Chapter 140

Hannah

“A vessel?” I asked. “That’s what Gemma was saying he wants to turn us into. You think Henry is already a vessel?”

“It only makes sense,” Sebastian said in return. “He’s a powerful and dangerous being, but he can’t come to our land on his own. He would need a different body to come to this land.”

“So, that would mean, Henry was actually Xander?” I asked; I didn’t want something like that to be true. I didn’t trust Henry, but the thought of him being the vampire king this entire time was unsettling.

“There’s no way to know for sure until we get the portal open and go to the underworld ourselves,” Sebastian told me. “But we need to be prepared for anything.”

“That’s what he wants to do to us?” I asked, peering up at my husband. “Take over our bodies so he can control both the werewolf territory and the underworld?”

“We aren’t going to let him get the chance. But first things first, we need to get our wolves back.”

I nodded in agreement.

“Hannah!” I heard Raya’s voice coming from the doorway. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you but the mindlink wasn’t going through and your phone’s been off. I’ve been so worried ever since you went away with that creeper who claims to be your mate.”

I hadn’t been keeping Raya updated on anything that’s happened and I felt awful. I just didn’t want to worry her. I didn’t want anybody to be worried really; not even Arnold was aware of everything that’s been going on. I had to admit, though, it was good to see her face; despite how worried she looked.

Raya came toward me and hugged me, saying a quick hello to Wren who was still attached to my chest.

“What’s been going on? Why isn’t the mindlink working? I thought it was because you were still with Henry,” she said, grimacing at the very thought of it.

“Did Arnold tell you anything?” I asked, eyeing her carefully. Not that he knew anything himself, but I wasn’t sure if he told her that I had returned, and we were taking care of some secret business.

She looked puzzled but then shook her head.

“What does he know?” She asked; her tone sounded a bit hurt. Now she was thinking that her mate was keeping things from her.

“No, nothing,” I said quickly, trying to clear things up. “I just wasn’t sure if he told you I was home.”

She shook her head again, still eyeing me carefully. She glanced over at Sebastian who looked at me briefly.

“I’ll bring this stuff to Gemma in the gardens,” he said, holding up the bag he kept the sage, the black rose, the matches, and the pale of water.

I watched as he disappeared from the living room; I turned back to Raya who narrowed her eyes at me. I knew she wasn’t going to let me get out of there without telling her everything. I sighed. I didn’t want to lie to my friend; if things went south, I might need her. She once promised to care for Wren if anything were to happen to me, and this might be the moment when I needed her to take Wren.

I certainly didn’t want Wren to come with us to the underworld. I looked down at Wren who sat comfortably against my chest and then I peered back up at Raya who was still watching me curiously.

“What’s going on, Hannah?” She finally asked, breaking the silence between us.

“It’s a lot,” I admitted, unsure of how much she would be able to handle. “But we are doing everything we can to fix it.”

“Fix what? Are we in danger?”

“Yes,” I answered. “But not if we can help it. I went with Henry to see this witch, Lila. She was supposed to help me but instead, she betrayed me. She was only after my wolf, and Sebastian’s wolf.”

“What?” She gasped; her eyes were now large and alert. “What do you mean after your wolves?”

“She took our wolves and now they are trapped in the underworld.”

Raya stared at me for a long while like she was trying to figure out if she should believe me or not. I’ve never lied to her before so, she has no reason to think otherwise. But I also understood how farfetched that story sounded.

“You’re serious…?” She whispered once my words had been processed. Her breathing grew shaky once I didn’t say anything. “The vampire king has your wolves?”

“We are going to get them back,” I assured her. “But it’s going to take some effort and it’s a dangerous mission.”

“You’re going to the underworld,” she breathed with disbelief. I nodded in response, meeting her eyes. “Let me help you,” she finally said after another short pause.

I rose my brows at her and shook my head quickly.

“It’s way too dangerous, Raya,” I told her. “I can’t let you help me with this. Let us do our jobs and protect this kingdom. You just keep yourself safe.”

“I can’t just stand by while my best friend throws herself in literal fire,” she shot back, crossing her arms over her chest. “I need to do something to help.”

“I might need you to take Wren when we get the portal open,” I admitted. “I don’t want her coming with us to the underworld. It’ll be too dangerous for her.”

“I can take her now,” she said, holding her arms out. “That way you can focus on what you need to do.”

I was hesitant for a moment; how was I going to tell her that I needed Wren to open the portal?

“What is it?” She asked, reading my face.

“Wren is the key to opening the portal. So, I need her there,” I explained.

Her jaw dropped open.

“You can’t be serious…” she said, shaking her head with dismay. “Why would Wren be the key?”

“I don’t know. It’s something the moon goddess came up with though,” I explained. “Sebastian’s wolf uses his anger to open the portal from the inside. My wolf uses her love to open the portal from the outside. Wren uses the mixture of the two emotions; it comes through her tears.”

“You need her to cry in order to open the portal?”

I nodded sheepishly; I know how it sounded, and I didn’t like it either.

“Yes,” I confirmed. “I need a tear from her to open the portal. Once the portal is open, I’ll need you to take her away so Sebastian and I can get our wolves back.”

Raya was quiet for a long while; she looked between me and Wren questionably. I could see the concern and worry lingering in her eyes.

“Did Arnold know about any of this?” She asked; I knew she was worried about the answer.

“No,” I told her. “I don’t think Sebastian told him any of this.”

“Arnold has been so busy lately while Sebastian’s been away. I’ve hardly seen him in the last 24 hours…” she breathed. She was growing sad at the thought.

I sighed and went to her, wrapping my arms around her to hug her tightly.

“I’m sorry I’m roping you both into this. But if we don’t get our wolves back, this entire kingdom will suffer. We can’t let the vampire king win.”

She recovered quickly, straightening her stance. She gave me a broad grin and narrowed her eyes at me.

“Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it,” she told me confidently.