Rome loves a good cautionary tale of those who dare defy them.”
“And then you went to Britannia?” I murmured as I looked back down at the coin. I vaguely knew some of the stories of Rome conquering the natives there, but the details were fuzzy. It seems odd that a priestess would have welcoming an oppressive military force, though. There had to be more to this story.
“I left Rome in search of something more,” Arminius said without any emotion in his voice. “Brittania was a fresh new world.”
“You’re warning me,” I guessed. “At the end of this fight, the fae are going to see me as their enemy.”
Arminius nodded. “It may be wise for you to disappear,” he suggested. “Perhaps even spectacularly perish while saving your world,” he said with a faint smile.
I sighed. “Who knows? I might not need to fake it.”
Austin laid a hand on my shoulder and sent a wave of support my way. I turned to smile up at him to show I was just joking. Kind of.
“Thank you for your help,” Austin said formally, effectively ending the conversation.
“Of course,” Arminius murmured as he stood.
Austin put his hand on my waist to guide me to the door, but Arminius stopped me.
“Oh, and Anna?”
I turned back around to face him.
“You may be fighting for the humans, but that doesn’t mean they don’t consider you to be the enemy.”
I murmured in acknowledgement, but took his advice with a grain of salt. I was fighting for the humans, just as he’d fought for the Germans. But, history didn’t have to repeat itself this time. Arminius had lived a very long time. He’d seen the rise and fall of some of the most powerful civilizations on earth, but that didn’t mean he knew everything. He’d always see humans as lesser than himself.
Len escorted me out of the mansion, and I made a gateway as soon as I stepped out into the fresh air. I was ready to go home to my wolves. They wouldn’t be happy about my plan, but they were warriors at heart, and they knew you couldn’t win a battle without some risk.
Chapter 11
Drake
I watched my brother, Fallon, out of the corner of my eye as we both strode forward to face judgment. The set of his shoulders portrayed confidence, but a small twitch in his hand told me he was more concerned than he was willing to let on.
My mother sat on her throne made of the darkest obsidian. Shadows swirled around her, and the presence of the dark fae gave the entire room an ominous feel. The darkness that the Morrigan was made of could be a terrifying abyss filled with nightmares for those that fought against her. I’d long ago accepted that darkness as a part of myself. Being here with the Morrigan and the dark fae gave me a sense of belonging. Like called to like, and a part of me was made from shadows.
“Fallon, Drake,” our mother purred as we knelt in front of her throne. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. Rise.”
I stood and met my mother’s dark eyes without hesitation. She was unpredictable and may have brought us here for either slaughter or accolades. The fight for the throne of Winter had come down to either myself or Fallon. We were locked in a political struggle whose balance would be easily tipped by what occurred here in the next few minutes. That is, assuming my mother didn’t want the throne for herself.
“Drake,” my mother said fondly. “It was one of yours who broke me free from my prison after all these years.”
My brother stiffened beside me. He had allied himself with one of the wolf shifters of this world in a plot to free our mother. However, her release had hinged on a blood sacrifice from someone of both this world and ours. Someone who I had marked as my own. Anna.
“And your intended,” my mother continued. “She was also the one to slay your traitorous father.” Rage flickered in her dark eyes, and a chill spread throughout the room.
I gave my mother an elaborate bow. “Mother, it’s a pleasure to be able to serve you here in the flesh.”
The Morrigan rose from her throne and gracefully descended from her dais.
“Yes,” she said affectionately. “You were just a babe when I was trapped in that hell. I’m pleased to see how you’ve grown.”
Fallon inhaled a sharp breath as our mother gently touched my cheek. He should be