“I’m ready to go to Luceria,” I replied, clearing my throat. “But I’m not ready to take my eyes off you just yet.”
She smirked, then took my hand in hers and kissed my cheek.
“Come on, honey, the kids are waiting,” she said.
I nodded, and we headed out into the Shadian night, the moonlight glazing us in its milky shimmer as we headed toward the Great Dome, where the Daughters of Eritopia had set up a permanent portal leading straight into Luceria’s throne room.
It had been only three days since I’d last seen Serena, Phoenix, and the others. And every time I did, they found a way to surprise me.
I couldn’t help but wonder what else they’d managed to accomplish in Eritopia since the last time we visited.
Serena
I took my seat at the council table, which was sculpturally crafted from purple tree wood and positioned in the middle of the large, circular meeting hall in our GASP base on Mount Zur. Most of the senior officer team was here, having arrived for this talk about Tenebris.
Draven sat next to me on the right, while Vita and Bijarki had settled in their chairs to my left. Vita looked positively stunning—married life certainly suited her, bringing a mesmerizing glow to her skin that I’d only seen in fae before. It made sense, really, that happiness could bring out the best in my beloved fire fae. They’d tied the knot a couple of weeks after Draven and I had professed our eternal love for one another before Derek and Chana, one of the Daughters, during our wedding ceremony.
Vita and Bijarki had recently returned from a prolonged honeymoon. They’d chosen Argo, one of Eritopia’s most beautiful planets, for their much-needed vacation. It was a lush kingdom with never-ending rainforests, secluded waterfalls, and giant caves that were home to turquoise lakes and more forests. They’d certainly enjoyed their weeks away, and the bliss of waking up to a cerulean sky and melodic songbirds, but had to come back to Calliope eventually. Tenebris was beginning to cause serious problems to the order we’d been working hard to restore.
They were both actively involved in GASP now, Bijarki as one of the officers in charge of training the new recruits, while Vita used her visions of the future to help the governments of Eritopia steer clear of rebellions and chaos. The visions nudged them toward the right decisions in the lawmaking process, although they were quite limited and not always focused.
Shortly after the war with Azazel, we understood that when Abrille had passed her powers on to Vita, Aida, and Phoenix, they each got a limited amount of Oracle ability to work with. They would never get past this stage in their development as Oracles, and thus we didn’t always have the right information coming from them. In some cases, the visions were vague or even unrelated, but, regardless, the three of them were strong and talented additions to GASP even without any Oracle powers.
Aida and Field sat farther to the left, both looking particularly happy this morning, despite our GASP meeting’s topic. They had been the second to get married after Draven and me, just three days before Vita and Bijarki. It had been one party after another during our first couple of months on Calliope, with our families and friends—both old and new—happy to celebrate with us.
Aida had been using whatever visions of the present she could conjure to help track down rebels on the other planets, while assisting with surveillance and communication across the board. She was extremely resourceful and prompt, issuing commands and transferring information between the GASP bases with impressive precision and clarity. She’d truly come into her own, and I couldn’t be any prouder.
Field was equally spectacular as Commander of GASP in Eritopia. It had taken him a while to get used to all the complexities of the position, but he’d swiftly asserted himself as a good, respected leader. It was a pleasure and an honor to work with him every day. On top of that, he and Draven made one hell of a team whenever they had common projects to work on.
I looked over at Phoenix and Viola, who’d also joined us in Luceria on a permanent basis. We’d set them up with their own private quarters on one of the top levels, while they each played their part in GASP. Viola was a representative for the Daughters of Eritopia and was also present during Master Druid council meetings in the Hall Between Worlds—the circular hall with a painted dome and sumptuous columns where the Master Druids gathered to discuss sensitive Eritopian matters. Phoenix, on the other hand, worked on two different fronts: he spent half of his week in the weaponry and assault division, training new recruits for combat, and the other half using his visions of the past to update the Druid Archives, helping the Druid scholars rewrite important scrolls that had not been recorded properly.
Phoenix and Viola were happy together, though always aware of the unbreakable bond between them, so deep and primordial that if one suffered, so did the other. It had taken me a while to get used to talking to Viola and watching cuts and bruises appear on her body whenever Phoenix was in training, getting his ass handed to him by the sturdier recruits. They weren’t talking about marriage yet, but we all understood why—the Daughters were extremely traditional and were still adjusting to Eritopia’s new world order. They’d already had to part with their sister when Viola moved in with Phoenix in Luceria. It would take a while for the couple to get their blessing, but we felt it wouldn’t be much longer. Baby steps, my brother had said. He wanted to have the Daughters’ official approval as a sign of respect toward the galaxy’s most powerful and revered creatures.
Jovi and Anjani were sitting next to Draven, their gazes locked and love pouring out of them like they’d only just reunited. They were like this every day. They wouldn’t see each other for a few hours and then would get back together as if months had passed. It made me giggle, but I knew they were genuine, and I understood exactly why they were so close. After all, Jovi had nearly died in the war against Azazel.
They’d also announced their wedding date—the first official one among the succubi in thousands of years. It had rattled the entire planet in a very positive way, since the incubi and succubi nations had just recently come together, living in free cities on Calliope as they readjusted to one another. Though Jovi wasn’t an incubus, the marriage announcement had still struck a chord because he was a male, and the succubi had spent thousands of years eliminating males from their lifestyles. The ceremony was only a few days away now, and I could see the jitters and excitement on both Jovi and Anjani’s faces.
Personally, I was looking forward to seeing Anjani in a wedding dress. Corrine had been working on it for weeks, so it was bound to be breathtaking, on top of the succubus’s already stunning natural beauty.
Jovi had been one lucky mutt to win her heart.
And I, too, have been most fortunate, I thought to myself as Draven’s hand covered mine on the table. He smiled at me. I looked deep into his steely gray eyes and felt my heart beat a little harder. I was thankful to have him in my life, our souls connected for what we both hoped would be forever.
Field
I was, without a doubt, the luckiest creature in all known universes. I’d been honored with the Commander position in Eritopia’s GASP base, and I’d married a beautiful, fierce, and brilliant woman who turned my senses inside out whenever she was near me.
I loved Aida more than anything. We made each other all kinds of happy, and we were never bored. I enjoyed surprising her, and she got a kick out of making me laugh. I loved her most when she was moody and opinionated, which was a little more than usual lately, but I knew what buttons to push to make her soft and melty in my arms.
It had taken some time for me to fully grasp the enormous implications of the Commander position, but with Aida’s constant encouragement and relentless support, I’d managed to rise to the occasion. I often consulted with my father, my grandfather Derek, Xavier, or Aiden on key matters related to GASP, and I was extremely grateful to have them as my mentors—not once did they make me feel like I was too young or not ready for this. Derek wouldn’t have made the appointment if he hadn’t th
ought I had it in me. I’d just made it my mission to prove him right, over and over again.
I’d made some new friends since I settled on Calliope with Aida, and strengthened the relationships I’d already built. I still spent most of my guy time with Jovi and Phoenix, but we’d also brought Draven, Bijarki, and Jax into the mix. Every so often we’d have a barbecue on Luceria’s platform, inviting the rest of our alliance crew and the new recruits. It was a male bonding ritual of sorts. Grezzi and Heron were always present, as was Zeriel, King of the Tritones.
But my favorite part was always coming home with Aida and locking the doors to our bedroom in Luceria, loving each other until the break of dawn, when she’d fall asleep in my arms and I’d thank the stars for having the pleasure of listening to her even breathing as I drifted away to dreamland.
I looked at her now and found her golden eyes fixed on me, twinkling with something warm and familiar. I gave her a discreet half-smile, and she reciprocated with a playful wink.
The last twenty-four hours had been eventful, to say the least, and I’d been struggling to contain the jumble of emotions rushing through me.
“You two look particularly lovey-dovey this morning.” Jovi grinned at me from across the table, his fingers intertwined with Anjani’s.
“It’s the married life,” I shot back. “It’s freaking bliss.”
They both laughed, and I could tell they were in for the same kind of lovey-dovey experience. Ever since they’d set the wedding date, Jovi and Anjani had managed to get even closer—I hadn’t thought it was possible unless they were conjoined at the hip, but leave it to Jovi to surprise me. Aida had been heavily involved in the wedding preparations, sometimes stressing out in her endeavor to make it an unforgettable experience for both her brother and Anjani.
But no one had been as snappy or as stressed out as Hansa, who was having a hard time with the whole concept of “wedding”. She didn’t want to let go of her little sister, and she’d never done weddings either—yet at the same time, she was so obsessed with making everything perfect that she’d been quite difficult to be around. It was all so new and strange to a warrior like Hansa that I couldn’t stifle my laughter whenever I heard her voice thundering through the GASP base, discussing floral arrangements and table settings. Anjani had been incredibly gentle and patient with her, knowing just how overwhelmed Hansa was, and was usually the only one who could calm her down. The rest of us steered clear, chuckling from around corners.
“Okay, now that everyone’s here,” Jax’s voice snapped me back to the present again, “could we start the meeting?”
Something had shifted between him and Hansa, lately. After the war, I’d thought they’d get close, but from what I could tell, the exact opposite had happened, and they both seemed miserable about it. I’d asked Aida if she knew anything, but all I’d gotten was a shrug in return. I didn’t bank on Jax telling me anything either—the Mara was more emotionally closed off than a bank vault in a block of cement.
“Yes.” I nodded and straightened my back, commanding the attention of every senior GASP member in the room. “So, there have been issues reported from Tenebris over the past couple of weeks. The incubi there have been thoroughly dissatisfied with the regime change. Apparently, they were thriving under Azazel’s reign, and they consistently refuse Master Druid leadership.”
“It’s gotten even worse over the last three days,” Aida continued, her voice firm and smooth. “Rebel factions have been organizing systematic attacks on the capital and the surrounding cities, killing dozens of innocent incubi and succubi in the process. They used explosive charges and nighttime invasions to, and I quote, ‘send a message to Master Druid Mason’, who has obviously refused to leave Tenebris.”
“What are they thinking, though?” Derek frowned as he looked over the written reports we’d compiled for this meeting, listing damages and casualties from these attacks. “Surely, they must be aware of how easily they can be crushed.”
“Apparently, they’re delusional.” Draven sighed. “I spoke to Mason yesterday, and he said the rebel factions are extremists who are basically hoping to hold on to their little territories, and not be held accountable for their actions by a Master Druid.”
“What, like an authoritarian state within a state?” Sofia raised an eyebrow. “That’s ridiculous.”
“These are creatures that have spent the last few centuries using fear and violence to solve any problem and to stomp any rebellion against them and Azazel,” I explained. “It doesn’t exactly come as a shock to me, but they must be stopped.”
“My biggest issue with this is that these factions are quite large in numbers, and they’re posing a very serious threat toward the free nations of Tenebris,” Jax added. “I think it’s time we start sending some GASP troops in there and put them in their place. The Daughters could get involved, but there’s no need at this point. Not while GASP is active across the galaxy and perfectly capable of handling this with minimum damage. This one’s on us.”
“Which makes sense,” I replied. “The Daughters are traditional in their approach and would rather let the people solve their own problems. They have left us, as protectors of supernaturals, to assist the Druids, since it’s what we do.”
Derek exchanged glances with Xavier, then shifted his focus back to me, his piercing blue eyes analyzing my expression.
“So you’d like to start sending GASP agents there, to stifle the rebellion,” he concluded.
“One strong team, with Shadians and Eritopians,” I said. “To provide Mason with the backup he needs to reestablish order on the planet. The rebels will obviously have to either respect the wishes of the majority, the free nations under the Master Druid’s rule, or face the punishment.”
“Jail time.” Xavier pursed his lips, scratching his stubble.
“Yes.” Jax moved forward, leaning onto his elbows. “Azazel may be gone, but that doesn’t mean the rulers of Eritopia are weak and can be undermined like this. A message needs to be sent. Bloody rebellions do not belong in a peaceful world.”
“Besides, the incubi are like that,” Bijarki interjected. “They’re easily corrupted and need a firm hand to put them back in their place. If we capture and imprison enough of them, the others will give up and fall in line. Chances are they won’t respond to being asked nicely. It’s not in their nature.”
“Yeah, especially the Tenebris folk.” Hansa nodded, her gaze darting around the table and settling on Jax for a brief moment before moving to Derek. “They were never easy to deal with, and were one of the first to join Azazel when he removed the Master Druids from power. They’re not inherently bad people, but they’re not inherently good, either. They need a good kick in the butt—otherwise they’ll always be troublesome.”
“In any case, it’s time for our recruits and seasoned agents to get some real Eritopian action,” I said.
“Yeah, they’re stocked up on theory already,” Jax added with a smirk. “They need some real, heavy experience on the ground in this galaxy if you want them to uphold GASP’s ideals. I know it sounds rough, but it’s the only way for us to produce exceptional operatives to protect Eritopia’s people.”
“No, I agree,” Derek replied, looking around the room and noticing the approving nods. “It seems we all agree. So, it is settled. We’re sending a GASP team to Tenebris.”
We all nodded. Aida and I looked at each other, and she held my hand beneath the table.
“Who should we send, then?” Lucas spoke up, clearing his throat.
That was a good question, since we’d built up an exceptional team here on Calliope. Whoever we sent, they’d provide support for the Master Druid and the GASP subsidiary on Tenebris. The selection process would be tough, as they were all strong, smart, and perfectly capable of tackling incubi rebels.
I knew of one GASP member who would definitely be excused from this mission, though, and I was peering right into her golden eyes.
Aida
I would have loved to go to Tenebris. I’d been droning on about starting active duty from the moment we’d been accepted into GASP. It had been at the top of my to-do list, along with marrying Field and making the most out of our honeymoon. We’d done the first two, but then… something came up, and put me back on the sidelines for a while. But it was okay. It was a good reason for backing out.
“Some of our younger members will want in on this opportunity.” Ben spoke up, receiving several nods in response. “We should allot some spaces for them on the mission.”
“Call me biased, but I would definitely put my vote in for Scarlett Hendry-Novak,” Cameron Hendry chimed in with his thick, Scottish accent and a twinkle of pride in his sky-blue eyes. Scarlett was his granddaughter, and she had definitely taken after the veteran warrior in the fighting department.
“You mean, ‘The Bullet’?” I grinned, thinking of the particular skill that Scarlett had chosen to hone, of all her vampire abilities. It had become common for young recruits to take up additional training hours to develop specific supernatural skills—from Lucas’s side of the family, Scarlett stood out for her speed.
Lucas, from what I could tell, did not seem happy about the proposal, despite the hums and nods of approval across the room. “Yeah, send our grandkid into the fire first, why don’t you?” he grumbled to Cameron, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back in his chair. “Why don’t you go ahead and put Avril’s name forward, too, while you’re at it?”
“I won’t have you mollycoddling Scarlett like you tried to do with Jeramiah for the longest time—keeping him out of the loop on missions and such!” Cameron retorted. “She’s a big girl. And as for Avril…” He shot Lucas’s wife Marion a conspiratorial glance. “I think that’s a fine idea. Her tracking skills are among the best GASP has to offer, and Scarlett will be delighted.”