*Daphne*
We found Oliver surrounded by his council mbers in a grand eting room with high ceilings and intricate statues of what I could only assu were past Alphas and other noteworthy mbers of the community. The lights were dim, and they all looked stern as they stood in a half circle facing us.
A couple of guards raised their weapons in a protective stance in front of the council.
Jasper stepped forward, pushing behind him protectively. “Peace, brothers!” he called calmly, raising his hands to show that we ant no harm. “We are here rely to negotiate. We have had enough bloodshed. We fought together and continue to consider you our allies.”
Oliver tilted his chin slightly so he could glower down at us. “I’m afraid that we’re not so sure if the sentint is mutual,” he said in a dark tone. “Those boys of Eva Stormfall are a grave threat to our pack, and if you are defending them, then I am afraid we cannot be allies.”
I gritted my teeth, moving to step forward, but Jasper kept a firm arm in front of . He stepped forward and held his arms out in a diplomatic way. “Please. We are regretful for the great support you’ve shown us, and we only wish to leave here on good terms. Surely, we can co to so sort of agreent. Let us part ways as allies and friends.”
Oliver scoffed. “I’m afraid that just isn’t going to be possible,” he said, but I could detect just a tiny bit of regret in his tone. He shoved it down and gave us both a hard, unyielding look. “Those boys manipulated us and took over our minds. They put us in grave danger by leading that bastard Varge into our community. We nearly lost everything because of them. I’m sorry, but we have no choice but to take them into custody.”
I gritted my teeth and lunged forward, pushing past Jasper, who tried to grab , but I shook him off. “You can’t do that!” I yelled.
Oliver’s entire countenance darkened. “I will do what I must in order to keep my pack safe,” he said.
I took in a calming breath. If we were going to save the boys, I was going to have to keep a level head. “Please, Alpha Oliver,” I said in a calm, placating way. “Surely you don’t believe that Aster and Tarik are deserving of adult punishnt. They are just children. What they need is guidance, not imprisonnt!”
Oliver’s jaw relaxed slightly and his eyes moved, making it clear that I was getting through to him slightly.
I kept going, clasping my hands together in a pleading way. “I understand your side,” I continued. “We mourn for all that you’ve lost because of this catastrophe. But the boys have suffered a great deal as well, and they are so young. They were taken away from Eva at such a young age that they don’t rember her clearly. They have been detained in Varge’s clutches ever since then.”
I could see the other council mbers glancing at one another, their expression still hard and stern, but they seed to be softening slightly at my words.
I kept my eyes on Oliver since he was the one I needed to convince. “They didn’t understand the repercussions of their actions, and they were only doing what Varge told them to do because they knew nothing else. As their guardians, we will be doing everything we can to ensure they grow up to be the just and kind people we know they can be.”
Oliver’s face was expressionless, but I could still practically hear the gears turning in his mind as he considered my words.
Jasper stepped forward then. “I would like to point out that Aster and Tarik warned Eva in ti for her to take action against Varge. Rather than try to escape as soon as she discovered what was happening, Eva stayed behind to help defend your community.”
I glanced at Jasper gratefully for bringing that to light.
That seed to be the last bit of information that Oliver needed. I could feel both Jasper and I relax when the stern Alpha nodded. “Very well,” he said. “Since I am also against the idea of parting ways on bad terms, I am willing to propose a compromise.”
Jasper and I glanced at each other hopefully.
“While you have made so valid argunts,” he went on, “I’m afraid that the boys still pose a threat to our community. I will drop the custody demand under the condition that you all leave, and you see to it that the boys never return to Drogomor.”
This wasn’t the most surprising outco, and I definitely wasn’t going to argue if it ant we could leave safely with the boys.
“We accept your terms,” Jasper said graciously. “Although we are regretful that we have caused trouble for you.”
Oliver nodded curtly. “I have one more condition,” he said in a booming voice. “Not only will the boys not be allowed to step foot on our land, but they shall be required to wear dampening charms permanently.”
I gritted my teeth. Eva and Rion weren’t going to like that, but we had no choice, so I nodded. “Very well.”
Oliver looked at his council mbers. “Aster and Tarik Stormfall are banished from our community,” he bellowed so that his voice echoed off the walls of the council hall. “Should the dampening charms be removed at any ti or for any reason, or they are found anywhere near our community, we will have no choice but to take action and carry out our initial ruling.”
“We understand,” Jasper said, his voice suddenly thick with bitterness.
I could see anger glinting in his eyes.
I put a hand on his arm. “At least they’ll be safe,” I said, trying to calm him, although I was touched by the fact that he was already so clearly devoted to Eva’s sons.
Jasper’s jaw locked but he nodded to .
“Should we hear of the boys abusing their abilities in any way, we will be forced to apprehend them, no matter where they happen to be.”
Jasper and I both looked up, and even I couldn’t entirely keep the flower off my face at the obvious threat. I tried to remind myself that they had lost much, and a lot of their community was destroyed, but it wasn’t because of the boys. I couldn’t help but feel as if they were taking it out on innocent children.
Oliver locked eyes with . “Let us not part on such bitter terms,” he said in a low voice, stealing my line from earlier. “That being said, should there be any issues in the future or if you find yourself in need or in over your head, do not hesitate to call upon .”
I smiled tightly, though I was tempted to make a crude gesture at him instead. “Thank you. That is generous of you.”
I doubted we would ever return as long as the boys were unwelco.
Jasper and I thanked the entire council before we turned to take our leave. I spared one more glance back at Oliver, who was watching us with an intensity that did nothing but make uncomfortable. The Alpha’s dark eyes followed us as he crossed the room toward the door so we could leave.
I had a bad feeling that we weren’t entirely forgiven and that Oliver was already regretting the leniency he was showing us and the boys.
As soon as we were outside, we hurried down the road. “I think we’d better get out of here as soon as we can,” I told Jasper gravely. “I don’t like the look Oliver gave us as we were leaving. He might begin to waver on his promise to let Aster and Tarik go.”
Jasper growled low in his throat. This wasn’t hard for him to believe considering the cold eting we had just had with the Alpha.
We rushed to the community daycare where Ayla and Selene were being cared for. I scooped both girls up in my arms, extrely relieved to see them after the strange exchange with Oliver. A part of feared that he had seen my daughters as a threat as well and had already sent guards ahead to kidnap them. I was beyond relieved to have them in my arms again.
Jasper and I glanced at each other with wide eyes as we approached the infirmary and saw that Eva’s forcefield was still going strong.
“Rion!” I scread through the link. “We ca to an agreent with Oliver, and we have the girls. How’s Eva doing?”
It took him a brief second to get back to . “She’s pretty much the sa. It’s not looking good, Daphne. I hope you two had better luck than .”
“Oliver has agreed to let the boys go under the conditions that they wear permanent dampening charms and that they never return to Drogomor,” Jasper answered in a grave voice. “They’ve also insisted that you and Eva leave with them.”
Rion cursed quietly. “I guess we have no choice,” he said.
I frowned. I could only imagine how hard this must be for him. He was so against having dampening charms on our own children, and now his nephews would have to wear them forever.
“I feel uneasy after our eting with Oliver,” I told Rion. I clutched Selene tightly to . “He didn’t seem pleased. I think they we should leave as soon as possible.”
“Yes, I believe that would be best,” Rion said, and his deep voice brought a little bit of comfort.
Soon, we would be on our way, and we would all be together as a family.
“But?” Jasper pressed, hearing sothing in Rion’s tone that I had missed.
Rion’s tone was concerned and slightly strained. “I was able to give Eva so of my blood, but it doesn’t seem to be having any effect at all. I don’t understand it. The effects were almost imdiate on the girls.”
“Maybe it’s because she’s bigger than the girls were?” Jasper guessed, though his voice was just as stressed now. He was gripping Ayla tightly in his arms, causing the little girl to squirm slightly.
“I don’t think so,” Rion said. “If that was true, we would at least be seeing so kind of reaction to my blood, but nothing is happening.”
“What do we do?” I asked fretfully. I wanted to scream out with frustration. “We can’t even get to you because of the forcefield. Could you tell her that Oliver has agreed to let the boys go?”
“She’s not exactly conscious at the mont,” Rion said flatly. “She is going in and out of it. I’d wake her, but she needs as much rest as possible.”
“She’d get more if she wasn’t using her shield,” Jasper snapped.
“I know,” Rion assured him with just an ounce of patience. “We need to figure out why my blood isn’t working. I’m worried about what could happen if we try to travel with her in this state. The boys are keeping her alive right now.”
“The shield is the issue,” I said suddenly, my eyes widening as I ca to the realization. “She’s blocking out your magic with hers, Rion. She needs to drop the shield for your blood to work!”
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