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who led our ancestors here?” Rhys asked as he met her gaze.
    “I am,” she whispered as she stepped back. “I did it for entirely selfish reasons at the time. My father had just fallen asleep after his battle with the darkness and I needed someone here to—watch him—although no one knew he was here. I knew of a group of Other Kin who wanted to be free to live their lives without having to fight for clan wars and territories all the time. They wanted peace. The farther I traveled the more Other Kin I found wanting the same. I asked them if they could put their differences aside and live in peace with Other Kin who wanted the same. I told them that I knew of a place where they could settle. However, they had to protect their lands and its people if danger came. They all agreed and as you know, they settled here.”
    “You say your father fell asleep after the battle with the darkness, our records show that it appeared only once and our ancestors fought it,” Elder Eva of the Woodland Fairies said.
    “Yes, my father fell asleep not too long after the first battle. From what I’m told it was one of the bloodiest wars ever known to Other Kin. Triton and his family were there.”
    “The darkness attacked the first time right after Mari was born,” Triton said.
    “I was able to make it back in time to help your ancestors fight it off for the second battle with the help of some very good friends again.” Smiling up at Triton, she watched as he beamed like a peacock. “The darkness wasn’t as strong as when my father and the others fought it in the first battle. It hadn’t regained its full strength before it attacked. But thinking my father was asleep,” she shrugged, “it went for the chance I guess.”
    “Who is your father?” Gavril Beven asked.
    “Uncle!” Rhys growled as he stepped forward.
    Mari caught his arm, holding him still. “My father is a fire dragon and this is his territory.”
    “That’s impossible!” Elder Morgan of the Druids stated. “Dragons haven’t been seen for thousands of years.”
    Her lips parted to speak when a blinding light entered the council chamber.
    “Dare you suggest my daughter speaks of non-truths?” Darina asked as she emerged. “Or that my husband does not exist?”
    The corner of Mari’s mouth tilted up with her mother’s dramatic entrance. She listened as Triton chuckled when they all bowed their heads respectively. “This is my mother, Ancient Darina.”
    “Blessed one, we meant no disrespect,” Morgan stated.
    “Of course you didn’t,” Darina replied. “I know it must be difficult to think of dragons still being around as no one has seen them in such a long time. But this is Alston, and this information stays within Alston’s boundaries forever.”
    “Mother, I’m pretty sure I could have explained everything. Why are you here?” Mari asked.
    “To warn you all that the coming battle will be soon. The ancients sense a great unrest looming close.” Turning to Mari, she met her gaze. “You must be able to shift completely. If you do not, then all is lost. Do you understand this?”
    “There’s no way I can take down the darkness even shifted. I am not as powerful as father.”
    “Mariwen, the darkness is coming for you. It has been learned that the reason it keeps attacking Alston is that it knows you will come. It has no idea where your father rests or even if it’s on this side of his territory.”
    “Me? Why?”
    “Because you are Alston, you are this land. You hold the key to its safety. And no, Olivia Roven cannot be brought into battle this time. She is not ready and she would not survive.”
    Fear ran through her body like water thawing from the ice caps. “Then I’ll leave.”
    “If you leave, it will kill all here. Is that what you want?”
    “No,” she whispered, turning her gaze when a hand touched her lower back, heating her chilled flesh.
    “You won’t be alone,” Rhys stated as he drew her closer. “We will help