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Lucian looks over at me with intent in his eyes.
"It's why I kept sneaking into your garden, Elspeth," he says. "I've loved you since the meeting between the factions last year. I knew you were my mate, but I didn't think you'd want me."
"Why would you think that?" I ask, confused.
"I know how your coven sisters reacted to Sybil mating with a Fae. I assumed they'd react even worse when they realized a troublesome werewolf had chosen you as his mate."
I shiver, not because of the cold air against my bare shoulders, but because of the weight of his words. And I don't even have to think about my answer. "I love you, too."
"Now that we've all explained our feelings, there's a battle to fight."
"A battle?" Lucian and I say at the same time.
With the shock of the magical garden, I didn't even hear the dull roar of battle outside, but now I tune into the screaming outside. Lucian races to the window and I follow him, both of us gasping at the bloody fight on the streets below. Without hesitation, Lucian lets go of my hand and shifts. I run to the bedroom, dress quickly, and follow the two werewolves out of the building and into the street.
Back Bay is chaotic, but thankfully there are no humans around to see it. I wonder for a moment how the factions have managed to keep the humans out of this part of the city, until I see the road barricades further down the street. There are construction signs and "no entry" warnings that the oblivious humans must take as gospel. It's for the best though, since they'll be spared the harm that comes from being caught in the crosshairs of a supernatural war.
The werewolves all fight brutally against the vampires, who look evenly matched. As soon as we reach the pack, Lucian and Gregory jump into the fight, and I stand right alongside them. Renna is there too, and she quickly sidles up to Gregory to team up against the bigger vampires. I cast the more aggressive spells that I know, coaxing tree roots to spread underground and rise through the pavement, where they wrap around the vampires' ankles and take them down. I also slip on the buckthorn crown I made and use it as protection against the vampires who try to halt me as I cast my spells.
For a while, it looks like both sides are holding their own, which means the battle will be long and drawn-out. But then Tala yells something, and suddenly some of the wolves switch sides. I almost can't believe my eyes when I see them turn on their packmates. Lucian looks as shocked as I am and growls loudly at the wolves who have dared to defy their alpha.
I can't believe how many of Lucian's pack members Tala has been able to get to. This is more than just a couple of disgruntled wolves; this is a fewdozen.
Lucian stands his ground with his remaining loyal followers and does his best to protect me at his side as we all continue the fight. But it is starting to look as if we mightlose. Until my coven sisters appear.
I'm stunned to see Sybil, Blair, and Isla enter the battle. They begin casting spells left and right and, with Lucian and his pack's help, are able to overpower the vampires until they're forced to retreat. We watch them slink off back to their club in defeat, leaving the traitorous werewolves here to answer for their treachery with Lucian.
Tala steps in front of them and glares defiantly at Lucian.
My spells have left burn marks on her jaw and neck, and her voice sounds raspy and raw.
"This isn't over," she says.
"It is. You've been defeated. And you deserve every punishment you get now," Renna growls at her, now back in her human form. She and Gregory put Tala and the other traitors back in restraints for Lucian to deal with later.
"Shouldn't you do something about Tala and the others who betrayed you?" I ask. I don't want them to be free and able to cause more trouble.
"No," Lucian answers. "Gregory will make sure they're securely confined, but right now we need to figure out what to do about the vampires." He looks at the other witches, who nod. Everyone agrees that the time for diplomacy with the vampires is over.
"They have been defeated," Blair says. "But they'll attack again once they've recovered."
"I agree," Lucian nods. "And we can't lose any more lives to this feud. We need to find a way to cooperate."
"Then what do we do?" Isla asks in frustration. "There has to be another way to deal with them beside a physical fight."
"What if an emissary talks to Mickael and convinces him to agree to new rules and boundaries? He might not agree to it at full strength, but he's too weak to make demands right now." Blair asks.
"Why not all of us?" Sybil asks, looking at each of us in turn.
"Ifoneemissary goes to talk with him instead of calling a formal meeting, maybe he'll be more apt to listen. And if he isn't, we enlist our magic to help us along."
"But who would we send?" Sybil asks.
"Me," Blair answers.
12
LUCIAN
