by K. Rea
“No one ordered you to kill my parents, did they?” I asked.
“No, of course not. I did that myself. What better way to start a war between the vampires and moon shadows? Any moon shadows that survive the culling will bow to me or defect to the Court of Light,” Ciara sneered. “The Court of Light was very upset, of course, they respected you Wolfriks. They wanted your parents to rule.”
“Then you would have followed in their footsteps, the daughter that should never have been. If only that darkness damned curse hadn’t failed. The witches warned Gaius that all curses have a price. He didn’t listen. Every time a Wolfrik bitch became pregnant with a would-be queen, the curse would send the would-be Wolfrik girl into the arms of the Goddess and take one of Gaius’ lovers or daughters with them. Seemed fitting that I kill your mother when your birth took away mine!” Ciara snarled. “You can’t tell me her death was just a coincidence twenty-five years ago.”
“You stole my mother away from me; you won’t take my crown,” Ciara said before twisting her wrist to flick her knife at me. I shifted before the knife could land. I firmly planted my claws in the dirt despite the agony my ankle was in; I’d deal with the ramifications later.
I lunged for her knee. I locked my teeth around the joint and bit down hard. The resounding crunch was satisfying along with her shriek. Ciara cussed at me. The salty, bitter smell of her blood was bright against the smoky ash around us. Even wounded, she was stronger than me. She grabbed the back of my neck with both hands, ripped me from her knee, and flung me into the air. I hit a tree and fell hard.
“Killing your parents was hard. Sending Gaius’ brutes after your brother and his little wife, easy. But you, you’re something else,” Ciara claimed. I snarled and flipped back onto my feet. My ankle refused to bear any weight. She stepped closer, I growled. “I enjoyed watching you at your wedding. You were such a sad little pup. All alone, no one to protect you from the big bad vampire king. Father was always small minded; he could never see past his bloodlust for wolves.”
“I should thank you; you know. You could have been queen, generations of repressed moon shadow power combined running through your veins. You could have ruled all the courts if you had waited for them to manifest, all the untapped power. I can smell it in your blood, it’s like starlight,” Ciara said as she limped to me. She bent and picked up her dagger. Her fangs flashed before she ran her tongue along them.
“Still, powers aside, Aiden was too good for you. I had hoped the Court of Light would kill him. He had gotten so soft since Lara. Sending her to Lucien in my place was one of my better decisions. Father took the credit, of course, Aiden never found out it was me. The Court of Light didn’t need to do a darkness damned thing; you killed him—and all in the name of love.” Ciara crooned.
White fiery rage filled me. One second I was a wolf, lunging at Ciara with all the strength I could. I shifted back into my human form and tackled her to the ground, letting my weight throw us into the dirt. I grabbed at the blade with my bare hands and pulled it away as it cut into my palms. As we landed, I was the wolf again, my jaws closing around her neck. My fangs cut into her neck. The taste of her blood exploded in my mouth, sour and tainted with earthy dampness. She struggled and fought like prey until she got her hands on the dagger again.
Already coated in my blood, Ciara’s dagger hit me multiple times. I felt the untold damage, but I curled my claws into her shoulders and bit down even harder. All I heard in my mind was Aiden’s words—strongest, fiercest, and most ruthless mate around. He was mine. He was gone; because of me, because of her.
I stopped when Ciara’s neck snapped. The crack echoed in the quiet woods. Ash no longer fell from the sky. Darkness surrounded us; the stars didn’t shine. I would be dead by the time the sun rose again if the pain in my lungs was any inclination for where her dagger had landed. It was still embedded in my side; I shifted back into my human form. The knife still painfully lodged deep. I removed it slowly with a groan. Ciara smiled and laughed. She knew death was coming for me. Coming for us both.
I took the dagger in both hands. I straddled her and plunged the blade toward her heart. I watched as her fear and understanding reflected at me in her eyes. As the tip of the blade pierced her chest, purple smoke flooded the forest around us. An invisible force knocked me off Ciara’s body and into a damn tree.
THIRTY - FIVE
A monster hunted me in the darkness. I ran, my lungs burning. Its claws clicked on marble floors, otherwise, it was silent as the wind until it destroyed everything in its wake. I hid anywhere, everywhere, just out of reach, it roared.
The roar woke me. I struggled to sit up in bed, my body tangled in the sheets. Sheets that smelled like Aiden—sandalwood and citrus. The sheets even felt warm, as if he had just gotten out of bed. For a moment, I thought it had all been a nightmare, and I was in the cottage, but the navy walls of Aiden’s room quickly corrected my assumption.
A quick inventory confirmed that someone had cleaned and dressed me. The blood, soot, and dirt I remembered were washed away. My hair was clean, dry, and braided. I threw the blankets off. Someone wrapped a bandage around my ankle above the leggings they had dressed me in. I wore a teal blouse; someone bandaged my ribs. My lungs were sore, but they did not burn with each breath like before. The clothes were familiar; Jane must have given them to Aiden before we left Seattle. My wedding ring and opal bracelet still rested on my left hand and wrist.
The void where the bond should be only pulsed and ached with cool, dark silence. I reached up to touch the collar; my neck was bare. It was tied to Aiden. Aiden was gone, and so was it. I would mourn later.
I sat up on the edge of the bed slowly. My muscles protested the movement, but I had to check. I needed to know if the door was locked; if I was a prisoner. Gaius would never have put me here, at least, I hoped he hadn’t.
My bare toes touched the soft carpet as I carefully planted my feet. My ankle lit up in pain and burned but did not crumble. It held strong, assisted by the bandage supporting it. I limped to the door. I reached out to the door handle and twisted. It didn’t budge; I tried again. Nothing, no click. No bending. Yet, no one came running to throw me into a cage.
Across the room, the door to the bathroom was open. The light was on, but no sound came out. Would they have forgotten to lock the other door? Could I walk that far? It was worth a try. Using the furniture, I made my way across the room.
Aiden’s room was sparse, but what I saw reflected him. An aging bowl of oranges on the dresser. A black dress shirt was thrown over the desk chair, a motorcycle helmet rested on the desktop. Hiking boots peeked out from beside the wardrobe chest. An antique map hung on one wall. A picture of a familiar scene hung on the other; fall woods with a river running through it—Montana. Bits and pieces of his life, snapshots, were all that was left of the Dark Prince.
Tears rolled down my face by the time I made it to the bathroom. I limped along, using the counter to support my weight. My ankle and lungs burned. I gripped the handle to the guest room. I twisted it. The metal bent, but the handle didn’t budge. It was locked. I was alone. The void around my heart swallowed me as I slid down the door and into darkness.
“Get her back in bed. Put her under, use enough valerian wolf root to make sure she stays that way until I return,” A voice grunted.
“Are you sure? It would be a mercy to let her go. It’s a miracle she’s even alive, she’s Goddess blessed for sure,” A woman whispered.
“Do as you are told, keep your opinions to yourself. Make sure she lives,” the man responded with a growl. “The Goddess watches over her, as do we.”
The monster came for me in the darkness. It clawed at the walls and filled the halls with smoke as I ran. The crackle of fire chased me, and my lungs burned. Everything burned as the fire consumed me. The monster roared its fury.
I awoke screaming. Roaring echoed in my mind. The
taste of ash, a ghost on my lips. My mouth dry, the remnants of the drug burning away. The door flew open, and Ruby was there. Dressed in red, armed to the teeth and with a blade in her hand. A warrior in her own right. It took a moment for her to realize there was no threat except for what was in my mind.
“You’re awake. Good, you need to eat. They’ll be sending for you soon,” Ruby said as she placed her blade back into its sheath.
“What are you doing here? Who are they?” I rasped. My throat felt raw, and my voice hoarse. The lingering taste of ash still on my tongue.
“You eat, I’ll talk. Don’t move from that bed,” Ruby ordered.
Ruby left the room, her boots clicking against the wooden floor in the hall. I heard her talk with someone in the hall, and a door opened and closed. She came back with a covered dinner tray.
“Sit back. I’ll put this across your lap,” Ruby said. I did as instructed. She placed the tray carefully over me and the quilt. The glass of water barely shifted. The smell of beef, vegetables, and fresh bread was a surprise. Ruby moved to remove the lid.
“It’s not much to look at; they destroyed the kitchens in the chaos. The cooks have done a good job with what they have. It’s simple, tasty, and filling,” Ruby said as she handed me a spoon. My stomach rumbled. She smiled and took my bread. A snarl escaped my lips.
“Calm yourself. I’m just buttering it for you. There’s more if you want it,” Ruby promised.
“Talk,” I growled. I took the spoon and dipped it into the rich beef stew.
“Where do you want me to start?” Ruby asked, her eyes shining. I scowled and swallowed my stew.
“Gaius?” I muttered. The light slipped out of her eyes.
“Dead, killed in the firestorm,” Ruby said.
“Ciara?” I asked. Ruby smiled.
“The bitch is missing. We hoped you could tell us more,” Ruby said without remorse.
“Alex?” I said, choking on a piece of beef. She patted me hard on the back.
“Taking care of the Rose Hall girls the best, he can, may the Goddess protect him. They’ll keep him honest and out of trouble,” Ruby said with a smile.
“Thank you for sending him to me,” I whispered; she nodded.
“Bishop?” I asked, and Ruby’s face grew dark.
“Missing, I presume he hightailed it back to his brother. His lab and living quarters were empty,” Ruby explained.
“Am I a prisoner?” I asked as I pushed the bowl away and ate the bread one chunk at a time. I felt like I hadn’t eaten in days. I drank the whole glass of water in one go. Ruby frowned and said nothing.
“Ruby, am I a prisoner? Answer me,” I demanded, my words edged in alpha tone. She tensed and tilted her head away from me, uncomfortable but submissive of the command.
“A privileged guest,” she responded smoothly, refusing to look at me again.
A knock sounded at the door. Mason’s voice echoed from the hall.
“He wants to see her now. You know the way, bring her,” Mason ordered. He didn’t come inside. He didn’t wait. Mason was gone before Ruby even shut the door. I looked up at her, she looked pale. She smiled weakly but still avoided my gaze, her werewolf nature at odds with my wolf
“Who is he?” I asked, my voice stronger. “What does he want with me?”
“Ready to meet representatives from the Court of Light?” Ruby asked.
THIRTY - SIX
We walked slowly. My lungs felt fine, and I unbound my ankle before we left the room. My shoes fit well enough to wear. I felt better than I thought I should. The smell of Aiden’s room clung to my skin and seemed to follow me. The wolf within wanted out of these walls. It wanted open fields and empty woods. To run from the world as it was. A part of me wanted to go back to the room and hide. The same part that wanted to shift into a wolf, bury myself in blankets that smelled like Aiden, and never come out. Like a child, I wanted to bring that blanket with me, but I left it behind on the bed.
The halls barely smelled like smoke and burned stone. The walls shone like they were washed. Not a mark was visible. No bodies, no blood. A crisp breeze flowed through the hallway; most of the doors and shutters were gone. Light shone in through the windows. No shadows, no darkness. No vampires.
“The Court of Light overtook the palace quickly. Most of it has been destroyed except for the areas that stood before Wolfriks ruled. The fire destroyed everything else in its path,” Ruby explained.
“How long was I asleep?” I asked as we walked closer to that damned throne room.
“Five days,” Ruby answered. “We weren’t sure you would come around. You woke screaming so many times, setting back your injuries repeatedly but not seeing us.”
“Us?” I asked.
“I watch you during the day. Others watched you at night when the nightmares were worse,” Ruby explained.
“Who else?” I asked with the edge of a snarl.
“People that could be trusted, that you seemed to trust. Mason, for example,” Ruby said. Ahead, where black oak doors would have been, stood an open archway. Through it, I could see roughly made tables lining the throne room. The curtains were gone, as were the windows with the clear blue-sky peeking through. The black throne stood in the center, untouched. I couldn’t make out the figure in black sat on the throne. His head down as he read a piece of paper, his dark hair covering his face. He didn’t bother to look up when I entered. I looked at Ruby, questioning.
“What? The tables?” Ruby asked, and I nodded. “Different court, different times, different rules.”
Along the tables, werewolves and fae noticed us standing in the archway. Looking at the collection of people there, you could see a divide. Werewolves and moon shadows were gathered together. Some gave me brief nods. At the other end of the hall, Court of Shadows subjects clustered together in small groups, not a single vampire between them.
Then there were the people from the Court of Light. Some glowed faintly, others had wings on display. The wings were the most striking, no two sets alike. They were a kaleidoscope of colors from the softest dove gray to parrot blue. Some were feathered, others reminded me of butterfly wings. Many wore uniforms in burgundy or black with blazing suns on their chest or shoulders in yellow or white. I realized I was staring when some smiled and nodded before turning back to their companions.
“Anything I need to know?” I asked quietly. Ruby smiled.
“Give the prince the benefit of the doubt,” Ruby recommended.
“Him?” I whispered. Ruby gestured to the throne. My wolf wanted out; I would not bow to another bastard on a chair. I looked at the open windows and considered jumping from them again. I survived last time; no one would be stupid enough to stop me this time around. I hoped.
“You’ll be fine,” Ruby said before stepping away from me and walking toward a table with other werewolves dressed in the same guard attire. She sat between me and the window I considered. I wondered if she had seen me jump in a vision. I turned to the throne.
Maye was watching me. She wore a floor-length gown with an embroidered sun on her sleeves. When she saw she had my attention, she smiled. She glowed softly in the afternoon light. She stood beside a wooden desk and the black throne. She rested her hand on a stack of papers piled high. A smaller stack lay next to it.
“Lady Evelyn, please be seated, if you like,” Maye purred, gesturing to a chair positioned in front of the throne. The man looked up from the paper he read. His gray stormy eyes narrowed on me, questioning. My heart stopped. I ran to him, ignoring the chorus of gasps behind me. I hugged him to me. That citrus and woodsy smell I adored surrounded me. I buried my head in his shoulders. He hugged me back slowly, gently.
“Aiden,” I whispered. He tensed under my arms; powerful hands firmly took my shoulders.
“I told you this would happen,” he said angrily. I pulled back in co
nfusion. Those gray eyes weren’t trained on me; he was talking to someone behind me.
“At ease, put down your weapons,” he barked. A fine pearly white scar ran down the left side of his face, starting at his temple, down his jaw, and ending at his familiar rugged chin. “She won’t hurt me.”
“Maye, some privacy, please,” he asked. I watched as Maye glowed; a cloud of purple smoke quickly separated the three of us from the rest of the hall.
“They cannot see or hear us, milord,” Maye said, nodding.
“Thank you,” he said, then gently lifted me from his lap and set me on the ground. He stood across from me, he took my hands in mine before looking at me again. I knew with that one bitter, frustrated, and remorseful look—this was not the man I loved.
“My name is Ares Brandr, I am the Prince of Light. Heir to the Court of Light.”
My heart broke again, a cry slipped from my lips. He looked like Aiden, smelled like him, and even spoke with that same gravelly tone.
“You’re his twin,” I whispered. Ares smiled, and my heart shattered into pieces for what it could not have. For what I had lost.
“Sit please, we may be awhile. Best get the business out of the way,” he said, gesturing to a chair placed in front of the throne.
“Maye, her file, please,” Ares said, holding his hand out. Maye came up beside him and handed him the papers, her boots barely a whisper on the stone floor. Her purple smoke still circled us.
“For formalities’ sake, this is Maye Goodfellow. Among her many qualities, she is a soothsayer. She can discern if what you say is true. She can only tell the truth as she knows it to be. She is part of my council in matters regarding the Court of Shadows and Court of Darkness,” Ares said, as if he had gone through the introduction a hundred times before. “What is your name? Who are your parents? Do you hold allegiance to any Court?” Ares asked as he settled back into the throne. He fidgeted with his brow, the same way Aiden did. It was distracting.