her. “And fake gods can fall and burn just like everyone else.”
Her eyes meet mine, and I see the same hope and worry I feel in my chest, reflected in hers.
“Here we are!” Tavvy shouts, and I swallow the emotions in my throat as I turn to see a portal with Lexi and a woman I don’t know sitting at a table on the other side. In front of the portal is a long light wooden table with dozens of cakes and drinks on it. I grin as we each take our seats and introduce each other, and I soon learn the other girl is the alpha female of the wolf pack, Sera. Sera is a beautiful woman about our age, and she is very clearly pregnant. I met her mate briefly in a portal earlier today during the discussions of when the wolves will get to the fight and everything they will be doing. I know it’s hard for Myles’s wolf to take orders from another alpha, but he is handling it the best he can do.
“Welcome to the first of many TAWVD meetings,” Tavvy says, and we all turn to her in confusion. “Oh, it stands for Tales, Angels, Wolves, Vampires and Demons.”
Pouring a drink, I hold a glass up as everyone gets a drink too. “To us. To our mates and to the world we want and will fight for tomorrow.”
We clink our glasses together, and for the first time, I don’t fear for our future. If a demon, wolf, vampire, angel and demon can sit around a table and have drinks...there is hope for a future of peace for us all.
Chapter 65
“But I want to come with you!” Aala all but screams at me, her rather strong arms tightly wrapped around my waist. “You will go and never come back, just like my parents and aunt. I don’t want you not to come back!” she cries, and it breaks my heart with every word. Ren kneels next to me, right at her level, and taps her little shoulder. She breaks her head away from my hip and looks at Ren with wide, tear-filled eyes.
“The goddess that blessed you is going to protect us all. Kaitlyn especially. You have nothing to worry about, little one. When this is over, where would you like to go?”
She thinks about it a little as she lets me go but still stays close. “The beach to get shells!”
“The beach it is then,” he replies and stands up.
“But you need to stay here and be brave for us. Is that okay?” I ask, knowing I’m not leaving her alone in any sense. There are twenty-nine women and sixty-two children staying behind who cannot fight today. If the vampires fall today, at least they will be here to make a new generation of vampires. There are many tales hiding in Knox’s dimension with them, the ones who cannot fight, as the tales island will not be safe when we are at war so close by. We wait for Aala’s answer as she stares at us before she lowers her head and whispers a small answer.
“Yes.”
“My brave girl,” I whisper, leaning down and kissing her forehead. I walk Aala to the women who swear to look after her before a tear-filled goodbye. I head back into my rooms and stare at the clothes on the bed.
“What are these?” I ask, picking up the shimmering blue material and gold chains hanging off the dress.
“The royal clothes of the vampire race. My mother’s dress,” Ren softly explains, coming to stand behind me. I turn back, glancing at the clothes he has on now. Gold chains fall off his shoulders, wrapping around his black shirt and black cloak that falls off his thick shoulders. The black cape has lines of the same shimmering blue material that looks like real magic. Stunning. “She would want you to wear them today. You’re my queen, and this, this is your crown.” He pulls his hands from behind his back, and in them lies an elf-like crown. A thick blue stone in a diamond shape rests in the middle of the dark blue metal that winds and swirls around it. I bow my head for Ren, and he places the crown on me where it fits perfectly. Turning to look at myself in the mirror, I only see how Ren looks down at me instead of how the crown looks against my blonde hair and pale skin.
“Any queen is lucky when