The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Before He Ruined Everything

The Brotherhood settled onto the built-in stone seating, Serena and Elara joining them.

At the front of the chamber, King Tiberon took the central seat with Dex on his right and Hale and Gav on his left.

"We all heard our ancestors’ message, channeled through the Draken Prime," Tiberon began.

Fantastic, Serena thought. I’m a magical loudspeaker for dead people.

The meeting went on. Serena listened as they dissected each line of what was said. Members in the back of the room spoke as much as members in the front. It was clear everyone here was highly valued and respected.

This is what a council meeting should feel like. Trust. Contribution.

"Five traitor packs among Skardos’s twenty. Three remain loyal," King Tiberon stated. "Bloodmoon. Shadowclaw. Darkhowler."

Gavriel spoke for the first time. "I can arrange meetings with Darkhowler and Bloodmoon."

"I will speak with Aeron, the Shadowclaw mage," Hyran added. "Unless someone else has a more direct connection."

"We do, but we will not be able to attend. So that is the best strategy," Dex confirmed.

The meeting continued to Orosia and the coming ambush.

A flicker of something flashed on Serena’s face. She and Elara exchanged a quick glance, both thinking it.

"Are we false in that assumption?" Hyran asked, catching the exchange.

Neither girl moved for a second.

"One of you, speak," he ordered bluntly.

Serena nodded. "Let me preface, this is my first day here..."

Everyone chuckled, breaking the tension.

"Yes, for two reasons. First, they saw their own dragons bow when they invaded Drakenfell. They’ll have concluded that was because of either Dexmon or King Tiberon."

"King Tiberon is the one who called the War Summit. Logically, both will be in attendance. It would not be wise to deploy dragons that will bow to the enemy army commander, wouldn’t you say?"

Hyran’s lips twitched. "Yes, get to your point."

"They will use their dragons to invade Drakenfell tomorrow, assuming it’s unprotected. When they realize how wrong they are, they’ll send dragons to the War Summit. Likely deployed during the second wave of attacks as reinforcements."

Captain Halvek spoke from a few rows behind Serena. "Fair point. It would be wise to prepare for dragons at both battles. What is the second reason?"

Serena nodded once.

"Second, Orosia will initiate the assault in coordination with Umbrael. The High King’s daughter of Umbrael married Orosia’s prince seven years ago. He was just crowned High Emperor. Their forces were consolidated at the time of that union for expansion, and remain so today."

"Umbrael and Orosia are fae heavy, and their opening deployment will be Red Death, formally classified as Caustic Suppression Miasma. It is Dark Fae magic and fatal to both wolves and mages."

"Once Red Death disperses, they execute a staged withdrawal. A fae warfare tactic."

Elara inhaled, then spoke as well, deciding to hell with it. If Serena was going to say it, she would too.

"Orosian doctrine does not treat withdrawal as disengagement. It is a reset. Once pursuit is confirmed, Umbrael portal units deploy. They favor rear insertion and lateral collapse."

A voice cut in from the back of the chamber.

"Frostborne must start them young."

Chuckles rippled through the room.

Elara’s lips twitched. "You have no idea."

"Umbrael and Orosia have stacked armies in the past. She is correct on that. For this level of invasion, the likelihood is high." Gaius, a mage-librarian, confirmed. "She is also correct regarding Red Death. In mage-dense kingdoms, its Umbrael’s signature tactic."

King Tiberon inclined his head. "Noted. Countermeasures."

There was a buzz in the room. Hyran and Serena made eye contact.

"I have an idea, and so does Serena," Hyran stated, crossing his arms. "Serena first."

Serena nodded. "Red Death is usually released by arrow. Fae arrows are made from Red Sacred Oak. There’s an enchantment that does not allow that wood to cross its threshold. So, theoretically, the arrows hit an invisible wall and drop mid-flight."

"When the arrow lands, and Red Death spreads, it will travel a maximum of twenty paces."

A voice cut in from the back of the chamber, one Serena recognized instantly.

"I know the spell she’s referring to," Archibald said.

"Feasibility for the perimeter of Drakenfell and War Summit camp?" King Tiberon asked.

"A first-year mage could cast it," Archibald answered.

"Noted. We will cast that as a precautionary measure." King Tiberon didn’t bother to hide that he was impressed. "Hyran, what is your countermeasure?"

"Serena’s magic. Fabrication of a purification mechanism. If she can learn to propagate it, it could be extended across multiple units simultaneously."

King Tiberon looked to Hyran. "Feasibility."

Hyran inclined his head once. "Possible. Not simple."

His gaze shifted briefly to Serena. "Give her an hour."

A few chuckles followed.

The meeting continued. Serena and Elara listened silently.

"The riddle," King Tiberon said. "Serena, what intelligence do you have so far?"

Every head turned to her with deliberate focus.

Serena found her voice after a second. "The riddle is solved, and it is ready now."

The room stilled.

Hyran shook his head. "Of course it is."

"Gold bracelet cuffs, called Aureus Catenes," she explained. "When a bearer is brought to the edge of death, the cuffs will not allow it. Instead of dying, they are transported instantly to the rune."

A murmur rippled through the chamber.

"Under the library fit the criteria we need. The rune is carved. It can be used an unlimited amount of times," she added.

Tiberon’s eyes sharpened, first with surprise, then with something dangerously close to approval.

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