“Her aunt died to save me. Riley killed her...but he was really trying to kill me,” I whisper. “I never thought Riley would do that, but he isn’t good. He isn’t what I thought he was.”
“When I get my hands on him, he will die,” Myles growls, and Henry huffs in agreement. I clear my throat and stand up, looking at Ren one more time.
“Can you stay with him? I won’t be too long,” I say, knowing I need to go and see Thallon and Aala. I also want to check in on Vesnia, make sure she is okay with Bryne, though I have a feeling she is as happy as she can be now that she is with him once more. Myles nods once, moving to stand by the door while Henry kisses the side of my head.
“I’m your mate and sworn to protect his life with my own. You never need to ask,” he explains to me as I touch the tip of my fingers on Ren’s hand.
“I never told him—”
“He will wake, and you can tell him everything,” Henry softly says, picking up my hand in his. With tears in my eyes, I give him a shaky smile before leaving the room. The cabin has a corridor of rooms leading to a big open plan room where Thallon is near a couch with Aala lying on it. She is sleeping on a small pillow, and Thallon is covering her with a thick purple blanket as he looks up to see me. Quietly he tucks her in before walking over to me, linking our fingers as we head outside the cabin to the decking where we rest against the bannister.
“Poor kid cried herself to sleep. I’m clueless what to do with kids, but she seemed to calm down when I said I was going to stay here until she wakes up,” Thallon explains, looking worried. “She is so young to have lost all her family.”
“We can be her family...I know it’s not the same, but I want to care for her. Her aunt died to save me, and that is a debt I can only pay back by caring for Aala. Plus, I like her,” I say, feeling a resolve in my chest. There is no way I’m leaving her when this is all over. If it’s all over. Somehow I will find a way to make sure Aala is safe from the angels, from anyone that could mean her harm. Thallon runs his finger down my cheek to under my chin, tilting my gaze up to his until our eyes lock. Our lips meet at the same time, both of us calling to each other in a way only our souls could understand.
A throat clearing jolts us apart, and I glance over Thallon’s shoulder to see Madi standing with one of her mates...Oisin, I believe his name is.
“There is trouble with the vampires. One of them has called a meeting, and they want to fight,” Madi warns, stepping closer as Thallon moves to my side. “They need a leader, but Ren isn’t awake.”
My hands shake as I realise the only person that could tell them anything is...well...me. Dammit. Shakily, I hold my head high and glance at Thallon. He seems to understand without a single word that I need him to come with me.
“Can you watch Aala? If she wakes, come for me please,” I ask.
With understanding shining in her eyes, she smiles at me. “Of course.”
I link my hand with Thallon’s, drawing whatever strength I can from his touch as we head through the clearing and into the woods where the vampires’ cabins are. I hear the noise of a big group, followed by shouts of one man as we get closer to the cabins. Coming out of the tree line, we step into the back of a big group of vampires who all pause and turn to us. With their heavy eyes weighing every single one of my footsteps down, I walk through them with Thallon following behind me. On a raised platform, a man I recognise as one of Ren’s council stands in the middle, and his green eyes flash with anger as I climb onto the platform.
“We were just—” the man starts to say, but Thallon grabs the collar of his shirt and throws him off the stage. Unexpectedly, that was sexier than I thought. Thallon nods at me, making it clear no one else will interrupt me.
“My name is Kaitlyn Lightson, and I was once human. I led a normal life, but I saw ghosts, I saw the dead that roam the earth in search of a home. Many of you believe I am simply the mate Ren chose, but I am more than that. I know what it is to not have a home, to be forced to hide and not trust even your best friend. I was that girl before I met Ren, and even the angels could not be a home for me, because I knew in my soul I belonged somewhere else.” I pause as whispers float around in the crowd. “I became half-vampire, and in this time, I found out my ancestors were master vampires, and I held the power to be one. So when the fake god, the light above or Great Light, took my wings and angel powers from my soul, my vampire side was finally free. I am a master vampire, and so is my mate. We will make the vampire race rise from under the angels’ feet and push them off their throne.”
The chatter of the crowd is so loud now, and my nerves match their noise. “All those who treat angels like gods will fall. The vampires will rise, and I promise each of you that I will be a queen you will be proud of. Are you on my side? Are you ready to prepare for the last vampire war? A war the angels will never, ever forget?”
The cheers that follow the last word that leaves my lips must shake the walls of this dimension. As my people cheer, they each bow down on one knee, and I swear to myself I will fight for my people.
This was always my destiny.
Chapter 60
“The child should leave for this conversation,” Warren, one of Madi’s scarier mates, states as he appears in the room, next to Madi. These tales have a bad habit of just appearing in places and making me jump out of my skin. Madi says you get used to it, but I’m sure some of her mates are doing it on purpose for a laugh. The pains in the arses they are. I put down the cards I was playing with Aala, trying to cheer her up or at least distract her, as I look at Madi and see the worry in her eyes. I’m coming to know Madi quite well, and she is one of the strongest women I know, so I know for certain something is wrong.
It’s been three days since we got Ren back, and even though the vampires are on my side, we all need Ren to wake up. He will know what to do next. Myles, Thallon and Henry have been amazing, helping me with Aala, who is trying to find her place in a world she feels she is alone in once more. Hopefully, in time, she will see that we aren’t leaving her side. Aala’s eyes fix on me, and I can feel her heavy gaze even when I don’t look her way.
“Kid, why don’t we go and find out what the cooks are making for tea?” Myles gently asks Aala. I hear her say sure, and they both leave as I stand up, wishing Thallon and Henry were here. They are in the real world, in the tales city, helping with the gathering of blood for all the vampires here. Thankfully, the tales island is thick with woods and many animals that live in them, making it possible to find the blood that we need.
“The angels are making an army. Gabriel sent us word, and they will attack all the supernaturals in three days if you and Ren aren’t given to them before then,” Madi says, and I nod. I expected as much.
“I understand if you want us to leave,” I firmly state. “I’m asking you to fight a war with me.”
“Before we came here to tell you, we held a meeting with all the leaders. We have all decided to fight at your side, and in return, if we ever need it, the vampires must come to our side,” Madi offers. “I understand you want to wait for Ren to wake—”
“We accept your offer,” Ren’s voice fills the room, and I swiftly turn around to see him standing in the middle of the corridor. His large form makes the corridor seem small, and his presence dominates the room without him needing to do anything. Though he looks paler than usual, and his hair is longer, wilder than I’m used to, he still makes my heart smack against my chest, and my feet run to him without a second thought. His arms spread as I get closer before I crash into his chest, and he wraps me in his arms as I breathe in his scent to calm myself.