

“No. The vampire will have taken their blood, so he will have complete control of his victim. They become his puppet, and he uses them until they are no longer useful. It is easier with a human victim.

“For some reason, the human mind is not as strong as a shifter, Fae, or witch. Enthralling the supernatural is a very difficult act. My father was able to do so on two occasions that I know of. I myself have been able to do so, but my brother is not that strong.”

“So we go on the assumption that there are humans in the pack that have been enthralled and are now agents for the vampires,” Boris concludes.

“That would be my guess,” Andrei agrees, pulling me closer and planting a kiss on my ear. “I am keeping my aura very low. If I amped it up, I would be able to call many vampires to my side. Since awakening, I find I am even stronger than I was before, but I believe this is attributed to my mate and our bond.

“She is the other half of my soul. Together we will be very powerful. We will not lose this fight, my friends, and soon I will take my throne back and we will reunite all races again and live in peace.”

I lean in and kiss his cheek.

“Tomorrow we will go back to the pack and shore up the defenses. If you go, you will need to camp outside of the pack.”

“I am aware. Catching Mihai unaware is the goal. I promise to lay low, my love, but I must be close by.”

“I will need you close by as well,” I acknowledge.

My mother gives me a small smile. I see happiness in her eyes, but also worry. She knows Andrei and I are fated, but she is losing her baby. A mother’s love is a powerful thing.