Laurel

3:09 Sky

I had awoken in the middle of the night. The room was quiet, Auris and Laurel were both falling back to sleep after also waking up. I listened carefully, there were no sounds nearby, everything in the home was peaceful. So why were both my mates falling asleep while I had woken up? It felt like I was missing something, but as Laurel’s warm body rested against mine, and Auris, clung to my back in the safe space that was our home, I drifted back to sleep quickly.

Only to be awoken what felt like minutes later as Thistle knocked on the bedroom door, to offer breakfast before the Resistance leader’s wished to meet to discuss an important development. I watched as Auris and Laurel shared a look between them that spoke of a secret I wasn’t part of, while Delia and Brydel awoke with a start from the sharp knock from Thistle.

We had what Laurel and Delia both agreed was a Continental breakfast, before we each swiftly changed to clean day clothes and went down the hall to meet with the leaders of the Resistance for the first time. I for one was eager to learn what had happened to make them stir instead of only sending scribes to us.

Brydel appeared anxious, I was aware his meeting with the scribes yesterday had not gone exactly to plan, he was also very anxious over the proximity to the owner of his collar. Poor Delia was in over her head, and it showed. She had nothing but faith and love for her mates and our family as a whole, so she greeted each new challenge with a smile and determination. I wanted to be worthy of her trust and faith. Delia was human, and like me unable to mark mates, unable to reciprocate. In our family we strangely might have had the most in common.

We were led into a room, a large oval table filling the space, six chairs unfilled in the whole space. Thistle, myself, Laurel, Auris, Delia and Brydel all took the remaining chairs. A small gnome woman stood, though that didn’t do much to alter her height, introduced herself as Edna before announcing Pestilence was murdered last night, by unknown assailants. Most of the demons have already fled, many others are too busy fighting with each other to grab control of those weaker than themselves. The Resistance is already moving to regain control of the city, and making unimaginable headway. The Resistance members were thrilled, and congratulated themselves on the siege of the Fae Capital coming to an end so quickly. As though they were the reason why Pestilence was dead.

I was shocked by the news, as were Brydel and Delia. Auris and Laurel however, were not surprised by the news, but they also didn’t offer any information either to explain themselves. I wasn’t about to reveal they were keeping secrets in front of a room of mostly strangers, but I would be certain to ask about that later if they were not forthcoming. I saw the look Brydel gave her and knew he had noticed what I had as well. We both inclined our heads slightly in a brief nod as our eyes met in mutual understanding.

Next was a report from the rogue shifters, they had the dragon stronghold surrounded, the territory watched, ready to signal if the dragons fled the castle. Another semi siege had truly begun. Then began the debate regarding Laurel’s news that the Sunless would invade. I had missed the meeting with the scribes yesterday, but Auris, Brydel and Delia had let me know that the information had not been well received. I felt as Brydel tensed, not physically but emotionally. We didn’t share a bond, not yet, but I could feel him, just a little when his emotion burned bright like they were now. Delia soothed the wolf, her hand on his thigh under the table.

“We have researched the likelihood of a Sunless invasion and it seems rather improbable...” One of the scribes dressed in their simple robes began before I cut them off.

Before I realized what I was doing, I was on my feet, anger rising in my chest as I confronted them, “Do you all not see me? Here, in front of you?” I asked the room rhetorically. “I was Sunless, was raised with the Sunless, and escaped the Sunless. I needed no equipment, no spells, no assistance. I was able to follow a natural path from the city directly to the shore of the endless sea and the lands of Fortuna, keeper of luck and protector of lost people.” I took a breath to steady my nerves, before I admitted the hardest part, “If I was able to make my way to the Sun, those I had left, the society I escaped from can certainly follow the same path I used.” I knew that the path I had forged was certainly the same my people were using to invade. Matron Malice  had probably exhausted all of her collected and hoarded magical stores and relics casting spells to follow the trail I had left. The insult and embarrassment of a son leaving would have been too grave an incident for her to bear.