Luna regarded her sleeping husband with love as she scrubbed his body. The others were watching, but didn't say anything as she hummed and made sure he was not going to drown.

Then Amber spoke, ruining the moment. "What do you think happened at the center of the city?"

"Does it matter?" Luna countered. "He's clearly exhausted and has grown again. We should be asking how much has changed. Before, he was so powerful that simply being in his presence made the air seem to shimmer. What now?"

No one responded. That is until Amber snorted.

"Something funny?" Luna snapped.

"Yeah!" she snapped back. "It doesn't matter if he's different! To me, he's still James and the man that I'm meant to be beside. No matter how much his soul grows, I'll be right there beside him, helping him through the cities and through life."

Sighing, Luna dropped her head. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"You damn well better be!"

"That's enough," Mender interjected. "We are all worried what all has changed. He's on a level that I don't think the rest of us can reach. What's going to happen if he loses control in a city? How far does his soul stretch now? These are what I need to know."

"Can he still enchant?" Jamie questioned.

Everyone turned to the girl with frowns, apart from Amber. The nekorian was smiling and with a wink, she said, "that's the attitude we need."

Beaming, Jamie leaned against the edge of her tub and looked over their leader. "He's a good man. I can feel it. He's conflicted over the changes he went through and it's up to us to support him. We'll gather more followers in his name and give him a purpose that takes his mind away from killing."

"Like enchanting!" Amber chirped.

Luna chuckled, despite her unease. "Very well, Amber. It might take the rest of us time to adjust, but we'll be there for him."

Dunking her head under the water, Amber scrubbed viciously at her hair. Coming back up, she was a tangled mess. "Even if you all grow distant from him, I'll be there. He will never be alone. Never again. If I wasn't asleep, I would have been fighting next to him against the horde he likely faced. My claws are his and his alone. When we reach Running River, I'll do everything I can to help him show that sect that he isn't to be trifled with."

Luna regarded her for several long seconds. "One of us should wash the clothes."

Getting up, Amber titled her head from side to side, draining her ears. Wringing out her tail, she climbed out and headed to the wash tub. "I'll handle it. God only knows that if he wakes up, he'll beat one of us to it."

Soft laughter filled the air. Luna continued to rub the blood from James's body. She was nervous about what he was becoming. He felt out of reach. He was among the clouds, and she could barely leave the ground. She didn't know how Amber had so much drive and confidence in her place with him.

I'm his wife. I'll never stop loving him, but what can I do for him?

***

Trix regarded James's companions. Apart from the nekorian, everyone was wary and some even scared of his new soul. They had no reason to be, and he would soon assure them that growing stronger was for their benefit. Sadly, humanity was the same as the residents of the Underworld. They were equally part in awe of his strength and feared it as well. How long will it be before people start turning on him?

Nudging Everest, she said, "you need to assure him of your love."

Everest didn't take her eyes off the tub. "I will, mother. I have much to learn still and I feel my soul resonating with his. I will be his flames and claws as the world turns against him."

"As will I," Trix said. "It is time we recover your father and the others. He is going to need us."

"What about the vultures?"

Trix looked out the front door. The vultures were still devouring the corpses of their enemies. "I will talk with them. They are already as strong as Luna, if not stronger. That panther needs to be talked to as well."

Everest nodded. "Will I be traveling with them to Running River?"

"No. This is something that he needs to do alone. Besides, he will have Amber there to help him."

"I like her. I can feel her love and protectiveness when she's around."

Chuckling, Trix nudged her daughter again. "She'll be his greatest ally in the days to come."

"Even more than the Fenrir?"

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Nodding, Trix got to her feet. "Yes. Her resolve is not strong enough. Although, she may have yet to surprise us."

"Why isn't she pregnant yet?"

Glancing at her daughter, she debated over her answer. Finally, she spoke the facts. "She will never bear his children. She is not the one meant for him."

Everest laid down and whimpered. "That's not good."

"No, it isn't. But we will not interfere. He needs to discover his true soulmate on his own."

Leaving her daughter, Trix left the grocery store. The vultures stopped eating and the panther sat, waiting on her.

"You all came at the perfect time," Trix announced.

The eldest vulture hopped forward. "We didn't dare enter the city. He would have fretted over us."

The panther nodded. "We sensed something was wrong with the connection the moment he entered. It was already too late to warn him as his followers entered as well."

Trix regarded them for a moment. The panther was honest to a fault, yet still young with his connection to their Valiant. The vultures had been with him since the beginning. "He may need you in the city."

The vulture bowed his head. "I mean no offense for what I'm about to say, Mother. My flock has witnessed his highs and lows for some time now. Let us handle our Valiant. We are more suited to it than you currently are."

"I pray that you are right." Trix turned her attention to the panther. "He needs more followers. Find some."

"Yes, Mother."

Mother sat and settled her wings. "My family will be leaving in the morning. I have many dragons to gather while finding a home for our Valiant. Lead him to the wastelands near the rent that separated Africa from Asia. There is a vast city there that will be hard to miss. We will claim it."

The elder vulture bowed his head again. "As you command, Mother. May his soul guide and protect us."

"May his light lead us from the darkness," Trix finished. Turning, she returned to her children. She was content to know that his loyal followers would be there for him. They would protect him while she built his army.

***

James woke to darkness and the feeling of clothes against his skin. Someone had dressed him in a loose shirt and pants. The only thing missing were his boots and as his eyes adjusted, he found them at the foot of the sleeping pad he was on.

Luna was by his side, snoring lightly as she had her back to him. The others were in a circle around the area, all apart from Amber. Spreading his soul out lightly, he felt near perfect control and didn't disturb anyone. It only took a second to find the nekorian just outside the store, laying to watch the stars.

Getting up, he moved through the sea of people and dragons that were around the store. Reaching the front entrance, he felt the warm breeze of the night flares ruffling his gray hair. Laying in a small spot cleared of blood was Amber, her ears twitching as he approached.

"Hey, James," she said softly.

"It's always you that greets me when I can't sleep." Taking a seat near her side, he looked towards the broken moon and twinkling stars.

"I can sense when you need me," she stated.

"Just like that?"

Sitting up, she rested her hand on his knee. "Just like that. I was meant to be by your side, James. I believe that now, more than ever."

"And the rubbing of my scent?" he teased.

Groaning, she covered her face with her hands. "Please forget about that. It didn't happen. I certainly didn't steal one of your shirts."

Laughing softly, he rested his hand on her back. "Should I forget about the fact you snuck into my bed naked and wouldn't stop rolling around in my spot?"

Jaw dropping, her face paled. "No…"

"Yes…"

Mortified, she scooted away. "Let's both agree that never happened. Instead, we can talk about you killing Elder Bo."

James felt his smile fall from his face. "What do you know?"

Turning to him, she grew serious. "I can feel it in you. Your desire to get stronger. Did you use him to weaken the Forsaken? Is that how you won?"

Reluctantly, James nodded.

"Good."

Surprised, James could only stare at her.

Holding up her hand, she rested it against his cheek. "We are not strong enough, James. Not yet anyways. But I will help you grow. I will not be happy until the world bows to you."

Blinking a few times, he touched her hand. "You aren't scared of me?"

"I'm not like the others. You will only scare me if you stop growing stronger. And even then, I might find myself in a situation where you have to save me, thus growing again."

A laugh escaped him before he could stop it.

Smiling again, she rubbed his cheek. "As much as I hate to the say this next part, I'm going to say it anyways. You need to stop flirting with me until I get control of my instincts again."

Scoffing, he pushed her hand away. "I'm not the one that smacked her ass and swayed her tail in my face."

Cocking her head, she asked, "your point?"

Rolling his eyes, he laid down. "If you are my second, I'm going to need to use you in the city. I'm going to need answers and a plan."

"Everything I am is yours, James."

"Everything?" he teased.

Purring, she shivered. "Yes…" Frowning, she smacked his chest. "Stop that!"

Holding up his hand, he stopped her from hitting him again. "We'll start planning in the morning. We have enough people that we should be able to take the city without issue."

Laying down next to him, she continued to purr. "I'll bring the demi-human district under my control. We'll have the answers that we need."

He didn't respond as he watched the stars shine bright as thousands of tiny dots in the sky. The shattered moon started to cross the sky, bringing them to midnight. The flares fluttered his clothes as the scents of death were all around him. He was at peace.

It didn't last long. A second soul approached them, hesitant and unsure. When he glanced back, he found Luna watching them with a wary smile.

"Hey, love." Waving her over, he patted the spot by his side.

Amber propped herself up. "Hey, Luna. The stars are perfect tonight."

Smiling, Luna laid down next to him and rested her hands under her head. "They are pretty."

James rested his hand on her stomach, feeling her warmth through her shirt. Her tail started to sway slightly underneath her, and her soul finally relaxed. Amber was the first to drift off, snoring loudly as she curled into a ball.

Luna giggled at the cat. "Are you ready to reach the city?"

"I am." Closing his eyes, he pulled her against him. "We'll need to find an inn with good walls."

Smacking his chest, she hummed. "Are you hinting at something, James Matson?"

"Should I be more subtle?"

"No, but we are going to need a strong lock for our door. One that Amber cannot pick."

Laughing, he said, "I'll enchant something for us. But I owe you another date, young lady. We'll find a good restaurant again."

"Yes, please!"

"Let's sleep, at least a little longer. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

Curling into his side, she let out a heavy breath. "You really do smell good."

Rolling his eyes, he waited until she had fallen asleep before trying himself. He needed to test his new soul still. He was going to be very busy over the next few weeks.

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