Mixed news.

It was good to know Derrik was not enchanted but if he breached the Isle, they could have him. If they were torturing Franka’s lover, Apollo did not like to think of what they would do to a soldier.

So he didn’t think of it.

He thought on something he had some power to control.

“We must see that all the women are safe,” he ordered.

Valentine nodded. “I am speaking with Lavinia after our discussion, chéri. The others have reached the font. Circe is currently performing the ritual to recoup her powers. This should be complete within a day or so. After that is done, my suggestion would be to bring all the women together so that Lavinia and I can keep them from harm.”

Apollo shook his head.

“I don’t think Tor and Lahn will allow their women to be away from them. Minerva and her allies are expending great amounts of magic enchanting Specter Isle to protect it from even dragon fire. Frey bombards them with his dragons every day so they must keep this shield strong and dragon fire is potent, this cannot be easy for them. They’ve sent creatures to your world, utilized them here, and perhaps brought the other me back. They’re wasting vast amounts of magic. Our separation from Lahn, Circe, Tor and Cora force them to concentrate on two fronts.”

She threw out a hand before stating, “I see you wish to divide their energies, and use this to conquer. But the women scattered also divides Lavinia and my energies. If the men come with them, so it will have to be and you’ll have to devise a new strategy.”

He could not argue that, since he’d had the same thought, so he didn’t.

Instead, he stated, “Frey has met with the elves. It was not in question they would provide us assistance; it’s how they’ll do this we must decide. They’re conferring. Frey will meet them again soon to discuss how they’ll be involved.”

She nodded. “In the meantime, I will be bringing the Circe who lives in my world here. As for the others, it would take too long for them to journey here for they are in the heart of the Vale and the longer they remain separated from you, and thus Lavinia and I, even with Circe back to full power, I fear the more danger they’re in. She has great power but she does not have it at her command. It leaks out through her emotions. That could be a hindrance instead of a boon.”

This time, Apollo nodded.

Then he leaned slightly forward in his chair, holding her eyes.

“The witch, Helda, if the dragons do not beat the shield and incinerate her, you must know, I want her captured, incapacitated and brought to me. She dies by no other hand. She’s mine.”

“Brunskar,” Valentine whispered.

“Absolutely,” Apollo replied.

Her lips curved up in a leisurely predatory way that Apollo suspected many men might find alluring. Men, unlike him, who preferred in such matters to be the predator.

“I will speak to Lavinia,” she stated. “Then I will make my journeys and move our people into position.”

“And then you will stay,” he commanded, this getting him another sly grin.

“Of course, chéri.”

Apollo remained silent and Valentine said no more, just sat there grinning at him.

As this lasted some time, Apollo was forced to suggest drily, “It would be beneficial if you saw to all this without delay.”

Wisely, her eyes went hooded in order to shield her further amusement from him as she stood and lifted her hands.

The green mist immediately emanated from them but as it did, she turned her attention back to Apollo and there was no more humor in it.

“Thank you.”

Her words startled him, being those two words coming from her.

They did this just as they perplexed him.

“And what have I done for you, witch?” he asked as the green mist grew around her.

“Not one thing, mon loup,” she replied, her body fading, her lips curving up. “I do not express my gratitude for me, but for my sister.”

This perplexed him more.

“I do not know your sister,” he told her something she knew.

“We women are all sisters,” she told him something he did not.

Then she faded away.

However, he understood and he wanted to feel satisfaction in knowing that she felt he gave something to one of her “sisters” that deserved gratitude.

He just didn’t feel that way considering, with her manner of late, there was more work to do to mend his broken dove.

He needed to talk to Madeleine. It was just that he was forced to do it later and he was becoming more and more impatient with all the “laters” that were forced upon him. Laters that meant he didn’t see to his dove. Laters that meant he didn’t see to his son.

But now, he had to find Frey and report what just occurred. Then it would seem he’d need to give the order to prepare to have more people in his house and likely more soldiers on his grounds. Further, there was the matter of Franka and their next move, which needed to be intricately planned, which would mean they would need to be away to the Winter Palace for the Bitter Gales soon.

But presently, after talking with Frey, he needed to have lunch with his children.

He would send for Maddie to join them and speak with her after.

And after that, perhaps both of them would sit down with Christophe, whose distance Apollo felt had gone on long enough.

It was unfortunate he had to press this issue with his son.

But he wanted Madeleine bound tight to him and his children. He wanted them all to build their relationship as a family together. And he wanted his children settled with that, working toward that same goal, and not battling demons alone.

On this thought, he got up from his desk and was making his way around it when a knock came at the door. Before he could call out his command to enter, the door opened and Achilles moved through.

He closed the door behind him and stopped, as did Apollo.

But before Achilles could speak, Apollo did.

“The green witch was just here, cousin. I apologize, but I must find Frey.”

“I was just with him and Lavinia. Lavinia sensed her and I came to see if she was visiting with you.”

“She goes to Lavinia now,” Apollo told him.

“Frey went to his wife on the same errand as mine.”

“Then I must go to him and explain what we discussed. You should accompany me as you’ll need to know as well.”

“If it isn’t urgent, while I have you alone, I’d like a moment before we go.”

Apollo studied his cousin and asked, “Is what you need to speak with me about pressing?”