“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Vlad,” she says.
I look back at the Wolf who is still snarling at me.
“I want to go home,” Clarissa says.
As if those are the magic words, they all retreat down the hallway. Clarissa whips her eyes up to mine, and her nostrils begin to flare. She takes another step toward me, and I watch as Josie’s hand hovers over her knife. Her hand falls from her stomach as her shoulders roll back, and I watch her lick her lips before she draws in a deep breath.
“You can blame Primals all you want for what happened to your families, but it was news to us that the Council was enslaving humans. We live in peace. We work among you. We fall in love and give birth to children and hold jobs. You can be angry at us all you want, but when all the pretense is stripped away, and all the lies are cast off to the side, the only thing that remains is your pride. Your anger at the fact that when you look at me, you realize you aren’t the strongest one in the room.”
I draw in a deep breath as my gaze hardens on her eyes.
“You can twist that however you want, Joel. But so long as your pride enslaves you, you’ll suffer the same fate as those who went before you.”
Clarissa brushes past me as Josie’s eyes grow wide. I pull my sister into my arms and rub her back as they all pack their things. They don’t have much. A few clothes the villagers gave up for them to have and some food they gathered along the way. They emerge an hour later, with small bags slung over their shoulders and Clarissa’s purse hanging from her shoulder.
I feel a sense of relief overwhelm me as they open the door and head out into the cold.
The village watches them from their porches and their fires. The sounds of children crying and women lamenting can be heard as they retreat into the forest. I rub Josie’s back as she cries into my chest, releasing the stress and emotion she held within her during the battle. The men are gathered around Clarissa, guarding her and protecting her as they fade away. Inside, I know we have done the right thing. I know that getting them to leave, no matter the means is the best decision I can make for the people I am responsible for.
But I do wish Clarissa well, and I hope she and her unborn child will be okay.
I place a kiss on the top of Josie’s head as they finally fade into the blackness of the night. I turn around and take in the people on their porches, their hands raised and waving them all off. I expect to see anger. I expect to see hatred pouring from their eyes. I expect women who lost husbands to be spitting at them, and I expect the children of the village to be clapping for their leave.
All I find, however, are smiles.
Thanks.
People shouting their well wishes to the Primals as they walk deeper into the woods.
Maybe Clarissa is right. Maybe my anger isn’t with them. Maybe it’s simply my pride getting in the way. As I look out across the sea of people who have made it out of this war alive, I see the joy of the future in their eyes. I see their acceptance of them and how heartbroken they are at their exit.
I guess I need to take a cue from my own people.
I guess even leaders still have lessons to learn.
Epilogue
Clarissa
“V lad!”
“Father!”
I watch as Vlad runs and gives his father a massive hug. The sight is heartwarming, and it comes at the perfect time. The guys and I have just arrived at Vlad’s village to rest after the war. The week-long journey is over, and I watch as Lord Wesley embraces his son. A smile slides across my face, and I can’t help but be filled with hope. The light and love in Vlad’s eyes for the only other piece of family he has is joyous. I lean into Sebastian’s embrace as Theo’s hand rubs my back, and I reach for Toshi’s hand and feel our fingers intertwine.
It had been a long journey to get to Vlad’s village, but we are finally here.
Lord Wesley looks over his son’s shoulder and his eyes meet mine. I peel away from the guys and walk forward, right underneath the offering of Vlad’s arm. He drapes his languid arm around my shoulder, and I smile up at him, but his father can’t take his eyes off me.
“You’re alive,” Lord Wesley says.
“I am.”
“And you’re expecting.”
“I am.”