“When you put it like that, then yes, we have everything to live for,” I reply, and he spins me around one more time, but when I come back to him this time, he kisses me. Lifting me up, he carries me until he presses my body into the couch, never breaking the kiss. As long as Henry is in my life, we have everything to be happy about.
Chapter 64
Resting my head on the side of Ren’s shoulder, he glances down at me, a tug of a smile gracing his full lips.
“You should go and rest, my queen,” he quietly suggests, and I grin back at him. We have been going over plans for tomorrow with all the men for hours. All of us are sitting or standing around a large table, bottles of drinks littered all around us, and empty boxes of food on the floor. For the first half an hour, we had to get to know each other, especially since most of Lexi’s mates turned up. Morgan and Lexi themselves can’t physically leave hell, but they will be doing everything they can in hell. Madi and her friend, Tavvy, left about half an hour ago to get some rest and check on their people. Knox waves his hand, and all the food and drinks automatically refill themselves before our eyes. The amount of power and magic in this room could literally set the world on fire.
Thankfully, they are the good guys, and we only want peace. Even if it comes with a hefty price tag. “I couldn’t sleep if I tried.”
“I understand,” he replies, kissing my forehead softly just once. “But do get some fresh air. Maybe you could check on Aala; you know how she struggles to sleep.”
“Good idea,” I reply, glancing at my other mates. Henry, Thallon and Myles are all together as they talk to the princes of hell. When I first met them, I have to admit, the knowledge they are demons scared me, but I soon realised they are good souls. Climbing out of my seat, I rest my hand on Ren’s shoulder just for a second before I walk out of the room, leaving them to continue their plans on how we could possibly beat the angels.
I wish I could tell them about my plan. How I plan to call for Ayda and fight my way around the bulk of the angel army and to the city of Neamh. Shivering from the thought of fighting the Great Light on my own, I wrap my arms around myself and kick stray pebbles from my path as I head back to my cabin. The door is slightly open when I get to my home, and I gently push it open as I hear someone softly humming. Keeping my footsteps as silent as I can, I follow the sound of the singing to Aala’s room where Bryne is sitting on a chair near Aala’s bed, and he is the one making the soft sound. Aala is drifting off to sleep, looking far more at peace than I usually see her, and I nearly jump as a hand lands on my arm. I spin to see Vesnia, who places a finger on her lips and nods her head back to the living area. I hook my arm with hers as we go back to the main room.
“Will you thank Bryne for helping her sleep? She never does sleep like that,” I ask Vesnia, and she smiles so widely at me in return.
“He knows what it’s like to be a scared child and how the comfort of having someone near you can just soothe your soul,” Vesnia explains to me. “Aala needs that. I’m so happy she is going to have you and your mates. You’re the kindest and bravest person I know, and your mates are extensions of your personality. I’m so happy you chose me as your friend.”
Tears are brimming in my eyes as I tug her into a tight hug. “You’re my best friend, and I feel like you’re my sister in every sense of the word. We are family, and we will survive tomorrow. I’m going to make sure of it.”
“You mean we will, right?” she questions, leaning back to look me in the eye. Suspicion clouds her eyes, and thankfully the door is knocked once before it’s swung open. Vesnia lets me go as we watch Madi and Tavvy step into the room.
“The boys are making war plans, and the girls should make our own plans. Right?” Tavvy asks, cocking a blonde eyebrow.
“What did you have in mind?” Vesnia asks, totally on board with this idea. I had a funny feeling Tavvy and Vesnia would get along like a house on fire. Literally, the pair of them could cause an accidental house fire with their craziness.
“I like you,” Tavvy exclaims, coming over and hooking her arm in Vesnia’s and dragging her out of the cabin. Madi chuckles as I go to her side, and we follow them out of the cabin and down the various pathways as they talk between each other.
“This is for you,” Madi says, slipping out a star necklace from her pocket. “It has a built-in tracker, so if anything goes wrong tomorrow, we can find you. The men will all have star clips on their clothes, and the women necklaces. Tavvy and I spent all day making them with the help of our people.”
“Thank you,” I say, nodding at her. It’s a smart idea, especially when I’m planning on going off on my own. I reach up and clip the necklace on, letting the blue metal star rest in the middle of my chest.
“I stopped a goddess once. It nearly cost me everything,” she softly warns me. “And I have no doubt whatever your plan is tomorrow will work. But rarely do we lose nothing to gain a happy ending.”
“The Great Light is a fake god,” I remind her. “And fake gods can fall and burn just like everyone else.”
Her eyes meet mine, and I see the same hope and worry I feel in my chest, reflected in hers.
“Here we are!” Tavvy shouts, and I swallow the emotions in my throat as I turn to see a portal with Lexi and a woman I don’t know sitting at a table on the other side. In front of the portal is a long light wooden table with dozens of cakes and drinks on it. I grin as we each take our seats and introduce each other, and I soon learn the other girl is the alpha female of the wolf pack, Sera. Sera is a beautiful woman about our age, and she is very clearly pregnant. I met her mate briefly in a portal earlier today during the discussions of when the wolves will get to the fight and everything they will be doing. I know it’s hard for Myles’s wolf to take orders from another alpha, but he is handling it the best he can do.
“Welcome to the first of many TAWVD meetings,” Tavvy says, and we all turn to her in confusion. “Oh, it stands for Tales, Angels, Wolves, Vampires and Demons.”
Pouring a drink, I hold a glass up as everyone gets a drink too. “To us. To our mates and to the world we want and will fight for tomorrow.”
We clink our glasses together, and for the first time, I don’t fear for our future. If a demon, wolf, vampire, angel and demon can sit around a table and have drinks...there is hope for a future of peace for us all.
Chapter 65
“But I want to come with you!” Aala all but screams at me, her rather strong arms tightly wrapped around my waist. “You will go and never come back, just like my parents and aunt. I don’t want you not to come back!” she cries, and it breaks my heart with every word. Ren kneels next to me, right at her level, and taps her little shoulder. She breaks her head away from my hip and looks at Ren with wide, tear-filled eyes.
“The goddess that blessed you is going to protect us all. Kaitlyn especially. You have nothing to worry about, little one. When this is over, where would you like to go?”
She thinks about it a little as she lets me go but still stays close. “The beach to get shells!”
“The beach it is then,” he replies and stands up.