by Noah Harris
“Why not both of us?” Philip asked.
“For all your petulance and laziness, you have forever been your father’s son. If you were kept alive and allowed to prosper, I would have had another difficult king to manipulate. And oh, was your father trying, he just didn’t want to bend to my will. But you did, didn’t you Vernal?” Orrin asked with a malicious laugh.
King Vernal’s eyes closed tight. “Didn’t…don’t…”
“You used some made up prophecy to keep me from being with Jaeger. That way he would be lonely and easy to manipulate, and you could keep me lazy and apathetic. All to put him on the throne in place of Minerva, grateful to do what you wanted,” Philip recited, wishing he had his sword still.
“I would have never helped you, not for anything, let alone to wipe out the werewolves of the forest, or anywhere else in the world. What the hell kind of person kills their own kind?” Jaeger demanded, his fingers twitching.
Orrin smirked. “You would be amazed what someone will do when they’ve been alone long enough.”
“You obviously don’t know us as well as you thought you did,” Philip said.
Orrin scoffed. “I thought your running away with the Princess might prove to be the downfall of my plans. And then the repeated failures to kill you. And now here you are, with an invading army, trying to kill me, which will work in my favor.”
Minerva shifted, and Philip noticed there was something strange about her that he couldn’t put his finger on. “And what? You really think you’re going to spin this story?”
“You’ve brought an army to bring us down. Your father will be more than happy to tell of how the invading Princess sought to confuse our poor Prince and bring him into her nefarious plans. The Prince will of course, have sadly died, a victim to the conniving Princess of the north, with the regents taking over in her stead, and the King continuing to rule the south. The kingdoms will be united for the first time in a score of generations, and we will take the forest as our own, wiping out the beasts, peace will reign,” Orrin said, his voice gaining strength and fervor.
“A peace built on the bodies of innocent people who did nothing save for exist,” Philip hissed.
Jaeger stepped forward. “This ends now, Orrin.”
Orrin tilted his head, smirking. “You really think you can stop me? What’s a few men and a bratty prince against the magic I wield?”
Philip tensed as Orrin raised his other hand, the air around the man’s hand shimmering. “Magic!”
“I’ve been saving this just for you Orrin,” Minerva called as she stepped forward.
Everything happened almost too fast for Philip to keep up. The strangeness he’d sensed around Minerva manifested in a body-wide shimmering, similar to what had appeared around Orrin’s hand. Energy built in the room, coalescing into a brilliant flash. The light filled the room, and as Philip winced, he heard Orrin cry out.
As the flare from his vision began to fade, Philip could see two figures struggling. King Vernal had freed himself temporarily, both from the enchantment which had rendered him weak, and from the sorcerer’s grasp. The enchantment must have still had some measure of control over him, as the once powerful king struggled to fight against the smaller Orrin’s grip. They grappled with the knife, both trying to best the other and gain control of it.
From behind, Philip heard someone shout his name. Turning around, he reached out as something shiny flew at him. His hand grabbed hold of the grip of the sword Owen had tossed to him, twirling it around as he rounded on Orrin.
Philip dove forward, sword brought up and ready to stab. Time slowed as Philp watched the sorcerer succeed in yanking the knife free from King Vernal’s grasp. The small blade glittered in the candlelight as Orrin brought it back, then drove it forward into the King’s chest. A roar unlike any Philip had ever mustered before exploded from his mouth as leapt. Orrin had only enough time to widen his eyes, twisting his body as he saw Philip coming. The sword Owen had given Philip sliced through his chest, and his heart.
As Philip’s feet hit the ground, releasing the sword, he watched as Sorcerer Orrin, Court Conjurer to the royal family, traitor and usurper to the throne, fell to the floor, pitched backward into a lifeless heap. Philip barely noticed the life fade from Orrin’s body as he caught his father before the King could hit the ground. The blade had been driven up to the hilt, and blood was leaking out around it and from the King’s mouth.
“Father!” Philip cried, dropping to his knees as he tried to cradle the King.
Vernal coughed, fingers reaching out to tap gently on Philip’s cheek. “You did it.”
Philip shook his head. “Don’t talk, save your strength. Someone get a healer!”
“Too little, too late my son. His blow struck true, and I can feel my death coming,” King Vernal gasped out.
Jaeger dropped to his knees beside the king. “King Vernal, please, don’t tax your strength.”
Vernal smiled at Jaeger. “And my other son. I am sorry about your mother Jaeger, we failed her, and I’ve failed you both.”
“You haven’t, and you aren’t dying,” Philip said desperately, his father couldn’t die, not after everything they’d done.
Vernal took a deep, shuddering breath. “I hope I get to see your mother again, oh, how I’ve missed her. I am sorry Philip, I leave you with such a mess, and you, without having had a proper guide all these years. I’m so sorry.”
Philip felt his eyes sting with growing tears. “Father…I haven’t been alone.”
Vernal smiled, reaching out with his other hand to lay it upon Jaeger’s chest. “No, you haven’t. Please Jaeger, do what I haven’t been able to do, take care of my son. Love him as you always have, and keep him safe.”
Jaeger nodded, grabbing hold of Vernal’s hand as his eyes watered. “I will do as I always have, this I promise.”
“You’ll be a good king Philip, I know you’ll make your mother and I proud. You’ve already done so much…don’t…don’t let go of what you’ve won already. Hold to your friends, to those you love, and never forget what you stand for,” Vernal whispered, voice cracking.
Philip held tighter to his father. “Please…”
The strength was draining fast from the King, and he only managed to smile at them both. His eyes fluttered shut, and he took a last, long breath. As the air left his body, the last of his movements stilled, and his muscles went slack.
Philip stared down at his father in disbelief, realizing that he was gone. Jaeger stared across the King’s body, his face screwed up as he tried to stem the tide of his own tears. They had run away, uncovered a vast conspiracy, assembled a small army, and won the battle. Yet in the end, his father had still paid the ultimate price, victory or not.
Minerva spoke softly from behind them. “Announce to the castle’s defenders that the battle is over, and the right side has won. I’ll send word to my own people to call off the battle as well. Make sure the wounded are tended to, and any who refuse to stand down are to be tried as traitors. The people of Arden are here, and their leaders currently have the regents holed up, see that they don’t escape. Once order has returned, I and…the new King, will address the people, let them know what’s happened.”
Hearing himself be called king broke the frozen grief lodged in Philip’s chest. A sob escaped his lips, and tears flowed freely. Bowing forward, he clung to the chest of the man who had taught him how to ride a horse, how to wield a sword. The man who had held him when his mother had passed, ignoring his own sorrow to console his grieving son. The man who, before he’d come under the sway of sorcery, had always known how to make him laugh, who radiated light like the sun itself as he ruled. His king, his father, and now the man who would only be a statue and a history lesson for those who came after, even as he was etched into the walls of Philip’s heart.
There would be time for speechmaking and explaining later. Soon, he would need to address the people, and be officially recognized as the monarch that he was. The
re was an entire kingdom outside which deserved to have a king back on the throne, who needed to be led and protected.
Yet at that moment, he was a boy grieving for his lost father. Bowed over his father’s body, he felt Jaeger’s arms wrap around him and hold him tight. Together, they mourned the king they could not save, and the father they would miss to the end of their days.
Chapter Fourteen
Jaeger
The sun shone bright through the colored glass high at the far end of the great hall. The light stopped short of the steps to the throne, as had been intended when the room was built. The image was slightly distorted as the sun rose, but Jaeger smiled as he stared at the sunlit image of a magnanimous king reaching out in brotherhood to a shadowed creature that could have been a man or could have been a werewolf. The colors were bright and warm, speaking not of mystery, but of brotherhood, of alliance.
It was the same theme in the throne room, where Philip sat upon his throne. The castle had wasted no time in beginning to clean up after the battle, promptly laying the crown atop Philip’s head. By law, Jaeger couldn’t sit on the other throne until he and Philip had been wed, but Jaeger was happy to stand beside him. As both his personal guard and betrothed, Jaeger could be as close to Philip as he wanted, so long as he didn’t sit on a throne and put a crown on his head and that was alright in his book.
A long table had been brought into the hall, so everyone could talk. Jaeger had been pleased when Philip had demanded a round table, descending from his throne to sit at it when it arrived. Makepeace sat beside Verity, while Minerva sat between her handmaidens. After the informal and rushed crowning of Philip, Jaeger had placed himself beside Philip at the table.
Philip ran a hand over the table’s surface before forcing it to his lap once more. “Well, at least we’ve taken care of the formality.”
Minerva snorted. “You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re done. The nobles are going to have a fit and demand to see you crowned properly. The best you can do is grin and bear it while they take you through the whole song and dance.”
“At least it isn’t a northern crowning. You’ll only have to stand around and recite lines for a couple of hours. When Minerva returns home, she gets to look forward to an entire ceremony that could last days,” Jaeger told him.
Minerva winced. “Please, don’t remind me. I’ve earned my crown, but now I have to perform in order to secure it.”
Verity shook his head. “It seems like a lot of unnecessary pomp.”
“You have your traditions, and we have ours, even if ours are a bit more long-winded than I would like,” Philip said with a sigh.
Makepeace smiled, patting Verity’s leg beneath the table. “Consider it one more sign that you have gained what was rightfully yours in the first place. The ceremony is there only for the kingdom, you are King and Queen properly of your own kingdoms, as is just.”
Philip cleared his throat. “Which brings me to the first matter we need to discuss. I won’t speak for Queen Manora, but…”
Minerva waved her hand. “For the love of all things good in the world, don’t call me by my formal name here, we’re all friends. And speak for me, please.”
Jaeger couldn’t hold back his snort, earning a sly smile from Minerva and a dirty look from Philip. His mate was trying very hard to make the situation as serious as possible, but Jaeger could tell Minerva wasn’t going to make it easy for him. The woman hadn’t changed her irreverent attitude in the slightest, despite having been named Queen.
Philip shook his head. “With both northern and southern kingdoms in a true alliance, we can act in concert. From this point forward, the Forest of Arden is a sovereign state, beholden to neither nation. How you choose to lead your nation is up to you, and no longer will it be considered a land of brigands and monsters. The south will forever treat the forest as it has before, and I suspect that the north’s attitude toward the forest will be changing soon.”
Minerva nodded. “You won’t have to worry about warring parties from either of our nations. Also, we won’t be leaving you high and dry, you’re an ally of both our kingdoms from here on out. There will be some formal swearing and ceremony for the whole thing, because the people need their show, but just like our respective crowning’s, it’s law.”
Jaeger could see the happiness and relief on Makepeace’s face as he smiled at them. The relief broke Jaeger’s heart a little as he watched the leader glance toward his mate. Even after having helped them so much, it was obvious Makepeace was still worried about what would happen to him and his people. There had been too little done by the south for them, and too much done to them by the north for the pack leader to have been completely confident. Jaeger smiled softly, knowing that between Minerva and Philip, that attitude would become a distant memory.
It was Verity who spoke. “As we have done before, so shall we do from this point forward. The Forest of Arden is a sacred land, and we will care for it, and its people. It will forever be a place of refuge for the lost and confused, for the scared and hurt. Werewolf and human alike are welcome in our lands, and we would like it known in both of our friendly nations to the north and south.”
Minerva grinned. “How long did you practice that little speech?”
Verity looked back at her, his face giving nothing away. “I’ve practiced it over the past few days. Would you say I did well?”
Philip chuckled. “You could have been a courtier.”
Verity looked away, his brow furrowing slightly. “I shudder at the thought.”
Makepeace smiled. “I know he didn’t look as if he shuddered, but I promise you, he shuddered on the inside.”
Jaeger didn’t even try to hide his smile as he eyed the dirty look Verity shot his mate. The two men were obviously still crazy about one another, though Verity was harder to read. The only real show of emotion Jaeger could remember seeing from the omega had been after the ambush in the forest. Verity had been downright livid after the battle had been won, and a viciousness had flashed across his normally placid face. There was no missing the warmth directed toward Makepeace now though, the man who he loved and had cherished for so many years.
Philip leaned in to whisper to Jaeger. “Do you think we’ll ever get to be that cute?”
Jaeger chuckled. “I don’t think cute is our thing. Maybe we can strive for an eternal boyish sort of charm?”
“It might be our only hope. Otherwise we’re going to end up the weird couple no one wants to be around,” Philip replied.
Jaeger continued to smile, taking Philip’s hand in his own. The two of them had plenty of years to work on their relationship. Their marriage was officially put on hold until Philip could get a better hold of the affairs of state and have his kingdom in working order again. The kingdom was still reeling from the sudden loss of their beloved King, and the news that there had been a traitor and usurper in the inner circle. Philip thought it best to let the nation work through its grief and anger before they brought the mood up with a wedding.
Jaeger didn’t mind, no more than he minded that he couldn’t take his place on a throne beside Philip just yet. They’d survived a power play which had been years in the making, a battle which could have cost them everything, and the loss of their father. They would be capable of waiting before they officially announced their wedding. So long as Jaeger had Philip, that was all that mattered.
Minerva shook her head again. “If the two cute couples at the table are done dripping sugar all over the place?”
Philip eyed her with a grin. “Yes, and what about your love life your Grace?”
“Ugh, I have an entire country to get back into working order, just as you do. Except I don’t have a lifelong friend I’ve been harboring feelings for to fall into a happy marriage with. I think I’ll deal with the problems of my kingdom before I start looking for a man,” Minerva said with a wave of her hand toward them.
“Well, it gives you time to find someone who can keep up with you,” J
aeger said.
Her smile drooped a little, and she shrugged. “Perhaps. In all honesty, I’ve never given it too much thought before. My whole life has been dictated by the regents, either by their ‘guidance’ or by my attempts to break free. My proposed marriage with Philip was the first time any real attempt to marry me had come about. Every attempt before had been half-hearted and weak.”
Philip nodded. “When I think of some of the marriage candidates presented to me, it felt as if my father or Orrin hadn’t really been trying. I wonder if it was Orrin simply making the appearance of doing his job and waiting until the regents were prepared to bring you around. It could have been my father, doing what he could to resist the enchantment and buying me time.”
It was a nice thought, and Jaeger squeezed Philip’s hand as the shadow of grief returned to his mate’s expression. The loss of his father weighed heavily on him, just as it sat badly on Jaeger’s shoulders. They had fought to save the king, only to lose him at what should have been their victory. Orrin was dead, the regents imprisoned, and their influence and power dashed, but the victory was bittersweet.
“My romantic life was never a priority before, and I could never truly trust anyone, friends especially, but any lovers who came my way were always treated with suspicion. Even those I felt I might be able to trust had to be passed on. Being close to me became a liability for their wellbeing,” Minerva explained.
“Sounds lonely,” Philip said softly.
Minerva chuckled, the sound gentle and a little distant. “Perhaps. In truth, I grew up knowing I had little power and had to strive for what bits I did have. I was so busy with the game they kept me locked into, I never had time to stop and truly be lonely. I had my true friends at my side at all times, and that has made all the difference.”
Philip glanced at Jaeger. “Having someone by your side throughout everything is what counts in the end.”