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Finn grinned at my pretty friend. "I've heard great things about the Clover pack. Excited to see the mortal realm for myself."
Lily's flirty side was in full swing as she shot Nia a timid smile. I squinted at her for a second. Lily? Timid? I didn’t think those words could exist in the same sentence. "We'll have to show you around."
Nia chuckled, her regal facade softening. "I'd appreciate that."
As the introductions rolled on, I turned to Oliver. "And this is Oliver, our resident halfling. You know him already, but now you can know the real him."
Lily raised an intrigued eyebrow. "A halfling? Like Rowan?"
Oliver nodded, a mix of pride and confidence in his expression. "Yup, that's me. Half-Fae, half-mortal witch, all charm."
Wolfe, the hulking bear-shifter Alpha, approached. "Seems like you've gathered quite the interesting bunch." He pulled me into a hug, and I hugged him back. It was nice to be back in the company of friends.
I smiled, enjoying the moment. "You could definitely say that. We’ll probably need your help through this.”
Wolfe's knowing gaze met mine as we separated, and I saw him shoot a quick wink at Callan who was glowering off to the side. "You know we’ll support you. This was personal the second they started killing shifters."
My confidence soared with the support of my pack. "Thanks, Wolfe. But trust me, it won't be a cakewalk. She's got power and company."
“It’s a good thing you came back,” he said to me, shooting a pointed look at Callan. “We had no idea what had happened to you both.”
Callan frowned. “I left a note.”
“’Rowan. Be back later,’ is quite literally the worst note I have ever read, Cal. If I knew where you had gone, I would have sent out a search party.”
Callan shrugged, looking a tad bit sheepish, but didn’t apologize. He wasn’t that type of guy, not when he was doing something he thought was right.
“At least I left one.”
ChapterNineteen
My peaceful slumber was shattered by the piercing sound of screams. I bolted upright in bed, heart racing, and didn't need to be a genius to figure out something was terribly wrong. I leaped out of bed, not bothering with clothes, and raced to the pack courtyard.
There, chaos reigned, and I cursed. We’d let ourselves get too comfortable assembling back into pack life. It had only taken one day for them to find us again.
The pack members were struggling to fend off the attackers, but it was clear they were outnumbered and outmatched. I scanned the intruders with a sneer, not surprised to find Cas, Roxy, and a particularly crazed Lexi at the center of the turmoil. How did they even get to this side of the realm? There had to have been another halfling working with them, it was the only way. Oliver was wrong; they couldn’t have all been dead.
Cas's eyes locked onto mine, filled with hatred as he looked at me. “That was a clever trick you played on us back there, but you can’t keep us out for long. There is not a place in the entire universe that you could go where I won’t find you. Give me what’s rightfully mine and maybe I’ll spare your life.”
“I don’t have it, you idiot!” I shouted at him, a last-ditch effort to get him to retreat. “I have no idea where it is.”
More Fae joined the fray. Each one had hair as vibrant as their elemental magic: fire, water, and earth royals, and they wasted no time diving into the fight. The fire-wielder launched a burst of flames toward my pack members, sending them scrambling for cover. The water manipulator created tendrils of water to ensnare anyone in her path, while the earth-controlling Fae conjured sharp rocks and boulders, creating a treacherous terrain.
I exchanged a look with Callan who had arrived at my side, already in his panther form. His cool Alpha magic coated him, creating an extra magical barrier between him and our foes. The sounds of fighting and clashing rang out around us, but my focus was set on Cas and, drawing on my lightning powers, I charged forward, tired of always being the one to be chased.
The clash between Cas and me was a volatile spectacle of elemental power. We were like two opposing storms, our energies colliding with destructive force. Lightning crackled around us, illuminating the courtyard in blinding flashes.
The arrogant Fae was relentless in his pursuit. He lunged at me with an electrified bolt crackling in his hand, his features contorted with the effort. I darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike. The air sizzled where the lightning grazed, leaving a metallic tang in its wake.
I felt the raw power of my newfound abilities coursing through me, a wellspring of energy waiting to be unleashed. I summoned the crackling lightning within me, determined to face my brother head-on.
With a burst of effort, I redirected the incoming bolt, sending it arcing harmlessly into the ground. Cas's eyes widened in surprise, his blonde hair tousled by the electric aura surrounding him. He had underestimated me.
Cas moved with a calculated grace, his eyes alight with raw power. Crackling bolts of lightning danced in his hands as he advanced, launching them toward me with deadly precision. I dodged and weaved, trying to anticipate his attacks, but the sheer force of his magic was overwhelming.
With each clash, I felt my energy wane, my lightning powers flickering like a dying ember. Casimir's relentless assault pushed me back step by step.
Cas's lips curled into a taunting sneer as he cornered me, his electric aura crackling with malevolence. Summoning the last reserves of my energy, I attempted to counter his attack with a surge of lightning. But my powers wavered, and the bolt I released was feeble compared to his. He deftly deflected it, sending it harmlessly into the night sky.
