A Crown Of Shadows And Secrets - Sloane Murphy Page 0,1

Archer is dealt with. But whether I can do it or not, I’m going to find a way. There is no way I’m letting her stay down there. Not when it’s my fault she’s there. I don’t even want to think about…”

“It’s not your fault, mon amour,” Kain says softly from where he’s stood against the counter on the opposite side of the room. He’s been quiet through most of this, but I’m not surprised. That’s who he is. I imagine he’s been strategizing the entire time. “The fault is Archer’s. And maybe a little of Bauer’s.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Regardless, we need to get her back,” I say to them before turning back to Colt. “You also need to check in on Bauer. He was hurt when Archer called me. I don’t care what he had a hand in, he tried to help us, and he warned me, as best he could.”

“I’ll do more than check on him,” Colt says through gritted teeth.

“We should call together the heads of the factions,” Roman says. “Prepare, make sure that everyone is ready here before we leave.”

“You’re all going?” Colt asks looking around the room.

“You didn’t think we’d let her go alone?” Levi asks, eyebrow raised.

“But you’re the faction leaders, who is going to sort things with the factions if you’re not here?” Colt eyes them all in disbelief.

“We have trusted people to help us, just as the Hunters have their Elders, we have people we lean on. I have my Generals, Roman his Alphas. They will do as we ask while we are gone, for however long that may be,” Kain tells him.

“This is insane.” Colt shakes his head.

“You’d rather we sent her to the Shadow Realm alone?” Roman asks him, practically growling. I can see his temper rising, hell, everyone’s tempers are rising. This whole situation is insane.

“Of course not,” Colt answers. “But I know my sister, she’ll get Fallon back with help or not. But what happens up here, with her gone? You guys not being here could make an even bigger difference.”

“This is not up for discussion,” Creek says as he re-enters the room. “If we can all go with her, then we all go with her. Our people here will be able to handle whatever shit Archer has up his sleeve, especially if we can get Bauer out of his grip, because we’ll have some idea of what is going on. Marie is gathering the Witch council. She recommended we get our people here and meet in two days.” I try to interrupt him, but he shakes his head. “She doesn’t like leaving Fallon down there longer than she has to either, but she’s in agreement, we need to make sure that Archer and whatever he has planned can be handled when we’re gone.”

“Okay, well, let’s do that. You guys get in touch with whoever you need to. We’ll have everyone meet here. It’s the most secure place we have to gather that many leaders in one place.” I look to Levi and he nods. “Will the Archangels help?”

“I don’t know.” He bows his head a little. “I will reach out to Serafina and see what I can do.”

“Thank you,” I say as he leans down to kiss the top of my head, then leaves the room to go and do what he needs to do.

“I’ll start contacting the Alphas,” Roman says, and Kain nods, standing.

“And I’ll contact the Generals. We don’t have much time to get everyone here.”

“Marie will open portals if needed,” Creek tells them both, and they nod, leaving the room, kissing me on the cheek in turn as they go.

“I guess I should go and speak to Nasari and the rest of the Elders,” Colt says wearily, standing.

“I’ll come with you, the more people we have to explain, the better. We also still don’t know which Hunters are working with Archer, so we need to tread carefully,” Creek says, standing with him.

“I’ll see what I can find out about the Shadow Realm. Levi said my old journals are here, I can only assume he means all the way back.” I shrug trying not to feel beaten before we already begin. There’s so much to do, and my biggest worry that I dare not speak yet…

What if I can’t bring Fallon back across since I’m not an Angel?

I spent the afternoon training while the others are off doing what they’re doing, getting myself ready for whatever it is that’s to come, to make myself feel