Chapter 2 Come Prepared

Lyric POV

I turn to Kairo and wrap my arms around him.

"Hey, come back to me, my love," I whisper.

For a second, he doesn't move. His muscles are locked so tightly beneath my hands that they almost don't feel real.

Then he takes a slow, shaky breath.

His shoulders loosen.

Cole walks over without saying a word. He places a hand on the back of Kairo's neck, and the rest of the tension slowly drains from his body. Watching them like this still amazes me sometimes. They understand each other without needing words, carrying wounds only the other truly knows.

"Interesting," Jude says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So the Moon Goddess gave you two mates this time."

I turn to face him.

He grins.

"And you..." His eyes drag slowly over me. "You are a very beautiful creature. How did you end up with these two?"

A growl vibrates through my chest before I can stop it.

He lifts his hands in mock surrender.

"Oh, you are a feisty one, aren't you?" He chuckles. "Kairo's last mate was weak and only cared about power."

"Are you done?" I grit out.

His grin only widens.

"No... but I'll wait until all your guests arrive."

He strolls toward the long conference table like he owns the palace before taking a seat.

Dominic looks toward Cole.

"The rest of the guests have arrived. Jace is bringing them up as we speak."

I reach for both of my mates.

"Please don't let him get under your skin. That's exactly what he wants."

Neither of them answers immediately.

"There is something off about him," Nova says, pushing toward the surface. "Do you feel it?"

I focus on Jude.

The closer I pay attention, the more the feeling crawls beneath my skin.

Cold. Wrong. Familiar.

"You're right," I tell her. "He feels like Dark Valley."

Not completely...

But enough to make every instinct I have scream.

Why?

"When we saw Kairo's memories, he had magic," Nova reminds me. "This doesn't feel the same... but it doesn't feel natural either."

A chill races down my spine.

If Dark Valley's magic had found its way beyond those walls...

That changed everything.

"Are you okay, Princess?" Cole links.

"Yes. We'll talk after."

He studies me for another second before giving the smallest nod.

A few minutes later, Jace walks in with Tobias, Tabby, and another tall, pale-skinned man with jet-black hair.

Tabby's face lights up the moment she sees me.

"Lyric! You look ready to pop."

She wraps me in a careful hug.

"I am soon," I laugh. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, sis. I can't wait to catch up with all of you girls."

I hug Tobias before Cole steps forward.

"Lyric, Kairo... this is Julian. He is the Vampire King."

Julian extends his hand.

The moment our skin touches—

The world disappears.

A young girl with the same black hair sprints through the forest.

A pink dress flashes between the trees.

Heavy footsteps thunder behind her.

Rogues.

Too many.

She stumbles.

Gets back up.

She screams—

I gasp and rip my hand away, sucking in a desperate breath as the vision shatters around me.

"So..." Julian says quietly. "It really is you."

His expression never changes.

"What did you see?"

"Do you have children here with you?" I ask.

His entire posture changes.

"I brought my entire family."

"I saw a little girl in a pink dress running from rogues."

"Rina," he breathes.

"His family is all in the dining room, Luna," Dominic says.

I nod.

"Okay. This vision was at night. Please tell Winter and Felicity to make sure they keep her in their sight until we're done here. Tell Hunter too. I know he's with them."

Dominic nods once before slipping from the room.

Cole waits until the door closes.

"My mate and I felt a supernatural council would be beneficial to us all. Every one of our races is being attacked... and experimented on. Whatever this new threat is, it affects all of us."

"Are you sure?" Oliver asks.

"One of the Alphas in my kingdom disappeared when everything happened with Lyric," Cole says. "When we sent scouts to investigate, the entire territory had been abandoned."

"We found the whole pack gone without a trace," I add. "The only thing left behind was residual fractured magic."

Oliver's expression grows solemn. "We have lost Fae as well. At first, we believed they had simply wandered too close to the veil, but now... I am no longer convinced that is the case."

James nods. "The bears have had hunters disappear in the northern forests. We searched for weeks and found nothing but abandoned camps."

Julian folds his hands together. "My people have suffered similar losses. Not many, but enough to know this is no coincidence. Those who disappear all have one thing in common."

"They possess gifts," I finish quietly.

The room falls silent as the realization settles over all of us. This wasn't a werewolf problem. It wasn't a vampire problem or a Fae problem. Someone was hunting every supernatural race... and they were being selective.

"He had a laboratory," I continue. "He was experimenting on supernatural beings with gifts. I saw it in a vision."

"Okay..." Jude says, leaning back in his chair. "Then your kingdom is the problem."

My head snaps toward him.

"We are not responsible for the actions of one Alpha acting on his own. When he is found, he will be held accountable."

"I'm just saying what everyone is thinking."

"No," Julian says evenly.

"You are the only one thinking that."

Jude's jaw tightens.

"Then the disappearances stopped," I continue before he can argue. "Every report simply... stopped coming. But rogue attacks have increased, and these aren't David's rogues. We already took in everyone who followed him."

"The council will allow us to make decisions for the entire supernatural community," Cole says. "Because every kingdom is in danger."

"It seems to me," Jude says, his eyes settling on me again, "that you're only in danger if you have magic."

Nova growls.

He smiles.

"Besides... how can we have a supernatural council when there are four Werewolf Kings? There should only be one wolf representing us."

He stands.

"I think it should be me."

"Like hell it will," Kairo growls.

"Oh, don't be so touchy." Jude smiles cruelly. "It certainly can't be you. The heartbroken king who let his mate kill his father... watched his entire family die... then let his Lycan take over because facing the pain was too much."

Kairo's entire body begins trembling.

The room suddenly feels too small.

Cole is already moving.

"Sit down," I command.

Magic rolls through my voice.

"And shut up."

Jude's eyes widen as his body slams back into his chair against his own will.

"What you will not do is disrespect my mate in our home."

The room goes silent.

"We will have a vote."

I look directly at Jude.

"The Alpha of every pack in all four kingdoms will decide at the next Alpha Summit."

His eyes narrow.

"Yes," I say calmly. "You heard me correctly."

"I think it should be you, Your Majesty," Oliver says.

"I agree," James says.

"So do I," Julian adds.

Beside me, both Cole and Kairo smile.

"Until the vote, this discussion is over," I say. "Besides, the witches didn't even show."

I look back at Jude.

"You may speak."

"A woman cannot be the voice for all wolves," he says coldly. "Especially not a child."

"Then you'll have every opportunity to make that argument at the summit." I smile sweetly. "It will be the largest gathering of Alphas in history."

I tilt my head.

"Come prepared."

"Oh, Your Highness..." He grins as he rises from his chair.

"I most definitely will."

He starts toward the door before stopping just long enough to glance back at me.

"Thank you for the room... but I think it's best I return to my kingdom."

"I agree," I murmur.

He chuckles.

"We'll meet again..."

His smile lingers.

"...Lyric."

Then he walks out.

The doors close behind him, but the tension he leaves in the room doesn't disappear with him.

No one speaks for several long seconds.

I have the unsettling feeling that Jude didn't come here expecting to stop the council. He came here to test us... to see how we would respond.

And somehow... I couldn't shake the feeling that agreeing to hold that vote had just set something much bigger into motion.