Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (book club suggestions txt) 📕

blood, I would be the only one able to Feed and Heal you. I would let no one near us as you Fed.”
Celine unfolded her arms and wrapped them around his neck. She sighed, laying her head on his chest. “Do you love me, Chikité Moondancer?”
Red Wolf kissed her, holding her close. He teased her nose with a quick kiss before whispering. “What does that tell you, princess?”
Celine grinned. “I thought we agreed not to call each other by our titles?”
“To me, you are a princess. You are my near-Bondmate, and must be cherished above all else.” Red Wolf supplied.
“While the thought of being cherished is quite tempting, I must ask this.” Celine started walking again. “What is a near-Bondmate? Does that mean we are not Bondmates, yet?”
Red Wolf nodded. “We are not officially Bonded yet, and must keep our love a secret from your parents.”
She stared into his eyes. “When will we be?”
“You are still too young.” Red Wolf told her. “If I were to claim you now, you would not survive the conversion.”
“Conversion?”
“It is hard to explain, Celine.” He told her. “When Bondmates claim one another, they exchange blood. Their blood-bonds are tight and their two souls would be as one. Dweller-kin blood is so strong and powerful, your body would not be able to convert itself lightly. You would die a horrible death.” He found the next words hard to say. He took her in his arms. “I will not let that happen, so we must wait to Bond until you are older.”
Celine only nodded and they continued walking in silence. They needed no words to express their secret feelings for one another.

Story: #4:
“It is War!”

The night of their get-together, the Grand Magus and Shadow went to the Grey Area, to see how Lord Max was getting ready for the upcoming war.
“The Grey Areans will be there,” Lord Max announced. “Be assured, Bane will not get away with his actions.”
“That’s good to hear.” Grand Magus said.
Shadow opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by two of Max’s soldiers as they ran in the room, yelling.
“My lord! My lord!” They cried.
“Generals.” Lord Max put both his palms up to stop them. “Calm yourselves and tell me.”
“Lord Bane’s Dark Areans.” The General on the left responded, catching his breath.
“They have attacked our troops, unannounced!” The General on the right finished.
Lord Max shared angry, but determined looks with the two Crusaders in front of him. “Spread the word, the lot of you.” He growled. “If Bane wants to play his games, let it be known. As of this moment – It is War!”
He took charge easily enough. “Shadow, Grand Magus. Warn the Crusaders – time they made a physical appearance in this Realm. General Leopold,” he addressed the General on his left, who saluted. “Send for Sires Wolfton and Tobias. The Companion Army must be alerted. General Franklin, alert our troops. You are all excused.”
All four nodded and disappeared once they had their orders.
Lord Maximaniac called for his Queen, telling her what the generals told him.
“I will let my sisters know, my Lord.” Jezebel supplied.
With a kiss, she, too, was gone.

II

General Artemis Leopold, an owl-Companion who was head of Lord Maximaniac’s Grey Arean Army, flew as fast as his wings could carry him. He headed first to the Canine Valley, where he found Sire Wolfton Stargazer readying his own Companion Army.
Wolf sensed him coming, and held an arm out for him to perch on. “Artemis?” He whispered, searching the eyes of this black owl.
The owl nodded his head before lifting off and landing on the ground to change form.
“My apologies,” Wolf said when he saw the official uniform of the Grey Arean Army on his owl friend’s human-male body. “General Artemis. What can I do for you?”
“Sire Wolfton, Lord Maximaniac sends me to tell Sire Tobias and yourself.” The General supplied. “It is war.”
Wolf gasped, but knew what to do. “Well noted, General.”
Artemis shifted back to owl and flew away.
Before long, both Sires were kneeling in front of Lord Maximaniac in the Grey Area’s Shady Kingdom Castle.
“You sent for us, my Lord?” Wolf asked, kneeling to him. Tobias White-Snow knelt beside him.
“Have the Companion Army ready for battle.” Lord Maximaniac was serious, and sounded pissed. “War has been declared.”
“So Lord Bane has made his first move?” Toby asked.
“Aye. He thought it funny to attack my unknowing troops with his Dark Warriors.” Lord Max explained. “I have already told Grand Magus and Shadow to alert the Crusaders, so expect them at the Practice Fields when you gather the Companion Army. Are the Young Companions already safely hidden?”
“Aye, Max.” Wolf supplied. “Young Guardian had Braken Joel escort them to the Underground. They are safe.”
“Good.” Lord Max announced. “You are excused. We will meet up later, I assure you.”
With that, the Sires were gone.
War had been declared and it was time to assemble their troops for battle.

III

In the Outer Realm, it was a different story. Luna and Shane told the Crusaders it was time, and who declared war. After making sure all the younger children were being watched over by the older ones and Juliet Grey, they met up in a discreet place. Not wanting to be seen, they met up in what was left of one of the last forests in Hill View.
“Are you ready, Crusaders?” Ariana asked in her “Young Guardian” tone.
She looked around the circle. Derrick, Shane, Luna, Julie, Jamie, TJ, Charlie, Aimee, Scott, Aaron and Sierra all nodded their heads, chorusing “Ready!”
Dream Lockets and Protector’s Pendants aglow, they held hands around the circle. They closed their eyes and chorused the Dream Chant under their breaths until they physically disappeared from the city of Hill View’s prying eyes.

IV

Back in the Grey Area, Sabrina and Cyrix demanded to fight with them.
“On our side, Sabrina?” Lord Max asked, once turning from his assembling troops.
“Aye, Lord Max.” Sabrina replied seriously. Cyrix nodded behind her. “I will not let my father get away with this.”
Lord Max’s eyes narrowed. “Very well, you both may fight with us. Go to the Canine Valley’s Practice Fields for further instructions.”
“You know she will not be seen as friend.” Cyrix announced.
“Young Guardian will be there, and so will the other Crusaders, Companions and Earthbound alike.” Lord Max supplied. “Should any Companion Creatures have a problem with Sabrina and yourself fighting beside them, they will have to answer to them.”
“Thank you, Lord Max.” Sabrina said with a genuine smile.
Lord Max nodded as they left.
“Lord Father?” He heard Tempest’s voice from behind him. He turned to see her running up to him. “What about me? Can I not fight?”
“You will be safer here, Tempest.”
“I do not want to be safe.” Tempest said. “I want to fight in the War!”
“Do you know what war is, child?”
Tempest wasn’t dissuaded so easily. “I am a quick learner.”
“You are serious?” Lord Max wanted to know.
“I was there when Bane’s Dark Warriors attacked us.” Tempest admonished. “Of course I am serious! Please, Lord Father! Let me fight!”
Lord Max saw the determined look on her face. “What has Jezebel to say about this?”
“My Lady Queen taught me how to fight using my Magic.” Tempest supplied. “Now, Lord Father, may I?”
Lord Max studied her. Her entire aura told him she wanted to do the same as Sabrina and Cyrix. Make Orthos and Bane pay for their mistakes against the Grey Areans.
“Catch up with Sabrina and Cyrix.” Lord Max instructed his daughter. “Young Guardian will tell you what to do.”
Tempest hugged him. “Thank you, Father!”
She took flight and Lord Max went back to instructing his troops.

V

Red Wolf Moondancer and Celine Stargazer returned just in time. They found Wolf amongst chaos and asked what the commotion was about.
“Lord Max has declared war against Lord Bane and Master Orthos.” Wolf told them.
“I figured as much.” Red Wolf grumbled. “Where are my parentada and sita?”
Wolf pointed to where the Companion Army was gathered in the Practice Fields. Celeste, Chase, and Cherokee Moondancer were away from the Army, and they didn’t look good. Toriam Stargazer, Wolf’s older brother, was with them, holding onto his Bondmate Cherokee. It looked like he was Feeding her from his own arm. Chase was doing the same with Celeste, and Red Wolf sensed neither Companion-Dweller looked well.
“Stay here while I see what’s wrong with them.” Red Wolf told Celine.
Wolf looked to his daughter before watching Red Wolf leave.
As a distraction from his Page’s remark, Celine saluted to Wolf. “What would you like me to do first, Sire?”
As Wolf gave his daughter her orders, Red Wolf found his small family huddled together.
“Matéré!” Red Wolf raced to his mother’s side, seeing Celeste’s body shaking, holding onto and Feeding on Chase’s wrapped arm. “What happened to her, Pérat?”
“The same that has happened to Cherokee.” Chase answered weakly, nodding to Red Wolf’s sister. “The Hunger.”
“Why now?” Red Wolf grumbled. “Who will alert the kin-Clans?”
Chase was aware now, though still weakened by blood-loss. “Are there Stalkers about?”
Red Wolf nodded and explained what happened with the Stalker Marcus. “We need them here, especially now that Lord Max has declared war.”
Chase looked to Celeste, who closed the pinpricks on his arm and pulled away with a nod. Chase took his arm from around Celeste’s shoulder and reached for his necklace. “Take this and use it to bring the kin-Clans here.”
Red Wolf took it from his hands and placed it around his neck.
“Call the Chant on it and go to the Outer Realm.” Chase said. “Toriam and Cherokee will tell Lord Guardian about the Stalkers, if he does not already know, and to expect the kin-Clans. Have Ramon and Daniel report directly to him. They will know what to do.”
“What about you, Pérat?” Red Wolf asked. “You are weak, and need to Feed.”
“Do not worry for me, Donar.” Chase said, returning his arm around his Bondmate’s neck. He held his breath as Celeste’s sharp fangs pierced his thick skin. “I will be fine.”
Red Wolf watched the scene, and wondered if his father really would be fine. Chase hadn’t been with the kin-Clans for his own Hunger in a long time. Would that fact haunt him in this new War? The Companion Army and the kin-Clans needed him at his best, not as he was now.
He sighed and said softly before leaving. “Feed, Pérat, then feed her. She needs you, and so do we.”
“My thanks, Donar.” Chase supplied. “Hurry.”
With that, he called the Chant on Chase’s Dream Locket and left for the Outer Realm.

VI

“So Maximaniac has declared war against me, has he?” Lord Bane seethed.
Orthos stood by him, waiting with the Djinn god Omri and the Stalker leader Crucis.
“You did initiate the attack, Bane.” Orthos supplied. “I suppose you have some great plan?”
“Not until I see what they do to retaliate.” Bane remarked.
“Do you at least have an Army ready for battle?” Orthos asked. “Or are you just playing it by ear?”
Bane wasn’t happy. “What do you call my Dark Warriors, Orthos?”
“My Dominionites.” Orthos growled back. His temper cooled before he said anymore. “As you see, I have reinforcements.” He gestured to Omri and Crucis. “These two creatures have served me well in the past, and they will now. Should they fail to do their jobs,” Orthos eyed Omri, who’s head touched his hands in apology. “They will be destroyed.”
“I am