There was a significant showing of Oceanborn, under Alpha Reston and his mate Marina. They kept away from the compound most of the time, but they were some of the most loyal and surprisingly good fighters. There weren’t many of them, not like the Stoneborn and the Earthborn, but they were a force to be reckoned with. Their pack, and the ones that they had convinced to follow them into Nick’s plan, had been officially snubbed by Coren because of bad blood and feuds. They were more than eager to get in and destroy him and his hold over the world.
Balthazar and Veronica sat side by side in their black chairs, fires burning in what looked like cup-holders on the arms of their chairs, their fingers dancing idly through the flames as they waited for everyone to arrive, though they weren’t speaking to each other. Sedovin and his mate sat beside Osvald looking thoroughly amused with themselves, as always, but Nick had learned that Sedovin’s flippancy and confidence were due to enduring faith in his people and a long history of having ruled them in prosperity and peace. Even so, they were just as excited for a fight as the rest. Kit was the only Alpha who sat alone, but she didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. Beside her sat the Forestborn Alpha, Mitch, who was one of the bigger scandals of the current council, because he was actually Turned. Even so, he led a fiercely loyal pack and was more cunning than most of those gathered, and so his power and strength among his own people were unquestioned. His mate Beatrice was an exceptionally old and pureblooded wolf, and any eyes that tried to look down on Mitch quickly saw hers glaring back at them.
Nick was the last to arrive, as always, but the Court fell silent as he took his place on his throne, looking around at all of them with a serious smile on his face. “Good afternoon, my lords.” The title got a snicker from a few people, but for the most part, it was accepted without comment. “Before we begin today, I thought it would be best, considering what we intend to start with this session, if we were complete. We have two friends I would like all of you to meet.” He motioned to the far end of the Court where it led down to a path that went to the fence nearby, and the crowd parted to let Lea and William through, escorting Orlando and Candra between them.
With the exception of a stolen glance through the fences, no one had ever seen the two coming before them in human form. Every time they went out of their house it was in the dead of night or as wolves, so very few, if any, even knew if they were real or not.
Candra held tightly to Orlando’s arm as they walked, especially since it was the middle of the afternoon and the sun was beating down overhead, but she looked just shy otherwise. Every ounce of her power was pouring into Orlando. There were sparks and sometimes even a running current that ran up and down their joined hands and arms as if they needed to further prove their power. Even in the daylight, Candra had a glow about her, and as they walked through the people, the wolves that she got closest to could feel her power radiating from her. They even benefited from it, since all it took was a deep breath of her presence to feel like they’d just gotten a shot of morning espresso.
Zara watched them carefully as she stood behind Nick. She did not filter her thoughts as she probably should have, and he caught a glimpse of her continued jealousy of Aura, and of Nick’s remaining feelings for the girl he once thought he should have been with. Whenever Zara saw Candra and Orlando together, she felt happier, not only because their bond was so strong but because it was another way that Aura had been hurt.
As he felt her happiness over Aura’s hurt, though, she could feel Nick’s thoughts darken in anger towards her, but he kept his composure as Orlando and Candra got up onto the platform itself. “I believe you all know them.” He went up to stand beside Orlando, before he went around the circle, introducing everyone in turn.
As Orlando looked around at everyone present, nodding and greeting them one by one, he felt like he was a wolf in a zoo. He wanted to help them fight against the Council that had imprisoned Aura and had kept Candra locked in a stone cell for almost twenty years, but the friends Nick had made in the process all gave him the shivers, with a few exceptions. Balthazar and Veronica he expected from Fireborn, and Reston and Marina seemed kind enough. Osvald and Sedovin and their mates just looked curious about him and Candra, but they had been around longer than the others, and so Orlando disregarded their intense looks. Mitch gave him the creeps, as did Kit. Nick, at least, he knew, and trusted, even though he still reserved a moment for a brief snarl at Zara standing behind his throne as he squeezed Candra’s hand tightly.
“It’s an honor to meet all of you. As it will be to destroy the Council beside you as well.” Orlando’s often easy smile came with a little more difficulty, since he knew they all considered him basically their secret weapon. Candra was just the ammunition.
Candra nodded and looked out at all of them once before she dropped her gaze to the ground. “It is an
