Our warriors had smiles as they watched the pups play, but their eyes were full of worry. Fighting the Morrigan would leave the little ones unprotected. A chill ran down my spine as I remembered the story Arminius had told us. The lamia had gathered to fight the Morrigan, like we were now. They’d put their children and mothers in a safe place, only to find that the Morrigan and her dark fae had slaughtered them all while they were at battle.
“Froston,” I said with an air of command in my voice. “The next generation of wolves must be kept safe. What type of safety can you guarantee them?”
Froston cleared his throat. “I have an island that I prepared for my love. It’s isolated from the rest of the world, warded from discovery, and secret from all but me.”
There was an awkward silence as quite a few people turned to look at Astrid, but she stood stoically.
“I will only accept your offer with a blood oath,” she said loudly enough for all to hear.
Froston gave a sad smile, but he wasted no time in drawing a blade from his boot. “I swear to bring all who need sanctuary to a place where they shall remain safe from all threats until they wish to return to their families.”
Astrid stepped forward. “I accept.”
Froston cut the palm of his hand and held the knife out to Astrid as his blood dripped down on the pale sand. She winced as she made a similar cut, but she didn’t hesitate to clasp their bloody hands together. I felt magic snap as the bargain was sealed and let out a sigh of relief. There wasn’t much wiggle room in the oath Froston had given.
“Ingrid,” Astrid called out. “You should accompany them so I can fight alongside Anna.”
Ingrid stepped forward and clasped her sister’s hands. “If that’s what you wish,” she said softly. “But Skye needs you.”
“Anna needs me,” Astrid insisted with a lift of her chin.
Love sparked inside my heart at her declaration. I’d longed for a real mother for so long - someone who would offer me the unconditional love and support that only a mother could give.
“That means everything to me,” I told her with an ache in my heart. “But the pups will need both you and Ingrid to defend them if things don’t go our way.”
Tears glimmered in my mother’s eyes as she reached for my hand. “I left you alone and unprotected in this world before,” she said as her voice cracked. “I can’t do it again.”
“You did the best you could,” I said softly. “And I don’t want to take a chance that my little sister could grow up without her mother. I’m strong enough to defend myself – but she’s not.”
“This is my second chance,” Astrid whispered as her eyes searched mine. “A chance to make things right between us.”
I shook my head and smiled. “Things were never wrong. I love you with all of my heart and soul.”
A sob escaped from Astrid, and she flung her arms around me, holding me tight against her. I rubbed her back as raw emotion poured out of her, her regret flooding into me. I raised my eyes and was surprised to see a stricken look on Froston’s face as he watched. He smoothed his features once he realized I’d seen a glimpse of what he kept hidden.
The others stepped away to give us privacy. There were tearful goodbyes as the pups were gathered up and handed to the women who would be their caretakers on the island.
Froston opened a gateway, and through it, I saw a beach with white sand and bright blue water with a mansion in the distance. Trevor and his team insisted on clearing the area and investigating the security before allowing the pups through. I checked the magical defenses to see that they were much more secure than the ones Froston had helped me to place around my own territory.
“Only you and I will be able to make a gateway here,” Froston told me as I walked the edge of the property. “It’s keyed to our blood. Others won’t even be able to sense this place exists.”
“And the dragons?” I asked again. Despite Froston’s ironclad blood oath, I didn’t trust strangers.
Froston gave me a sad smile. “They’re an honorable people, and they’ve given their oath.”
“I’m grateful for your help,” I said as I turned to him. “But you have to know that it’ll take more than