“Hush. I will not listen to this pessimism. If I wanted to hear doom and gloom, I would return to my Court. For one, the human realm would have been lost many months ago if you weren’t involved.” He took a step back, disappearing into the shadows. “And two, this war isn’t over yet. You think you’ve given up, but you haven’t. That’s why you’ve come here. If it was truly over, you wouldn’t have bothered. My only word of advice is this: think of all you’ve accomplished in the time since you discovered your powers, and remember who was there. All along the way, you’ve encountered so many who want to save this realm. It’s all happened for a greater purpose. Figure it out. And you’ll win.”
Chapter 33
When I pushed through the front doors of headquarters, Dorian, Laura, and the rest of the mages were waiting for me. I stopped short, surprised. After my disappearance from the fight and what I’d told the bone mages, I’d expected this place to be as quiet and as still as a graveyard. Instead, there were at least fifty witches and warlocks gathered here.
“What are you all doing here?” I asked, raising my eyebrows as I shut the door behind me. “Don’t tell me that something else has happened? Another attack? Are more humans dead?”
“We’re here because we made a commitment to you,” Michelle said, shifting through the crowd to stand before me. “We knew going into this that we would suffer heavy losses. Not every fight is one we’re going to win, and while it’s terrible that so many lives were lost tonight, we can’t let that stop us from getting the Witch’s Blade back and ending this once and for all. Because if we just go home and shut our curtains, then more and more humans will die. And, eventually, us.”
“You’re right,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “More will die. Hell, all of them will die.”
Dorian gave me a smile while Laura cocked her head. “Why the sudden change of heart?”
“Less a change of heart and more a realization of exactly what we need to do in order to win this war,” I said.
A few murmurs went through the crowd, and Dorian strode from the back to stand beside me, draping his arm across my shoulder and pulling me close to his chest with a squeeze. “Welcome back. We’re all ears, Magister.”
A warmth flooded my chest as I turned to flash him a grateful smile. The way he’d stood beside me through all my ups and downs…well, I hoped that someday I could give him as much as he’d given me. I hoped that I could make him feel the way he made me feel—the warmth and the comfort he brought, even though the vampirism had driven all the heat from my bones. I’d never be empty, cold, or raw. Not with Dorian in my life. A word that started with “l” flickered in my mind, but I pulled it close into myself, not quite ready to let him feel that emotion coming from me. Not yet.
But when all this was over, I would open up my heart fully to him, let him know exactly how much he’d changed my life.
“Last time we went to war, three years ago, it was more than just us,” I said, gesturing around at the Bone Coven headquarters. “We had allies, remember? Bigger numbers. Different tactics and immortal lives. For example, Anastasia took a big hit tonight, but she’s already recovered. Why? Because she is immortal. She’s fine, and she can join the next fight. Now that Wagner has some Nosferatu in his army? We need fighters who can match them while we mages focus our efforts on the demons.”
“What are you suggesting?” Chris asked from Michelle’s side. “Cursing us all so that we’re Unbound like you? ‘Cause I refuse to become a vampire. No offense.”
“I would never suggest something like that,” I said quickly. “Creating a vampire army? Probably not a great idea. But having the Daywalkers join us again? Now, that could really help us out.”
“Except they withdrew from our truce,” Michelle argued. “Isn’t that the entire reason they aren’t fighting on our side already? We pissed them off, and they decided they didn’t want anything to do with us anymore.”
“Not that you can blame them,” Anastasia said with a cluck of her tongue.
“It might be a long-shot, that’s true,” I said, glancing at Anastasia. “But the warlocks who offended the Dogaru Clan are no longer an issue. I’ve negotiated with Christian before. He might be willing to listen to me. Plus, we already have a Dogaru on our team. When he realizes the severity of the situation…” I trailed off and lifted a shoulder. “I think there’s a good chance he’ll join us. Along with a werewolf pack near the coast, the Sun Coven, the rebels, and some of the fae. All together, we’d pack a serious punch.”
Dorian let out a low whistle and smiled. “Wagner wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“I know what you’re going to say,” I muttered to Anastasia as we stood outside the Dogaru mansion. “And it’s something along the lines of ‘let me do all the talking’ but I’m going to stop you before you get there. I’m the one who needs to convince Christian. Okay?”
“So, you’re just using me to get inside,” she said.
“Pretty much.” I shot her a smile, and she rolled her eyes, though it was a half-hearted expression instead of true irritation. She knew I was right. If we were going to get the Daywalkers to join us, the Magister of the Bone Coven needed to be the one to win them over, to bring back the truce that the previous Magister had so easily torn to shreds. And somehow, that person was me.
“Fine. Just try not to piss him off this time,” she said. “He gives me a hard enough time for being involved with you guys. Please don’t make it worse. I’d prefer to still have a house to go home to after this.”
It was weird to think that Anastasia had spent the past few months joining us during waking hours and then going home to her Clan at the end of the day, even though we were two sides of a feuding coin. When Dogaru had first found out that she had joined us in our excursion with the rebels, he’d of course blamed us for getting her involved. Since then, they’d made up. Somehow. And now, we were going to go poke the bear again. In any other circumstance, I would have avoided this moment for as long as possible.
But the truth was, we needed the Daywalkers. And they needed us, even if they didn’t realize it yet.
My hand got halfway to the door when it swung open before me. I expected some kind of butler to blink out from the darkness, but there was no one there. Glancing at Anastasia, I frowned, but she didn’t look the slightest bit concerned. Instead, she motioned me into the house and closed the door behind us. A moment later, Christian Dogaru appeared in the foyer, his glittering eyes sizing me up with an intensity I’d only ever seen from him. It was like he could see inside my soul. Hell, maybe he could.
“How interesting,” he said, lifting a perfectly-manicured eyebrow. “We’ve got another Unbound on our hands, only this time you’re a shadow mage as well. Must make for a dangerous combination.”
“Dangerous? Yes,” I said. “But there’s only one of me. So, not dangerous enough.”
“Well, that’s certainly an intriguing way to begin this conversation,” he said. “That is, I’m assuming my daughter brought you here because you have something on your mind. Not, I suppose, joining my Clan? It’s a little out of the ordinary, our taking in Unbounds, but I suppose I might consider it if you walked away from your coven. Something I’m guessing you will never do now that you have been named Magister.”
I cast a sharp glance at Anastasia. She merely shrugged in response.
“My daughter did not inform me, no. Though I wished she had,” Christian said with a tight smile. “I have little birds. They’ve been keeping an eye on you.”
“That’s suitably creepy,” I said.
“Do you blame me?” he asked. “After everything your coven has done to my Clan, you should be glad we haven’t done worse than spy on you.”
“Yeah, about that…” I trailed off, glancing at Anastasia. “We’re here because we thought it was about time we discuss what happened to your Clan. By our past Magisters. I think it’s important for you to know that I’m not like them. Hell, I haven’t even been named Ma
gister. I’ve just ended up in the position because—”
“Yes, yes, you’re not like them, and you want to bring back our truce,” he said, waving his hand. “Don’t look so surprised. It wasn’t difficult to surmise. I know how horribly your recent battles against Wagner have gone. You need more fighters, and you need the kind of manpower that only immortals have.”
“Well, then you understand,” I said, surprised that this had gone so well. After everything that had happened, I’d expected at least a little push back from the head of the Dogaru Clan.
“Oh, I understand. It’s just a shame your mages decided to paint a bullseye on my family. So, no. We will not join you in your honorable crusade. Goodbye, Zoe Bennett.”
He turned toward the dark depths of the mansion, but I grabbed his arm. He froze, his entire body going rigid. When he spoke, his voice was full of barely controlled rage, a fury that was directed at me. But I wasn’t the one he should be angry at, and the mages who had targeted his Clan were long gone and buried.
“You should be more careful about putting your hands on powerful vampires,” he said, twisting back to face me with flashing red eyes. “One might take the move as a threat and respond in kind.”
“Come on, Christian,” I said, though I dropped my grip on his arm for good measure. “You know I’m not a threat, and you know I had nothing to do with what happened to your Clan. Hell, if anything, I’ve shown that I do right by Daywalkers. Who was it that discovered who was behind the fire? Who was it who went after them despite what my coven told me to do?”
He lifted his chin and pursed his lips, tapping a long, twisty fingernail against his chin. “You did not do that for us.”
“No, you’re right.” I shrugged. “I didn’t do it just for you. I did it to stop the demons, and as big as you like to talk and as dangerous as you like to come across, I know you and your family want to live your lives here in this realm. Maybe you sometimes act in ways I don’t agree with, but we’re far more alike than different. And I know you don’t want the demons to take over this world any more than we do. Besides, Wagner has brought Nosferatu over from Europe. And it’s only going to get worse from here.”
Christian Dogaru regarded me with a cold expression, his eyes flicking across my face as if he could read the sincerity in my eyes. Or maybe he was looking for something else. Fear. Strength. Power. Whatever it was he found, it seemed to be enough to satisfy him.
“Okay.” He gave a nod. “We will join you if you guarantee that your other coven mages will make no move against us. And we’ll also require something else.”
“What?” I asked.
“I’m sure you’re aware that we broke into your headquarters recently,” he said with a slight smile. “We were looking for something, and we’d like you to give it to us. In exchange for our soldiers.”
A deep dread settled in my bones, but I wasn’t surprised it had come to this. Dorian had warned me that this day might come, where I’d have to play the game of politics to win the war. “What do you want, Christian?”
“I want the rune that creates Unbounds.”
“Fine,” I said with little hesitation. It wasn’t like he could cast the spell himself. He’d need a shadow mage for that, and it wouldn’t be me. “It’s yours. Once this fight is over.”
“Good. But, I dare say, Zoe Bennett,” he said, “you’re going to need far more than just my Clan if Wagner’s army has grown as much as you think.”
“Don’t worry. I’m on it.”
Chapter 34
As I stood on the cemetery field, I surveyed the army I’d spent the past twenty-four hours gathering from all corners of my known world. In some cases, I’d been met with slight resistance, especially in the case of the sun mages, but when I’d explained just how far Wagner had gone, stubborn hesitation had been replaced by a realization that no one could sit on the sidelines anymore. Belzus had gathered a large group of weaponized fae, the Dogaru Clan stood with their fangs and claws at the ready, Nathan’s werewolf pack had shifted into their animalistic forms, and even the rebels had joined us. Only the Blood and Shadow Covens were sitting this one out, too wrapped up in their own issues to meet us in battle.
Dorian stood by my side, wearing steel-encased armor he’d found in the weapons room at headquarters. He shone like a powerful warrior, his stormy eyes and grim expression reflecting the dark clouds that rolled over our heads. With a nod from him and a comforting dose of his level emotions, I strode before the crowd, eyeing up each soldier I passed.
“Thank you all for joining us,” I said, raising my voice so that every last fighter could hear my words. “Without every single one of you, we wouldn’t have a chance against Wagner’s army, but all together, I have no doubt in my mind we’ll win.”
A cheer went through the crowd, fists pumping in the air while faces turned furious and exuberant all at once. They felt a bloodlust, not too unlike what I’d felt when the curse had taken control of my body. Only, for them, their bloodlust was directed toward something else entirely. Wagner, his demons, and the Nosferatu who were wreaking havoc on this world. These mages, fae, werewolves, and vampires before me were coming together as one. And they would do whatever it took to win.
“Now, the covens have suffered heavy losses, and the demons have killed far too many humans already,” I continued. This time, the cheers died down, and faces lost their smiles, because the deaths that had come before this fight were no joking matter. “We cannot allow them to kill any more. This fight right here? It is the final fight. One way or another. No matter how hard they come at us, we need to persevere, because if we fall today, then we won’t have another chance.”
Silence answered my words. It wasn’t exactly the optimistic speech that anyone had been expecting, but I wanted to make sure each and every one of them understood the gravity of the situation as well as what we would lose if we fell on the battlefield. Because determination and passion could mean the difference between a win and a loss. The demons were merely soldiers, fighting under the command of a mage who kept them prisoner in their own bodies. Those of us here, we were fighting for all of our lives.
“Those demons,” I said, throwing up my arm to point into the distance. “They don’t belong here, and they never have. This is not their realm. It’s ours.” I narrowed my eyes and raised my voice to a shout. “We will not let them take it from us. We will not let them destroy the many lives who call this realm their home. It is ours. And we will protect it with every ounce of courage and strength we have!”
The crowd erupted into a roar, but the noise died down only seconds later. A chill swept across us. Even in my new Unbound form, the cold that permeated the graveyard slid into my bones. With a deep breath, I turned and found an army of corporeal demons and Nosferatu standing before us. They were fewer in number, but they were at least, if not more, vicious than anything the mages behind me had ever faced. Wagner, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen, pulling the puppet strings from somewhere deep in the shadows.
My lips twisted into a smile. There’d been no guarantee that Wagner would walk into this battle. He would have seen the preparation. He would have known that our numbers had grown, and he would have seen the threat of what we could do. This was a risk, but one I’d known deep down in my gut would pay off. Because Wagner couldn’t afford to show any hesitation or fear. Not now. All of his enemies were in one place at one time, ready for a fight, one he’d practically been salivating for.
I’d forced his hand.
Lifting my finger in the air, I dropped back my head and let out a battlecry that was answered by the supernatural army around me. The werewolves howled, the vampires screamed in rage, the fae raised their weapons high in the air, and the mages flashed the magic on their palms. It was time to fight.
“Nock!” I shouted at the fae who held bows before turning toward the mages who held long-range spells in their palms. “Loose!”
Arrows and magic flew past me. Arrows pierced the
flesh of the vampires, and spells hit the demons square in the gut. Screams rose up from Wagner’s army as they began to rush toward us across the field, knocking over headstones and grinding their feet into the dirt. I curled my hands into fists and braced myself for what would come next, shouting out another command to the rangers before our enemies could reach us.
Dozens more Nosferatu went crashing to the ground, but the ones who hadn’t been wounded in the head wouldn’t stay down for long. They’d be back on their feet, and we needed to be ready for them.
When the charging demons were only feet away from my fighters, I rose my hand in the air. “Charge!”
Our entire army rushed forward.
Chapter 35
Through the clashing bodies, I spotted Ivan Wagner standing on top of a crypt in the distance. He waited outside of danger, watching the proceedings with a cool disregard. Frowning, I glanced at the battle before squaring my shoulders and stalking toward him. It was time to take this asshole down. When he saw me coming his way, he smiled. Rage boiled in my heart. Part of me couldn’t believe he’d had the guts to show his face. He’d spent the past few fights hiding in the shadows, where he belonged.
“Wagner,” I said, shouting up at him. “Time to give up. You’re not going to win. We’ve got a bigger army, and we’ve got a good stock of fangs.”
“You really think a few Nosferatu fangs are going to slow me down?” He barked out a laugh. “What you don’t understand, Zoe, is that I don’t care how many fighters I lose. I’ll just go get some more of them. They’re an endless stream of nobodies. Creatures who don’t matter. You, on the other hand, can’t afford many losses. And, anyone you lose is going to feel like a stab in the gut.”
The Bone Coven Chronicles: The Complete Series Page 74