The Fallen Queen: (Gods & Monsters Book 2) (The Gods & Monsters Trilogy)

by Janie Marie

  Jane ducked her head against her arm as a strong gust of wind roared around them. The mountains were unforgiving, and scouting from the highest cliff was one of the stupidest things ever, in Jane’s opinion.

  Her teeth began chattering, and she clamped her mouth closed to try and stop it. It seemed to only make her body shake more. She closed her eyes, trying to think of the dreadful Texas summers, hoping it would somehow relieve her of this frozen nightmare.

  Heat suddenly engulfed her, and she stopped shivering when a strong hand slid under her rib cage and lifted her off the frozen ground, pulling her flush against a firm body.

  Jane opened her eyes, grinning as she realized David was shielding and warming her with his body. He was doing a one-handed push-up while his other hand was splayed across her stomach.

  They had masks on, but he nuzzled her cheek with his before whispering in her ear. “Better?”

  She nodded, knowing they weren’t supposed to talk loudly, and turned her face to his. When his chest flexed, and she felt it on her back, she moaned softly and even pushed her ass up to him.

  David’s body shook as he laughed silently and dropped his face to the side of her neck. “Told you your ass loved me.”

  Jane wanted to roll right off the cliff. She knew everyone had heard and perhaps seen her wiggling against him like a damn cat.

  “I’m cold too, David,” Gawain muttered quietly. He was right next to them, and Jane nearly died when she looked at him and saw his eyes practically twinkling with laughter as he spoke again. “Can you come cuddle me next?”

  David pulled her closer. “Shut up, dumbass.”

  There were some quiet chuckles around them, but Jane felt that tenseness in his muscles. It worried her how agitated he was getting, and she knew he was close to snapping when his fingers flexed along her stomach.

  “Shh . . .” She nuzzled her cheek against his.

  He immediately relaxed and returned the gesture, but Gawain didn’t seem to pick up how volatile David’s emotions were becoming.

  “Aww,” Gawain said, sighing. “I want to be the big spoon.”

  Jane knew David was reaching his limit, so she thought she’d take her turn at defending him. She snapped her face in Gawain’s direction. “Knock it off, Gawain. While we were nice and warm last night, you were freezing your balls off trying to make Gareth be the big spoon.”

  Gawain’s eyes went wide, and she could hear everyone else struggling with their laughter.

  “Jane said balls,” Gareth wheezed.

  David finally relaxed and muffled his laughter in the crook of her neck.

  Gawain huffed and moved closer to the cliffside. “I just want someone to spoon.”

  “Well, stop asking me,” Gareth whispered, crawling beside his brother. “Elle will beat my ass if she finds out you asked to share my sleeping bag with me.”

  “That’s my girl,” David cooed in her ear.

  The deep timbre in his voice sent a shiver through her. She stopped smiling and squeezed her legs together. It was driving her crazy to not be able to kiss him whenever she wanted, especially when he was so close.

  He pressed a kiss to her head and whispered, “Later, my love.” He a slight thrusting motion, making her mouth pop open and her eyes wide as he added quietly, “And in this position.”

  “David,” she whispered, tilting her head.

  His fierce gaze was already locked on her. “They didn’t see.” He lowered his mouth to her ear. “But they will hear you tonight if do not calm your hormones.”

  The promise made her body burn, but she quickly returned her attention to the serious situation below them.

  “Good girl.” David kissed her head before he resumed observing the werewolf camp.

  “David, do you see how they have them anchored?” Arthur asked.

  “They have silver chains embedded into their legs and around their necks,” David said.

  “What’s that man doing?” Jane asked, watching a group of men pinning one of the wolves down.

  “They are injecting it with something,” David said as the huge wolf howled, setting off howls and whimpers from the others. “It must be silver. They’re poisoning them to keep them from ripping free of those chains.”

  Jane covered her mouth as they repeated the process on another wolf. She watched the first try to stand only to fall to its belly as the smaller wolf it was chained to writhed in agony beneath the men injecting it.

  “We will free them, Jane.” David kissed her head. “For now, you need to continue observing.”

  It was hard to look at them, but she forced herself to search the makings of the huge camp. There were hundreds of tents. Some were big while most were small, yet housing five people. One thing that stood out was how different all the men seemed. Many were vicious while others limped or cowered in fear.

  “There are few women,” Arthur said quietly.

  David nodded, hugging her. “This seems like a fairly small camp for Lycaon. I think he must have multiple posts. Perhaps he keeps the victims separate to keep them from being slaughtered every change.”

  Jane kept watching the men; David had already said even though it was dark, there was still daylight, and the werewolves would change soon. “David, some of these men don’t seem bad.”

  He stopped talking to Arthur and hugged her. “Jane, they were ripped from their homes and changed. Nearly all of them are victims, but they are monsters controlled by a more dangerous one.” He nudged her head to the left. “That man you see limping has probably killed hundreds of innocent people. He may hate what he has done, but he’s still a monster. He has no control and kills because that’s what he’s become.” He nudged her again to see another man kicking a man who didn’t seem to be able to walk. “This is what they eventually become. Very few have the will to fight what they are. Those who are defiant are killed by Lycaon or those he’s given higher authority to. The weak either break and become as evil as that man, or they die like the man you see him kicking.” David kissed behind her ear and sighed. “We must destroy all of them, Jane. There is no coming back from this curse.”

  Her nose burned along with her eyes as she tried to keep her emotions in check. It was clear now why they had been so silly with her, and why David allowed himself to be the center of their amusement—they knew this would break her heart.

  David held her tighter when she trembled, not from the freezing temperature, but from the sorrow filling her soul. She had not seen the werewolves as humans. Lancelot was the exception, but he proved just as deadly and evil without turning into a werewolf. It was hard to process they went from men, many unwillingly, to the monsters that had tried to kill her on more than one occasion.

  Jane focused on the hounds again. Really, they were just big wolves. There were thirteen, and they were enormous. Just like David had said, they were bigger than Sorrow.

  “The six large wolves are the males,” David said. “The seven gray and brown are female. Normally, they are very beautiful to look upon.”

  There was no doubt in Jane’s mind they would be. Now, though, they were dirty and bloody. They looked underfed and unable to maintain proper warmth from the lack of muscle on their bones.

  Jane glanced toward Artemis. The goddess had not said much to her since they left Valhalla. Other than the lingering stare at David from time to time, Artemis had stayed quiet and mostly isolated herself from the group. When Jane had suggested to David she go talk with her, he immediately shut down the idea.

  As Jane watched Artemis grip the edge of the cliff, her heart ached. It had slipped her mind that these wolves were the hounds whom Artemis had basically raised. They were her family too, and just like her men, she had lost them.

  The loud crack of a whip, and the howl that followed immediately after made Jane jump. She turned to see a huge, shirtless man whipping the wolves. He was yelling in a language she didn’t understand as he continued to beat them.

  “No,” Hades said, grunting a
s he threw his weight onto Artemis to keep her from jumping off the cliff.

  “Stop, sister.” Apollo grabbed her hand and held it as he began speaking in what sounded like the same language the man below was speaking.

  The sound of the wolves’ howls and the whip made Jane whimper. She felt her tears freezing on her face, and she squeezed her eyes shut while Artemis quietly sobbed in Hades’ arms.

  “Shh.” David held Jane tighter. “We’ll save them.”

  She rubbed her eyes as best she could and looked at the torture again. She felt sick to her stomach as blood and bits of fur and flesh went flying through the air.

  “That’s Lycaon, Jane,” David said. “The Wolf King, or as the Norse call him, Fenrir.”

  The sorrow that was slowly crippling her instantly died as a raging inferno of fury took over.

  Lycaon had extremely short black hair that had been almost shaved down to his scalp, and he was huge. She couldn’t believe how big he was because he was definitely taller and bulkier than David, maybe even Death. He was a monster. He made her think of Roman gladiators—the champions who were undefeated.

  Lycaon—The Wolf King—singled out the largest wolf, a black and white one, and he began laughing in its face before punching it so hard she heard a bone crack all the way up on the cliff. Thankfully, Lycaon walked away, but not before kicking a small female wolf. Jane hissed. Her skin felt on fire for the first time in three days. Never had she wanted to harm someone as much as she did right then.

  “Baby, calm yourself.” David gave her a little shake.

  She wanted to tell him to fuck off, and when she realized she nearly said it, her rage fizzled out. It was still there, but she couldn’t believe she thought that toward David.

  Breathe. Jane took the internal order and closed her eyes, slowly breathing in and out.

  “We won’t be able to move them, Arthur,” said Odin.

  Again, Jane felt the fire spark. Odin had not improved his mood or come close to accepting her. He pretended she didn’t exist, and she was starting to loathe him for it.

  “The men are armed,” Apollo said, pointing out guards around the camp. “They might be expecting us.”

  “I do not doubt that,” Odin said, sliding his gaze to her.

  It took every ounce of Jane’s restraint to not ask him what the fuck he was looking at, but she turned away and continued trying to calm herself.

  “We will have to use stealth,” Arthur said. “Perhaps the wolves will leave for a hunt when the change happens. If those men are human, they may be willing to come with us. If they fight, we will subdue them and take them prisoner.”

  Jane remembered now that they didn’t kill humans. It seemed foolish to bring hostile humans back with them, but she guessed that was dumb of her. After all, they were vampires and could protect themselves.

  Odin shook his head and pointed at the wolves. “They will not be able to outrun Lycaon or his pack. Their injuries are too great with the silver in them. It is pointless to risk saving them. If they were only bound, it would be different. We have no way of getting the silver out, though.”

  Jane spoke up without thinking. “I can remove it. I’ve done it to myself, David, and Tristan. I can do it again.”

  This time Thor spoke. “That may be, but Father is right, we would need to get them out of the camp before you could try.”

  She turned away from them to stare at the wolves. The males were crawling to the females, licking their wounds as they tried to comfort them even though they were also hurt. “Attack the camp on the opposite end. Lure them your way, and I will remove the silver so they can escape.”

  David instantly began shaking his head. “No. Out of the question.”

  She glared at him. “I can free them, David.”

  “Don’t give me that look,” he said, kissing her roughly on the head. “You know that is a suicide mission. Do not think I will stand back and watch you be ripped apart when they discover you. You will drain all your energy. The answer is no—we will find another way or put them out of their misery with a silver bullet after retreating to a safe distance.”

  Jane gasped along with Artemis.

  “I am not leaving them,” Artemis said, ceasing her cries. “And you will not put them out of their misery.”

  David lifted his gaze to Artemis. “It may be the only way. It will end their suffering and prevent them from breaking to his will. You know I am right. I would not say it if it were not true.”

  Artemis glared at him, her gaze flickering to Jane before quickly focusing on him again. “The David I knew would never suggest this. You are too worried about her!”

  Everyone looked at the three of them as David’s eyes paled.

  Jane didn’t know what to say. A part of her was ready to fight this woman, but she knew Artemis was telling the truth: David was not the same man he was before her. She could see it in the way he carried on with others outside the circle of knights.

  “Leave Jane out of this,” he said, his tone dark.

  Artemis looked at her wolves again. “You are not the man I thought you were. You are not the David all immortals fear and respect. You would not give up if it were not for her.”

  “Artemis, do not speak to him this way,” Hades said, shaking his head.

  “You know I am right, Uncle. Just as Death changed for her, David has done the same. They put her above everyone no matter the cost to others.”

  “Enough, sister,” Apollo said, crawling from beside her to where Jane and David were. “She is his woman. Of course, he is protective.”

  Artemis shook her head. “All of you are cowards now. You have all fallen to her command without realizing it.”

  Jane couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She glanced around at the others, and they all avoided meeting her gaze. “I haven’t asked for them to care about me, Artemis.”

  The goddess turned her head to look at her. “Of course you haven’t—you never have. I have tried to put aside my dislike for you, but the truth is, you are not like us. You are death. Everyone will die for you whether you ask them to or not.”

  “Shut your fucking mouth, Artemis,” David snapped, barely keeping his voice from rising. “I will not listen to this any longer. She saved your damned life, and this is how you treat her? Grow the fuck up and stop acting like a jealous child.”

  Odin butted in. “She may be a jealous girl, but she is right, Sir David. You have changed . . . However, you are also right about this mission.” He glanced at Artemis. “The hounds should be put out of their misery rather than risk the lives of a hundred men. Even if Jane can remove the silver, she cannot remove it from all of them in time for them to escape.”

  Jane rubbed her face and looked at the wolves. Hounds, whatever they were. There was no way she could leave them. Her own dogs had been lost to her, and even though these weren’t dogs, they triggered that loss she’d held inside for Kuma and Rocky. They’d gone after her, maybe to help her, and they were probably dead.

  The effort it took to keep from crying made her whole body hurt. “I’m not leaving them, David. I don’t care who thinks I’m evil or stupid. This is about the wolves. They don’t deserve this. You can either help me, or you can watch from here, but I’m going down there—alone if I have to, and I’m going to try my best to save them. If you want to be merciful, stay up here and put a bullet in my head with theirs if I fail.”

  David’s body temperature skyrocketed. “I am not going to let you go down there alone! And don’t you ever make the suggestion I kill you myself.”

  She smiled sadly without looking away from the biggest wolf as he left one female to try and drag the lone female closer to the original female he’d been comforting. She didn’t know why that one was alone, and she could only imagine it never had a mate or its mate had been lost. “We both know you can’t stop me.”

  The silence was agonizing, but she knew she couldn’t take it back. She was going to save these wolves.

 
; David exhaled and lowered his face to the crook of her neck. He breathed in her scent as he tightened his hold on her. “Baby, please don’t do this.”

  She closed her eyes. The tears on her eyelashes stuck to each other, but she still cried. She hated making him feel this way, but she couldn’t just walk away. “I have to. My heart won’t survive if I leave them.”

  “But I can’t lose you.” He kissed her neck, and she wished so badly she could feel his lips on her skin again. She might never feel them after this was all over.

  “I’ll go with her,” said Artemis.

  David lifted his head and glared at the goddess. “I know you want your hounds back, and you are a good fighter, but I see now you will not fight for Jane as she has for you. She will grow weak from using her abilities, and you will leave her. No, you will not go with her. If she goes, I will go with her.”

  “No,” Jane said at the same time Odin and Arthur did.

  “David, that is a worse idea,” Arthur said.

  David growled. “Do you honestly expect me to let her go alone?”

  “I will go with them,” Hades said, looking between her and David. “Death ordered me to protect her. You know I am not foolish enough to leave her behind.”

  For a moment, David stayed quiet, but he growled and held her tighter. “I can’t leave her.”

  Jane reached up and held his cheek. “David . . .”

  “Don’t say it, Jane,” he said, shaking now.

  Arthur began speaking. “Think reasonably, David. If we do this, you need to be at the center of the fight. Lycaon is no fool—he will look for you in battle once he realizes we are there. And if you are not, he will know why. The closer you are to her, the greater danger she is in. Now, I agree with you, this is a terrible situation, and we should not expect Jane to put her life on the line, but she has made her decision. The only chance she has in succeeding, and surviving, is if we give her time.”