Magnus looked at him.
“You understand we are at war, Gamma Garrick?”
Garrick’s brow tightened.
“Yes, of course.”
“Do you?” Magnus leaned back slightly, his gaze cold.
“If you would take some time, get your snivelling cock out of the princess…perhaps you would be able to reflect on that.”
Carys inhaled sharply behind him.
Garrick’s expression changed.
Magnus signalled to one of his guards, and the vampire moved instantly, crossing the courtyard to assist him into the waiting car.
Magnus had said enough.
Garrick stood there, fists clenched at his sides.
Instead of feeling guilty that Erin’s mate seemed to know about them, he felt insulted instead.
He may be a prince, but the crippled bloodsucker had no right to speak to him in such manner.
*****
Alpha King Kyllian stood upon the raised platform overlooking the military courtyard, his presence commanding enough to silence hundreds of restless soldiers without a word.
Crown Princess Lyra stood at his right.
She was beautiful.
Her dark hair had been pulled into a practical braid, keeping it away from the sharp angles of her face.
Instead of the gowns and glittering jewels expected of a royal daughter, she wore fitted combat trousers, sturdy boots, and a plain black shirt with the sleeves pushed to her elbows.
On Lyra, it looked regal.
A dagger was strapped to her thigh.
Another rested against her lower back.
She stood with her shoulders squared and her chin lifted.
Magnus sat on Kyllian’s left, his hands resting calmly upon the arms of his wheelchair.
Sunlight spilled across his pale face without leaving so much as a mark.
He was the only known trueblood vampire unaffected by direct sunlight.
King Evander stood farther behind them beneath the shade of an archway.
Even with his daylight ring, he disliked the sun.
Before the platform stood the combined forces of two kingdoms.
Beside them stood the vampires of Blood City.
Armoured trucks waited beyond the gates.
Somewhere among the soldiers stood Garrick.
Kyllian stepped forward.
“For twenty years, the werewolf kingdom has endured attack after attack,” his voice boomed across the courtyard.
“We have fought one war after another. We have buried friends, brothers, sisters because every ambitious bastard with an army believes our pain has made us weak.”
“Other realms believe the Moon Goddess has left us. They say she has abandoned her children. They mistake her silence for absence.” His eyes swept across the gathered army.
“What they do not understand is that she is watching over us more closely than ever before. Today, we battle the dragonians. Today, we remind every realm that has mistaken endurance for weakness exactly who we are.”
Kyllian raised his fist.
“We fight for our peace. We fight for our children. We fight for our mates, our homes, and the right to wake tomorrow beneath a sky that belongs to us. We fight for every life they thought they could take and every inch of land they believed they could claim.” His wolf surged beneath his voice, turning the final words inhuman.
“We fight for our glory!”
The courtyard erupted.
Men shouted.
Wolves howled.
Boots struck the ground.
“All hail the alpha king!!!”
“And when we win this battle,” Kyllian continued, allowing the noise to settle, “the most courageous soldier among you will be granted one request.”
A ripple of interest moved through the ranks.
“Anything he desires,” the Alpha King said, his gaze sweeping across the combined armies, “anything his heart truly wants, will be given to him.”
Cheers erupted from the werewolves.
Several soldiers exchanged excited glances.
Garrick stood among the front ranks, his face disciplined despite the violent pounding of his heart.
Anything.
The word lodged inside him.
He knew exactly what he would ask for.
Kyllian lifted a hand, calming the soldiers once more, then turned toward the prince seated beside him.
“Prince Magnus?”
Magnus gave a small nod.
He placed his palms against the rims of his wheels and moved forward until the sunlight fell fully across him.
He looked out at the soldiers gathered below.
Two peoples who had once slaughtered one another on sight now stood shoulder to shoulder, united against an enemy.
“Once, we were enemies,” Magnus began.
His voice was not as loud as Kyllian’s, but it travelled effortlessly across the courtyard.
The soldiers quietened to hear him.
“Our kingdoms were raised on stories that taught us to fear one another. Werewolf children were warned about the monsters of Blood City. Vampire children were taught that wolves were savage creatures ruled by instinct. To be fair, both descriptions occasionally remain accurate.”
Laughter moved through the assembled troops, breaking some of the tension.
Magnus continued.
“Yet here we stand.” He glanced briefly toward Lyra and Kyllian before returning his attention to the soldiers.
“I am living proof of the bond that can be forged between two warring realms. Vampire blood and werewolf blood run through my veins. Blood City is my kingdom, but this land is also my home.”
“As we march together through these dark times,” he said, his voice strengthening, “may light return with us.” He turned slightly and gestured toward the shaded archway.
“My brother, King Evander, will lead Blood City’s army. The dragonians will fall,” Magnus declared.
“And so will every enemy foolish enough to rise after them.”
“Go forth and conquer!”
The response was thunderous.
Vampires roared.
Werewolves growled and threw their heads back in deafening howls.
Fists and weapons rose into the air.
The werewolves had always loved Magnus.
The vampires were no different.
He smiled and wheeled back to Evander.
“You will come back,” Magnus said.
“You command your king?” Evander asked.
Magnus held his gaze.
“I don’t care who you are. You are still my little brother.”
Evander smiled.
“Take care of my queen in the meantime. I’m sure this battle will not take long with your strategy,” Evander added.
“Do not become reckless,” Magnus warned.
“remain alive.” He swallowed against the sudden tightness in his throat.
“I will return to Blood City immediately.”