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The Moon-Ghost Alpha had seen better days. After I’d crushed his wrist, the Moon Goddess had patched him up with a star-made splint that seemed borderline useless. Whatever magic it was, he was in pain, but able to hold the silver broadsword. His eyes were hollow, dark circles under them, but he had enough life to contort his face into a taunting grin when he spotted me. His eyes flashed over with stars and then back to his normal shade in quick succession, over and over.
Violent energy rolled off Cole. I squeezed his hand. This was the closest he’d ever been to the mate who’d forsaken me, the male who’d made my life miserable for years and years. He wanted to kill Jett. I could feel it, like a warm blanket draped over me. He wanted to tear him limb from limb, and the only thing stopping him was the fact it would get him sent to the pits.
But Cole would find a way. One day, when we didn’t have all of this restoring-balance-to-the-realms nonsense to worry about, he would get his vengeance on my behalf.
“Today’s game is simple,” Phaidros announced. “It’s called ‘capture the flag.’ You will form two teams of ten. The objective is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to your own base. Violence is, of course, encouraged. Using magic to heal, teleport, or fight, however, is strictly prohibited and will result in an immediate forfeit. You have one hour to prepare from the time you both reach your bases. I will tell you when.”
He held up two simple pieces of fabric, one white, one black. We got the black one.
Our team was made up of myself, Cole, Daphne, Xander, two other Wind-Bloods, and four Fang wolves. One was the Alpha, a shifter who appeared to be in his thirties, while the other was his beta. We agreed to use the Fang’s territory as ourbase rather than the Wind-Blood. I knew from Daphne that the Moon-Ghost attack a few weeks ago had been devastating. The pack still hadn’t recovered, not from the loss of their Alpha, nor the destruction the Moon-Ghosts had caused.
Phaidros finished explaining a few other details of the rules, mainly about what counted as winning—placing the enemy flag on a clearly marked resting spot of our own flag. We portaled over to the Fang’s base. The Alpha, Ian, led us into what looked like a bar. Several motorcycles were parked outside, though in order to keep the situation fair, shifters who were not on either team would remain by Moon Rock.
“We split into two teams,” Cole said, quickly taking command. “Avery, you, Daphne, Xander, and two of the Fangs will get the flag, since you two know the territory the best and the rest join you on the bikes.”
The Fang Beta grumbled at the idea of sharing their motorcycles with the rest of us.
Cole gave him onelook, and the grumbling stopped with an audible click of the male’s jaw.
“Ian, Lewis, the two Wind-Bloods, and I will defend. The plan is simple—get it, get out. Try to avoid confrontation. We will hold out here for as long as we have to.”
It made sense to split us up. Cole and I could defend ourselves, but we couldn’t actually kill anyone. Something the living shifters were all able to do without repercussions. I didn’t want to split up from Cole, though. This was dangerous, and without magic…
“Trust me, little wolf,” he murmured, bending low to kiss my hair. His words were soft enough even the other shifters would struggle to hear, and they were already engrossed in their own discussion oftactics. “I can survive just fine without my magic. As can you.”
I sighed. In the short time since I’d discovered it, my magic had become another limb. By ruling out healing, hurting, or teleporting, they’d basically handcuffed us. The only magic that could be used was the Moon Goddess’s creepy mind control she had over the wolves, it seemed. I couldn’t risk accidentally unleashing and costing us the challenge. We would have to be careful, and as Cole said, avoid coming into contact with the other team.
“I think you should go with Daphne and Xander.”
He frowned. “Why? You know the territory better than I do.”
“Because…” I couldn’t find the words to explain.
Yet Cole knew me better than myself. “Is it because of last time? What happened to Hector?”
I nodded. I knew it was irrational, but the last time I’d been with them, not only had Hector gotten killed, but Xander had lost his father.No, his father had been murdered,I corrected myself. Because of me. Because I had brought them into a conflict and hadn’t been able to protect them.
“I will go with them,” Cole assured me, “if that is what you wish. But you cannot blame yourself for what happened to those under you.”
“I do, though.”
Cole curled a finger under my chin and tilted my head up. “This is a selfishness we cannot afford as rulers. Guilt, self-blame… these luxuries cost us the ability to protect those who have entrusted their lives to us.”
Something uncurled in my chest. His words weren’t gentle. If there was only one thing I would love about Cole, it’s that he would tell me the hard truths. That was what I needed. “You’re right.”
One side of his mouth lifted. “You do hate to say those words.”
“Only because it usually means I’m wrong,” I teased.
His expression turned serious again. “If you still wish for me to go with them, I will.”
I considered. “I think I would. It’s not just the guilt. I told myself I would look after all the shifters, and this is my chance to learn more about the Fangs. Daphne will show you both the way since Xander will need a guide, so it won’t change the plan too much.”
“Then I will go with them.”
Cole kissed me then. He tugged me closer, and I fell into his embrace, tasting him, savoring him. The kiss was gentle, reassuring. Promising me he would return to me, as he always did.
“Cozy,” Phaidros said dryly.
