Chapter 42: Worried at Home

Kyon POV

ONE DAY LATER

He'd never noticed how smooth the council dais was. He ran his hands over it. Smooth like metal, shiny as a baby's bottom.

"Beta Kyon?" Councilwoman Sinapu prodded. "What do you think?"

He blinked, clearing the fog in his head. Daydreaming during a council meeting. Caught daydreaming during a council meeting. When was the last time that happened?

"Could you repeat the question?" he asked.

Councilwoman Sinapu's scarred face looked scarier, if that was possible. "You're the leader in Alpha Dane's absence. I would think that you'd be more alert."

"Sorry. The children kept me up late," Kyon lied.

He'd gotten a fair amount of sleep last night, even if the children had kept him up for two hours. Sleepiness wasn't the reason he couldn't focus on the meeting.

Several hours and no word from Dane, Jude, or any of the others. During Ravyn's quest, he'd communicated with Jude via mind-link now that Jude was a full member of the family. Along with the reports on their journey, Jude had shared his distrust of Daxius, but Kyon detected a glimmer of respect as well.

Sinapu tapped her long fingers on the dais. "I was asking whether we should send enforcers to the border near the Battlecona Woods, where bandit activity has increased."

"Oh. I think it's a good idea," Kyon said. "In Dane's absence, I order enforcers to the border."

"Well, that's settled." Sinapu's eyes sharpened. "I trust the Alpha and Luna are pleased with the way we're running the pack in your absence?"

Kyon paused.

What to tell them?

Patch, sitting in on the meeting, didn't bother to consider his words. "We heard from them when they journeyed to the Heartless Isles last night, but not since."

Sinapu jumped up. "What? Why didn't you tell us this right away?"

Kyon's look could burn his little brother. "We were waiting. Giving them a chance to report in."

"The Silverpaws are going to be furious," another councilmember snarled. "It's our fault their Alpha has gone off to Goddess knows where!"

"We've spoken to Beta Harland and Bram Faolan through magical means," Kyon responded. "They've been worried, no question, and they want to send their warriors to find their Alpha and new Luna."

To think several days ago they'd all had their tails in a twist over Ravyn becoming Jude's Luna! Bram's tail must be on fire, because he all but threatened to declare war on Evenhide if he lost both his parents–and his new stepmother. He even added, pointedly, that Kyon and the other Crestas mourned their own parents still.

Kyon couldn't blame Bram for his anger.

Tulaska sat calmly, a Wise Woman statue. "There could be many reasons why we haven't heard from Ravyn's party. Daxius–"

Kyon frowned at the mention of the man's name.

No matter how earnestly the man complimented their family and jumped up to help with the dishes and expressed remorse, Kyon felt something was off. His wolf snarled whenever Daxius was around.

Sinapu growled, her eyes shifting to their wolf colors. "He trespassed on our territory. I can't believe he's our Luna's father. We should send enforcers after them."

"I'll go," Patch volunteered, waving his hand in the air.

"I'll go!" Dirge burst into the council chamber with the other Crestas behind him.

Kyon covered his face with his hands. This was not how he wanted to handle the problem of Dane's silence. He now understood what it was to walk around in Dane's skin. He'd had a taste of it on occasion, but with Dane on the other side of the continent on this dangerous mission, he truly felt it.

All because Daxius got a guilty conscience and decided to turn Ravyn's, Lilia's, and their lives upside down.

He uncovered his face. "We talked about this before they left. If Dane runs into trouble, magic, probably dark magic, is going to be involved,. We need the magicians in the family on this quest, but we can't send all of you!"

Anneliese, Garnet, and Cyran vowed to find out if dark magic was around the party. They all concentrated, closing their eyes. Thessi assisted.

All four of them stepped back, faces pale and drawn. Their mates looked shocked as well. Kyon frowned. The answer was evident.

"Dark magic and possibly the Dark Goddess," Cyran confirmed.

Sinapu pounded the dais. "And just what is the Witch Circle doing about this situation? Can't they help? Besides, Melisande is their problem pup!"

"They have their hands full." Anneliese looked apologetic and frustrated. "There's a split within the circle and the leaders are doing everything short of cursing Melisande's followers–and we don't know that she's dabbling in dark magic." She looked pointedly at Cyran and Naomi. "It doesn't always announce itself."

Cyran rubbed his chin. "We saw Hades destroyed, otherwise I'd say this has his paw prints all over it. The Dark Goddess could have brought him back–"

Kyon stood, his teeth in a snarl. "Cyran, we need facts, not theories."

It was a little more hard-edged than he wanted, but he felt restless.

"Facts? You want facts?" Cyran counted off facts on his fingers as he spoke passionately. "He survived thousands of years. The physical person I vaporized wasn't the first incarnation. The Dark Goddess doesn't let go of her toys that easily."

Kyon nodded with a slight smile of respect. "All very good points, but we don't know that the Dark Goddess has brought him back. Anneliese, can you have the head of the Witch Circle discreetly look into it?"

Anneliese grinned. "Consider it done."

Patch growled, "I'm still volunteering to go after Ravyn and the others."

"And you'll need a witch with you," Anneliese said, arms folded.

Jiro's eyes turned wolf red. "Two witches are better than one–and I've been practicing my crystal magic."

Garnet agreed. "If it's dark magic and possibly Absalom we're facing, I have to help."

Sinapu nodded with respect. "Spoken like an Alpha and Luna–although I'd hate to face the Crimsontails if you vanish too."

Cyran raised a clawed fist. "Then maybe the Regent Alpha should volunteer in their place."

"And the Regent Luna," Naomi added, always fierce and selfless.

Garnet smelled protective. "You won against the Dark Goddess before, but she nearly killed you, Cyran. Next time–"

She broke off and her lip trembled.

"Better us than losing the best Alpha and Luna our pack has had in decades, maybe ever," Naomi argued.

A heavy weight had formed in Kyon's chest, both from the daunting decision and airing their family debate in front of the council. Granted, it wasn't the first time, but he usually preferred someplace less public for their fiery family arguments where Patch's impulsivity, Jiro's over-responsibility, Anneliese's fire, and Cyran's Alpha streak ran rampant. He sensed irritation, exhaustion, and worry from his mate.

And why wasn't Tulaska saying anything? Why did she sit there still as if all this didn't matter to her?

Azandra finally spoke up, her eyes flashing. "No one asked me, but I'll give my opinion–"

Councilwoman Sinapu remembered, finally, to press the bronze sphere she used as the head of the council. A howl emerged from the sphere. "You have the floor, Healer Azandra."

His mate offered a powerful, logical argument. "Cyran is our dark magic hunter. Yes, he's been forever marked by Hades, but he also knows better than anyone except Naomi how that mangy mongrel thinks. I say we send him and Naomi. Garnet is good, but she doesn't have Cyran's insight."

Kyon raised his eyebrows, impressed. "Difficult to argue with that line of reasoning. Alpha Jiro, Luna Garnet, care to respond?"

Jiro's eyes were turquoise steel. "That's exactly what Hades would count on. He'd expect us to send Cyran and Naomi. He'd be ready for it. He's had three years to anticipate."

"I did fulfill his request," Cyran pointed out humorously.

"But he didn't become free of the Dark Goddess, if he's back." Garnet folded her warm and gave him a superior look. "He might resent you for that–or want you to help him finish the job. And you might not survive."

"Cyran was willing to sacrifice himself before," Azandra argued.

The council members' heads turned back and forth repeatedly, watching this verbal sparring match. Tulaska was a statue.

Kyon felt sick inside at the thought of losing any of his family, but they'd all taken a solemn oath to defend and protect their packs, their allies, and the humans and world at large.. Pack and family forever.

Kyon's forceful voice echoed in the room. "Tulaska? You've been largely silent. I think we need to hear from our Wise Woman."

All eyes went to Tulaska. Azandra smelled like an approaching rainstorm. She stared at Tulaska, as much in the dark as everyone in the room about her mentor's thoughts.

Tulaska finally burst out, "Both Alphas and Lunas are in terrible danger from our enemies. But this crisis won't be solved by stealth and cunning, or by wolf muscle, or even by magic. Only by speaking up and making ourselves heard can we save our missing family. And even though we are protectors, we may need defenders this time. Be warned, help will not come from the usual places. You must decide quickly who will make the journey, because the fate of the world hinges on what happens in the next few days!"