My dragon is the key to being able to hone all of my gifts, to understand them in their entirety and she helps make sense of things like this.
Without her presence, without her voice of reason, of reassurance, I may never understand everything I'm capable of and if that doesn't happen I won't be of much help to anyone, let alone myself.
Kai is the other half of my heart, my soul, but my dragon—our dragons—complete our mind, bring balance to what goes on in our heads and help fine tune our gifts because they ultimately come from them.
If my dragon would just wake up, just come back and make herself known, I know I'd be able to understand my dreams fully and I'd be able to get answers to the questions I have about them. I need her to help me make sense of all this because as of right now, I feel like my happily ever after is slipping through my fingers and it breaks my heart to be so lost.
"I wish I could help you feel better." Allie hugs me hard, kissing my hair. "I wish I could put you at ease and reassure you that you and Kai are going to be together forever just like the rest of us, but maybe all you can do right now is embrace the present. Live in the now. Take this one day at a time and have faith in your mate, in your love and life-bond that no matter what is put in front of you, the two of you will come out stronger and together in the end."
Yep.
Allie gives the best fucking advice ever.
"You're right." I sigh as I shift around and wrap my arms around Al, holding her like a child clings to their mother. "I need to set aside my concerns so I can enjoy every second of right now and take everything one step at a time. If I let my dreams rule my mind I won't be able to—"
The door to our wing is thrown open as Andrej and Kai come barreling in.
"Josephine!" he barks as his eyes bounce around the room. "Beloved, we have news." Then he frowns. "You're crying?"
I quickly sit up, wipe my eyes, and force a smile. Obviously he was super engrossed in whatever the boys have been doing in the war room because if he wasn't he would have felt every emotion I've been experiencing this evening. Which was pretty much all of them.
"I'm fine." I shake my head, trying to compose myself. "We were just talking and I got a little emotional but I'm fine."
Why are you lying to me? I can feel the wall you placed between us.
It's nothing, sugar, really. I'm just getting anxious about everything that's supposed to happen tomorrow. I promise, I'm just worried about you, about everyone.
His eyes soften immediately since there was a lot of truth to my words.All will be well, beloved. You have my word. Then Kai's eyes flash white. "Cyril has moved his army. They march tonight."
Allie and I both shoot up off the couch and rush them since Kai said that out loud.
"What do you mean they move tonight? I thought they were going to attack on the summer solstice?"
Andrej grunts. "Cyril sent word to Ivan."
"And he just told you?" What an idiot.
Kai nods. "He is an incredibly stupid idiot. While Will and Harold continued their interrogation in order to find out where Cyril was hiding, the moron started cackling, saying their efforts were futile because they were already on the move and headed our way."
Allie starts to panic but the second Andrej wraps her in his arms she calms, nods, and gets a pretty fucking fierce look on her face. "So we go into position tonight."
Both men grunt but Kai speaks. "I'm afraid so. Henrich has already activated the iron bars, Hank and Karel are gathering the others. We've had little time to prepare but four days will have to suffice for now." He looks between me and my best friend. "Josh and Mary are rounding up the young, those who cannot fight and are in the process of taking them to the clinic. It is stocked with everything that could be needed and the adults have been instructed to keep them calm by referring to this as a sleep over party. They should be entertained and shielded from the fighting by an enormous TV and every Disney movie known to man as well as more snacks than the four of us can put down on our own."
I smile briefly then go into battle mode. "How much time do we have?"
"Maybe an hour, two at most."
Oh, God.
That is not nearly enough time, not even close, considering this could be my last night with Kai.
My heart fucking hurts so much at the thought but I keep that hidden, keep the hurt from my mate because now more than ever he needs me to be strong. Strong for him, strong for our people.
I just wish I could be strong for me too.
Kai's brow quirks as he looks at me, examines my face. "Take your mate and get her into position. Milos and Casey are distributing our weapons with the laced ammo. Henrich and Grace went to notify Havok." His eyes bore into mine, searching for something I won't let him find. "I want just a brief moment with my queen and then we shall join you in the valley for a quick meeting before getting into position."
Andrej nods, releases Allie, and plants his hands on my shoulders. "We will be victorious, my queen."
