"Are you ready?"

"Not at all."

"I'm not either."

"I don't like that we have to be apart."

"It's only for a little while, mouse."

"I can't believe the four weeks have flown by."

"I can't believe we're going to have a baby."

"I can't believe I'm letting you talk me into a dozen kids!"

"It'll be fun making those little rugrats... "

"I love you so much, Walker... "

"I love you, too, fancy face... "

They were caravaning to the masquerade ball. It was time–the final battle... possibly the start of a war that they had no intention of losing.

The wolves and witches had bound themselves to smell like the vamps and they too were headed to the ball.

Anyone in the vampire world could show up to see the 25 couples be united by the lies of the elder imposters.

Roxie's pulse raced even though they were a few hours away from Myrtle.

The place had been canvassed, it was secure–or as secure as it could be.

The witches, wolves, and vamps at Crow's Peak had been trained, awakened, and a plan we put into place.

It was now or never.

Evans was driving, holding onto the wheel with one hand and Jenny's with the other—Marlena was seated in the Hummer with Martina and Metgar. Her visions had ceased, no matter how hard she'd tried to help, but her levitation and telekinesis powers were impeccable.

Roxie was in Walker's arms as they passed house after house, town after town... tree after tree...They were coming up to places they'd passed months ago when they were on the run. They'd even passed the temple where their baby...

Roxie shuddered as she thought of her son, but she was praying to the gods she'd see him again—just in this life and not the next.

"You will," Walker told her, "You'll see him in this life. We'll have our babies, mouse. We'll have little Annabelle—we'll do this. I promise."

Roxie didn't argue. She'd been anticipating, yet dreading this since they'd planned it. She knew Walker had seen something—something she wasn't allowed to know because he wouldn't tell her.

"Don't you fucking hide your scent from me, either..."

"Yes, dad..." Roxie scoffed, forcing Walker to hold her tighter.

"I mean it, mouse..." Walker warned, "I'll take you over my knee again."

Evans gagged, "No one in this fucking Jeep wants to hear about your sex life."

Jenny turned to him and he glanced her.

"What?"

"Nothing.."

"Tell me..." Evans said, "Oh...baby..I'm sorry..I..."

"It's OK.."

Walker cringed, "It isn't OK. She was your mom, too—and they were your sisters."

Evans nodded, "He's right. We've got to do this for them, too."

Roxie shuddered, "Do it for them..."

They were only about an hour away from the ball—dressed to the nines for the kill of their lives.

"Hey, Walker, if we lose, don't fucking come find me in the afterlife!" Evans joked, "I've had enough of your face to last me until infinity."

Walker scoffed, "You'll miss me, asshole."

"You're the whole ass!" Evans laughed.

Jenny rolled her eyes, but she knew they were just as scared as the rest of the caravan.

"So they won't sense us?" Evans sniffed, "We don't smell like vamps."

"The bind is there," Walker said, "And Roxie's already taken off your scent. It'll last for a few days."

"Good thing because we're about to round the corner into Gideon..."

"Where the hell is everybody?" Jenny looked around at what appeared to be a ghost town.

"This..is weird," Roxie whispered, "Are they all at the ball?"

Evans grunted, "Shit...did we bring enough people?"

"We brought hundreds..." Jenny assured him, "Slow down or you'll get us pulled over."

Making their way passed Gideon, into Silverton and the Myrtle was nervewracking. The caravans slowed down across the street from the local gymnasium.

"They're here..." Walker said, "All of them—the elders, the council...my father..Maddy.."

"We've got something they don't though,"Evans said, pointing to the rowdy bunch of witches donning their masquerade attire and waltzing up to the front entrance.

"They're good.." Evans hummed, "Oh, they're really good."

"We can't go in together," Roxie reminded them, "Let me go first and I'll link you."

Walker shook his head, "No. They'll think I'll be there first because I'm such an asshole. You have to go in with Suri."

"Are they going to know?" Jenny asked.

"They won't ask questions," Roxie reminded her, "Remember..they're only here to mate us off, but they've no clue what we've got in store for them."

With that, Walker leaned in and kissed Roxie gently on the lips, rubbing her little belly hidden by the red sash, "I love you.."

"I love you more, baby.." she said, "Don't do anything foolish.."

"Like run off with you and get married?"

Roxie giggled, "Something like that."

Evans leaned back and grabbed Walker's hand, "See ya on the flip side, bloodsucker."

Walker didn't know what to expect when he entered the building, but he handed off the invitation to Pate who smiled at him—even though they were both wearing masks, Walker's was a half-cut as was everyone else's it seemed, save for a few full-masked vampires and, of course the witches and wolves wouldn't dare show their full faces at the ball.

His tux fit perfectly with a little red rose dipped into the front pocket, hair slicked back and his breath even, Walker scanned the room—finding Eric and Holden talking to each other. He knew Eric was stalling. He'd arrived just a few days prior to evaluate the situation.

The gym was adorned with an enchanted garden theme and Walker almost got himself wrapped up in it's beauty when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"Walker..."

"Maddy...Mom..."Walker stumbled, his sweat beginning to envelop him.

Maddy threw her arms around her stepson and they embraced as Walker sensed Roxie coming in through the door.

"Oh, honey, what the hell have you been doing? Your father's been worried sick about you."

"Having my fun before tonight.." Walker said, smirking, "You really think I just had Roxie? I'm a playboy—I've had plenty."

"And why did you take her away?"

"She knew too much.." Walker said, knowing this was all in the plan and he had to get Maddy on board, "I know what happened and she needed to understand this is the right thing. Is my mate here?"

Maddy smiled like the fucking devil bitch that she was.

"I am sure she is.."

"Walker..." Archibald stepped forward, his eyes showing more emotion than what Walker had anticipated, "You've decided to grace us with your presence?"

"I have.." Walker smiled, "Fashionably late, but I am here..."

Archibald looked over at Roxie who was mingling at the punch bowl with her mother and some other women, "Glad you took her to sort things out...We wouldn't want any misunderstandings if you understand me. This is where it all begins, son...your future—and you say goodbye to your past."

Walker straightened out as he lifted his chin and channeled his father.

"Yes, sir..I am starting fresh—new beginnings, new life...new....me..."

His voice didn't give him away at all even though he was dying inside. His father was going to try and kill him...his own father....

He looked at Roxie who caught his eye—they didn't need words—they didn't even mindlink. Their love was going to outlast the test of time.

He looked around at all of the enemies—all of the evildoers who had no right to even be breathing the same air as his mate and unborn daughter.

Walker grinned as he thought about what he was going to do them.

He was going to make sure that all of his foes begged for mercy.