The New World

I glanced upward as we walked outside and Grayson did the same, both of our eyes landing on the moon. Already I could feel my strength ebbing away and I could hope that nothing happened. In the grand scheme of things, if Demonio wanted to attack, now would have been the best time as most of us had no real power to fight back, and wouldn’t for a couple of hours. However, on the flip side of that, his demons would have the same problem as they are supernaturals as well; demons or not.

“You okay?” I glanced at Grayson as he took my hand and nodded.

“Just prime time, you know? Everyone of importance is here to witness this, it’s being aired live with the notice going out to watch, and if there was ever a time to attack and knock out one’s foe, it would be now.” Grayson glanced around at the large crowd, none had noticed us yet and nodded.

“You could be right, but you said you didn’t think he would?”

“Demonio is a lot of things, but being a God, I’m also going to say he is cocky in many ways. Though this is perfect, it’s also easy and he wouldn’t want that. Remember, I don’t think he wants us dead, he wants us captured and that changes any fight. We’re here to stop him, kill him even, he’s not.”

“Because without us, his creatures don’t stand a true fighting chance, they have no means to last nor to gain strength,” Grayson said and I nodded.

“And I will bank with my dying breath that these two,” I said, looking down to the hands that were holding tight to mine, “have powers to offer as well, just not sure what. And with this night, this coronation, we’re letting the world know that we broke all rules that we created not one, but two, hybrids, and that from here on out, everyone will listen to not just us, but them as well.”

“You know, Fire, you’re pretty damn good at making something that seems rather small really huge, and freaking me out.” I laughed as I looked at Grayson.

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say you don’t think about things like that, do you?” Grayson glanced around and shook his head, finally turning to look back at me and answer my question.

“No, I leave those types of thoughts to you. You’re better at voicing them anyway.” I rolled my eyes and then took a deep breath as I heard the murmur start from the crowd. They weren’t getting antsy, but they could tell that something had happened. I glanced over them and then looked to the stage, not surprised to see three beings coming from smoke on it. I had never really seen how the Gods came to this plane, and this wasn’t any different, but I figured it was probably well over my brain on how their magical powers worked or how far out they extended. And those murmurs I had just heard turned to full-on gasps of absolute shock at the beings that stood before them.

“Hello.” I watched in utter fascination as Lunella stepped out amongst the other two, her smile meant to calm the crowd. “Some of you may know me; I’m the Goddess Lunella, the Goddess to the wolves.” With that, many men and women fell to the knee to honor their goddess, who smiled at them. “With me tonight is the Goddess Mundias.” Once more, many others fell in support and acknowledgment of their goddess. “My last guest tonight is someone you barely know of, but let me introduce the God Sol.” The crowd broke out in complete shock. The name was whispered around, but like it had been said time and again, no one believed this God actually existed. She waited a couple ofmoments with a bemused smile before telling the crowd to be silent and she gave her spot up to Sol who stepped forward.

“We come before you tonight to do something that has never been done in the history of our beings. There is a threat amongst you, as I’m sure many of you have seen as leaders to your packs, your families, and your covens.” Sol’s voice was commanding, drawing everyone’s attention, and holding it. “We have a solution to fight this growing power,” he started, and over the many heads, his gaze focused on my family, drawing us forth. We started walking down the pathway, heads starting to turn to look at us, and I took notice as many eyes started opening wide and a few jaws dropped in shock. “We have a plan set into place,” he said, “an army ready to fight and to defend, and we have those who are set to lead you all. Tonight, under this moon, we crown a new era. We go into a world now where we need someone to lead and guide, to protect and to fight, to lay down their very lives or the lives of those they love, to ensure that the future is still bright and that the supernatural remains as it is.” As if on cue, we stopped before the stage as his words died, the crowd no less in awe.

“The dawning of a war is upon you, demons are trying to destroy your world under the God Demonio, and destroying is what he is doing. He is taking your fellow vampires and your fellow wolves and using their blood and bodies to create these demons, a race that will wipe out each and every one of you,” Mundias said, resting her hand on Sol’s shoulder. The crowd’s agitation grew with each word that was spoken but you could see it on their face, their fear, their worry, and it was something that twisted my heart. I couldn’t let these people down, I refused to. “Tonight, we crown a king and a queen, a wolf and a vampire who have been taught in the ways and rituals of the witches, so they can guide you. They come from some of the richest blood and have the strength, the heart, the power, to do what needs to be done in this war. Tonight, we let Demonio know that he cannot win, but we ask you to stand behind them, to support them, and to fight with them.” On that note, the four of us turned around, our eyes glancing over the many faces and I felt Rayne’s hand tighten in mine but I also felt him stand straight, just as I felt Rosemina, and I couldn’t have been more proud of them. The twins had plenty of glances and there really was no denying that these two little ones that stood before the crowd, were ours.

“Grayson, before your fellow wolves, witches, and vampires, do you promise to defend them with your dying breath? To lead them from here on out and protect them? Do you promise to be fair, to rule with a just hand, and to lead by example?” Grayson glanced over his shoulder at Lunella and nodded.

“I promise.” His voice was strong and clear and commanding and I fought to keep the smile at bay. Lunella nodded and took the simple but strong band of gold and placed it on Grayson’s head.

“From here on out, Grayson, you are king. Your word is final and your sword is strong. Lead by your heart and your mind,” she rang out.

“Fire, before your fellow vampires, witches, and wolves, do you promise to defend them with your power, your mind, and your strength unto your dying breath? Will you set your people before others from here on out and protect them? Do you promise to listen, to judge fairly, to be kind, and to lead by example?” I smirked at the words Sol used upon me but looked out over the crowd.

“I promise until my last breath leaves my body.” I stood a little taller as a similar gold band was placed upon my head.

“From here on out, Fire, you are queen. Your word is final and your strength is mighty. Lead by your heart and your mind,” Sol said.

“Rayne and Rosemina, before your fellow witches, vampires, and wolves, though young, do you promise to honor your parents, learn from them, let them help so that you can be strong enough to fight for your fellow beings until there is life no more in you? Will you take their words, letting them guide you so that you can keep on guiding your counterparts? Do you promise to be strong when the time calls for it, to be honest when it’s needed, and to try and walk the right path so that they can trust you?” It was a lot for an adult to take on, to promise something so strong. But both Rayne and Rosemina stood taller, their backs a little straighter and they nodded. Mundias chuckled as she looked out. “I need words little ones.”

“We promise,” they echoed together and a band was placed on each head.

“From here on out, Rayne and Rosemina, you are prince and princess. When it shall be needed, your word is final and your power amazing. Lead by your heart and your mind,” Mundias said, a touch of awe in her voice. When the Gods stepped back, the moon shifted and I felt a power surge through me that I hadn’t felt before. I felt stronger, ready to stand up to any danger, yet I knew I looked no different.

“Before you stand your new king and queen, along with the crowned prince and princess. They have promised to protect you, do you accept their promise? Do you fight with them to defeat this growing power?” Sol asked. An uproar started, many different wolves, vampires, and witches getting upset about this, wanting to dispute it, wanting to fight it; especially since it was a God that, for many, didn’t even exist.

I watched them, my spine stiffening, wanting to end this but not with bloodshed. I also heard the questions being tossed out, like how could we have kids, how was it possible that we were mates, why did we know the witch’s ways and many other things that if they stopped to think would have made much more sense. But as it was, I knew that many wouldn’t listen and those that chose not to stand with us would either side with Demonio or would become the very beings the demons sought out. The only way to survive this war was to side with us, to be under our rule, and I couldn’t imagine a race that had been free to govern itself for ages, would all of a sudden bow down.

I stepped forward to say something when a fireball landed inches from my feet. My head jerked up and less than 20 feet in front of me stood a woman I hadn’t seen in 100 plus years. And if I hadn’t seen her for another 100, I would have rejoiced.

“I thought you were dead, Erica,” I snarled at her.

“As I thought you were, Fire. God, you’ve aged horribly. Guess this war will be where I finally kill you.” She laughed, her eyes landing on each member of the new royalty. “Pathetic. You won’t beat Demonio.” She started to float, tossing out her balls of fire again. “Protect those you can and those little ones.” She tossed another ball but I quickly blocked it before it could hit the kids. “Welcome to The New World!”

**AUTHORS NOTE**

When I started this journey, I was not expecting multiple books; however, that’s not how it worked out. As you can see by how this ended, this story isn’t done. Please stick around for the next, and LAST, book of this storyline, The World After, due out in either August or September!