CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

I swallowed one last time, taking in the hundreds of expecting eyes that were all zeroed in on me. Sure, I looked like a Queen, but I certainly didn't feel it. I felt fragile, helpless, weak. That is, until I looked up and saw the gleaming smiles of my two Kings in the front row. My two loves.

I looked down at my notebook that contained my written speech, the speech that had been rehearsed, rewritten, and edited dozens of times. But I knew that it wasn't what my people needed to hear. They needed to hear me.

"When I was born, my father traded his life for mine. He was forced to give up his breath and half of his inheritance in order to satisfy an angry Alpha's thirst for revenge. My father committed no crime. He had never once slighted the man. His only reason for punishment was loving my mother. He was killed because he was a vampire and she a werewolf. The hate that has spurred the two species for centuries has taken more innocent lives than that. Many of you here have been directly affected by it and the wars it's created.

"I'm here to tell you that the years of feuding have come to an end. I am the first and only hybrid in existence, and I have been sent by the gods to enact their decree. A much bigger evil is coming, an evil so powerful that it will require the combined forces of our species to defeat. If we want peace, freedom to love and accept, we must fight for it. The time to fight has begun. This morning we received a declaration of war from Alpha Lawson of Blood Moon."

The room erupted into disgruntled whispers and I raised my hand to silence them.

"I assure you, this war will be over quickly. Our court Messenger has already dispatched our letter of challenge. The battle will be held in quadrant six at seven tomorrow evening. As far as we are aware, their forces include approximately 240 warrior wolves, eight powerful councilmen, and an Alpha. Our own militia is just shy of their numbers, but that won't be a problem. We will show them how much more power we hold when we work together, vampire and wolf.

"All non-warriors will stay in the guarded confines of the main estate, where they will be safe. Your General will provide all warriors with further instructions once I am finished, so please, stick around. Before I conclude our meeting, I would like to invite Cory Thompson on stage."

At my words, a handsome and muscular wolf stood, weaving throughout chairs to reach the stage. He eyed me curiously, unsure as to my request. It was fair. I had never spoken more than a few words to the man. Bastion knew of him from the warrior training back in the pack, but I had never personally introduced myself.

"Queen?" He cocked his head, kneeling to the ground before me. He had oddly dark eyes. It looked like he was always angry or turned on because of the way the pupil blended with the iris, but I knew it was just genetic. I pushed my ungrounded suspicions aside, stepping forward so I could follow through with the instructions given to me by Luna. One touch to the forehead. An all too familiar flash of light lit the gym, temporarily blinding its occupants.

I heard various gasps and awes as the man collapsed, his lit seal settling just behind his neck. A dagger dripping blood before a similar eclipse as Anthony's. An ominous choice. As soon as he began to stir, I announced, "I, Queen Aria, give you the royal title of Lieutenant. Congratulations, Cory."

The room burst into applause, as our people stood to their feet in vast approval of his new position. The man was clearly admired, and he waved bashfully at the ecstatic crowd.

"I am honored. Thank you, Queen." He smiled warmly and I dismissed him back to his seat. I shook my head ever so slightly, focusing back on my people.

"In conclusion, I want each of you to know that I admire your bravery and willingness to sacrifice for what's right. I trust that the gods will bless you for your efforts, and the world will be a brighter place because of your faith. This is only our beginning. Stay strong and stay true."

"Strong and true," they spoke back to me in unison. I shuffled my way off the stage, taking extra care not to trip on my floor length dress along the way. I was really looking forward to having a nice hot bath with my Kings and sleeping away my worries. The day was packed full of chaos. I found out I was pregnant and at war all at once, then had to speak in front of a massive crowd of supernaturals. My body ached. I needed rest.

The little thump thumping of my two babies carried me to the chambers where my loves promised to meet me after the General's instructions. I already knew my duty, so I could skip out on it. I slipped out of the gown, first letting it haphazardly fall to the floor, before deciding that I couldn't let it be ruined and hanging it up. Then, I doffed my underwear and slid into the toasty water of our miniature hot spring.

"Congratulations, my Queen."

I leaned my head back against the stone, locking gazes with the all powerful and all annoying Lord Lysander. "Haven't I told you not to pop in while I'm naked?" I grumbled.

He smirked back at me, cocking his beautiful head to the side and ignoring my complaints like he always did. "You seem rather depressed for someone who just found out they were expecting."

I lifted my head, pushing water over my right arm. "You know damn well why."

He crossed to beside me, snapping his fingers to remove all traces of clothing from his body. I looked away as fast as physically possible, feeling the change in current in the bathwater.

"Don't be mad at me, my Aria. I distinctly remember you sitting in this very spot a month ago, begging me for Rory's child."

I shot a glare at him, thankful that the running water covered his lap. "Not during a war. You know that. And not twins."

"Beggars can't be choosers, dear. Besides, I told you I would take care of it, didn't I? Don't you trust me?" He pushed through the water to rest his head on my shoulder. I had become all too familiar with this particular display of affection from him.

"Not particularly."

"Ouch." He chuckled, that smooth and sensual chuckle I heard in the woods all that time ago. "You know, if I were vindictive, I would make myself visible right now."

I furrowed my brow. "Why would you do that?" Right on cue, Bastion entered the bathroom. I swung my head back to meet Lysander, who was smirking with a mischievous look in his glowing blue eyes.

"Don't you dare," I mouthed. He winked, his hand trailing to my shoulder. I swatted at it.

"Baby? You okay?"

"Uh, yeah. Just felt a pest on me," I replied, gritting my teeth.

Lysander snickered. Bastion crossed to me, giving me a lingering kiss on the forehead. "Don't stay too long. I'm not a fan of cuddling Rory. He snores too loud."

"I heard that!" Rory shouted from the bedroom.

Bastion grinned, giving me a quick peck on the lips before retreating back into the room.

"Go away," I growled at the vampire to my right. He leaned himself back on my shoulder, kicking his toes above the water. "Don't you even want to know why I'm here?" He gave me his adorable, should-be-illegal, pout and I caved, rolling my eyes.

"Okay, fine. Why are you here?" He pushed off of me, swimming to the other side of the tub so he could face me.

"I came to warn you. Someone important is having doubts about your leadership and it may spell trouble for you tomorrow."

"Wait, what do you mean 'may'? Will it or won't it?"

He shrugged, checking his nails with a pretentious expression. "Can't say. It's possible, that's all I can tell ya, sweetheart."

I growled. "Did you literally just come here to make me paranoid?"

He let out a boisterous laugh, before meeting my irritated gaze with his sadistic one. "No. Seeing you naked was also a perk."

With that, he was gone. That god was bad for my health, I was sure of it. Damn. A potential traitor was in our midst, and I had no way of knowing who it could be. I could warn Bastion and Rory, but at that point they would probably just respond by locking me in a tower somewhere and personally weeding through our citizens. I had to just wait and see if they revealed themselves. If what Lysander said was true, they would be known tomorrow night, but I had my suspicions.