A/N: Here is the finaly arc of hallow. Oh, noes! Don't worry. It's a 76,000 word update so when I say arc I mean a BIG ARC. Because this is the war arc, there is a lot of moving parts. I know I've said that before but everything is a moving! I gotta stop watching historical dramas. Shesh. As always, if you have questions, ask! I like answering them!  

And...here we go. 

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“Sacrificing yourself to serve the cause of others isn’t noble, son. It’s not even smart.”

Taehyung gasped in pain as he dropped to his knees, feeling that another hit would break yet another rib. He’d lost count after two. It was hard to breathe.

The man’s name was Toggo. He remembered the guard at the door saying his name as he was brought in. He wore Blue Crescent colors and from the first moment Taehyung saw the silver emblem on his headband, he’d despised him. To be fair, it wasn’t like Toggo was trying to be liked. He wasn’t a kind man, not that Taehyung expected someone trying to torture information out of him to be nice.

“Let’s try again,” Toggo said as he grabbed a handful of Taehyung’s hair and hauled him off the ground. Taehyung didn’t know whether to try and pry the man’s hand away from his scalp or wrap an arm around his ribs. “I know the Alpha Prime is not in Prae. That mutt from Dinfire has been the one barking orders. Tell me where he is.”

Taehyung didn’t know how Toggo knew that. The Alpha Prime had only been gone for a month and no decisive battles where his presence would be noticed amongst the bloodshed and death had happened.

“He is in Prae, you idiot, as I’ve told you before,” Taehyung grunted in pain. “And even if he wasn’t, I wouldn’t tell you. You’ll have to just kill me.” Taehyung looked up at him and wasn’t surprised that he absolutely meant every word. Prae meant the world to him; the Magnus couple meant the world to him. They would change things. They would make people and cults like the Blue Crescents disappear. The Blue Crescents who’d killed his father. The Blue Crescents who’d destroyed his home.

Toggo tossed him down with a growl and motioned for the guard. “Take him back to his cell and prepare him for execution. Maybe the others hearing about him give up his worthless life for a worthless cause will give them the balls to offer up the information I need.”

A man enthroned on a high backed silver chair rolled his eyes. “Executions are messy and they haven’t worked yet.”

That man was Edison, the ruler in Old Se’hai where Taehyung was currently being held hostage. He’d been captured on his way back from Lark’s Nest, where he’d deposited his last round of freed hostages. Apparently, they’d been following him from Lark’s Nest borders and were waiting until he was alone to attack. “It’ll work. And if it doesn’t, it’ll bring that other here,” Yoon offered.

Edison gave the other man a withering look. “ We are fighting a war and we are close to marching on Prae. Stop wasting my ing time with this witch-hunt. If Lee Jinki is in Prae, fine, we’ll kill him when we raze it to the ground. If he isn’t, we’ll kill him when we enlarge our territory. One shifter doesn’t control the outcome! If that were the case, this war would have been won when Choi Minho died!”

“You underestimate how powerful the Alpha Prime is,” Toggo pressed, his voice low and dangerous.

Edison rolled his eyes. “A man too weak to kill him lying filth Omega lover is no one of strength to me. I grow bored of your antics, Toggo. You said you were going to win me a war, and that’s what I expect with the amount of money I’ve poured into your campaign.” He stood, angered. “Snap that little s neck and get on with it!”

“Take him back,” Yoon commanded glancing at the guard.

“Yes, sir,” the guard answered quietly. She moved forward then paused. “Before I do so, I also bring news from Morocco Song.”

“How is that possible?” Edison said. “We can’t get anywhere near the place. The ground eats people.”

The guard cleared . “Yes, sir. However, this was acquired through eavesdropping I believe."

“And why are you delivering this news? Where is Vivo?”

“It was he who had me deliver it to you…the news that is. I shall deliver it.” She turned to Toggo. “Your intended mate, Choi Jinri–”

Toggo stood straighter. “Sulli?”

The guard nodded. “She has been abducted by the Alpha of Morocco Song. They are requesting a ransom of–”

“Denied,” Toggo said. Yoon raised a brow at his declaration. “Don’t give me that look. It’s impossible to rescue her and even if it weren’t, it would cost us too many resources to wage a small battle against a village that has a man eating forest floor.” Toggo lips drew together as he contemplated something but Taehyung didn’t see any remorse, just an empty look burning in his dark eyes. He didn’t know who Sulli was but he pitied her for having her fate tied to Toggo. “A change of heart. Send Folarin. She knows too much.”

The guard inhaled sharply but tried to cover it with a cough. “The assassin?” she stated, slowly. “You want me to send–”

“Not you,” Toggo frowned, exasperated. “Jungmo will do it. Take him with you,” he said, nodding towards Taehyung. “I’ll deal with him later.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hours passed before Taehyung woke back in his cell. He looked up from his place through a swollen eye and grunted. His gaze shifted to the only window and saw it was dark outside. “Good,” he thought. “Good.” He’d never been too partial to sunlight.

Moments later, the door opened, it creaking along rusty hinges and the same Old Se’hian guard from before entered. She stood at the door, looking at him in between the bars at for a long, piercing moment, something weird playing in her eyes as she did so. Eventually tiring of treating him like some kind of exhibit, she pulled out a set of cell door keys and approached Taehyung’s prison with a confidence she hadn’t displayed earlier. “It’s time,” she said, her voice registering low and sending a shiver up his spine. Well, he wasn’t sure if it was her voice or what waited for him on the other side of the door.

She helped him up from his sitting position, careful with him as he limped to the door.

“I’ll tell you what’s going to happen–"

Taehyung knew. They were headed toward the Old Se’hai Lowden Hall where he would be executed. “Stop,” he said abruptly. “Stop being kind to me. I’m not going to thank you for it.”

Her grip on his arm tightened and she shoved him forward down the long dark hallway.

“The last thing I want from a stupid rebel like you is your gratitude,” she spat. “Excuse me for trying to make you comfortable.”

“I didn’t ask–"

“Nobody cares what you asked for. People depended on you and you let them down. Now you’ll die for it.”

Taehyung had just enough energy to let the feeling of irritation take over him. “For getting captured? I let people down by getting captured? I’ve–I’ve been by myself. No one in this region is helping me but a bunch of messengers from some far off land. My brothers have their own tasks and I’ve been working day and night to serve Magnus! I put my life on the line every–”

“The people still in the enemy’s hands don’t care.” She continued to push him along until they came to a small door that Taehyung didn’t remember from before. But there was a lot about the Old Se’hai compound that he didn’t know about. What he did know was his death was awaiting him on the other side. “They were waiting for you and they don’t care how many you freed before them. They still wear the shackles of illegal occupation.”

Taehyung opened his mouth to counter her again when he realized who he was arguing with and what they were arguing about. “Why do you care?” he demanded, glaring at her with his one good eye.

She ignored him and shoved the doors open.

“Hey!” he said,” Answer…me…”

Taehyung looked out into the open wilderness. There were no soldiers or guards stationed along the vibrant green of Old Se’hai’s jungles. “Where are we?”

There was a whistle from the thick vegetation before four horses appeared, a set of them occupied by two. Taehyung blinked. “Hoseok? Jin?”

His older brother winked at him from atop his brown steed while his other brother hopped down from his, grinning like the devil. “Look at you.” Jimin tsked. “Let’s get you out of here.”

“What’s happening? How are you here? What about your regions?”

“We’ve been called back to Prae. Seems you’ve made an impression on our young Magnus couple, you wet behind the ears rebel, you.”

The guard grunted. “Young? They are quite older than you!”

“Yeah, yeah.” Jimin patted his horse. “So! This reunion is sweet and all, but…can we escape? You know before the actual guards come looking for us?”

Jimin came forward to grab Taehyung while Hoseok corralled the horses. Getting onto the horse with several broken ribs was difficult and painful but with Jimin’s help he was just able to.

“We will pass along everything that you’ve told us to Prae. We are indebted to you,” Hoseok said, nodding at her.

“Don’t thank me. I didn’t do it for Prae. I did it for myself. Just…win this goddamn war. That’ll be the only gratitude I’ll accept.” She looked off towards the woods. “Seungwan will take you northwest where a man by the name of InWoo will be waiting for you. Iustus has fortified the eastern border of Wheph leading toward Durkhai so the safest travel to Prae from here is through Morocco Song. If you are caught between here and there is nothing I can do for you. I will meet you in Morocco Song in two days. Then we ride North.”

“You heard the woman!” Hoseok rallied with a nod and motioned to his younger brother who began to turn the horses around.

Taehyung stopped them with a grunt. “Wait,” he said, looking back at the guard. “Why are you helping us?”

Taehyung could see her rolling her eyes, but still, she lowered her menpo guard mask and helmet, revealing all of her face. Taehyung didn’t recognize her at all…but he recognized the headband.

“B–B–Blue Crescent!” he stuttered, recoiling.

She glanced up towards her forehead.. “Sorry. Force of habit.” She pulled it off and tossed it into a nearby fire.

Taehyung watched it burn, watched her let it burn. No one would ever fool him for a Blue Crescent historian but he did know their headbands were very important to them and to desecrate it was treasonous.

“Who are you?”

She smiled, finally and it softened her face. She really was a pretty girl. “I’m Choi Jinri.”

Taehyung eyes darted back and forth until he connected the name he’d heard only hours before.

“Or Sulli…former member of the Blue Crescents.” She winked. “At your service.”

Minho glanced out of the opening of his tent, his gaze taking a wide arc at the space around them. It seemed there wasn’t one area that wasn’t covered or occupied by campaign tents, litters, or soldiers gathered around a camp fire. Their retinue was massive. And maybe massive was an understatement. The gravity of who supported them now weighed heavily on him.

Immediately stationed around their tent, guarding theirs as well as Kibum’s, were the Meek of Ves intermingled with Torch. The Meek of Ves met them deep in Nihil territory as soon as Yeon Bi-So gave them the word. Watching them and Torch interact was…interesting, Minho thought with a chuckle. It was like a strong current of slick oil smashing into the ocean. The Meek of Ves were very conservative with their emotions, almost as if they hid behind a wall to avoid them, while Torch, while disciplined, where generally overcome with it. He eyed Junghee talking Bi-So’s head right off her shoulders. He could see the tick of annoyance forming on her face and it gave him the first laugh of the day.

Not far from the Meek of Ves and Torch was Eunsook’s Forward Guard’s encampment, a squad she’d named Pink Flame, which, coincidentally, irritated the out of Gwiboon. Typhoon wasn’t too partial to it either but as her Lt. General, he only had so much he could say. Pink Flame would be embarking on select guerrilla infiltration missions while the Maegis, Danye and Iseul would travel to Toleran in an attempt to formally get Toleran to sign on as allies. Considering they would be battling dark mages, they would need every high level mage they could get. Minho prayed they are successful.

It was, however, the tent, quite larger than theirs on the opposite side of the encampment that gave him both hope and great worry. Over the course of two weeks, thousands and thousands of Artic Wolves soldiers had shown up in Nihil, worrying Areum half to death.

“I knew there were a lot of them but Jesu, I didn’t know they were bringing their entire army,” Minho murmured in amazement.

Jinki joined him at the tent opening and grinned. “That isn’t all of them. I would say it’s a third of their forces.”

Minho gaped. “One-third?”

Jinki nodded. “There is a very good reason no one dare mess with the North. We all know the Artic Wolves are the strongest clan-collective and we know this because their clan is older than anything, even older than Prae.”

“The First Clan,” Minnho recounted.

Jinki pulled him back into their tent. He’d been a bit clingy since they’d embarked on their journey home, even corralling Kibum into watching the twins from time to time so he could be an unrepentant flirt. They would cross Prae’s borders tonight and despite all of their planning and preparing, it was difficult to say what they would face on the other side.

 “My father told me that the First Clan practically swallowed the North whole, absorbing clan after clan after clan. There were plans to absorb the five clans, which they could have done, easily.”

 He settled Minho in his arms and leaned back against a chest full of clothes. “I wonder how Han Shul was able to dissuade them? Prae wasn’t even Prae at the time. We had no power, just a bunch of scattered clans who hated one another.

Minho shrugged. “The Hans were a dynasty of powerful shifters. I know Han Shul would have been proud of his great great grandson for forming Prae.” Minho laid his head back against Jinki’s chest and closed his eyes. “I wonder sometimes if our legacy will be as glorious. So far it’s been anything but.”

“We just got started, love,” Jinki softly in his ear. “And don’t think Han Geng and Heechul were without their faults. They did almost literally burn Prae to the ground trying to force Dinfire and Mott Argan to be allies.”

Minho laughed in his hands. “At least Hwasa and Leehom are playing nice for Yifan and Yixing’s sake.”

“Or they understand what their ancestors didn’t…things change, circumstances change,” Jinki kissed him below his ear. “Without being flexible and understanding people, we wouldn’t be where we are today, with so many people at our sides.”

Minho hummed.

“After all of this, we should visit the North. They’ve adopted you and it would only be right. You…you are so many things, now. A son of The Arctic North, Natsuvi royalty, and the AlphaBeta of Prae…”

Minho closed his eyes and sighed deeply. “I’m not Alpha Beta of Prae.”

There was silence which probably meant Jinki was ignoring him. A moment later. “Minho?”

Minho’s eyes fluttered opened to Jinki gazing down at him. There was a look in his eyes, far away but full of revelation and wonder and Minho wondered just how long his eyes held that kind of emotion.

“I don’t understand magic or fate,” Jinki said, his voice light and mystified. “I understand they exist–how can I not with a mother, and siblings and a mate who is immersed in it, but there is a difference between understanding something and…getting something.” He cleared his throat, seeming to struggle with his words. “I know magic exist. I know the Oracles exist, that what they do…is…real but I never felt how real it was until now. Even with you. Through all of their wonders, the thought of them blessing me with you never came across as some kind of movement of magic or fate. I just…I needed you and wanted you and I would have accepted anything they said to have you in the end but…this?”

Minho waited patiently, silently.

“This is fate, Minho. Me and you, we are fated.”

Minho twisted until he was facing his mate, and shifted forward, rearranging himself until he was straddling him. “Look at you getting all emotional before a war.”

Jinki frowned. “I’m being serious.”

“I know,” Minho answered softly, slipping his arms under Jinki’s and resting his chin on his shoulder. “I know.”

They sat like that silently for a long moment until Jinki inhaled deeply. “When I’m about to lose it, when I’m frustrated or angry, your scent always calms me down.”

“That’s funny. Your voice always soothes me.” He readjusted himself in Jinki’s lap, sliding even closer. “Has anyone ever told you that you have the most wonderfully blessed voice? When we were apart, sometimes, late at night, I would touch myself thinking about you saying things. It didn’t even have to be anything amazing. One time I got off thinking about you talking about a guard rotation. You’re so y when you take command.”

“Minho,” Jinki growled. “You are not healed yet. Stop teasing me.” It didn’t stop Jinki from groping Minho’s and pulling him even closer.

“You act as if there is only one way to make love to you.” He puckered his lips then tapped them drawing a sound that was mix of a laugh and a groan out of Jinki. Jinki swallowed his laugh with a kiss, shoving his hands under Minho’s shirt and running his hands over his back.

“I’m going to eat you alive,” Minho said in his mouth.

“And I’m–“

“Lord Jinki, Lord Minh–HOLY ,” Junghee practically flung herself backwards out of the tent, running smack dab into Gwiboon who, in Gwiboon fashion, swiftly moved out of the way, and watched as Junghee’ s back hit the ground with a thud.

“Why don’t tents have locks?” Minho murmured, annoyed. “We might have to wait until our next lives to get some time alone.”

“That’s a long ways away, baby,” Jinki laughed. He smoothly removed his hands from his mate’s shirt and maneuvered him off of his lap with ease before looking up at the tent opening. “How can I help you, ladies?”

“Just a status update.” Gwiboon stepped over Junghee and into the tent rolling her eyes at her friend. “We’ve heard back from one of Jessica’s people roaming near Toleran. There seems to be no fighting in Toleran, only the usual gathering at The Den, so Lady Iseul, Lady Danye, Lady Taeyeon and Lord Taemin should have no issue getting on their lands to speak with their council.”

“Good,” Jinki nodded. “Even so, it’ll be good having  you two with them just in case anything arises between the two factions of Toleran. When you’re done, you have our leave to return to Dinfire. Any word from Lark Nest and Rhyna Ghali?”

Junghee, who had eventually crawled into the tent, nodded. “Lark’s Nest had a small run-in with Iustus’ “anti-rebellion” contingency, Amber says, but they were dispatched easily.”

“How?”

“She released her dam on them. Flooded them out. No one can approach from the southeast.”

“That’ll flood Toleran, though,” Minho mentioned. “It’s no matter. Iseul knows Toleran better than anyone, flooded or not. And Rhyna Ghali?”

“Nothing yet, my Lord.”

“They aren’t even contemplating sending protection for their Princess?”

“It’s hard to answer that question, My Lord.”

Minho’s mouth drew into a hard line as he went over Gwiboon’s message. “Not the update I was hoping to hear,” he murmured.

“That…leads us to our third piece of news. Cere, that’s the codename for Jin, The older brother of Taehyung and Jimin?–“

“Those responsible for the rebellions in the east? In Wheph and Mott Argan?”

“Correct,” Junghee said. “He was responsible for getting to Rhyna Ghali and delivering our plea, equipped with signatures from Fatima and Yejin. Per our last reports, he left Lark’s Nest to pick up some items near Wheph for the final leg of his trek and then…we lost track of him.”

“And…you found him, right?”

Gwiboon perched her chin in her palm. “No. They found us.” She reached over and pulled Minho’s shirt onto his shoulder and buttoned it close. “They are waiting for you in The Artic Wolf Royal Tent.”

Minho looked at Jinki and Jinki looked at Minho and they both sighed before Minho stood. He helped his mate to his feet. “Later?”

Jinki shoulders slump. “Yeah, like you said, probably our next lifetimes.”

The trip across the encampment was long, mostly with Jinki and Minho having to stop and speak to the swathes of soldiers that stormed them anytime they came out of their tent. Timing told them to speak to them later, in a larger mass, but their personalities, and appreciation for so many willing to fight with them and for them was what prompted the numerous individual interactions. By the time they made it to the tent, King Toghon was tapping his feet.

“Popular, huh?”

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Minho said with a short bow, one Toghon waved away.

“You’ll learn our customs soon enough. It took Minjung forever. You don’t bow to other Fallow Forest nobles, especially not ones in your own family. You and Jinki would–”

“With all due respect, we aren’t royals,” Jinki informed.

“Yes they are!” Eunsook yelled from somewhere out in the encampment.

Jinki’s smile was tight as he ignored his sister. “We’ve come because we’ve heard you have news for us? About our scouts?”

“Yes.” Toghon stood and walked behind the set of pure silver high back chairs he and Gi Jao were using as thrones. A servant reached for the flap and he shoo’d her away. He motioned with his head for Minho and Onew Jinki to follow and when they did, they were led into a conjoining tent where Gi Jao was at a war table with four people Minho had never seen.

“Our generals,” Gi Jao said from her seat at the head of the war council. “Köke Temür, Toqto'a, and Bak Bulhwa, generals of our northern, western, and southern regiments. Our eastern regiment will be handled by our second son, Biligtü Khan Ayushiridara.”

The young prince stood and Minho’s mouth gaped a little. “We were unaware you had a second son.”

“We have three. Tögüs is at home as a custodian. Princes aren’t announced until they’ve come of age,” Gi Jao said, inclining her head back. “For now, we are allowing Julien to continue his work directly under you. We know he was a great asset to your clan and we wouldn’t want to disrupt that.”

“Thank you,” Jinki said with a slight bow of his head.

Gi Jao frowned. “Lord Jinki, you don’t bow to other nobles–"

Toghon waved off the statement, which seemed to be a habit of his. “I already tried that. It’ll take some time to break their strange customs around us.” Gi Jao rolled her eyes, and Minho bit back a smile. “To the subject at hand. Your messenger.” Toghon clapped and the tent flaps at the entrance opened. Five figures walked in, two Minho recognized immediately.

“InWoo’s plan worked.”

Sulli's didn’t move or even to acknowledge him, but turned towards Jinki and Minho wanted to roll his eyes. He didn’t like her being here anymore than she liked him being here. In contrast, little Seungwan did, waving at him eagerly. He’d visited her often when Eunsook firmly let them know, little girl or not, she was not being released. They were friends, much to Sulli’s chagrin. “We bring you both news from Morocco Song by way of Taehyung, Jin and Hoseok, sons of Choi Siwon.” She glanced at Minho for a moment before looking past him. Or through him, it seemed, which he expected. Although she agreed to help them, it didn’t mean she still didn’t hold a lot of Blue Crescent prejudices.

Taehyung hobbled forward. “With Jinri’s help,” he said, glancing at Sulli, “we were able to gather a large collection of data from deep within Blue Crescent territory. Most of it will be helpful in planning attacks but the most important one piece of news is the direst.” Taehyung tried to take another step but his leg buckled and he fell to his knee.

“Has he been to a healer yet?” Toqto'a tried, his voice betraying concern even if his face remained passive.

“Yes, but he is stubborn and won’t sit down long enough for the healing to be completed. He’s always been hard stubborn. That’s why we call him TanTon,” Biligtü said with a roll of his eyes similar to his mother’s. “It means stone headed soft .”

“He didn’t accept any of our healers condensed healing either,” Inwoo murmured.

Taehyung pouted at the Prince. “It hurts,” he whined from his position. “More than I hurt now.

“How did you end up like that anyways?” Biligtü asked.

“It’s because they were trying to get information out of me. But I didn’t tell them a thing. My father told me it is better to die with a secret than to live with the guilt of betrayal. Fortunate for us, they don’t follow those same rules.”

Biligtü moved from his seat at his mother’s side and with Hoseok’s help, moved the shifter to a chair. Taehyung groaned as he got adjusted but held his hand out. “Does anyone have a quill, or a piece of chalk?”

“Will a piece of writing bark do?” Bak Bulhwa asked, producing a jagged piece from his pocket.

Taeyhyung nodded. “They were reckless. When they thought I was unconscious or in too much pain they would kept referencing this word.” Taeyhyung took the bark and wrote the word “Agnayni” on the war table. “I kept thinking they were talking gibberish to confuse me, but then it hit me–like rocks! Edison’s advisor is from a land far from here where they speak of an a foreign language.”

“Taehyung has been all over the world, “Buk Bulhwa stated, his voice full of tempered pride. “We allowed it when he was fifteen. He’s seen places none of us can imagine.”

“It’s why I recognized the scar on his advisor’s forehead. It was a  moon.”

Minho forehead pinched. “Moon…” He looked up above as if he were looking at the sky. “What does the moon have to do with anything? No one in Prae is a were-changeling.”

“No, my Lord,” Hoseok, Taehyung’s brother, said as he took a step forward and looked at him. “Stop being so damn cryptic and tell them the other word you heard.”

“Ashent,” Taehyung offered. “They said kept saying their plans would bloom as the Ashent Agnayi does. But I’m not stupid, I understood how their coding works. Everything is reversed. Ashent is Entsha–new. Agnayi is Inyanga–moon. A full moon blooms, but a new moon doesn’t. It cowers in darkness. My Lords...they mean to attack on the new moon.”

A look of dawning horror crossed Gi Jao’s face before asked for a lunar calendar. A servant came and rolled it out over the war table. “That’s–that’s in four weeks! Five at the most!”

Jinki’s fist came down hard on the table. “I knew they were entirely too quiet! After the attack on Dinfire, there should have been word of a counter-attack. I know Yoon. I know his fighting tactics. I should have known.”

Minho rubbed a hand across Jinki’s clenched fist. “No need to beat yourself up about it. We just need to speed our trip home.”

“That’s the problem! I was hoping for a few months before an all-out war to find a way to get our clansmen on...board with you still being alive,” Jinki grumbled.

Minho’s frown deepened before he turned back to Toghon and Gi Jao. “I think its best we retire for the night. We will be riding hard for Prae in the morning.”

Toghon nodded. “I agree. Bak Bulhwa, Temür, Toqto'a and Biligtü–make sure you update your regimental commanders on the situation and that a war council will be created the moment we get to Prae. You all understand the chain of command here, correct?” he said eyeing his generals.

Gi Jao stood, her long dress rustling as she did. “We are allies with Prae, yet for the duration of this war,” she paused and looked at the couple,” they are your leaders. They are your commanders; they…are your Alphas.”

Wu Yifan stood at the northern wall of the Fortress with his arms crossed, marveling at its structure. The Fortress was the center focal point of Prae because of the structure, yes, but also because of the vantage point it had. On a clear day, it was possible see every inch of endless fields that surrounded it until they disappeared at the horizon. Because of how it was situated, with the village proper behind it, it was incredibly hard to launch any kind of surprise attack on it. That advantage alone was why Durkhai and Dinfire spent so many years during the war fighting for it.

It was just before dawn, the creeping fingers of purple and pink feathering at the edges of the sky. To his right was Yixing, looking just intently out across the fields.

“Jinki was kidding when he said he was bringing Minho back, right?” Yixing said, worrying his bottom lip.

“He sounded quite serious in his letter.” Yifan shook his head. “I don’t know what that man is thinking right now. That always worries me.”

“It’s too dangerous. Putting Minho to rest hasn’t stopped the riots. The Sons of Valor and the Mothers of Prae haven’t been able to stop them. Changmin hasn’t been able to stop them. They want answers. You’d figure with Minho being dead for all intents and purposes, they would be pacified. But they aren’t,” Yixing, turned from the horizon and leaned against the curtain wall, looking over at his mate. “I still think there is someone here that is riling them up on purpose. A war on the inside and a war on the outside.”

“Kyung is investigating them. Don’t worry yourself.” He ran his hand across the back of Yixing’ s nape, bringing the younger man closer.

“It’s my job to worry. You never seem to worry enough. I’m not trying to lose you because you think you’ve got everything handled. You don’t, we don’t. Be cautious, Fan.”

Yifan grimaced knowing that if he didn’t stop Yixing now he would continue lecturing him until the sun came up. He leaned forward and kissed him, and yes, it worked. He knew it would work. “You’re not going to lose me. I’m not going to lose you. You can worry about all you want but never worry about that. I’d die protecting you, but you don’t need it so I don’t need to every worry about dying!” he finished with a laugh. Yixing pushed him away with a deep frown.

“Great. Make a joke about death. Perfect timing.”

Yifan didn’t let him escape, pulling him close as he tried to wiggle out of his arms. “Oh, XingXing, don’t be mad. I’m just–“ He abruptly looked up. He concentrated and sharpened his vision, stretching it further than his normal eyesight. “You know, every time I’m about to kiss you senseless, Kibum finds a way to interrupt me.”

Yixing frowned. “Kibum?“ He whirled around, looking over the curtain wall and out onto the fields. A large company of soldiers, horses, and litters were peeking just over the horizon and into sight. He spotted Kibum’s litter towards the middle. Not that Kibum had a litter that was easily recognized. No, the pregnant shifter had somehow climbed to the roof of his and was waving frantically. Yixing wondered why in the world he was waving like a madman, until he heard one of the stable gates clambering open and Jonghyun’s all white steed racing towards the open field.

“That explains that,” Yixing said with a laugh. He hooked his arm in his mate’s and began dragging him towards the steps. “Don’t be too upset, Fan. Now you can step down as second in charge and start paying me more attention.”

“You sure you want that?” Yifan asked, brow raised and a smirk on his lips.

Yixing matched his brow and crossed his arms. “Do you have enough energy for me to answer that?”

Yifan gaped for a moment, half insulted, half before Yixing yanked one last time, leading them down the steps and out of sight.

When they got downstairs, after a few minutes of him being really handsy, and Yixing letting him, they arrived at the front gates…to a much smaller party than Yifan was anticipating. Moments later, Nichkhun, Victoria and Tiffany arrived, bringing Sehun along with them, and they all had the same look of confusion.

Sure, they were arriving much heavier than they left–Minho stealing off in the middle of the night, Jonghyun and Kibum and Danye stealing off in the middle of the night, Iseul, Taemin, Taeyeon, Julien and Jinki also stealing off in the middle of the night–but based on Jinki’s letter they were supposed to be showing up with thousands…not…hundreds. And someone very important was missing.

“Not to…not welcome you back with all the fanfare you deserve, Jinki but…where is everybody? Where is…you know?”

Jinki grunted. “I’ll answer that after I get something to eat and something strong to drink. Like, really strong.” When Yifan stared back at him like he was crazy, the Alpha rolled his eyes. “Nevermind. Might as well get this over with. Everyone to the Great Hall.” Without waiting, Jinki stormed forward and everyone fell in line, moving towards through The Fortress towards their destination.

Yixing gave Yifan a look, which Yifan returned. “Told you I never know what that man is thinking,” he murmured under his breath.

The Great Hall was cool, the temperature comfortable for the late fall weather. Jinki stood on the long stone steps, looking out at everybody joined with him. The space was tight, but it easily accommodated the number of soldiers and advisors gathered. He looked to his left and felt the absence deep down. He was sure everyone else felt it too. He sighed.

“Our intelligence gathering has led us to believe that lutus will be launching their main campaign attack in four weeks, during the full new moon.” He was silent afterwards, letting the news wash over those who were unaware.

“Four weeks,” Tao sputtered. “That’s– that’s not enough time! My father has built a massive army! Unless we enact a draft, begin pulling every shifter from their homes to fight, then this war is all but lost!”

“Have some damn faith!” someone yelled from the back.

“It’s not faith we need! It’s a damn army!” Sehun shot back, defending his mate.

That caused a chain reaction, mummers rising to disagreements, disagreements rising to fevered arguments, until everyone in the Great Hall was screaming at each other. Jinki pinched the bridge of his nose, now a little regretful he hadn’t requested the news be shared with everyone. The noise rose to a fever pitch and Jinki was sure a fight would break out any moment.

Caleo...Caleo?

Minho’s wolf groaned. I’m sleep.

You know what’s better than sleep?

.

Okay, right, but you want to know what’s better than that?

...I’m listening.

Getting people’s attention in a BIG way. Like…big. You know…big?

Caelo was silent for a moment before Jinki could hear him stretching. He cracked his knuckles. Be sure not to use this tactic with your kids, hm?

Only when they are old enough to act like these children. Ready? Go.

Caelo bloomed to full height behind Jinki, his head almost hitting the cathedral ceilings. Only a few noticed him, their eyes wide and their mouths open, but some were arguing too passionately to see.

“Shut up!” Caleo roared, the sound echoing off the walls. The sound was guttural but piercing and sharp enough to get everyone’s attention. They looked up at Jinki, then past him, some shocked, some shameful that they’d behaved that way in front of their Alpha and some of them downright frightened at seeing Caelo in his full form.

“Let someone else start an argument and I’m letting Caleo play fetch with you. Or worse, hang you upside down by your ankles until I like the shade of blue your face turns, understand?”

The threat was ridiculous enough because Jonghyun’s bottom lip trembled as he tried not to laugh. It was the levity they needed. Most reacted quickly and fell back in line. Caleo, obviously liking their reaction (to Jinki’s threat or just their fear in general) shrank back down and disappeared to his space, presumably to go back to sleep.

That was only a little better than sleep. A little. Next time get Onew. I’m not your babysitter.

Jinki refrained from throwing back a retort, turning his attention back to everyone else. “I understand what you’re feeling, the fear and the uncertainty but understand that I trust you. Each and every one of you. I trust you to make good decisions, to come together and aid each other in our fight. I will not let you down. I will not lead you into a fight we cannot win.” The confidence began to shine back in their eyes, even if it as small. “Does anyone remember the Blood Moon prophecy?”

“Who doesn’t?”

“Good,” he said. He inhaled and his eyes connected with Jonghyun, Yifan and Nic. Kibum looked up at him and mouthed “Go on, tell them.” Jinki smiled, thankful for their counsel. “The Blood Moon prophecy told us that the reason that Minho and I were paired was because our pairing would put an end to the calamity to come. Although you are all aware of Minho’s true status, the translation of the prophecy by the Oracles seemed to be correct.”

Tiffany’s brows lifted. “The prophecy has come true?”

“I believe it has.” He paused. “The Arctic North has come to our aid and have signed on as our allies. They have a third of their army waiting in Ves, ready to join ours the moment we call for them. Their commanders have been briefed, and their generals will be here when we convene for a war council in three days’ time.”

“Wait,” Chanyeol tried. “THE Artic North.”

Jinki nodded. “They have agreed to lend us their soldiers for the pending war. This was due to one man’s actions. I mean…I did have something to do with it–I did help–a lot–”

“Jinki!” Kibum hissed.

“How in the gods name did you manage to get the Artic North to side with us? They side with no one!” Chanyeol said. “Not even during the Savage Moon did they send anyone!”

“No one called for them, Chanyeol,” Jungsoo informed softly. “Yunkyum did not want them involved. Minjung had just stepped up as Alpha and both she and Julien wanted to successfully win the battle to gain the trust of the Artic Wolves. If we’d known…”

“Minjung and Yunkyum were murdered on the night infamously known as the Savage Moon,” he explained, addressing those not from Wheph. “Their original attack was a retaliatory one after Blue Crescents attacked Minho when he was a young man. The Blue Crescents have been stalking and threatening Minho for years–the very reason Minho has lived his life as an Alpha. Minjung’s mate, Julien, is the Prince of Fallow Forest, and the eldest son of Toghon and Gi Jao of the Arctic North. Because of his relations to Minjung and Julien, the Arctic North originally agreed to help fund our war and provide us with healers. Then they learned of something else…”

“Minho’s death?” Victoria tried.

“No. They are very well aware his death was faked.”

Chanyeol frowned. “I’m sorry, what?” His concern was mirrored by a few others who were not made aware of Minho’s faked death. “He’s…he’s alive?”

“Yes, pup,” Jungsoo said, a faint smile on his lips. “He is alive.”

“And…” Jinki tried to keep his face passive as he delivered the news, but he couldn’t. “He gave birth to twins.” Jinki’s smile widened until it took over his face at the audible gasps. “Two girls, Min Soo and Min Sun.”

“Congratulations, my Lord!”

“Congratulations!”

“How blessed!”

“It was their births that convinced the Arctic Wolves to fight for us, as well as The Meek of Ves and the sons of Choi Siwon. All is not as lost as you think it is, my friends. Jonghyun once told me that we have the strategy but we don’t have the numbers to win this war. Now we do. Now all we have to do is win it.”

“If…if Minho is alive, where is he,” Chanyeol asked, his voice rough with emotion. “If he is alive. I want to see him alive.”

“You will, I promise you but there is an open rebellion against Minho here in Prae. I can’t just bring him into this environment. The Arctic North and the Meek of Ves wanted to him in but that would have been seen as a hostile invasion, no matter what our intentions were.”

“How do you plan on bringing him back?” someone from the crowd asked.

“I’m going to beg them,” Jinki said quietly.

“Is that wise,” Changmin said, his voice deepening. “It was bad enough when they lost faith in Minho. It was bad enough when they began to question your leadership. Now you want to grovel at their feet to save your mate?”

“Wouldn’t we all do the same for our mates?” Jonghyun declared.

“Think bigger, Jonghyun!” Changmin said. “This is war. This is bigger than mates.”

“They aren’t exclusive ideals, Elder, and the minute we begin weighing which means more, is the minute we lose this war. I can change their mind.” Jinki answered. “And I’m going to prove it to you.”

Changmin huffed and crossed his arms. “How?”

Jinki took a step down so that he was even with everyone in the Great Hall. “Send out messengers to every village we still have to our names. Have them send their strongest, the most outspoken, the most stubborn about Minho. Those are the people we will have to convince.”

“How!” Changmin repeated, his voice betraying frustration.

“By showing them what they have to lose.”