Shadow’s chest swelled against my back. “Forget the Fae,” he said harshly, “they’re too caught in their own politics. We’ll be the ones to deal with this. The ones to kill her to save the worlds. Let’s focus on building up our power base so that we have a chance at containing her in a cage of energy… a prison. If we’re strong enough, we can bind it to her and then it will drain her power so we can remove the stone.”

“Remove it as Mera suggested?” This was from Alistair, who leaned back all calm and collected, oozing serenity despite the current topic of conversation. His blue green curls were shorter as well, in the friendship-bro haircut thing they had going on.

“If the cage siphons enough of her power,” Shadow said gruffly. “Then yes, we can physically remove the stone. We’ll have to act swiftly with no hesitation.”

“I can give us some extra protections,” Len said, rising to his feet. “My family is in possession of the largest collection of elotran stones, which will protect minds from any manipulations. If Dannie tries to remove memories or plant false ones again, these stones would counter her magic.”

Right, fuck. That was good thinking on his behalf, and it was fitting that the fae would unknowingly be helping us anyway.

“Thank you,” Shadow said, looking between his friends. “There are no greater warriors I’d want at my back.”

“All for one and one for all, right?” Len said with a wink. “And on that note, I’m off to gather the stones, and whatever other power I think might help.”

The others got to their feet as well, a few of them dropping a kiss on my cheek—ignoring the beast’s rumbles when they did so. Lucien even chuckled as he slapped a friendly hand on Shadow’s shoulder before he joined the others in heading toward their respective doorways. “We’ll meet back here in two days,” Reece called, as swirls of dust and the scent of an electrical storm rose up around him. “Bring every weapon in your arsenal.”

The others saluted to confirm before they faded out of the library as stealthily as they’d arrived. Leaning back against Shadow, I forced my breathing to calm, hoping that the power and strength I felt in our pack would be enough to beat the ultimate goddess.

“You feel stronger,” I said, shifting to see him a little better. “What should we do to prepare while they’re gone? Oh, and when is the official ceremony to induct me into the group? Because I think we’re all in agreement that I’m basically the leader now.”

Shadow’s hands, which had been on my waist, slowly slid up my body, over my breasts, leaving behind aching nipples. He closed those long fingers around my throat to tilt my head back. “Mine, Sunshine. You belong to none of them, no matter how badly you love the pack life. Do you need a lesson in remembering?”

I wanted to moan, but this was not the time or place. “Promises, promises,” I whispered, lifting myself so my lips could reach his. “Always with the promises, beast.”

His chest rumbled, hands moving back to my tits, but before he could drive me completely crazy, I all but threw myself out of his lap.

Ignoring the dark flames in his eyes, I straightened my clothing. “We have no time for that,” I reminded him, wishing I didn’t sound like I was panting. “We need to do our part in this war.”

The flames around him grew, but he didn’t argue with me. “I’ll have Gaster organize from this end,” he said with a nod, on his feet in the next instant. “While he’s doing that, we should head to the Honor Meadows and see if we can track Angel down.”

I wasn’t sure I could have loved him more until he’d said that. Until he’d made my needs a priority, even with all the other bullshit we had going on.

“What can we do to help?” Simone piped up, reminding me that we weren’t alone. Damn Shadow and his ability to eclipse everything else in the room, even my best friends.

“Yes, I want to help!” Sam added, leaning forward. “I’m too far into this journey to stop now.”

Giving them my full attention, because they deserved nothing less, I focused on Simone first because she looked upset.

“Are you okay?” I asked her, ignoring her previous question.

Her jaw was rigid, but she managed a smile. “Just a stupid vampire, nothing to worry about.”

Ah, Lucien. My friend was feeling all the things about his sudden departure, especially since he hadn’t acknowledged her before he left.

“Talk to me,” I said.

She shook her head. “Girl, there’s nothing to talk about; it’s not even worth our next breath. Let’s discuss how Sam and I can help you.”

Sam nodded, looking far too relaxed for someone who’d just stumbled into this insane fantasy world mere days ago.

Before I could figure out what their role would be, Shadow cleared his throat. “You both need to go back to Torma,” he said bluntly. “War is about to go down, and neither of you is equipped to fight in it. Mera would be devastated to lose a friend, and in that regard, I want to send you where you’re safest.”

The moment he said that, I knew it was the right decision.

Simone disagreed. “Yeah, nope.”

Shadow stared down at her, and I almost laughed. My poor beast was so unused to being defied that it took him by surprise when it happened. Unlike when I did it, though, he might kill Simone.

I stepped between them. “Simone,” I said softly, “I can’t have you in danger. Seriously, I would lose my brains. And while I know you’re a total badass, you can’t bring claws to a god fight—it just won’t work.” Her lips trembled, and I reached out to take her hand. “I promise I’ll come to Earth as soon as we handle Dannie.”

“What if you don’t?” she whispered. “What if I never see any of you again and I just have to assume the damn worst happened? Again, Mera! I’ve already done that once this year.”

“I agree,” Sam added. “You’re already important to me, Mera. I’m going to be worried as hell if I don’t hear anything.”

Shadow laughed dryly. “If we fail, the worlds will fall. Even Earth.” The Shadow Bastard was nothing if not blunt. “So I wouldn’t worry too much. We’re the only chance anyone has, and we can’t effectively do our jobs when we’re worrying about those weak and vulnerable.”