The Mystical Attraction of Alpha
Chapter 243

Chapter 243

Chapter 243 – Alliances

Ella

I stare at Henry in utter belief, my conversation with my impossible sister immediately slipping my mind.“You found her?” I gape, instinctively reaching for Cora’s hand. Her warm palm settles in mine,squeezing tightly.

“It wasn’t easy.” Henry admits, moving further into the room. “I reached out to every surviving contact Icould think of, to no effect. Then I tried the news archives from the time, since they reported on theKing’s death and Reina’s departure so thoroughly. They all said the same thing – that she was devotingherself to the Goddess, but none seemed to know where she was going to serve.”

Audible Gift Memberships “So how did you figure it out?” Cora asks, sounding every bit as excited as I feel.

“I followed the money.” Henry explains, in a statement so vague and cliched I could scream withimpatience. “I had one of Gabriel’s computer forensic specialists hack into the royal banking recordsback home in Moon Valley. Luckily Damon hasn’t destroyed the financial archives dating back that far.”He shares eagerly. “He discovered that Queen Reina purchased a one-way trip to the Altaran islandsjust before the King’s death.”

“The Altaran islands?” I ask, racking my brains to try and place this name.

“They’re a remote island chain between the hidden territories and the royal continent,” Henry tells us,“so remote that all but the largest island are completely uninhabited. And the big island is only home toone thing: the most sacred temple known to shifters. It’s considered so hallowed that they don’t evenallow pilgrimages to the site, only the most devout and worthy priests and priestesses are permitted toserve there.”

I press my hand to my racing heart, “so Reina wouldn’t be going there unless she intended to devoteherself as a priestess.”

“Exactly,” Henry smiles, “and the fact that she was even allowed to go indicates that her journey wasGoddess-blessed.”

“So how do we get there? How long will it take to reach the islands?” I ask, my blood feeling positivelyelectric.

“You’ll have to go by ship.” Henry tells us with a small frown. “You can’t fly in the third trimester and Idon’t even know if there’s access from the air. Reina traveled by boat, so you will too.” He pausesmeaningfully, “I have to tell you that Dominic isn’t going to like it, though. There aren’t any doctors orhospitals, no resources to help you if you encounter trouble.”

“Surely there can’t be safer hands than the Goddess’s,” I counter, practically bouncing up and down.“How long is the journey?” I ask again.

Henry chuckles, “If I were you I would try to show a bit more hesitance about the risks when you talk toyour mate. But it will take no more than three days.”

“That’s amazing!” I burst, giving up the pretense of calm and throwing my arms around my sister. “Ican’t believe you found her! I can’t believe I’m going to meet her!”

Cora hugs me back, and I’m beyond moved when she murmurs, “I’m so happy for you, Elle.”

“Henry, you should come with us!” I suggest, glowing with happiness. “You know Reina, and I couldn’task for a better travel companion.”

“Hey,” Cora objects in an offended tone.

“Except for Cora, but she’s already coming.” I amend, batting my lashes at my disgruntled sister.

To my surprise, Henry’s face falls. “Yes, I know Reina.” He says in a strange voice. “But if I’m beinghonest I’m not particularly eager to renew the acquaintance.”

At once I remember that my birth father is responsible for the death of Henry’s mate. I don’t have anyidea if my mother was in on the plot, but it’s entirely understandable why Henry would want to keep hisdistance. “Oh Henry, I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me.”

“Nonsense.” He waves my apologies away, wheeling forward to kiss my cheek. “Besides, Dominicneeds me here – as an advisor. He’s already arranged for you to have plenty of protection andcompany, and I think he’s worried about being short-staffed as a result.” This is news to me and I don’tentirely understand his meaning, but I can’t bring myself to care right now.

“Have you told him the news yet?” I ask, secretly hoping that he has so that the duty doesn’t fall to me.

“No,” Henry grins, reading my sly expression. “That’s up to you, little mother.”

I nod, hugging him tightly. “Thank you so much, Henry.”

___________________

3rd Person

Damon stomped into his war room, raking his gaze over the scale model of the various battle frontsspread out on the center table. He growled with barely contained frustration, quickly losing control andslashing his arm over the tiny wax figures dotting the Southern border.

His troops had just called to report yet another loss – and to the humans of all people. It was one thingto be routed by the shifter resistance forces, but it was an insult to grievous injury to be defeated bysuch inferior beings. The furious emperor was ready to murder his war council, convinced that they’ddo about as much good to him as corpses as they currently served as advisors.

Ever since the secrecy pack broke the humans had been an unforeseen and shocking complication.Sure, the same clowns who’d recommended he send his best troops to the Western front hadcautioned him about the fallout, but who would have ever believed those neanderthals could mount acompetent defense against his elite forces? It seemed the weak creatures had been investing inadvanced weapons systems for years without making the information public, and they hadn’t hesitatedto deploy them when faced with an existential threat.

For weeks Damon had been watching his forces dwindle beneath the two-pronged assaults of shifterand human armies – the only blessing was that the two sides had not united against their commonenemy. Now, Damon didn’t particularly care about the death of his men – a soldier was little more thancannon-fodder after all – he had plenty more where they came from. The far greater blow was theimpossibility of governance amidst the sheer chaos of the collapsing societies. He couldn’t get controlof any town or city beyond Moon Valley, especially since he’d dismantled every institution and powerstructure that might impart order.

The fact of the matter was that Damon needed to put an end to the fighting and fast, or the continenthe’d seized would be worthless by the time he finally established his rule. Moreover, he needed to dosomething about that bitch and Sinclair’s unborn pup in Vanara. He was thrilled to have Sinclair out ofthe way, but his widow was still a source of hope for the downtrodden, and his pup would likely growinto an indomitable challenger if given the chance.

Damon had been trying to reinstate contact with his assassin in Vanara ever since Sinclair’s death wasconfirmed, but the wolf seemed to be dodging his calls. Perhaps he’d discovered he enjoyed life inVanara so much he didn’t need Damon’s favor any longer. But no matter the cause, Damon needed anally in the hidden territories. His resources were so strained that he couldn’t afford to deal with therefugees on the coast, let alone get another spy over the border.

Instead he decided that it was time to take a page out of Sinclair’s own book.

Before they lost contact, his spy had shared that the Storm Forest Alpha, Kieran, was fiercely opposedto allying with Sinclair. The Alpha clearly had more sense than some of his countrymen, as heunderstood that humans were worth little more than slave labor, and made no bones about sharing thisperspective.

In fact, Damon actually felt a sense of solidarity with the fierce leader. He’d been harboring thesethoughts in privacy for some time, but now it seemed as if things were becoming truly desperate. Hecouldn’t continue to bear the burden of this fight alone. He’d thought Sinclair weak for seekingalliances, but perhaps the late wolf was more clever than he’d seemed.

It was time to make his move.

Damon found the phone number among his late father’s documents, practically salivating as he dialed.Damon held his breath as the line rang, silently praying for Kieran to pick up.

At last the shrill ringing ended in a click, “Hello?” A gruff voice sounded on the other end of the line.

“Is this Alpha Kieran?” Damon asked, trying to keep the excitement from his voice.

“It is,” the voice replied, sounding suspicious. “Whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”

“This is Emperor Damon.” He replied, relishing the sound of his new title. “I have an offer to make you –an opportunity to increase your power and protect your lands from the scourge of refugees and humanscum.”

Kieran contemplated this for a moment, but the suspicion was gone from his voice when he finallyreplied, replaced with avid interest. “I’m listening.”