Lilia POV
The minute Azandra broke the news to her in the library, Lilia, pressing a hand to her pregnant belly, responded. "I know. I know they're in trouble. A dark cloud has been hanging over me for at least the last half hour."
Azandra, holding Fairmont, stared at her with sharp green eyes. "You know that we'll get Jude and Ravyn back."
Fairmont raised her tiny fist and bared her teeth. She was definitely her mother's daughter.
Lilia bared her teeth in response. "Someone in the Ember Faerie Court has to realize that this is grounds for war, and the entire Shifter Federation will probably respond."
"Oh, they will," Dane snarled, in full Alpha mode. "They've captured an Alpha and Luna with unbreakable ties to two other packs. I've just sent our swiftest messenger to Bram in Graywolf City, calling a war council."
Vibrating energy and the buzz of teleportation announced Jiro's and Garnet's arrival. "I've done one better," Jiro said in his efficient manner. "I requested they move up the season of the Shifter Parliament to NOW. I'm expecting a response back shortly. I told them to send it here. If we have to host them ourselves, we will. We can do it."
Dane raised his raven-black brows. "You always have to be several leaps ahead of me, yes?"
"Dane, even you can't think of everything. That's why you have family," Jiro responded matter-of-factly. Garnet nodded and smiled.
Trust Jiro to be sensible and not put down his brother's leadership skills, and show a respect for his brother's choices and decisions as a fellow Alpha. Lilia looked at him and Garnet with affection. "I trust Genevieve has settled in."
"Cyran and Naomi are helping Talon and Kelara make her feel safe," Garnet replied. "Any least safe from her terror that her human ex-husband will hunt her down. Now all any of us has to worry about is a war with the Ember Faerie Court after centuries of peace and friendship and having each other's backs. I know Ravyn and Jude feel guilty about what happened with Queen Ylavi, but they shouldn't."
"People get rejected as mates all the time," Azandra agreed. "Besides, Ravyn is a fated mate, and so Queen Ylavi has no grounds for being bitter. Faeries, elves, and orcs all know that a fated mate is sacred. Who in Fenrir's name is advising Queen Ylavi? I'd like five minutes alone with them in a dark forest at night."
Jiro shook his head, the light gleaming on his thick red mane of hair. "She may be like Cyran was--not listening to anyone. Cyran even said that himself."
Garnet nodded vehemently. "He said that almost no one could break through the Dark Goddess' control through Hades. You remember. If an advanced older elf like Drannor Glynthyra was corrupted, a faerie queen wouldn't stand a chance."
"But we have to try to break the Dark Goddess' control," Lilia argued. "If only I could go--"
"Don't even think about it." Dane's eyes glittered fierce gold. "You're not going anywhere. It's bad enough Ravyn's in jeopardy while pregnant. But you, you're too far along."
Kyon approached, his brown eyes equally fierce. "Too right. There are other witches and wizards. We can call in Daxius and Marieke from Wildefell, or at least seek their aid and support, giving us magical weapons. We have Anneliese, Garnet, Jiro, Thessi and Dirge, and others. We have more than enough magical strength without you. I know Ravyn is your mother, but this time you have to let others save her."
"And I'll knock you out if you try to go," Azandra snarled.
Goddess! Kyon, Dane, and Azandra were right, and she hated it. She closed her rounded belly in her white and green tartan robe. "I ... I'm putting Mother in your capable hands, or paws. All of you."
Jiro rubbed her belly in a soothing motion. She would never tell Dane, but Jiro gave the best pregnant massages in the family. "Ravyn is strong, Lilia. She will be alright. We'll make sure of it, I know how it is when you can't help in person, but if we let you go, none of us wants to face Ravyn when she and Jude return safely."
She picked up on his emphasis on "when." Once again, Jiro proved himself the master of persuasion. He knew exactly what drove her, and what would help keep her safe.
"I'll tell you what," Jiro continued. "Why don't we move the Shifter Parliament meeting here to Evenhide? That way, you feel as if you're doing something. The Council Chamber can definitely accommodate everyone."
Kyon smiled approvingly. "Sounds like a good idea."
Her blonde brows lifted. "Why Jiro, Alpha of the Crimsontail Shadows, you'd give Evenhide that honor just to keep me calm and stop me from running off to the Ember Faerie Court?"
"And to keep Dane calm," Jiro said with an earnest expression. "It's worth Evenhide reaping the glory just to stop him from running around raging at the moon."
Dane huffed. "I would NOT--"
"Yes, you would," all of his brothers and Lilia chorused.
He grumbled. "Alright, alright. Lilia, I leave organizing the meeting in your capable hands."
Pregnancy-related panic flooded her. "What, you're LEAVING?"
"Lilia." His blue eyes shimmered with gentleness, but he spoke to her the way he did to their children. "It's your mother. It's family. Besides, they're allies. I have to help them."
The idea of him just going off terrified her. Even if she understood the rationale and loved him for the risk he agreed to undertake.
"Dane--"
"Lilia. Just hush."
And the way he said that, in his quietest alpha way, quelled any objections she might have. She swallowed and nodded. The job of a Luna. She'd lectured her mother about the duties and particular demands of the role. Including sending her mate into danger and holding down the fort for his return. More difficult in some respects than charging headlong into whatever treacherous situation Dane faced.
He was willing to do this for her mother and stepfather.
"Just promise me something," she said.
"Anything." He rubbed his nose against hers.
"Visit Father and my other mother Marieke at the Bloodstone. They might have a crystal or a spell or something to help you," she murmured.
"I can hardly deny you." He rubbed noses with her again. It felt comforting and fun.
Kyon coughed. "I think it would be best if you got on the road, Dane. Before Lilia changes her mind. Or before we do."
"Very funny," Dane huffed, adjusting Lilia's robe. In the shadows in the room, it almost looked black, the tartan color blurring.
Black.
Lilia went into a trance, a vision triggered by the glimpse of the fabric. She saw Ylavi, her black dress in tatters, wrestling with a black cloud, screaming in agony and frustration. Ylavi's dark wings flapped wildly, as if trying to carry her away from the ominous ebony cloud.
The Dark Goddess, for surely it could be no one else, hissed and spoke to Ylavi in a distorted Faerie tongue. The musical rhythms of the language sounded dark and harsh. Whatever she said, Ylavi's body spasmed in agony as she aimed a killing blast at Ravyn and Jude, who already lay half-dead ...
"LILIA."
Jiro shook her shoulder, jolting her out of the nightmare. Wide-eyed, gasping for breath, she clutched her niece Fairmont to her. Fairmont snarled. "No one hurts Aunty."
Lilia cuddled the little pup. "It's alright, love. Don't be scared." She handed the girl back to Azandra, who took her daughter out of the room.
Jiro's eyes were on LilIa. "What did you see?"
Lilia caught her breath. "Ylavi. Possessed by the Dark Goddess. If we don't save her, she'll kill Mother and Father Jude."