by Knight, Gwen
A grin spread across her face as she stroked her moonflower. The Devil’s Trumpet was another name for it. Aptly earned, in her opinion. After the world fell apart, she’d considered moving into a larger estate, but that would have meant abandoning her garden. She refused to do that. So, she’d remained in her home, a mere ten miles away from Forked River. A few enchantments had secured her home, and from within the safety of her bubble, she’d watched the world burn down around her.
The sight was one she would remember until her dying days.
To see all she’d accomplished, to know that she was the one who brought about the end of days. A laugh spilled past her lips as she cradled the moonflower in her palm. Her baby. Her one shining star amidst the darkness.
And all thanks to her, War would never again know a moment of peace. She could just imagine him now, trapped forever in the body of a wolf, unable to think or feel, but most importantly, unable to find his so-called mate. There was a perverse satisfaction in knowing she caused his misery, and nothing would ever change that—
Light spilled over her fingers.
With a shriek, Zara snatched her hand back and stared in shock as the jasmine petals slowly began to close.
No. No!
This was impossible!
Her flowers were always in bloom. Because they existed in a world of eternal darkness. The moon was hers to command. It never wavered, not even an inch in the sky.
She lifted her head and stared up. A purple haze covered it all except for the full moon, which burned brightly. Just as it had for the past year.
And yet…
A single beam of sunlight warmed her knee.
Zara cried out and lunged to her feet. This couldn’t be happening. The only way there could be sunlight was if… She sucked in a sharp breath and whirled toward her house. She bolted inside, her gossamer dress fluttering behind her in the breeze.
Once inside, she grabbed a compact mirror and waved her hand over the glass. A wolf took shape, his dark shaggy fur more familiar to her than she liked. War. In wolf form. Relief surged through her until his shape suddenly began to change. Wolf no longer, the man she’d once loved stood on two feet, his arms wrapped around a woman she’d never forget, no matter how many years passed. The image swayed for but a moment, then grew sharper. She watched in horror as War and Emma embraced. So tender. So lovingly.
Heat bubbled inside Zara, and, with a sharp scream, she chucked the mirror across the room. It shattered and rained glass down on the floor, but she didn’t care.
This wasn’t possible.
How dare they find one another again.
How dare they try to break her curse.
No. This wouldn’t do. She refused to let him find his happiness after all this time. He’d destroyed her—it only seemed fair that she return the favor.
“Enjoy your happiness now,” she muttered to herself. “Because it won’t last long.”
8
“Where is she?” General Taylor demanded.
Luna Hamilton sat at a table in the general’s home. She hadn’t been invited there for a chat or a cup of tea. She’d been escorted by soldiers.
“I told you I don’t know,” Luna said.
Emma had been gone for a day. Luna wasn’t about to tell the general how Emma escaped or that she’d helped her. He had no proof that she knew anything, and Luna would keep it that way. She’d do anything to protect her best friend, even if she got in trouble for it.
“You two are as thick as thieves,” he said, brushing a hand through his wavy locks as he sat back in his own chair, the wood creaking as he moved. “I don’t believe you.”
“Well, I can’t help what you believe, sir. When I went to bed last night, she was in the house with my mother and me. When I woke up, I didn’t see her, but I assumed she’d gone to the market or for a walk, and I went about my day.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re telling me that you didn’t worry about her?”
“I didn’t know she was missing until the soldiers came by for the headcount before dinner, and they hadn’t seen her anywhere else in the fort.”
Which was true.
Taylor stared at her in silence for a long moment. Luna did her best to appear as if she was worried about Emma but not hiding anything. It was beneficial that she didn’t feel even the tiniest bit guilty that she’d helped her leave the fort. She returned Taylor’s gaze, thinking about how much she hated the changes that had taken over after the darkness came.
Hated the martial law and the men who abused power under the guise of keeping the peace. Hated the fence even though she knew it kept them safe. Hated every man who called himself a soldier, whether or not he had the training. And mostly, she hated that her mom lay sick in bed with a fever that the medical staff hadn’t been able to diagnose. It wasn’t like she could just get in her car and go to another hospital for a different diagnosis. She was trapped in the fort, and her mom was too.
Returning her attention to the general, she said, “The truth is, when the soldiers came for the headcount, and I realized Emma wasn’t there, I did freak out. But I don’t know where she went or what happened to her. I would help you if I could.”
Taylor stared at her for a beat longer, then walked to the door and spoke quietly to the soldiers who stood by. While she didn’t hear everything, she caught that he wanted them to search the perimeter and focus on the fence to check for breaks or cuts that would allow someone to get out without detection. The men hustled off, and Taylor turned back to Luna.
“I trust if you see her, you’ll alert me immediately.”
“Of course.”
“I was sorry to hear about your mother. Hopefully, she improves soon. I would hate to lose such a cherished resident.” There was something about his tone that made the hairs on the back of Luna’s neck stand up.
She rose to her feet and pushed her trembling hands into her pants pockets to hide them. “Thank you, sir. The medical staff is doing their best for her.”
Taylor opened the door for her. She forced a smile on her face and walked past him. She didn’t like anything about what had just happened—the focus on Emma or the veiled threat she picked up toward her mother. With any luck, Emma made it safely to War and warned them about the militia’s plans and somehow avoided getting killed by the very wolves she was trying to protect.
Making her way home, Luna glanced up at the dark sky and the constant full moon and wished she knew for sure that Emma was okay. Since she didn’t have a crystal ball or a cell phone, she went with the feeling in her heart. That Emma hadn’t gotten devoured by the feral wolves.
Until she heard from her, Luna would have to trust that her best friend was fine and focus on helping her mother get better.
* * *
War watched intently as Emma sketched out a rough drawing of the fort. After a thorough perusal of the five-bedroom house, they’d scavenged a random assortment of clothing, a half-empty box of candles, a few blank notepads, and a couple pencils. Enough to get by for the moment, but if they intended on establishing a permanent residence here, they needed a lot more.
“Here are the tower locations,” Emma said, bringing his thoughts back to the issue at hand. “I believe they’ll use the smuggling tunnel to bring the weapons into the fort. Doubtful they’ll bring them through the main gate. They’re trying to keep this all quiet, so they don’t upset the residents. The tunnel is a little longer than a mile, but easy enough for his men to navigate, even while lugging supplies.”
“You said the convoy arrives at eleven, right?”
Emma nodded, tapping the pencil against her mouth. War’s gaze tracked the movement, his lips quirking upward. Thanks to their bond, he knew he’d never tire of this woman, and even now, in the thick of planning what amounted to a weapons heist, he wanted to taste her.
“Eyes on the paper,” Emma teased, not once breaking focus from her drawing.
“But you’re far more fun to study.”
“M
m.” She lowered the pencil and pointed at the crudely drawn tower next to the tunnel. “This one will be the most difficult by far. The towers are manned twenty-four-seven. And the guards have strict orders to shoot anything that moves.”
The memory of his dead pack mate surfaced, driving away all passionate thoughts. He was quite familiar with their orders.
“The general plans on implementing an early curfew so his men can ‘perform training drills’ so all the residents should all be safe inside their homes. Then, at eleven, the shipment is expected to arrive from Fort Kingdom.”
“So, our best bet is to first infiltrate the tunnel and stock up on supplies. Then we can intercept the weapons convoy before they reach the fort. With luck, we’ll be gone before Taylor clues into what’s happening.”
Emma hummed her assent. “They’ll keep to the wall for protection. But the towers are a good two miles apart, which gives us a bit of leeway. If we hit the convoy at the right spot, the trees should protect us from view.”
It wasn’t perfect, but it was the only plan they had.
“How will they be moving the weapons?”
“Every fort has military vehicles set aside for transportation. I’ve heard the men talking about their stores, and I know our fort keeps gasoline on hand. Though, I’ve also heard rumors that the gas supplies are dwindling. The rural gas stations were the first to dry up because people feared entering the main cities. Most are overrun with either the feral or rebellious humans who refused to live in the forts. I bet the militia would take the risk, though, to resupply their fuel.”
War didn’t doubt it. Extreme circumstances required extreme risk. Gasoline was a necessity for their trucks, especially if the fort ever needed to evacuate. No leader worth a grain of salt would ignore that need.
“All right. So, once we’re in the woods, I’ll have my people keep an eye out for the transport trucks.”
“I imagine they’ll be guarded.”
War nodded. His memories of the past year were a tad hazy. The more he tried to focus on them, the more they faded. But distantly, he recalled once spotting a couple of transport vehicles. At the time, he hadn’t given a damn. Things were different now, though. They needed to intercept the shipment. The fewer weapons in General Taylor’s hands, the better. He refused to lose any more wolves.
“War?” Emma asked, her voice soft.
He blinked and glanced her way to find her eyeing him with a strange expression.
“Did you hear anything I just said?”
“Sorry, love, no.”
She offered a small smile. “I said, let’s aim to intercept the convoy before they reach the fort. If you have your wolves infiltrate the forest, we should be able to neutralize Taylor’s men and commandeer the shipment, including the vehicle.”
War nodded. Having a truck on hand wouldn’t hurt. But it would paint a giant target on their backs. He lifted his head and studied the homestead. As far as residences go, it would suffice. He could see them living here permanently. It was secluded in the woods, with only one road in and out. If any humans were to attack, they’d have plenty of time to respond. And the surrounding woods provided abundant cover if they ever needed to withdraw.
“The tunnel is closed off by a steel door that only opens from the inside. And because I’m not only beautiful but also brilliant, I left it unlocked,” Emma said. “The tunnel leads to a hidden cellar, one that’s packed with supplies. We can stock ourselves up, then use the trucks to haul ass back here.”
“You don’t think someone else might have locked it in your absence?”
Her mouth flattened. “Maybe. They’re in and out of the cellar frequently, but no one has any reason to leave through the tunnel until tonight. If we get there early enough, it should still be unlocked.”
War considered her suggestion. Entering the fort would be risky, but they desperately needed basic things like food, clothing, and medical supplies. He couldn’t ignore that.
“I wish there was a way I could find Luna,” Emma mused. “I think she’d love it out here.”
“Really?” War chuckled under his breath. “Because musty old houses are so appealing.”
Emma playfully swatted at his arm. “There’s a certain charm to this place. The fort has five thousand people. I know that isn’t much compared to the pre-cursed cities, but when you’re all clamoring for supplies and living in close quarters, five thousand is plenty. Out here, there’s fresh air, a well for water, and good eating. It’s rustic. Some might even say romantic.”
War slung an arm around Emma’s waist and pulled her close. “That’s what I adore about you. You’re the only person I know who can find the stars among the rubble.”
“Will we stay here?”
War hummed under his breath, and once again studied their surroundings. There were other homesteads in the territory, but as far as he could remember, none had kept up quite this well. With this much land, he could house his entire pack, even shelter them from the winter when it came. But there were downsides to establishing a permanent residence, as seen last night when the enemy wolves encroached his land.
“It’ll need work,” he commented, eyeing the fractured walls and dusty corners.
“I think anything we found would need work. I like it out here. It feels safer. The fort felt safe, too, but I doubt you’d be welcome there.”
“I won’t go anywhere without my pack.”
Emma nodded. “I understand. At least here, we can all be together. Even if it means losing Luna.”
“You really love her, don’t you?”
“Like a sister. We took care of each other this past year. She’s my best friend. We were lucky to have each other. And her mother is amazing.”
War leaned down and kissed the top of Emma’s head. “Maybe one day, things will be different. I think we can break the curse. Once we’re finished with this whole General Taylor mess, I’d like to explore that avenue.”
“How?”
“Zara wasn’t the first witch I’d met, but she was certainly the craziest. If we can find another witch—”
Emma shook her head. “There hasn’t been a witch spotted since Zara cast the curse, remember?”
“Hmm. The only other option, then, is to kill Zara.”
“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that,” Emma said with a sigh. “I abhor the woman for everything she did, but I could never celebrate another person’s death.”
“And that’s another reason why I love you,” War murmured.
Emma squeezed his arm and leaned her head against it. “So, we’ll stay here, then?”
“I think so. This is the safest place for us right now. My people can form a perimeter and keep watch. They’ll alert me instantly at any sign of a threat.”
Emma’s body relaxed against him, and a soft sigh slipped past her lips. “I’ll miss the fort, the market, Luna, her mother…but I would have given anything to have you with me. Now that we’re together, I’m never leaving you again.”
“Nor I you,” War murmured. He snuggled her closer, then smiled when he caught her attempting to hide a yawn. “You should rest up for tonight.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m feeling a little jittery. I think I’ll go for a run and check up on the pack. Do you think you’ll be all right alone for a bit?”
“You’ll be nearby?”
“The house will never leave my sight.”
“Go play in the woods, then,” she said, chuckling.
War dropped another kiss on her head, then headed for the back door. A run would do him some good, help him burn off the excess energy before the raid tonight.
* * *
Emma stood in the middle of her garden, arms wrapped around her waist as she watched the sun rise. She’d been waiting hours for War’s return, hoping that when he did, they’d finally complete the mating ceremony. One they’d intended to perform yesterday. Until some mysterious woman had shown up. Emma could still remember th
e look on War’s face. A fierce savageness that had stolen her breath. She’d never seen anyone look at someone with such open hatred.
Whoever that woman was, she’d interrupted their ceremony. And after she’d left, War had been unwilling to complete it. He’d told her he needed to take care of something, and then he’d vanished, leaving her with a small contingent of wolves for her protection. Emma had to admit, the notion frightened her. She’d never needed protection before, but War had insisted. Something about that woman had set him off.
Now it was hours later, and still, she waited.
She glanced at the horizon and watched as a hue of orange light crept over the land. She’d always loved sunrises. The promise of a new day and a new beginning. The feel of the warmth chasing away the night’s bitter cold, of waking in War’s arms.
A smile claimed her lips as she thought about what today would bring. By the end of the day, she and War would be mates, no matter what. And she couldn’t wait. To be one with the man she loved was a dream come true.
“Emma?” a deep voice spoke behind her.
She turned, her smile dimming at the sight of Snow, War’s second in command. “Is he back yet?”
Snow shook his head, his blond hair brushing his shoulders. She’d always thought his name apt, considering his ice-blue eyes and fair hair. A few people had mistaken him as her brother, thanks to their similar coloring. But Snow was something Emma wasn’t—a werewolf. As was War. And she was perfectly content with that. She was marrying War, not his bloodline.
“You should get some rest,” Snow said. “We can wake you when our alpha returns.”