Page 43 (1/1)

As the olves began their interrogations, it was time for me and my people to leave But before we did, the chieftains of every olf tribe insisted on thanking us personally

"I speak for all of us when I say that you have our allegiance and loyalty for life," one said--a recent recruit whose name I didn’t know "Whatever you need us for, and whenever you need us, do not hesitate to ask"

Every other chieftain nodded in agree our sweeping search through The Woodlands, we had gathered with us al to the Cuthral leader--at least, every tribe that had survived the hunters’ assaults The chieftains surrounding rown from about forty to al before the rulers of The Woodlands’ population Here they were, bowing to us and offering their unconditional allegiance

An idea struck ht really have so our leave, I made sure to look all the leaders fir you up on that offer"

Sofia

As our dragons shifted back into their beastly forht about our next step Our plan was to return to the ogres’ kingdom, where we had yet more hunters to deal with We had spotted one base already just by coincidence as we had been flying past I wondered how an that task, we needed to return through the portal to our base Our chopper-cuhtshade We had to replenish our supplies, refresh ourselves and rest a while before tackling the IBSI again The past few days had been long and tiring, even for a vampire

Derek and I climbed atop Ridan Derek sat behind his neck, while I sat behind Derek I wrapped ainst his back as we lifted into the air

Derek was in a quiet ht back on the last words he had exchanged with the olves He’d told the upon their help I still wasn’t sure exactly what he’da kiss between his shoulder blades

"Yes," he , slow breath before he replied, "I’ about why the IBSI is even needed in the first place It’s because we are too snificant, in the face of Earth’s problelance over his shoulder back in the direction of The Woodlands "But just like that, we rallied an entire population of supernaturals willing to lay down their lives to help us…"

My pulse quickened as I sensed where Derek’s thoughts were leading

"What if we ed to do that within his voice He twisted on the dragon’s back so that his piercing, electric-blue eyes could look directly into mine "What if we could make the IBSI obsolete? What if we for to becouardians the hunters are supposed to be?"

I drew in a breath as his words sank in Despite the overwhel influx of supernaturals in the human realm, most remained in their home realms in the supernatural dimension Most were not trouble to thee for our freeing their realree to take responsibility for their countrymen and women who’d come to cause trouble on Earth and work to quell theh of theh, surely they could overpower the troublemakers

"Derek," I breathed "That would be… athose olves’ loyalty was hard work, but straightforward enough"

I nodded Truth be told, I was taken aback by how sincerely the olves had offered their help and how quickly they’d been able to overcome their differences when it came to the safety of their home country

"Granted, not all creatures are as noble," Derek went on "Some species like the merfolk just seem to be nasty and bad-tempered by nature I doubt species of their teree to any of this even if ooped down and saved their necks, but then again, desperation has a way of changing one’s nature"

"Derek" Vivienne spoke up fro, brother" Her face had brightened with excite a one-on-one conversation, ere flying close to everyone else-- Everybody had overheard and was looking at us with a similar expression to that in Vivienne’s eyes

"It will not be easy, of course," Derek e the way I must think on it more in the days to co a proposal to the olves We need to consider all the possible pitfalls, especially involving the IBSI, now that we have declared outright ith the told anization would be the cause of many I could not believe that they would just stop their immoral activities and encroachment Even after the massacre we had just executed There were too e of the IBSI--for that remained a mystery to us to this day--had a heart of stone and blood of molten steel