“Not enough,” she mumbles.
She’s right. Our army is now eleven thousand strong to their fifteen thousand. Even with this help from Earth, we are vastly outnumbered, and no vampire will ever be as strong as a shade. We’re outpowered too. I kiss her temple. “Don’t worry about anything right now. Just rest.”
Her breathing evens out, and I know she’s asleep.
Once I’m sure she’s sleeping peacefully, I return to the war room, where I find Cassius, Thane, Undaku, and Prandle huddled over the tactical map on the war table. Their faces tell me they see what I see.
“You’re sure? Fifteen thousand?” Cassius asks.
“All of our intelligence confirms that number,” Thane says.
“Some of them are our children, barely old enough to hold a sword, and enchanted by elf magic to fight,” Undaku adds. “Our soldiers from the Borderlands mayfind themselves battling family they know and love. The emotional weapon New Stygarde is wielding against us makes up for any advantage we have in experience.”
“The west villages have contributed fewer children than the Borderlands, but we are weaker. The price my people in Zephrine paid for not sacrificing their children was starvation. Many have not yet fully recovered,” Prandle adds.
I turn to Cassius. “You have no other men to spare?”
As always, his voice is cool and unruffled as he answers. “Your mate did her best, but you must remember, these are not my men. They are the Lamia coven’s. My master was generous to send the number she did. And George?—”
“George.” My brow tightens. I still don’t know what to make of him.
“We are lucky to have the gift of his men. He could not come himself because they’re still restructuring Night Haven, but he sent them with strict orders to follow my commands.”
I frown. My little bird truly left no stone unturned. I hate that she had to face George alone. That couldn’t have been easy. “It’s not enough. We are still at an enormous disadvantage,” I say.
He meets my eyes. “Eloise was unable to tell me what has happened to my parents.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
But Thane raises his brows. “They are alive, Cassius. Safe, and living in the Borderlands in hiding.”
I watch my friend’s shoulders sag in relief. “We will find a way, Damien.”
“I wish I could be so confident.”
He lifts his chin and rests a dark hand on my shoulder. “Good will always triumph over evil. Love will always triumph over hate. You know this is true. You and I have seen it play out again and again.”
“Over time, yes. But on the backs of fallen heroes. I’d very much like our men not to be the heroes who fall.”
He nods sadly and removes his hand from my shoulder. “I’m afraid that every generation is faced with a cause that calls to their heroes, and this time, the voices might ring for us.”
“I should get back to Eloise.”
“But there is no time to waste. We must start training together to bring the vampires on board,” Thane says.
“Cassius can do it,” I say. “He knows everything I do and more. I need to care for my mate.”
Thane bows his head, and they all stare after me as I rush from the room and return to Eloise. Someone has brought her a meal as I requested, but she’s still asleep. I sink to my knees beside the bed, and I pray to the goddess for a way to win this war.
26
The Price of Magic
Eloise
Iwake to the scent of freshly baked biscuits, coffee, and blood, all swirling with the familiar dark spice of my mate. I’m not sure how long I’ve been asleep, but he’s kneeling beside the bed, eyes closed and head rested on his folded hands as if he’s fallen asleep praying. I place a hand on his and shake.
“Damien?” He opens his eyes and blinks at me. “Come to bed. You don’t look comfortable there.”
