ArcKnight (The ArcKnight Chronicles #1)

Chapter Thirty-four

Ephrem

"We have to prepare for the worst possible outcome," Etan suggested.

With these words, my brother threw a concerned look my way. I was closed off, cold and silent. He'd never seen me this disturbed. It's been mere hours since Lily's disappearance, and I'd run myself ragged searching the woods for the catacombs rumored to hold the KelHan pack beneath the edges of the city of Temple. We had yet to find them, which led me to believe that the rumors about their location had not been true. Wherever the frozen KelHan family was kept, we'd lost precious time to our enemy.

"What then? What happens when a gargoyle army comes for the MarkTier pack? What then, brother?" I demanded.

My grim expression made all of the officers nervous. They'd never seen their commander acting so bleak as if we'd already lost the war. Etan looked like he wanted to shake me back into myself, make me realize this was the only way we could save Lilianna. We had to figure out the gargoyle army's weakness before they hit. He already had people sifting through the archives with Langley, trying to uncover every piece of information on the KelHans there might be. So far, they'd had no luck.

No one had fought a cursed gargoyle army before. They'd been hibernating for centuries, waiting for Lily to reignite their fire for living and vengeance, not against the ArcKnights but against us, the MarkTier pack. But if we fell, the ArcKnights would be next. There would be no stopping the KelHans if they got past us, and the ArcKnights would be caught unawares because of our lack of communication.

"I don't know, Ephrem. We'll work day and night on this. You know that. What we need to do now is find someone who knows a way to defeat the KelHans. They must have a weakness. It's just a matter of time before we find it."

I chewed on my lip for a moment, erratically pacing the room. I tried to think of something and hoped it would click sooner rather than later. I was usually a genius when it came to military matters, and I knew Etan needed my expertise now more than ever. I would come through, there would be no doubt about that.

I spun and walked toward my brother, the sudden feeling of elation and hope pumping another rush of adrenaline through my system. For the first time in days, I felt hopeful.

"I know what we have to do," I said.

"What?" Etan watched me cautiously.

"It's time we renegotiate our treaty with the ArcKnights. There's nothing more in our archives about the KelHans, but we haven't searched their records. They could have the answer and not even know it.

Etan considered this before agreeing. "That's reasonable. We'll have to get ahold of their Alpha and see what we can do. It won't be easy. He's notoriously stubborn." He waved for one of his messengers. He squared a sheet of parchment on the desk and began to pen a letter. "I really hope he listens. Gilbert, right?"

I shook my head and placed a hand on the table.

"No. Not Gil. He's no longer the Alpha of the ArcKnights."

Confused, Etan stared back at me. "What do you mean?"

"I mean he was challenged for his position and lost. He's been banished since last night."

"Wow. Okay, so who's Alpha now?"

I smirked, knowing the answer would surprise everyone in the room. "Queen Rafaela. Her new mate, Alec, is the general of the ArcKnight army. Make sure you address them properly. She's the Alpha, but he's her partner; we must include both names. We don't want to screw this up."

Etan shook his head, beaming at the thought of a new relationship with the ArcKnight pack. It was funny how it took the threat of war to bring people together. At least, that's what he was hoping. I knew a different truth when I saw the look in Grayson's eyes as he flew away with Lily.

There would never be peace. Not here. We'd made sure of it.