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“We can’t just slaughter innocent people, or what did we even save this world for?”
My words are met with silence, and then both Dusk and Onyx drop their swords.
The shadow beasts are nearly on us when I decide to hell with it, “Stop!” I command. “I am your alpha, and you will obey me.”
In response, they flash their teeth and growl.So, okay, I’m not the alpha. I can live with that.
Dusk is next, and my gut says he’ll be the one, as the oldest remaining family of their line. “Stop. This war is over. I’m your new alpha, your new king, and you’ll obey me.”
They don’t respond, just advance, closing in around us like prey.Fuck.
Onyx looks defeated even before he begins to sign, and then he says one word, too loudly, his tone a little off, but strong, “Stop.”
Heads jerk toward him, but they keep going.
“Damn it.” Okay, now it’s definitely time to run, but I can’t imagine just leaving Phantom and Rayne here. “We have to run.”
And then Shenra moves to stand in front of us. As if this one woman could protect us from the dangerous pack of shadow beasts. “Stop, you queen commands it!”
I’ve never seen anything like it.Feltanything like it. Electricity moves through me raising goosebumps across my flesh, and every one of the shadow beasts stops.
Shenra looks back at me, those hazel eyes of hers wide in surprise, and then she looks back at the army in front of her. Her voice lifts, holding all the command of a true queen. “Our time of suffering is over. Our time of rebuilding is now. Go to the castle, and there we will remember what is to be people. We will start over again.”
The pack starts running again, this time heading in the direction of the castle. I cringe, but Onyx and Dusk are instantly around me, protecting me from the pack as they race around us with no regard. But none of them hurt us, they just run by, ignoring us as if we never truly mattered. And when I peek out between my men as the pounding of their feet eases, I see that sure enough they’ve run toward the castle.
They’ve obeyed her command.
My men move away from me, and then Shenra and I are staring at one another. There’s longing in her eyes as she stares at Onyx and Dusk, there and gone again in a flash. “I guess… I’m their queen.”
I nod, but then, and I don’t know why, I move back to Phantom and the Shadow King’s body. This war is over. The earth is safe, as is this world, and yet, it doesn’t feel like we won. It feels like we’ve lost more than we ever imagined.
That soft voice, that I’ve never fully understood comes into my head, gentle, but happy for the first time. “Saving the shadow beasts cost me my heart and my life a long time ago. It has cost you much too, but I will not let it cost youthem. Not these two warriors who gave so much for my world. They can still be saved, if they return to earth, but none of you can ever return to the shadow realm again. I do not have the power for that. If they do, their lives will be taken the moment they enter my world.”
All along it was the goddess speaking to me?
Part of me doesn’t believe it, doesn’t believe her promise. Part of me is angry with her because when I asked to save them before, she didn’t. But if she’s speaking the truth now, I don’t care about any of that.
“Why now?” I ask aloud.
Everyone turns to me, but I ignore them.
“I had to know my people were safe, and they are now, with their queen, and with your mercy.” Her words feel like they’re saying more than I can understand, but I look toward the others.
“The goddess says if we return to earth with Phantom and Rayne, they’ll live, but none of us can ever come back here.” I release a slow breath. “Do you think it’s true?”
Shenra answers, “The goddess wouldn’t lie.”
Dusk looks close to tears. “But our people need us, how can we just leave after all they’ve been through?”
“Because I’m here,” Shenra says simply, drawing herself up taller. “Technically, my marriage with your father never ended. I’m the queen. Our people obey me, see me as their alpha, and I know that I can help us find ourselves again. With them, I can return to my lands and try to save more than just the people here. I know I can.”
I look at Dusk and Onyx. Either way, I’m returning to earth with Phantom and Rayne, because I have to try to save them, even if it’s not a sure thing. But my heart would break if they stayed here, if we always had to live in different worlds.
Yet I can’t take their people and this place they love away from them.
“Do what you think is best,” I tell them, my voice cracking a little.
After a moment, Onyx signs. “I trust Shenra. I know that our people will be safe with her, but Dusk is the last member of his family, so I’ll go with his choice.”
