Smoldered Flames: Part I of the Edonia Series

Kamau

The brogue and flirtatious fellow takes a small bow, holding out a hand to the Witch Queen. “I’m Beta Jacques, your highness. It’s a pleasure to be graced with your presence.”

Queen Winona takes his hand, and he presents a small chaste kiss to her slender one. “I wish we could have met in less stressful times, but alas, the gods see it otherwise. You are indeed a loyal Beta, Jacques. Your Alpha must be pleased.”

Jacques’ eyes twinkle. “Indeed I am. Let’s continue the meeting, shall we?”

The other leaders observe the new strangers with wariness. I noticed he never introduced the lavender fellow, nor did the said lavender guy offer his name. He’s rather a strange being. There is something…off about him. I growl softly. I hate not knowing the unknown. Gods, is this how humans felt about us before the Apocalyptic War?

My mother grips my arm and hisses in my ear. “The Lightfang pack was one of the oldest and mightiest packs around. It could rival Big John’s pack,” she curls her lip in a sneer. “Now look at it. Watered down like the bogs of Balendros. Fucking halfbrained mutts will ruin the whole mission. They will cause war and destruction. And then we will have those pointy eared bastards at our gates.”

I look at her with exasperation. “Mother, I can assure you: nothing like that will happen.”

Her sneer turns into a genuine smile. Almost. “Of course not, my kit. You won’t allow such a thing. That is why you must go to that island, you will take charge and bring honor to the Lēonion throne.” and as an afterthought, “and the Pumian Princess will be even more enamored.”

I choke on a groan at the mention of Bianka. I fight the urge to pull out my dreads every time she’s near. Bianka is like a leech when it comes to power, and for years she has set her eyes on my throne. It doesn’t help that her parents cajole this idea of unity to my mother. I never told her what I saw the night the jailbird and Princess Nerissa. I know that the Lioness Queen would be furious for her son to be destined with someone who could muddy the royal bloodline.

“From Orisa’s view, Valeri and the Princess are safe for the moment.” Queen Winona begins once everyone settles back down.

“For the moment?” King Tobias barks out.

She cuts a glare at the Fae King. “That’s what I said,” The Witch queen takes a deep breath. “Sinister works are at play.”

“How do we stop it?” The Elven Queen asks.

Queen Winona shakes her head. “It isn’t up to us,” she swirls her fingers in the air. “It’s up to them.” The image is distorted, but it shows a glimpse of the jailbird standing in a corner with a wary look in her eye. Another image appears showing Princess Nerissa leaning against the banister of a balcony, a worried crease in her knitted eyebrows as she views something down below.

The Witch queen’s familiar was able to gain considerable information despite it being a vulture. Not to question the bird’s intelligence, but I’m surprised it could do such a feat. Then again, I’m used to dragons being the superior species.

“And don’t you forget it,” Naka grumbles snarkily from a distance.

“As if you’d let me,” I chuckle internally. “But how is a bird able to go to the Lost Isle undetected?”

Naka rumbles thoughtfully. “In ancient times, vultures were highly favored. In some cultures they symbolized death and rebirth because of the vultures… eating habits. In others, they represent a connection between spirit and earth. They are thought to be a favorite of Eteri, goddess of wind.”

The wind goddess. No one really talks about her nowadays. Only the witches worship her. Eteri, like the rest of the deities, is well known for disguise, imagery, image distortion, and so much more. It is said that Ayla and Eteri were sisters. Two sides of the same coin. Spirit and wind are linked in more ways than I could imagine. I shake away the drifting thoughts and tune in on the current conversation.

“We can assist the two young women by breaking down the barrier, but it won’t be easy,” the Witch Queen comments.

Mother shifts forward in earnest. “And what do you propose we do?” she licks her lips, eager to hear what comes out of Queen Winona’s mouth.

“I propose we send some of our finest warriors to hunt down the source of the barrier’s power and destroy it.”

She presents an image of the island again. This time, the image is viewed from within the island. There aren’t many details besides the buildings and the sparse vegetation. Unlike the blue skies and equally blue seas, the terrain is gray and bleak, and the skies are equally so. What set the scene apart from the world is that you couldn’t see the surrounding sea. It was nothing but bleakness for miles around.

“The barrier surrounding the island is built like a one-way mirror. Outsiders can’t see the island, but those that aren’t held against their will can see for miles away.:

The Chancellor steps in. “So a full on attack was out of the question.”

The Witch Queen nods in agreement. “I have to admit, it is a sound idea, logically. But in reality, the barrier is a double-edged sword. Not only does it keep others out, it keeps the inhabitants in.”

A memory comes to the surface of my earlier days as a cub. Barriers like this can’t be consistently operated throughout the day, otherwise the owner of said barrier can weaken and die -if the caster isn’t strong. There is a small source, or key, that would hold the power of the barrier’s consistency somewhere on the island. We would have to find it.

The lavender haired fellow walks forward. “The only species to be able to gain access to this source is if they are a soldier or high in rank. It would be wise to send full-blooded, or half-blooded werewolves for this mission.”

“Do you think we can trust you, a lowborn with this mission?” Queen Esther sneers.

He blinks slowly at her, unphased. “Seeing as Executive Graystrom is absent from this meeting, you have no choice.”

Beta Jacques cuts in, glancing at the Faelios royalty. “Besides, we have just as much reason to do this as you do.”

“And that would be?” Queen Esther asks.

“Nothing that concerns you, Esther. They are offering to help, so we are accepting it.” Queen Winona responds, leaving no room to argue.

The cat shifter queen reclines with a huff.

“I think three enforcers should suffice.” the lavender guy voices, turning to his Beta.

He nods in agreement. “You know what to do, Delta Lotus. Get them prepared. I’ll meet with you shortly.”

Lotus winks out of existence with a wink. Everyone in the room lets out a dramatic gasp.

“Settle down, settle down. Surely, we are not children?” Chancellor Barati states.

“Do you expect us to trust you with such a critical part of rescuing the Princess? We should volunteer three of our own to ensure they don’t fuck this up.” The Cat Queen suggests.

Chancellor pinches the bridge of his nose. “Since you have come to this meeting, I assume you have something to contribute to the cause?”

And just like that, she has the opening like she wanted. “Yes, yes I do. I offer my son and his pod for this cause.”

Gods. She made it sound as if she were sacrificing us to said gods. I shiver a little at that.

“I will alert my Delta of this.” Beta Jacques adds. His eyes take on a faraway look as he reports back.

I wonder how that works since they are hybrids? Is it the same as a full-blooded wolf pack?

“Lotus will provide a talisman for each of whoever is coming along. He will just need your signature scent in order to begin.”

Chancellor Barati turns to me. “Have you decided who will tag along?”

“Eros, Daxter, and I will accompany the enforcers.”

“Very well. Let it be known that the might of the Bloodvenom Warriors have assisted in the rescue of the Faolian Princess. Let it be known that when such a need arises, that Faelios will be there.” The Beta declares.

“Fine words for one of your station, hybrid. Where is your Alpha?” King Tobias growls.

“She is away on business, ” Beta Jacques waves his hand in an away motion. “Besides, we are of sound mind.”

“I would like to meet this mysterious Alpha. Why, in the past decade, have we not met her? Surely, Alpha John has met her?”

“What occurs here, doesn’t concern your fellow Executive. The islands of Fallnora are separate from the rest of Edonia.”

“So the plan is to sneak in as soldiers of betrayal, find the source, and break the barrier from the inside. Correct?” Eros breaks the tension.

“Indeed,” the Chancellor sighs in relief. “Meanwhile, I suggest the witches and the fae create some way to disguise our own ships and soldiers.”

“I agree.” Queen Winona.

“As do we,” The Fae royalty say in unison.

“We shall reconvene in three days’ time.”

***************

Later that night, We met up with delta lotus and he gave each of us a talisman bound with a leather cord. The talisman is nondescript. Just a flat silver surface the size of a silver dollar with angelic wings and a circle in the middle.

We head back to SU, but Cassius is nowhere to be found. He hasn’t made much of an appearance since Sacred Solstice. After I take a shower, I lay down in bed and stare at the walls like some ritual and try to close my eyes.

But no matter how many times I try to block it out, I can’t get the image of a knife slicing through the air before hitting true to the jailbird’s heart…

Or how she holds my gaze. Nothing but a void filling those beautifully strange orbs.