The Council Summoned
665 Words
Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Council Summoned
Elara's POV
The room remained silent long after King Cassian's words faded.
"The Hollow Court has declared war."
War.
The word echoed through my mind.
Just days ago, my biggest worry had been surviving my eighteenth birthday.
Now...
Kings.
Alphas.
The Supernatural Council.
The Hollow Court.
It all somehow revolved around me.
"I don't understand."
My voice barely rose above a whisper.
"Why are they after me?"
No one answered.
Not Draven.
Not Alpha Magnus.
Not King Cassian.
The silence told me everything.
They knew more than they were saying.
I took a step back.
"So everyone knows except me?"
Draven's expression fell.
"Elara..."
"No."
I shook my head.
"I'm tired of everyone protecting me with secrets."
Lunara spoke softly inside me.
"Easy, little moon."
Vespera agreed.
"They're afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
Neither answered.
That frightened me more than anything.
King Cassian slowly walked toward me.
He stopped several feet away, making sure I had enough space.
"I understand your anger."
"No..."
I met his crimson eyes.
"You understand something."
"I understand nothing."
A flicker of pain crossed his face.
"You deserve the truth."
"Then tell me."
His hands clenched into fists.
"I can't."
My heart sank.
"Not because I don't want to..."
His voice cracked.
"...because I don't know enough yet."
I searched his face.
For the first time...
I believed him.
He wasn't hiding the truth from me.
He was searching for it too.
Draven stepped beside me.
"Then we'll find the answers together."
Together.
That word wrapped around my heart.
For so long...
I'd been alone.
Now...
Someone kept saying we.
Lunara purred.
"He's becoming home."
Vespera laughed softly.
"Don't tell him that yet."
Heat crept into my cheeks.
Draven smiled.
"They're talking again."
I sighed.
"They're always talking."
Orion chuckled inside Draven's mind.
"Good. Ours talks too much."
"I heard that," Vespera replied.
"That was the point."
Despite everything...
I laughed.
A real laugh.
The sound surprised all of us.
King Cassian smiled.
A sad...
Hopeful smile.
---
A loud horn echoed across Nightshade.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Ryder hurried into the room.
"Alpha."
Draven immediately became serious.
"What is it?"
"The Council has answered."
Everyone turned toward him.
"They're coming."
Alpha Magnus frowned.
"So soon?"
"They were already traveling."
King Cassian's expression darkened.
"They expected this."
The massive doors of the packhouse opened.
One by one...
Powerful figures entered.
Each wore different colors.
Different crests.
Different symbols.
An elderly Alpha carrying an ancient silver staff.
A regal vampire woman dressed in crimson.
A tall witch wrapped in deep violet robes.
A lion shifter with golden eyes.
A massive bear shifter whose footsteps shook the floor.
Each leader radiated incredible power.
Yet something unexpected happened.
The moment they saw me...
Every conversation stopped.
The elderly Alpha stepped forward first.
He stared at me for several long seconds.
Then...
He slowly bowed.
One by one...
Every member of the Supernatural Council bowed as well.
I looked behind me.
Certain they were greeting King Cassian.
Or Alpha Magnus.
They weren't.
They were looking directly at me.
Confused, I stepped aside.
"You must have mistaken me for someone else."
The elderly Alpha slowly lifted his head.
His silver eyes shimmered with emotion.
"No, child."
His voice was gentle.
"We have waited eighteen years..."
"...to see whether the prophecy would come true."
My stomach tightened.
"What prophecy?"
Before anyone could answer...
A deafening crack of thunder shook Nightshade.
Every window in the hall shattered.
A powerful wave of silver and crimson light burst from my body.
I cried out as the power spiraled around me.
Lunara gasped.
"Mother..."
Vespera whispered.
"Father..."
Fragments of memories flooded all three of us.
A woman laughing.
A man holding a newborn baby.
Two voices promising...
"We'll always protect our daughter."
Then...
Darkness.
Blood.
Screams.
And a hooded figure stealing me into the night.
I collapsed to my knees, clutching my head.
"No..."
Tears streamed down my face.
"I remember..."
The room fell completely silent.
- Writer
