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Of course. Viktor tried to take on the nightwalkers a long time ago and failed miserably. It should come as no surprise that he's kept tabs on the foe that bested him.
"My clan has a history with the Banes. I suppose I should have known that one day Viktor would return to try and finish what he started," my father replied.
"But why now?"
"Because of me," I say suddenly, my fists clenching. "It was one thing when his slave was tossed at the feet of outcasts. It's another thing when a king who once defeated Viktor gets his hands on something that is his. His pride would never let that slide."
Tristan places his hand atop mine, his fingers curling into my own to ease some of the tension.
"You were never his."
"I certainly wouldn't put it past Viktor to start a race war just to soothe his ego," Amara says carefully. "But what if it's not that simple?"
She meets my questioning look with a small smile before glancing toward my father, bowing her head respectfully. "Tristan filled us in on some of the details. Hope you don't mind."
Good. I'm not sure when Tristan found the time to mindlink with his council, but it's better that they all know the truth. Especially if there's truly a war on the horizon.
My father feels the same way, and he waves his hand dismissively.
"Viktor is many things, but a fool is not one of them," Amara starts.
"Debatable," Nico and Lucy both say at the same time, but Amara politely ignores them.
"What if he finally put the pieces together? When he discovered his niece was taken in by nightwalkers, he might have realized her connection to them. What if it revealed his sister's affair? Why else would the Night King adopt a mysterious wolf girl into his court?"
"It's certainly possible."
"Revenge, pride, ego, blind hatred, ambition, pettiness... they're all perfectly good reasons for a man like Viktor to start a war. But the bottom line is that he's coming, and he's brought friends," Mark says with a sigh.
"As we all know, people fear what is different," Amara adds. "It wasn't too hard for Viktor to convince other packs to lend him their armies once he revealed the threat of the nightwalkers. Many believed that your species was extinct or purely legendary. But they know enough to be scared, especially with the stories the Banes have been circulating. Viktor describes nightwalkers as abominations that threaten the very existence of wolves."
"So it doesn't matter why he's doing it. What matters now is how we stop him," Mark adds, exchanging a knowing glance with his mate.
Tristan is the one to reply, looking evenly at my father as his grip tightens on my hand.
"We stop him together."
Chapter Twenty-Two
"Are you sure about this?" I ask Tristan, unable to keep the concern out of my voice.
"My daughter is right," Marco adds. "I am grateful for everything you have done, and I appreciate the support, but this is not your battle. If you go now, there is still enough time to get your army out of these woods and away from this fight."
"All due respect, your majesty," Nico says, shifting in his seat with a sly smile. "But why do you think you're here?"
The flowers... the pack's army... the Rovers didn't come here to punish me or fight me. They did it to protect me. Even when they believed I'd betrayed or abandoned them, they came all this way to fight by my side.
I turn to Tristan, testing the link between our minds that I first felt when I shifted and looked into his eyes. I know our connection is not nearly as strong as it might be if he marked me and we actually mated, but now that I've manifested a wolf, maybe it's strong enough that he can hear me just as my father does.
'You are my king. But I am not your Luna. You don't have to do this. None of them have to do this.'
He turns to face me, and I know from the glint in his eyes that he heard me. He doesn't seem surprised.
'My little flower... always so unassuming. I told you once I would tear the Banes into pieces if they tried to hurt you again. Did you think I was lying?'
I shake my head, but before I can protest further, he brings my hand to his lips and kisses the backs of my knuckles, his lips on my skin making my mind go blank.
"My mate, my fight," he says softly. Then, he lowers my hand and turns to face the rest of the council gathered. "We all have our own reasons for wanting Viktor stopped, but this isn't just personal. If Viktor defeats the nightwalkers, he will be the most powerful Alpha in history. How long before he turns his attention to the Rovers? He hates all outcasts. If he wins, none of us will be safe."
