“Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a great threat to bring different races together in a common goal. Only then can they learn to appreciate their differences.” ~Vasile
Vasile couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen so many fae warriors in one place. His eyes roamed over the field where he and his wolves usually sparred, attempting to count the fae. But they kept moving, so the highest he’d gotten was thirty-five.
“Did you expect this?” Decebel asked from beside him.
“I knew that Peri would send as many as she could,” Vasile said, “But I didn’t know how many would be willing to answer her call. Let’s just hope she and Nissa were able to recruit as many of the other supernatural races as well.”
Riven, the fae warrior who had come to them a week prior, walked over and held out his arm. Vasile clasped the fae’s forearm in a warrior’s shake and bowed his head at the same time as Riven.
“We are honored to go to battle with you,” Riven said.
“As we are honored to have you on our side,” Vasile replied.
Riven released the alpha, stepped back a step, and clasped his hands behind his back. “I come with discouraging news,” the fae said. “It became apparent as we were recruiting warriors to fight that many more than we realized have joined the Order. We knew some had, but we weren’t aware it was so many.”
“Do you have an estimate on the number?” Vasile asked.
“Of the ones of which I am positive, there are thirty. Those unaccounted for number around twenty-five. I must assume they are with the Order, which brings their fae support to fifty-five,” Riven said.
“How many have joined with us?” Decebel asked.
“Forty-five,” Riven answered.
“What about Peri?” Fane, who had just stepped up to the conversation, asked.
“I asked her to go to the Deep Keep,” Vasile said. “I wanted someone powerful with the children and the healers.”
Riven nodded. “That’s a wise decision. Peri announced to us that Alston’s magic was a part of how the Order captured your healer. Knowing that he is working with the Order, it’s important to have someone powerful watching the vulnerable. Nissa will be joining us. She is a high fae as you know and quite formidable.”
“Thank you and your people for being willing to transport us to the veil to the sprite realm,” Vasile said.
“We’re ready when you are,” Riven said.
Vasile turned to the group at his back. There were a hundred wolves from both the Romanian and former Serbian packs. As soon as they felt his eyes on them, they quieted and focused their attention on the Alpha.
“The fae warriors will transport us to the veil of the sprite realm. You must be touching a few when they flash. Please be respectful as they are our comrades. Am I understood?”
In one voice they answered. “As you say, Alpha.”
The fae began to spread out amongst the wolves, holding out their arms as pack members laid hands on them. Vasile, Decebel, Fane, and Drake flashed first with Riven. In a matter of minutes, the entire pack and all the fae were standing in front of the large, old tree that would lead them into the sprite ream. A human male dressed in what appeared to be an elfin warrior uniform stood next to the tree. He held a sword at his side. And next to him was the luminous sprite leader. She was glowing, and Vasile could feel the power coming from her.
“I am Chris Morgan, Sally’s father and husband of Cindy … a sprite,” the human warrior said, holding his empty hand out to Vasile.
Vasile shook it. “You’ve met my mate,” he said. “Alina Lupei.”
“Ah, yes, she is extremely kind,” Chris said.
Vasile smiled. “That she is.” Then he turned to the sprite and smiled. “Hello, Diedre, it’s good to see you again.”
She bowed. “Vasile Lupei, thank you for coming to the summit.” Diedre stepped to the side, and a shimmering veil parted inside a large opening in the tree. “Walk straight through to the other side. Aurora is waiting with some of the elemental sprites.”
“Diedre,” Riven said just as Vasile moved toward the veil, “my warriors and I have to gather the rest of the supernaturals. We shall return with everyone else for the summit.”
Diedre gave a small bow to the fae warrior and then, as one, the fae flashed from the field.
A sprite met Vasile and the others on the sprite side of the veil. “Please follow the trail of lights,” a female sprite said, pointing left to an illuminated trail. “It will take you to the great gathering room.”
As they began walking, Fane stepped up beside Vasile as Decebel took his other side. “Da,” Fane said, “have you ever been to this realm before?”
Vasile shook his head. “The sprites have kept to themselves for a very long time. They haven’t mingled with other supernaturals or humans.”
“It’s a beautiful land,” Decebel said.
Vasile took a moment to take in his surroundings. It was night in the realm of the sprites. A huge silver moon hung in the sky, shining down on the land, casting long shadows around the trees and bushes. The trees were tall and slender with green leaves etched in gold. Their foliage was unusual and striking. Vasile could tell the gilded leaves might be unnoticeable without the moonlight causing the trim to glitter.
“It is quite lovely,” Vasile agreed.
They reached the end of the trail of lights and found themselves standing in front of a large structure entirely constructed out of trees. The front of it consisted of two huge trees, as wide as houses and at least five stories high. They each arched inward toward one another. There were smaller trees clustered in between the two giants, forming a wall of foliage. As the wolves approached, leaves rustled and the branches of the two centermost trees separated, creating a gap for the party to pass through. Light flowed out of the opening and the sound of voices filtered to the wolves’ ears.
Vasile walked through the trees without pause, his pack at his back. Trees lined either side of the walls and the back of the large room. Vasile felt the pull of the moon and tilted his head back to find an opening in the roof where the bright orb shone down into the great hall.
The light glittered off the tree branches making them appear white.
“Welcome, Vasile, Alpha of the combined Romania and Serbia pack.” Vasile turned and saw Andora, the sprite queen, step from a raised dais and walk toward him. “It is a great honor to welcome you and your warriors into our realm.”
Vasile bowed. The others followed his lead. “Thank you for hosting such an important and momentous event,” Vasile said.
“We should begin very soon. It won’t take the fae long to bring everyone in,” Andora said.
A minute later, Peri flashed into the great hall with Thalion at her side. “I see the party hasn’t started without me,” said the high fae.
“I thought you were with the group going to the Keep,” Vasile said.
“I was, and it’s the Deep Keep, might want to get it right before you see Jen again,” Peri said. “But Thalion needed a ride, and I needed Cyn to take over for me watching the pack while I attend this summit. I need to grab one more guest. I will return momentarily.” She flashed before anyone could say anything.
“Thalion,” Vasile said, holding out his arm for the elf warrior to clasp. “How are things in the elfin realm?”
Thalion took the offered arm, wrapping his hand around Vasile’s forearm. “Could be worse,” Thalion said. “We figured out why my father wasn’t making any moves against us. Turns out, he left the realm with his loyal warriors.”
A familiar voice bellowed through the room just as Vasile was about to respond.
“Never thought I’d have the opportunity to fight side by side with the great Vasile Lupei,” Tyler Reed called out into the crowded room.
Vasile turned to look at the man and smiled a genuine smile. “I truly wish such a day had never come,” Vasile said. “Are you here alone?”
Tyler shook his head. “I left my Beta in charge and brought my third.” He motioned to a man standing quietly against the tree branch wall.
Jeff Stone, the Coldspring, Texas Alpha, came in next with two males flanking him, and Vasile felt Fane tense. He placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “He is not your enemy. You killed the one who hurt your mate.”
“Seeing him just brings back unpleasant memories,” Fane said as Jeff walked up to them.
“Alpha Lupei, Decebel, Fane.” The Coldspring Alpha bowed his head to each of them and then turned to Tyler. “Alpha Reed, it is good to see you.” The two males on either side of him bowed to them, as well, and then stepped back.
“You, as well, Jeff,” Tyler said. “Have you carried out any additional raids on the vamp nests?”
Jeff shook his head. “Haven’t caught the scent of any more of them.”
“That’s because they’re all in Phoenix.” Dillon Jacob’s voice came from the entrance to the great hall. His mate, Tanya, was beside him as they walked into the large room.
“I am eager to hear your report, Dillon,” Vasile said, “but let’s wait until everyone has arrived so you won’t have to repeat yourself.”
Dillon nodded. “Good idea.”
The next to enter was Cypher, the warlock king and his mate, Lilly Pearce, the warlock queen. Vasile frowned as he met the eyes of Jacque’s mother.
Lilly huffed. “Don’t look at me like that. I have my reasons for not going with the girls and the children. I am not part of your pack, Vasile. Don’t judge.”
Vasile held up his hands. “Not judging. Just surprised, that’s all.”
She pursed her lips at him and didn’t seem to believe him.
Vasile shrugged and then shook Cypher’s forearm. “Thank you for coming,” he told the warlock king.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Cypher said with a smile that was all teeth, very wolf like.
Several minutes later, King Ainsel came in, all eighteen inches of him, flanked by a contingent of pixies.
“King Ainsel,” Vasile said as he bowed his head to the pixie king.
“Good to see you are well, Vasile,” Ainsel said and then greeted the others.
Vasile noticed the three sprite women they’d met a week prior were climbing up onto the platform, along with two others he had not met. He also saw the room was beginning to fill up with the fae warriors that had brought him and his pack, as well as the others.
Andora, the sprite queen, raised her hands and the room went silent. “We are waiting for Perizada and one more guest,” she said.
Less than a minute after she said that, Peri flashed into the room with a tall male standing next to her. Vasile immediately recognized him for what he was. “Djinn,” he said, and the male turned his head to look directly at him. The djinn gave Vasile a nod and then turned to face Andora.
“Peri,” Andora said, “would you please introduce your guest? Few here have probably ever met a djinn before.”
The room erupted into chatter as they stared at the man in awe. Peri turned and looked at the group. “I have recently been working with the current djinn historian. He is helping with a situation regarding a sadistic fae and five new healers. I reached out to him when I found out about the summit. He could not come himself, but he put me in touch with another male from his clan. This is Jareth. He’s a member of the djinn council and willing to go to battle with us. Djinn are very powerful,” she continued. “If Jareth were to let his power lose without attempting to control it, he could level a city, so that means he will have to be careful. Don’t think for a second that he can do this battle on his own, not unless we’re okay with killing thousands upon thousands of innocent humans.”
“Which we are not okay with,” Vasile said, raising his voice just a bit to make sure he was heard.
Andora met Vasile’s eyes. “Agreed,” she said. “Now, let us begin.”
Dillon raised his hand, and the sprite queen made a motion to him to come to the front of the room.
Dillon moved forward and stepped up onto the platform. He faced the room, looking at all the supernaturals present. “When I saw the news reports on the large amount of human deaths in Phoenix, Arizona, I decided to investigate and see what I could find out. Vasile and I both believed it to be the work of the Order of the Burning Claw.
“Peri was kind enough to have one of the fae warriors flash us to Phoenix. All of the victims scattered throughout the city actually lived at the same apartment complex, so we went there first. It was crawling with vampires.” He paused and pinched the bridge of his nose. Vasile noticed for the first time since Dillon had arrived the alpha look exhausted.
“From there,” he continued, “we simply tracked the vampires, and they led us to a compound. We watched the place, the comings and goings, for three days. During one of those days, some elves showed up,” Dillon said, turning his eyes to Thalion.
Thalion nodded. “My father, Ludcarab, and the elves that were loyal to him. Now I have confirmation that he is indeed in league with the Order.”
Dillon nodded. “They have significant numbers. We saw fae, pixies, wolves, even some warlocks. The only thing we didn’t see was a djinn. Based on what Jacque told me about her friend, I’m assuming they still don’t have a healer.”
Vasile shook his head. “As of right now, there are only seven in the world. Two are with my pack and five are with Peri.”
“Did you see a high fae?” Peri asked.
“How would he look any different from a non-high fae?” Dillon asked.
“He’s like a proud peacock and doesn’t suppress his power. You would have felt him.”
Suddenly a pulsing started in Vasile’s chest, almost like the feeling you get when listening to very loud music with a strong bass. He looked around and noticed that others were pressing their hands to their chest. Everyone, that is, but the fae.
“It would have felt similar to that,” Peri said, making it clear that her power was causing the vibration in their chests.
“No, we didn’t feel anything like that,” Dillon said.
Peri glanced over her shoulder to Vasile. “I have no idea what he could be planning,” she said. Then to the rest of the room she said, “Alston, a high fae, has joined the dark side and is working with the Order. He was behind the capture of the Romania pack healer. He’s powerful. He’s been lying low.”
Vasile stepped forward and turned his attention back to Dillon. “Do you have a location for us?”
Dillon nodded. “I think we should head straight to their compound. It might help lessen innocent casualties and possibly we could take out their top leaders.”
Andora addressed Dillon. “Thank you for risking you and your mate’s safety to get us that information.”
Dillon bowed his head and then stepped down off the platform.
Andora motioned for Vasile, then Peri, to come forward. They climbed up onto the platform and faced the large group.
“We need a battle strategy,” Andora said. “There are few, if any, who can match both of your knowledge in regard to war.”
“Each race has its own supernatural strengths,” Vasile said, glancing at Peri who gave him a nod of agreement. “I think the best thing we can do is play to those strengths. We wolves are strong, fast, stealthy hunters, and vicious in our attacks.”
Peri stepped forward, her form thin but in no way delicate. She held herself with regal power, and only a fool would think to underestimate her. “The fae have the ability to wield magic, the elements, and illusion. I think we might be best utilized to draw the enemy out.”
Taking their cues from Vasile and Peri, the other leaders began to speak one after another.
“The warlocks,” Cypher began, “can wield some magic, though not as powerful as the fae, but our real contribution will lie in our brute strength and stamina. We might best serve as the second line of defense when the first wave needs a break.”
“The elves are fast, light on our feet, excellent with bows, and nearly unbeatable with a sword or dagger. We can use our archers to help take down their numbers and join the wolves in attacking once the fae have drawn them out. Our weapons have been bewitched by Cyn, my mate, to be unerring in their trajectory. Where they’re aimed, they will hit true,” Thalion said.
“Each of my clans have different strengths,” Anora said when the elf prince was done. “Our elementals can command the weather. Our luminous hold power over light of any kind, able to manipulate it and strengthen it. Our healers can offer tending to the injured. Our mentalist sprites can read minds and control weaker minds up to a point, depending on the strength of will in the person they are attempting to control. It’s easier with humans and more difficult with supernaturals. Our seer sprites have visions though they cannot be drawn up at will. But we can keep in contact with them, and they can let us know if they have any information about the plans of the Order so that we might be one step ahead of them.”
The king of the pixies spoke next. “Like the sprites, we have many clans. However I gave my people the option to volunteer, and only two of my clans offered. I don’t hold it against them. The pixies rarely leave our realm and don’t care to meddle in the affairs that affect the humans. That said, the two clans willing to help both have the ability to trick the eyes of individual people, not mass groups, and we are small and stealthy. If we need to do some recon before battle, we can do that, and if we need to sniff out the leaders, because we all know they will not be in the midst of the battle, we can do that too. One of the clans coming also has the ability to travel in a similar way as the fae, a flashing of sorts. So, they can move swiftly without drawing attention to themselves.”
Lastly, the massive djinn turned to face the crowd. He stood almost seven feet tall, towering over everyone there. “I am, obviously, the only one of my kind to join you. My brother, the current history keeper, is already in this realm, and we rarely have more than one djinn in the human realm—in any realm, actually—at any one time. I am very powerful, but my power is unrestrained and uncontrollable. Any djinn must be careful how he uses his power lest he destroy the entire human realm as we know it. It is best if I am used as an absolute last resort. I honestly don’t know how much devastation my power unleashed might cause.”
Andora glanced at Vasile and made a motion for him to continue. “I would recommend the fae flash us to a location a safe distance from the headquarters of the Order but close enough for the fae to draw them out,” he said.
Dillon nodded. “Yes. There is an airfield about two hundred yards from their compound. A stretch of trees separates the field from the compound. It could provide a barrier, so we wouldn’t be seen by any sentries from the building.”
“Looks like we have a plan,” Peri said to the leaders. “I assume the rest of your warriors are just outside.” They nodded in response.
“Excellent. My warriors will take them as quickly as possible. But before we all go, Dillon and I will go first to make sure we have the all clear.” She paused and looked around the room as if attempting to find someone. When her search seemed to fail, she glanced at Vasile. “I’m going to say this and then swear you to secrecy. I can honestly say I actually miss Jen at this moment. She has the ability to pump a crowd up before battle.”
Vasile couldn’t help but laugh. “I have to agree. She is a warrior and leader at heart and has a unique ability to give people energy just through her presence.”
“If you ever tell her I said that, I will deny it and—”
“Turn me into a turd,” Vasile finished for her dryly.
“Actually, I’ve overused the turd threat and have decided to change it to a dung beetle. So instead of being a turd, you actually eat turds.” She smiled wickedly at him.
Vasile shook his head. “You’ve reached a new level of diabolical threats, Perizada.”
“That’s me,” she said proudly. “Always striving to improve no matter how old I get.”
Vasile was about to instruct the group to begin heading outside and gathering into groups for the fae when a flash of light filled the room, and every being in attendance dropped to a knee and bowed their heads.