Winston POV
I spent the night outside of the forest. I don't fear the creatures that live within it. Especially not now. Macy is one of them. I saw it with my own eyes. She wouldn't allow them to hurt me.
The sun is now peeking over the trees and shines on a new day. I haven't moved from the spot where she disappeared, and my eyes are fixated on the forest. She will come back to me. She always does.
A shoe nudges me in the side. Grabbing ahold of Edward's ankle, I pull his leg out from under him. He lands roughly beside me and groans as he rolls to the side. "Has she come back yet?"
I shake my head.
"She will," he assures me as if I don't already know.
We sit in silence together, waiting for her to show back up. Edward is getting restless. I know he wants to go back after her, but he lost his way in the trees last night. He swore they were moving like the forest was trying to protect her.
"Cassian wants to speak to us," he sighs.
I don't look in Edward's direction. I couldn't care less what Cassian wants from me. As far as I am concerned, Macy is already the Queen of the Immortal Realm. Fuck Cassian. He has done nothing but fuck things up since he took over. He could have condemned his father and possibly brought back the Moon. Instead, he let his sister's creations suffer. So, Cassian can wait until Macy returns, and then he can answer to her. Personally, I hope she kicks his ass.
"I am assuming that is a no," Edward says.
I nod my head. I refuse to take my eyes off the trees.
Movement between the trees catches my attention, and I squint against the morning light. Her blue eyes are the first thing I see peering out from between the branches. She looks tired. She didn't sleep.
Relief washes over me when she steps from the forest, and I don't waste time getting to my feet. I run to her, gathering her in my arms. It is the only way I can tell her that I love her, and I don't care that she can turn into a frightening creature of the night.
Macy looks up at me with a weak smile on her face. "I have a surprise for you and Edward."
I hadn't noticed that she wasn't alone. A man and a woman are behind her. The man feels important like I am supposed to know who he is. A spare a glance at Edward, and he is standing with his mouth open.
"Father?" Edward whispers.
Pulling away from Macy, I look at the man properly. Memories that I had forgotten come flooding into my mind. Every memory I had with my Father comes rushing to the front of my mind. Along with the memories comes pain, and I stumble back, holding onto the sides of my head.
"It's okay," Macy whispers to me. "I told him your memories may be foggy."
Tears stream down my face, and I don't any intention of stopping them. How could I have forgotten my parents? Macy pushes me forward and reaches for Edward. She gestures to the girl beside Father. "This is your sister, Wren."
"How?" Edward says, trying to make sense of things. "We have only been here a short time. She has to be eighteen."
"Time moves differently here," Macy reminds us. "I think that is why the Immortal Realm tampers with our memories. That way, we don't miss what has aged and died in the Human Realm."
I have so many questions. I want to ask them all. My mouth opens and shuts.
"It's okay," Father says. "Macy told me you lost your voice to get to her. I would have done the same for your mother."
"Why are you here?" Edward asks.
"I think we should go inside," Macy says. "This involves everyone."
She gives us no time to protest; lacing her fingers in Edward's and mine, she pulls us into the palace. Father and Wren follow closely behind. They don't speak to each other, which I find odd. In fact, I haven't heard Wren speak at all.
Inside the palace, we find Nyx waiting for us. The outline of a handprint is bruised across her neck. If Macy feels sorry for what she did, she doesn't show it. "Where is Cassian?"
"Oh, Macy," Nyx tries to hug her, but Macy shrugs her off. "I was so worried about you."
"I tried to kill you, and you were worried about me?" Macy laughs. "Are you delusional?"
"I know you didn't mean it," Nyx replies.
"Oh, I meant it," Macy says. "You have treated the creatures of this realm just as bad as Cassian and Roland. If I could kill you all, I would, but unfortunately, I need you."
Nyx blanches at Macy's words and shrinks away. I look down at my mate and there is a strange power radiating off of her. She is not the same as she was yesterday. Being in this realm is changing her, and I am not sure if it is for the better.
"Macy," Edward says through gritted teeth. "Was that necessary?"
"Quite," Macy replies before heading into the dining room.
Edward and I share a wary look, and Father clears his throat. "She is different."
"You have no idea," Edward rolls his eyes.
Raised voices from the dining room travel into the hallway. "You will not start a war in my realm."
"The war has already begun, Old Man," Macy snaps at Roland. "And it is no longer your realm. It is under Cassian's rule."
When we enter the dining room, everyone's eyes are on Cassian, but he doesn't seem to notice. He is happily eating his breakfast as if Roland and Macy aren't about to rip off each other's heads.
"Cassian," Nyx begs. "Say something."
Looking up from his plate, his eyes land on Father and Wren. "Ah, they have arrived."
Macy spins to stare at Cassian. "You knew they were coming?"
"I had a feeling," he says. "With how Selene is treating the werewolves, I figured it was only a matter of time."
"What is happening to the werewolves?" Edward asks Father.
"There are no more fated mates," Father whispers. "Wren is the last one to receive a mate."
"Who is her mate?" Edward asks.
"We haven't found him," Wren whispers.
I take a moment to study the woman in front of me. She looks like our mother; I am sure of that because she doesn't look like Father. Her long black hair hangs messily down her back, and her eyes are a stunning shade of blue.
"We brought her here for her protection," Father continues. "As you can imagine, being the last werewolf gifted with a mate has made her a target."
"She will be Queen," Macy reminds them.
"There have been uprisings," Father continues. "Raven is no longer in power."
Macy spins to look back at Roland. "You did this. You doomed both realms."
"I will not be lectured by a child," Roland shouts, and he storms from the dining room, knocking over several chairs in his anger.
Wren yelps in fear and hides behind Father. Hasn't she been trained? That small outburst shouldn't have frightened her. When she sees me looking at her she shrinks behind him farther.
"Now that he is gone, we can get down to business," Cassian says. "Macy, did the Gray Creatures find you?"
"Yes," she replies.
"Will they follow you?"
"Yes. But not if you or Roland are still on the throne," she says.
I look between them. Not fully understanding what is going on.
"What about the lycans?" He asks.
"I am unsure," Macy sighs. "They were less likely to join us because you have been stealing their children."
"What the fuck is going on?" Edward shouts.
"We are going to war," Cassian scoffs. "Isn't it obvious?"