The team got in their vehicles, donninginsignias for the City of Tennga. Kai wore a sleek, black long-coat bearing the Aegis Delivery Logistics insignia on her left shoulder. Silverthreading traced up the seams, and magical runes were woven into the stitching—a giftfrom a certain Seelie delegate no less.

  She climbed into the driver’s seat of the jeep-truck, and at her signal, the convoy pulled out,making the short three-minute drive to theConclave’s location.

  Harriman State Park was deserted. Most humans were out celebrating the New Year, which would be happening in the next fifteen minutes—coinciding perfectly with the start of the Conclave.

  As they neared their destination, they passed a sign for Camp Homeward Bound and slowed. The coordinates had led them here.

  Then they saw it.

  A shimmering barrier enclosing the site.

  Kai brought the jeep to a stop, and everyonedisembarked.

  Rina immediately strode forward and attempted to pass through—only to be stopped cold.

  “What the hell?!” she hissed.

  On the other side, a squadron of vampires stood guard.They had seen the convoy approach but made no move to lower the barrier.

  Kai’s brows furrowed as she got out of the jeep.She turned toward Lady Selene, who was about to step out.“Stay hidden for now,” Kai murmured. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

  Selene nodded and remained inside. Kai stepped forward, stopping behind an irritated Rina.

  “I am Kai Ki, representing Aegis Delivery Logistics,” she called out. “I’m here to deliver a time-sensitive package. Kindly let me through.”

  The vampires didn’t respond.

  Then, from behind them, came the voice ofLady Sumila’s man. As he emerged from their ranks. Elbowing his way through.“Lower thebarrier!” the Familiar who had hired her barked. He approached swiftly and turned to acloaked figure standing off to the side.“I said lower it!” he snapped. The figure turned their head as if to shrink away.

  “That won’t be happening,” came a deep, and cultured voice. A tall vampire stepped forward, and the squadron immediately parted to let him through. The Familiar blinked in confusion before scowling. “Lord Vaelen! What is the meaning of this?!”

  Vaelen ignored him, not sparing him a glance. He strolled forward, his steps slow, measured.

  The Familiar stepped forward again, but before he could utter another word, Vaelen’s hand shot out, closing like a vice around his throat. A violent snap rang through the air.

  The Familiar’s lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

  “One should always respect their betters,” Lord Vaelen drawled, dusting off his sleeve as he stepped up to the barrier.

  Kai had felt him before she’d seen him. His presence felt old and now she knew exactly who had been after her.

  The psychopath before her. Clearly.

  “Well, well, well,” Vaelen mused, his eyes narrowing. “You, my dear, have been quite the thorn in my side.”

  Kai cocked her head to the side, raising an unimpressed brow.

  “Always happy to meet a fan,” she deadpanned.

  Vaelen’s smirk vanished.

  “I will give you one chance,” he said darkly. “Hand over the package, or you will learn whathappens to those who trifle with me.”

  Kai let out a soft huff of amusement.

  “Funny,” she mused. “Another vampire told me something similar once… and then I blew him up—along with his merry band of toy soldiers, with a terrible color scheme complex.”

  Vaelen’s expression darkened.

  “So you were the one who killed my men,” he all but snarled.

  Kai merely gave him a small, insincere smile.

  Lord Vaelen wanted nothing more than to wring this woman’s neck. She had evaded his forces not once, not twice—but three times! She had outmanoeuvred his best hunters, defied every attempt to corner her, and stolen the cure right from under his nose.

  And now, here she stood. Unbothered. Smirking at him with an Infuriating smug look in her eyes.

  He didn’t know whether to kill her..or hire her.

  But his pride—his rage—was leaning towards eliminating this particular annoyance.

  “It seems you cannot be swayed,” he finally said, his tone a dark promise. “Then we are at an impasse.”

  He took a slow step forward, his cold gaze locked onto hers.

  “So let me enlighten you as to what will happen now,” he continued. “As soon as the allotted time passes, this barrier will fall. And when it does?” His lips curled into a cruel smile.

  “Not only will you have failed in your mission—but you, and every single one of your little pack of Fae, will die by my hand.”

  Rina had been watching the exchange closely, standing near Shae and Marta, the rest of the Tennga crew behind them.

  She had expected Kai to throw back another taunt, to keep pushing Vaelen’s buttons as she always did.

  But the moment the vampire threatened them—the moment he shifted his focus from Kai to her family—something changed.

  Rina felt it immediately.

  The air grew thick.

  An invisible force pressed against her chest, making it harder to breathe. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened as she took a gasping breath in.

  Stars Preserve Us!

  Rina turned and ran. “Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit.”

  She didn’t think. She just moved.

  Shae saw her bolt as she repetitively swore and didn’t hesitate. She grabbed Marta and lept back into the Jeep, dragging her inside.

  Rina practically dove into the backseat, landing beside her mate Selene.

  The Vampiress sat ramrod straight in her seat. She could feel the power surging through the air. The writhing of it, beneath the surface of the earth, creating vibrations that shook thevehicle. Selene’s gaze remained fixed upon Kai’s solitary figure, as she stood before the barrier.

  Even from within the Jeep, Kai’s power was palpable—a force so vast and old that it made the very air hum with energy.

  The rest of the Tennga crew, along with Lawrence and his vampire squadron,scrambled for cover behind their vehicles, as well. All instincts screaming at them to take cover.

  On the other side of the barrier, the vampires became restless a sense of unease perforating the crowd. The began to shift uneasily, glancing at each other in confusion. They had no idea what was coming.

  Lord Vaelen, suspiciously narrowed his eyes as that infuriating smirk disappeared from the woman’s face. Instead, her features darkened. Her stance changed. She no longer seemed amused.

  The Moon Elf had gasped and fled. His enemies had backed away.

  He furrowed his brow, perplexed.

  Then—

  The barrier flickered.

  Lord Vaelen’s eyes snapped to the hedge witch maintaining it. Only to find her crouching down gasping for breath, her hands trembling.

  He turned back to the barrier and froze.

  The tall woman stood almost flush against it now, her dark brown eyes locked onto his.

  Then she spoke.

  Kai had been willing to give him a chance to redeem himself, but he had threatened her family.

  That had spelled the End.

  For him.

  She stepped forward, stopping just inches from the barrier. Her voice just above a whisper, yet it cut through the silence like a blade.

  “Apologies —”

  Her tone was calm. Measured.

  “—but did you just threaten my family?”

  Everything went still. The wind ceased. The night went silent. Even the insects had stopped their incessant chatter. Nothing dared make a sound.

  Lord Vaelen shifted his stance, ill at ease by her calm demeanour. It felt almost ominous!

  Kai’s voice deepened into a quiet rumble—a sound that carried a weight far beyond the physical.

  “Because…” she continued, her tone dropping into something vast and ancient. It now contained the echoes of those who had come and gone. Voices of the past and present. Some dark, some light, and all unique. All powerful

  “…that’s what it SOUNDED LIKE.”

  The barrier flickered again and there was a tremor beneath their feet. The vampires took multiple steps back agitated.

  Lord Vaelen clenched his jaw. He still couldn’t feel her power because of the barrier. Though his eyes could see the the trees on the other side as they began to sway. The vehicles rocking as ground vibrated creating ripples in the dirt.

  Kai raised her hand. Her palm barely brushing the surface of the magical construct. As she flexed her fingers, she gave a push. Just a tiny one.

  A sharp, cracking sound split the air. A jagged fissure ran from the top-right corner of the barrier down to the bottom-left.

  Vaelen’s eyes went wide. His breath stalled.

  “IMPOSSIBLE!” He said in horro as watched the fractures through t the barrier continue. But he had no time to react.

  Kai tilted her head, and the barrier exploded, sending out a concussive blast outwards, flinging every person on his side off their feet.

  Lord Vaelen, who had been standing the closest to the barrier, was hurled backwards from bone-crushing force. His body smacking yards away into the pavement of the camp’s parking lot and skidded violently across the ground, tearing up asphalt and sending debris flying.

  When he finally came to a stop, his body lay crumpled and broken in a heap, the sheer impact leaving deep cracks in the earth.

  Then everything went deathly still. Kai lowered her hand. Her face calm, expressionless. As if merely having swatted a fly.

  She stepped forward, her eyes never leaving Lord Vaelen. Now that the barrier was destroyed, her power charging through the air like a living force. Arcs of blue and green light flickered up and down her coat, rippling like water caught in the air. The few vampires still conscious cowered, pressing themselves against the ground, unwilling to draw her attention.

  The hedge witch lay sprawled on the pavement, gasping for breath. Blood dripped from a deep gash on her forehead, her frail body battered from the blast as the barrier was destroyed. She had never wanted to be involved with these vampires! She was just fine living her quiet uneventful life in seclusion. But they had given her no choice. That bastard, Vaelen, had threatened her family!

  Now, she could feel her life slipping away. Her vision blurred, as her breathing grew shallow. The weight of her choices, her regrets, settled over her like a leaden shroud.

  As she lay there unable to move she felt the approach of that terrifying woman.

  She forced her head to turn, her gaze dragging upward.

  The tall figure loomed above her, framed by the moonlit sky. A hand reached down. She braced herself for death. Instead….. a warm, green light enveloped her as a soft pulsing of magic ran through her battered body, knitting opened wounds closed, repairing ruptured organs, soothing cracked ribs, and easing the agony in her limbs. The pain disappeared, replaced by a feeling she hadn’t known in a while.

  Peace.

  She gasped, her lungs steadily drawing in needed oxygen. Her vision cleared, and she found herself locking eyes with the most captivating brown gaze she had ever seen—they were a soft brown, filled with something unexpected. A Gentle Soul. How strange it was to witness such power tempered by overwhelming compassion.

  Wild power surged around this woman, vast and untamed, yet it did not harm. It was controlled. Intentional.

  Strong arms lifted her slowly to her feet. Instinctively, she leaned into the warmth of the woman’s solid frame, still disoriented by the lack of pain.

  She looked up, eyes wide with gratitude.

  Kai steadied the elderly witch with careful hands, relieved she hadn’t killed her. One life saved was better than none. The memory of the Familiar’s broken form gnawed at her, but there was nothing she could do for him now. She dusted off the witch’s robes, then turned her carefully toward her people.

  “Go,” Kai murmured.

  The witch hesitated, then with one last, grateful look, she hurried towards the convoy. Rick, the satyr, waved her over, ushering her into the last vehicle.

  Kai exhaled and continued forward only to pause again.

  There……movement. She halted, her gaze snapping to the Familiar’s body.

  A twitch.

  A jolt.

  A sharp crack echoed through the lot as his broken neck snapped back into place.

  Kai eyes went wide, her body tensed, every muscle coiled, ready for an attack.

  Zombie? No. Surely not. Did zombies even exist? They had better Not! She was willing to deal almost anything, but that? Hell no!

  Then the man took a deep, shuddering breath and sat up.

  Kai blinked.

  He looked at her.

  She looked at him.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Silence.

  Then, unable to help herself, she snorted in dry amusement. He gave her a wry, exhausted look.

  “Soooo… not a zombie, then?” she quipped, holding out a hand.

  “Not even close,” he muttered, taking it. She hauled him to his feet, shaking her head in relief. Then she turned back to her primary concern.

  Lord Vaelen.

  The vampire Lord lay sprawled in a crater of shattered cement and torn earth. His once-pristine clothes were in tatters, his neatly styled hair a ruined mess. Kai strode forward, reached down, and grabbed him by the collar.

  And with no more effort than if she were dragging a sack of grain, she pulled him along behind her as she strode through the crowded lot.

  The Fae were already securing the remaining vampires, binding them with enchanted restraints. Those still conscious did not resist. They had seen what Kai was capable of. They knew when to surrender.

  Kai walked straight to Orlan, the Mountain Troll. “Hey, bud! Mind getting blondie out of the back?” She jerked her chin towards the vehicle. “We’ve got about five minutes to get inside.”

  Orlan nodded, yanking the unconscious blond from the back of the Jeep. With a grunt, he hefted him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “Lead the way, boss.” He said with a nod

  Rina was already moving, Lady Selene at her side, followed closely by Shae and Marta. As they approached the hall doors, the Familiar—the one who had miraculously survived—caught sight of Selene.

  He stopped dead. Then, without hesitation, he dropped to one knee, bowing his head. The remaining vampires—at least those not aligned with Lawrence’s faction—gasped in shock. Kai raised a brow.

  Interesting.

  Selene inclined her head. “Hello Nigel. Let’s dispense with the formalities, until later. We really must get inside.” The Familiar rose swiftly nodding his head in agreement, “As you wish My Lady.” He replied, then turned and gestured toward the heavy double doors. With a flick of his wrist and a pulse of magic, the wood shimmered and parted, revealing the entrance.

  They stepped through.

  Fifteen Minutes Earlier

  Beyond the mundane exterior of the Homeward Bound, Camp Lodge, a hidden world existed.

  The Grand Hall.

  A pocket of space within the Fae realm, accessible only to those with magic.

  Inside, the air buzzed with tension. Dozens of vampires stood in the grand chamber—regents, nobles, and emissaries from covens across the world. Many having traveled from across the ocean to bear witness to the Conclave.

  A momentous and historic occasion.

  The potential for peace between North America’s two most powerful vampire covens.

  At the front of the hall, Lady Sumila, Regent of Noctis Sang, paced anxiously. Her Familiar, Nigel, had yet to return. And without him—without the package—the fragile peace she had fought soo hard for would shatter.

  Worse, she would never see Selene again.

  She had taken a gamble. Lord Briscelous of the Seelie Court had assured her that Aegis Delivery was capable of completing the task. But had she placed her faith in the wrong hands?

  Across from her, Lord Dealius of the Crimson Thorn Coven was equally unsettled. Selene was supposed to have been delivered hours ago, and without her, his son would never receive the blood cure.

  The gathered covens sensed the unease. Whispers spread like wildfire. Tension mounted.

  Then—

  The clock struck midnight and the doors to the Grand Hall were shoved open with a loud Bang!

  Silence.

  Every vampire turned as Nigel strode into the hall, flanked by a retinue of Fae and vampires.

  Lady Sumila exhaled sharply in relief. Lord Dealius did the same. Then they simultaneously froze. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

  Nigel had stepped aside.

  And there—standing in the doorway—was A tall, dark-haired woman. Power radiated from her in unseen waves. Suffocating and undeniable.

  Vampires instinctively backed away, pressing themselves against the walls, their inner beasts screaming at them to run. Kai stood there, utterly unfazed.

  In her grip, like a discarded rag doll, she dragged the unconscious form of Lord Vaelen behind her. She then tossed him with surprising ease, down the short staircase where he tumbled and unceremoniously landed at their feet.

  The chamber remained deathly silent.

  Then, as if to punctuate the moment, Orlan in all his Trollish glory, stepped forward, his massive frame making an imposing figure. On his shoulder, another vampire lay unconscious.

  Kai dusted off her coat.

  “Well,” she drawled. “Shall we get this over with?”

  By Your Request, So We Have Delivered

  “Who the bloody hell are you?!” Demanded a shocked older vampire, his British accent thick with disbelief, as he stared at Kai as if she were some eldritch horror.

  Kai blinked, tilting her head slightly. The man flinched at her gaze.“Hmm?” she murmured, clearly not understanding his outburst.

  From the side, Marta mouthed something at her, rolling her eyes.

  Aegis Delivery.

  Kai’s brows lifted. Oh. Right. She hadn't introduced herself.

  “Oh! Right!” She cleared her throat.

  Her team groaned in collective embarrassment. Rina smacked her forehead, muttering under her breath. Lady Selene’s lips twitched in amusement, while Shae let out a long-suffering sigh.

  Rina turned away, shoulders shaking as she tried (and failed) not to laugh.

  Kai cleared her throat again, this time with more intent. “Ahem! My apologies! I am Kai Ki, representative of Aegis Delivery Logistics, here with a time-sensitive delivery.”

  Then, with an elegant yet shallow bow, she quoted their company’s catchphrase, her lips curving into a smirk as she adjusted the wording.

  “By your request, so we have delivered.”

  Silence.

  The congregation of vampires stared at her, open-mouthed. Lady Sumila stepped forward, her composed mask firmly in place. But inwardly, she quivered in her boots. Every instinct in her was screaming. Telling her to run as far away as possible from this being. Yet, she forced herself to meet Kai’s gaze. “Greetings, Kai Ki,” she said, her voice steady. “I must admit, you cut it quite close. Am I to assume that Lord Vaelen had something to do with this?” She asked in hesitation, careful not to insult the woman before her.

  Kai snorted.

  Lady Sumila tensed, watching as irritation darkened the woman’s expression—fortunately not directed at her, but at the unconscious Lord.

  “This piece of garbage made it his mission to steal my package at every step,” Kai growled. “You’d think he’d have learned something when his minions never returned. But oh no.” She nudged Vaelen’s prone form with her boot, flipping him over like he was a dead fish. “This idiot decided that threatening my people was a good idea.”

  Kai’s voice dripped with disdain. “He soon learned that was a very unhealthy thing for him to do.”

  Lady Sumila swallowed thickly. “I see.”

  Steeling herself, she turned to the gathered vampires. “Lord Vaelen has actively attempted to sabotage our chances at peace.” Her sharp gaze landed on the other leader in the room. “What say you, Lord Regent Dealius?”

  Lord Dealius had pushed his way to the front of the crowd, his face a mask of fury. His gaze dropped to the disgraced vampire at Kai’s feet, his scowl deepening.

  “I say treacherous acts such as this cannot go unpunished.” Murmurs of agreement rippled through the hall.

  Kai watched, satisfied. Vaelen would be dealt with. That much was clear. Now, for the one she personally wanted to handle.

  Kai turned to Orlan and gave him a short nod.

  The mountain troll returned the gesture before unceremoniously dropping the blond vampire onto the floor.The dull thud made heads turn.

  “I have one more for you,” Kai announced.

  Bending down, she grabbed the vampire by the front of his collar.

  Then—

  SMACK.

  A loud slap rang through the Hall and a stunned silence followed.

  Lady Sumila stared. Lord Dealius stared. The entire room gawking as Kai smacked him again.

  A low groan escaped the vampire’s lips as he stirred. “WAKEY WAKEY, pervert!” Kai growled.

  The pressure in the room shifted violently. Raw, unfiltered power escaped from her in waves, slamming into the vampires like an unseen storm.

  Those less than two centuries old collapsed, their knees buckling under the oppressive weight. Even the strongest vampires struggled to remain upright.

  Lady Sumila barely managed to hold her ground. Lord Dealius, too, wavered. They were each thousands of years old, but even that wasn’t enough to make the power bearable.

  The Fae weren’t faring much better.

  Rina stumbled under the pressure, barely keeping herself upright thanks to her strong Moon Elf blood. Shae had to steady Marta, and Selene leaned heavily against Rina for support.

  The rest?

  On their knees.

  Kai had never truly let herself think about how much she loathed this particular vampire. She had avoided dealing with him, shoved the emotions aside. But now?

  Now, faced with the reality of his continued existence, her rage ignited and everyone in the Hall felt it. Fear crept in. A terrible, primal fear. The silent oppression of malevolent power was too much. None in the hall were able to call out to her. Their voices muted.

  Then the sound of footsteps broke through the silence. Slow and measured.

  A vision in green glided forward from the back of the Hall. The vampires who could turn their heads did so—only to be struck with awe and dread. There, moving through the incapacitated crowd with effortless grace, was Lady Allara.

  The Great Dark Sorceress. The most powerful magic user in all of North America. Her deep green gown draped over her tall, curvaceous frame, thigh-high slits revealing long, deadly legs. Golden Grecian sandals strapped up her calves in delicate winding strands, each step light yet commanding.

  Her fiery red hair cascading down her back in silken waves. Many a vampire forgot to breathe as she passed, mesmerised by her presence. She approached the source of the suffocating power.

  Kai.

  Allara showed no outward reaction, moving as though she felt nothing.But inside? Her body quaked from the sheer force of Kai’s magic. She didn’t know what had triggered this level of rage, but it was clear: Kai didn’t even realise what she was doing.

  Allara stepped behind her as she gently, snd cautiously placed a hand against the small of Kai’s back. Her other hand covered the clenched fist gripping the unfortunate vampire’s collar.

  And just like that— The crushing weight of Kai’s presence vanished. As if it had never been there. A breath of relief passed through the room as Allara leaned in, her voice a soft murmur against Kai’s ear.

  “Hush now, darling.”

  Kai’s breath hitched.

  “Deep breaths, Kai.”

  The tall woman exhaled and she breathed.

  Kai took a deep, unsteady breath.

  What… just happened? For a brief moment, all she had wanted was to kill the blond. But, that wasn’t like her. Sure, she wanted to beat the ever-loving shit out of the pervert, but outright killing him? That was not who she was.

  Something had taken hold inside her. It had overwhelmed her, blinded her with rage. She had seen him assaulting Selene and that singular thought had consumed her.

  Then she felt a warm sensation. Starting at the small of her back, then her hand. A touch so grounding it pulled her back from the abyss.

  The soft whisper against the shell of her ear. The brush of lips barely there.

  Allara.

  And just like that, she was back. Blinking, Kai found herself staring down at the blond idiot. With a grimace, she shoved him away and wiped her hand on her shirt.

  “Hope he’s not contagious,” she muttered.”

  A snort sounded to her right. She turned to find Rina helping Rick the Satyr to his feet—though he seemed to have some sort of weird tremor going on with his legs.

  Kai blinked, now noticing the rest of her people in varying states of collapse. “The hell happened to you guys?!” she exclaimed. Marta, still breathless, shot her a pointed look. “You! You great big dummy!”

  Kai blinked again. Still confused. Then, with a shrug, she accepted it. Yeah, probably her fault. She might have blacked out or something.

  It was then, she heard it—

  A chuckle right beside her. A rich, velvety sound that sent a shiver down her spine. Her head snapped to the left. And there stood Allara. Her hand still resting on Kai’s wrist, the other on her lower back. The touch was steadying. Warm. Natural. Kai’s entire body relaxed.

  She shuffled a little closer—instinctively.

  “Hi.”

  The word came out inanely. Allara’s lips curled in amusement.

  Oh, Stars. How cute. She thought to herself .

  Kai tilted her head, big brown eyes wide with curiosity. “When’d you get here?” Allara huffed, amused by the innocence in her gaze.

  “Just now, love.”

  The congregation of vampires stared, utterly awestruck.

  Two of the most powerful beings in the room were casually chatting—completely forgetting about their audience.

  A certain Moon Elf cleared their throat pointedly. Allara winked at Kai before turning to the crowd.

  “My, oh my! It has been eons since I’ve attended a Conclave.”

  Audible gulps could be heard throughout the room. Making Kai smirked.

  Allara’s tone turned almost playful. “Now, how about we get this underway, hmm?” Without further ado, the peace talks began. First, the exchange of tributes.

  Lawrence stepped forward—

  Only to freeze as Kai’s withering glare locked onto him.

  From behind, Rina cackled so hard she had to take deep breaths to not collapse.

  Then, everything was laid bare. The two Covens learned how Lord Vaelen had conspired with the blond pervert to kill Lady Selene—

  And how Kai had wiped the floor with them both. The blond was dragged off to face punishment alongside his lord.

  Then, Selene stepped forward. Her aunt, Lady Sumila, abandoned all decorum.

  Before the entire Conclave, she embraced her niece for the first time in over a century. Both had tears in their eyes.

  Then, Kai stepped forward. With deliberate care, she placed a rune-covered box on the table. Deactivating the runes, she opened it for Lord Dealius.

  With a smirk, she spoke loud enough for all to hear.“Compliments of My Lady Sorceress!” Allara blinked, startled. Her gaze flickered to Kai in silent question. Kai merely winked.

  The vampires did a double take. The Great Dark Sorceress was for peace?! The realisation rippled through the crowd.

  With both sides appeased, the documents were finally brought forward.

  A jar of ink. Two quills.

  Each Regent took a pen, and dipped it into the ink.

  Suddenly Kai stiffened. A strong feeling of Killing Intent flared nearby. Kai felt it. Tasted it.

  Power surged inside her again. Her instincts roaring to life. Without hesitation, her hands shot out, gripping both Regents by the shoulders and with a swift, jerking motion, she threw them aside. As they both flew backwards away from the table a cascade of knives fell from above, embedding themselves into the wooden seats they had just been occupying.

  Kai’s pistols were already drawn and spitting their projectiles out in Full Auto. Bullets ripped through the rafters.

  Screams could be heard as bodies fell from above—some landing on their feet, others crashing onto the table, struck by Kai’s superb marksmanship.

  Before they could regroup, Kai was among them.

  Moving with an unnatural speed. Eerie. Deadly. She was in their personal space before they even had time to react. Fists and elbows struck with brutal efficiency. She had tossed her guns. She didn’t need them. Not for this. The assassins barely had a chance to move. She moved like shadow. Here one minute, gone the next. Assassin after assassin fell—taken down with surgical precision. Until there was only one left standing.

  Barely.

  Both their arms hung uselessly. Broken. Kai appeared behind them. Her left hand gripping the back of their neck as she ripped off their mask with her right.

  Silence.

  Lady Sumila and Lord Dealius stared in stunned disbelief. Lord Dealius voiced what they were all thinking.

  “What is she?”

  Kai barely spared him a glance. She simply shrugged. Then, she turned to Allara who met her gaze. The moment of truth had come.

  She inhaled, then spoke.

  “She is… The Gatekeeper.”

  The Hall froze. Allara’s words echoed off the walls.No one moved. No one spoke.

  Rina had suspected.

  Shae, too—to a lesser extent.

  Selene stood, shocked.

  A Gatekeeper? Unbelievable! And yet—it all made sense.

  Kai, still holding the assassin, never took her eyes off Allara. Allara held hers just as steadily.

  “Magic has finally righted a great wrong,” Allara continued. “A wrong that was committed centuries ago at the last Conclave. But this time, they come to us from across the Barrier. A bridge between two worlds. Peace has finally returned.”

  Chaos erupted.

  Voices clashed. Questions. Exclamations.

  But in the eye of the storm, Kai and Allara stood. The past had come full circle. And Kai?

  Kai represented the future.

  Lord Dealius declared Tennga and all those associated with Aegis Delivery Logistics as Friends of his Coven. Lady Sumila followed suit. Allara, too, was pronounced a Friend. Eventually after much deliberation and compromise, Concessions were made, more trades were agreed upon and the Peace Treaty was finally signed, bringing the Conclave to its ultimate conclusion. Peace. Giving Kai and her people their cue to leave.

  Kai and Allara stood outside in the lot, watching as the hedge witch and Agatha repaired the destroyed pavement.

  Couldn’t leave something like that for the humans to find.

  Kai stood quietly, basking in the closeness of the sorceress beside her. She could feel Allara’s aura burrow under her skin, wrapping around her like a warm blanket. It was intoxicating. She couldn’t seem to get enough of it. Subconsciously, her body shifted—just slightly—closer. She didn’t notice. She was too fixated on Allara’s presence. But Allara did.

  From the corner of her eye, she watched as Kai sidled ever closer, unknowingly drawn in like a moth to a flame.

  She bit her lip. How could this woman—who had, in the span of mere minutes, decimated an entire squadron of vampires, repelled an assassination attempt, and dropped over three dozen vampires to their knees without a second thought— How could she also be so… adorable?

  Kai was a contradiction. Straightforward yet oblivious. Softly spoken yet her words commanded attention. She was a being who had the power to flatten a country— and yet, at her core, she was a soft-hearted, gentle soul.

  Innocent but Unshakable.

  Allara’s breath hitched. She had made the mistake of letting her attention stray to long. Because now—Kai was directly behind her. Strong arms wrapped firmly around Allara’s waist, drawing her back until her body was flush against Kai’s solid frame.

  Kai’s heartbeat—strong, steady, unyielding—thrummed against her back. And then—Kai nuzzled into the nape of her neck. Allara’s breath caught.

  “OH! Oh, Stars Above!”

  Kai wasn’t even paying attention to what she was doing. Her instincts were guiding her—pulling her closer, and closer—as though the very fabric of the universe had tethered them together.

  Ever since the meld, Allara had felt it too. But unlike Kai, she was very, very aware of it.

  Kai, as usual….simply went with the flow. And that was why Allara found herself laughing softly, warmth blooming in her chest. She reached up, brushing her fingers along Kai’s arms where they circled her waist. A soft chuckle escaped her lips.

  “So cute,” she thought.

  Rina stood off to the side, watching as the Crone, Agatha, effortlessly worked her magic to repair the cratered pavement left in the wake of Lord Vaelen’s brutal defeat. The cracks smoothed over, the damage erased as if it had never happened.

  Her gaze drifted, drawn away from the repairs as a familiar presence caught her attention. She turned slightly and nearly chuckled at what she saw—Kai, ever the quiet enigma, had practically glued herself to the Sorceress’ person.

  Rina’s lips quirked in amusement. She had never seen her reserved friend act this way before. Kai was powerful, deadly, and eerily calm in battle, yet here she was, unconsciously pressing closer and closer to Allara like a shadow seeking the warmth of the sun. The sight was so out of character that Rina almost didn’t believe it—almost.

  A realisation settled in her mind, one that made her brow lift in curiosity. Could it be? Had her quiet, enigmatic friend found her mate?

  She wasn’t sure. The energy surrounding Kai and Allara felt different from any mated pair she had ever encountered—including her own bond. It pulsed and swirled, something ancient and deep, something beyond the simple pull of a mate connection.

  Rina crossed her arms, tilting her head as she continued to watch.

  Whatever it was, one thing was for certain: Kai had found something in Allara that she wasn’t going to let go of anytime soon.