“We aren’t going to be able to enter the territory without a hole blasted in their magic. It took all of our strength to walk this close. No way are the vampires going to be allowed in their territory without their permission or someone blasting a hole in their magical shield,” Amora says.
“I’ve got it, but everyone needs to gather their strength first,” Ambrose says, looking around the group.
Kael starts passing out clothes to the shifters from a bag he carried here. As much as it’d be safer for the wolf shifters to be in their wolf forms, we already know that won’t be possible in Moonfire territory. Their magic won’t allow it. We’ll have to rely on the vampires’ and the shifters’ own hand-to-hand combat skills. I don’t like it, but we don’t have a choice, really. The vampires have agreed to lead the attack, with the shifters focusing on finding Nyx and freeing him.
I stare at everyone as I stand alone in my wolf form. I feel like a coward, like I’m asking everyone else to risk their lives while I’m cowering alone, unable to help.
“Don’t—don’t do that to yourself. No one here wants to risk your life. No one here is unwilling to risk their own. Everyone has a part to play in this war. Your part is keeping yourself alive so that you can complete the marking ceremony and break the curse.”
“But they are doing it for me. Because they know I care about Nyx. And that the witches can use him to manipulate me into breaking it for other creatures.”
Ambrose shakes his head.“They are doing it because Nyx is their alpha, lord, friend, or lover. They are doing it becausehe has been prophesied to break the other two curses. It has nothing to do with your feelings for him.”
I look at Ambrose.“How do you do it? How do you keep hope with me when I keep telling you repeatedly how much I love a man who isn’t in love with me and loves another? A man I should hate, but can’t let go of?”
Ambrose stills for a moment, and for a second, it seems like he’s considering something—something he wants to tell me but can’t.
“I do it because I love you. Because even if you never love me in the same way you love him, it’s enough for me. Curse or no curse. Mates or not. You’re the one I want. You need him alive in this world so you don’t lose hope. Then I’ll save him. Simple as that.”
I gasp at him, not sure what to say. But he doesn’t give me a chance to respond.
“Ready?” he asks Sylara and Amora.
They both nod at them.
And then Ambrose holds out his hands. The world stills. Our plan depends on him being able to do this. If he can’t, we’re fucked. He has to create a hole in their shield. He has to create a way in. Because the Moonfire witches won’t allow us in, otherwise.
Ambrose is sweating, and the air shifts, and then a blast shoots out from his hands. I can’t see anything, but I feel it happening. The runes telling me to turn around lessen.
“Now!” Ambrose yells.
Amora and Sylara are the first through the opening. The second they are through, my heart stops beating out of my chest.
We are going to get Nyx back.
Vampires follow next, then Bloodmoons, then Moonlights. Ambrose is the last through, and I realize as soon as he’s through, I won’t be able to help even if I want to. The openingwill close with him. It doesn’t matter the promises I made to him.
“We’ll find him. Stay safe, my queen,”and then he’s through and the magic descends on him, like a door slamming shut.
I whimper, my paw scratching at the invisible wall like I’m going to be able to open it. But of course I can’t.
I pace, needing something to do. I stay in my wolf form as Ambrose requested. I know Ambrose will keep updated on what’s happening inside, but I want second-by-second reports, and I know that’s not realistic. He needs to concentrate on keeping himself and everyone else alive.
Hold on, Nyx, they’re coming for you.
I close my eyes, concentrating on Ambrose, slipping into his mind with ease. I expect fear, but I find none. Only a steady pulse of determination, alongside a sharp, simmering anger.
His heart doesn’t race. It beats calm. Controlled. Unshaken.
Even as they move quickly through the Moonfire territory, he remains perfectly steady.
“No one is here,”Ambrose says suddenly.
“What do you mean, no one is here?”
“I mean, I sense no one, and we haven’t run into a single witch. Their magic would have announced our presence. It seems they may have fled as soon as they heard our arrival.”
I frown.“Make sure they didn’t leave Nyx behind.”