Embers In The North
27

Reyna could feel his breath on her skin, his words sending a chill down her spine. She knew exactly what he was suggesting. It was a dangerous path to take, but it gave her the power.

She pulled away, meeting Seth’s gaze. “And what do you gain from this, Seth?” she questioned, a note of scepticism in her voice.

His lips curled into a subtle smile. “I gain a Luna who understands true power and desire, someone who understands this dance of dominance between the wolves and the gods. Together, we could turn the tide of time.”

It was an unconventional idea to consider: the notion of a female having three mates. But she found the thought of having all three Alphas completely to herself was a thought surprisingly agreeable. She suppressed the smile tugging at her lips and casually scratched her nose.

“For the runner to work, it’ll have to be small,” Reyna said, closing her eyes to focus on the task at hand. “You’ll have to be out in the storm with me; your wolf needs the high anyway. Step back.”

Seth complied, stepping away as she harnessed her elemental power. The dome faded away, and the unleashed wind howled around them, tousling her hair in the raging storm. She went to work, shaping a runner reminiscent of the Krelon runner destroyed by the avalanche. The swirling snow transformed into spirals of creativity under her command, moulding the ice into a sleek, functional form.

The runner took shape, supported by four sturdy, heavy wheels fit for Ator’s speed. As her eyes opened, she considered the possibility of crafting it entirely from earth or wood but immediately dismissed it as impossible.

With her hands on her hips, she examined the runner with a satisfied smile.

“Looks terrific. Wise thinking with those heavy wheels,” Seth said, his voice carrying over the howling wind.

Now, Reyna mulled over Seth’s suggestion again. The possibility of splitting the territories and not having to choose one Alpha. Wielding such influence and potentially uniting the divided territories was enticing, but the price and the true extent of Seth’s motives remained unclear.

“You haven’t said anything to what I said,” Seth reminded her.

“Forgive me but I hardly have the time to both consider your proposal and collude.” She smiled. “Let them know we’re ready to move.”

Reyna walked over to the runner and tugged the makeshift door open, the sound of Seth retreating into the cave reaching her ears. She examined the hinges of the runner. Instead of constructing it entirely from ice scabs, perhaps she could try to shape it into a metallic form to reinforce it.

“Worth a shot,” she murmured to herself, stepping back to start anew.

With another breath, she connected to her frost element. Dissolving the runner entirely, she kept her eyes wide open this time and used her hands. The frost became her medium as she forged chains, her hands moving with precision, shaping the frost into a semblance of glazed metal, both in texture and appearance.

When she finished, the result resembled polished clumps of reinforced steel chains wound together. The heavy wheels remained intact. Walking over to the door, she placed her hand on the brown-stained runner, lighting it up. The flames danced along the glazed metal, casting an ethereal glow as she exhaled a satisfied breath at her elemental craftsmanship.

“That looks incredible!” Roth’s voice boomed from behind her as he led the others out towards her.

“I’d say. Looks better than our runner,” Quinn chuckled.

Reyna beamed with pride, pulling the door open and holding it, welcoming them into the splendid runner. One after another, they hurried into the beautiful craft, featuring only windows in the front and back. With the Embers burning all over, they would find warmth until they successfully made it past the storm.

Closing the door shut, Reyna turned to Seth, and Ator appeared behind her. Leading her Shadowbeast to the front, she fastened the reins of the runner to Ator’s saddle.

“Listen, you magnificent thing,” she whispered to Ator, who responded with a groan, and Reyna chuckled. “I need you to go steady, not too fast. Focus on clearing the path like you always do. I’ll tend to the runner, okay?” Ator nuzzled against her, and Reyna pressed a kiss to her face.

Looking up, she found all four of them watching her through the front window and gave them a small smile.

“I see you didn’t tell them you’re going through the blocked path,” Seth whispered as he moved to her side.

“There’s no point in spooking them any more than we need to. They have to deal with making it out of Frostcall in that,” Reyna sighed.

“I must commend your craftsmanship on the runner; it appears sturdier now,” Seth said. “So, it’s just you and me out here? You must be growing used to my presence.”

“Indeed, I suppose I am,” Reyna replied, a smile playing on her lips.

With calculated steps, she guided Ator forward, retracing their path towards Giehl Mountain. Her watchful eyes monitored the runner’s wheels, assessing its performance. Her eyes shifted to Seth as he watched the runner, his silver locks dancing in the wind. As they climbed towards the mountain, Reyna nodded her approval of the runner; it would work.

“Are you ready to run?” she asked both Ator and Seth.

“Ready when you are, Reyna. And when we get the chance, you owe me a conversation,” Seth said.

She smiled and nodded, her dark eyes meeting his for a fleeting moment before she urged, “Now’s when you shift, Seth.”

The eagerness in her voice was obvious, but she didn’t mind. Her eyes stayed fixed on him until the transformation began. Bones snapped into furry limbs, and with a thud, all four paws hit the ground. Reyna swallowed, observing his large, grey wolf form with azure eyes glinting in her direction. He snarled, turning towards the path.

“Let’s go, Ator. Clear the path and push the force of the wind away from the runner,” Reyna whispered, lingering until Ator and the runner stood in front of her.

Then, she shifted, the delight of the howling wind hitting her fur made her shake with ecstatic energy. Seth took the lead, and Reyna was pleased to see that he knew well enough to watch the front of the runner beside Ator. Following behind, she maintained her link with Ator, guiding her gradually and increasing their speed. The wind howled around them, yet the runner, guided by Ator and her combined efforts, pressed forward into the storm.

They pressed forward until they arrived at the location where the avalanche had struck, and Ator slowed down. Reyna trotted around, confronting the howling wind that whipped viciously at them. She examined the snow walls sculpted by Ator’s elemental abilities on both sides, their height nearing four feet. Seth joined her as she looked at the insidious mountain of snow blocking their path, his imposing form dwarfing hers.

“The path is blocked, Reyna. Why did we come down here anyway?” Roth’s voice boomed in her mind, startlingly clear as if he stood right beside her. She shook off the intrusion and shifted back into her human form.

“It’s my turn to clear the path,” Reyna said to Seth before approaching Ator. “I’ll attempt to clear enough of this for us to get through.” She held Ator’s face with a smile. “I’ll need your help, Ator.”

With a nod from Ator, Reyna turned to face the imposing pile of snow obstructing their path through the mountains. Once they overcame it, it would be a journey of no less than 30 minutes with Ator’s swiftness to reach the conclave. If any lingering doubts about divine intervention persisted, the formidable blockage now served as confirmation of Reyna’s suspicions.

Extending her arms toward the snow-covered barrier, she connected with the elemental forces around her. Despite the wind’s protest, Reyna focused on her link to Frostcall and Ator. Frost and snow responded to her command, and she directed the elements to begin shifting the snow away, crafting a passage for the runner.

She felt Seth, in his wolf form pacing beside her, his azure eyes attentive. The frosty air crackled with energy as Reyna tried to exert her influence over the frozen landscape. Slowly, the walls of snow began to recede, revealing a pathway wide enough for the runner to traverse.

“That’s impressive,” Seth remarked, shifting back to his human form beside her.

Reyna glanced at him, a subtle smile playing on her lips. “Let’s proceed before…”

The mountain of snow retaliated, and Reyna groaned as it resisted, fighting back against her hold to block the path she had attempted to clear.

“Reyna?” Seth called, looking around.

“Those meddling gods!” Reyna bellowed, anchoring herself deeper into the ground. She wiggled her arms and extended them again. “Seth, summon your Howler and strap the runner to him; I need Ator.”

“What’s happening?” Seth inquired.

“The gods want a show. Switch the straps between our Howlers and be prepared to move on my signal. Go!”

Seth acted swiftly, following her command and Reyna huffed with defiance, rage etched across her face.

Reyna!

Roth’s voice bellowed in her mind but she shook it out again, fighting against the stubborn snow. The gods, it seemed, were intent on complicating their journey, using the elements as their instruments of chaos.

The wind howled, whipping viciously against her and she almost laughed. Perhaps now was the time to truly figure out how much of the elements she could control.

“Reyna, I’m ready,” Seth called from behind her after swiftly strapping the runner to his Howler, ready to follow Reyna’s lead.

Reyna gritted her teeth as she strained against the force fighting against her. Ator came to her side and snorted with that fiery determination that fuelled her. Reyna snarled, connecting to her bond with Ator and drawing upon every ounce of her elemental connection.

The mountain of snow pushed back, but she persisted, determined to carve a path through the divine interference.

The gods’ interference was becoming increasingly obvious as the wind surged, pushing Reyna backwards. Her legs, however, remained firmly anchored, defying the force trying to displace her. The snow retaliated with a vengeance, and Reyna growled, channelling every ounce of her strength against it. The resistance knocked her back, and the wind whisked her away, but Ator moved quickly, catching and shielding her before she could roll further.

“Reyna!” Seth called, rushing to her side.

She coughed up the snow caught in her mouth, heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Seth reached her, cupping her face as he assessed her condition.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“I’m furious,” she spat. “Those bloody ancient cunts, wherever they are, think they can toy with me like a pawn!” She shot to her feet. “Level the playing field, you useless manipulators!” she shouted into the relentless wind.

“Maybe we should consider going through the other-”

“Not on your life!” she interjected before Seth could finish his thoughts. “Get back to your Howler. The only way we turn back is if the gods drop this mountain on me!”

She shooed him away and waited until he returned to his Howler. Unperturbed by the others watching through the window in the back of the runner, she led Ator back to the front of the obstruction. It was a relief that they had the good sense to stay in there and out of her way.

“Slow down the wind,” she whispered to Ator and then closed her eyes.

No more anchoring herself; if the gods wanted a confrontation, they found one. As Ator circled her, Reyna extended her arms, connecting with the wind. A realization struck her—she could utilize the wind to her advantage.

“Focus the wind toward the mound, Ator,” she commanded as she concentrated on clearing the path once again.

She felt overwhelmed by the force’s power, causing her anger to intensify. Frustration roared with her rage, and her entire body ignited with Ember, flaring brightly. She took an alternative approach, conjuring fireballs and hurling them violently toward the path. With a resounding roar, she summoned a fiery tornado that surged toward the obstruction, obliterating everything in its fiery path.

The entire wall of snow descended like liquid in a single, sweeping motion, and Reyna collapsed to her knees as the fire extinguished within her. Groaning, she clutched her arms against the pain that stabbed through her body.

“Reyna!” Seth’s urgent call rang out.

“Now, Seth!” Reyna commanded. “Go now!”

Seth urged his Howler forward, the runner dragging behind. As they crossed the treacherous passage, the wind howled in protest, and Reyna struggled to rise.

“Shield them, Ator,” she said, wiping the blood from the side of her mouth as she lingered behind.

Ator positioned herself at the front, acting as a barrier against the wind to prevent it from veering Seth’s Howler and the runner off course. Staggering after them, Reyna focused her energy, pushing the runner through the gods’ interference. The snow beneath their feet reluctantly gave way, and the moment they emerged from the mountain passage, Reyna fell flat on her face.

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