“What the fuck are you talking about?” I shake my head in disbelief. Even my uncle can’t believe he controls the will of the triple goddesses. They choose the poor shits that go to the massacre. I can’t remember ever studying about a royal being in the Folkland. Has it happened before?
“You will be chosen. It’s been decided.” He waves at the door. “You are dismissed for now. To prepare. We will go over my plan for you in the Folkland when it is time. I have called yourcousin back from his studying, and he will help me rule in your absence.”
At least I won’t have to see my cousin, the vile fucker.
I open my mouth and then close it again, unsure what to say. He is more insane than I thought. “How could you know this?”
He leans back and pulls Sidia further up onto his lap, spreading her thighs. “You can leave now, nephew.”
Clenching my jaw, I stomp out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me. Heading straight across the castle, I go into the private royal rooms. The minute I open the door, a bundle of red hair slams into me and nearly knocks me off my feet. I grunt, looking down at her. She’s my youngest cousin—Lunara. A tiny little thing that’s only been born recently to my uncle and Sidia. I don’t like children, but I don’t want her to be beaten like I was, so this one is used to keep me in line. They don’t hurt her as long as I do what they ask.
I don’t understand why she likes hugging me, though. Surely, she should be terrified. I’m Blackfire, the legendary killer for the Crone Pack. I could swim in a sea of blood I have drawn in the wars and in my uncle’s name. But no. She continues hugging my leg, as she only comes up to my thigh, like it’s the best thing in the world. She has no survival instincts. Poor thing.
I just walk forward as Lunara clings to my leg like a monkey and squeals with joy. This day is not going well. First, one of the spies was caught, and I need to sort out a replacement. Second, my uncle has officially lost the plot more than usual. I go straight over to the bar, pouring myself a stiff drink, and I’m happy as I throw it back, the burn in my throat pleasant. I’m almost tempted to offer Lunara one, but then I remember that kids don’t drink alcohol, according to the human servants. Shame. Might make them quieter.
“Firey! You’re here!”
“Please don’t call me Firey. We’ve talked about this,” I gently growl at her.
“Yes, Firey.” She nods, grinning at me, with her orange burning eyes. She leans forward and goes to bite me.
Fucking hell.This kid is always biting my legs even though she hasn’t shifted yet. I lift her by the back of her top and hold her in the air. “No biting. We have also talked about this.”
“Yes, Firey.” She laughs and waves her thin arms. No survival instincts at all—it’s pitiful.
I put her down on the floor, and she spins in circles. Maybe there is something wrong with her. “Where is your nanny or the human servants?”
“They went to get food. You can sit and eat with me.” Lunara waves over to a little pink table and ten chairs, most of which have a creepy doll sitting on them. I groan, wondering why the triple goddesses have set me up with this life.
I pour myself another drink as Lunara rambles on about something, and my thoughts drift to the conversation with Vargoth. My unclemustbe wrong. There’s no way I could be chosen. I don’t know how I find myself sitting down and having tea with the little monkey that’s still staring lovingly up at me, like I’m not a monstrous killer that shifts into a wolf that is at least eight times as big as her.
I glance out of the window, the sky descending into darkness, and something tells me I need to be prepared for anything. One thing about my uncle—he doesn’t often lie, to me anyway. My plans to bring down my uncle cannot be changed. The Folkland will be the perfect distraction, and the parties after will include all the enemies, inviting them into the pack lands for my plan to go ahead. Nothing and no one can change this.
I will ensure the alpha is killed, and I will rule before this year ends.
Chapter Three
I wake up with my face planted against a muddy floor, and everything hurts. I lift my sore head, blinking in the dim light of the dungeon I’m apparently locked in. There are two lamplights on the wall, red flames radiating off the metal bars of the cell, and it’s cold. I close my eyes and pray to the Maiden goddess and reopen them.Dammit, that didn’t work.Oh, fuck. It wasn’t a bad dream.
I shakily look at my hands, where the shifter’s blood still marks my skin. I messed up so badly, and now I’m dead. Tannith always said one day I would do something rash and end up in heaps of trouble. She was right, she always is. I do a quick check of my body, seeing my clothes are all fine, just dirty like I’ve been dragged through a puddle, then a bush…and hit with a tree. My golden hair falls in clumps around my shoulders, wet andstained with mud. I pull out a twig to stop it from stabbing me in the eye. Being blind isn’t going to help this situation.
The flames flicker, and I flinch, moving to crawl backwards until I slam into the brick wall at the back of the dungeon. My head throbs as I lift my hand, feeling a lump on the back of my head, and a cut just above my eyebrow is still bleeding. Oh yeah, I was thrown into the bar. The throw didn’t kill me. That’s a shame.
A small ray of sunlight dances in from a barred window a few cells down, and I glance at the cell to my right. Empty.Good.I glance at the cell to my left, and there’s a bundle of a person huddled in a corner.Not so good.I doubt this dungeon is full of nice wolves with pockets full of sweets they don’t mind sharing.
Well, I can try to make light of every situation. I could do with a new friend, considering I’m not likely to be seeing mine ever again. My heart hurts as I think of Tannith. I look over at the stranger and clear my throat. “Hello, any chance you know where we are?”
The man rises from the floor, and I realize he’s old. Like really old actually, and a wolf by the looks of his pale red eyes that are lighter than Bane’s and the other wolf that came in the bar. I can hear his bones creaking as he straightens. Goddesses, I hate my decision-making skills at times. Stab a wolf in the foot?Really, Meredith?I mean, he deserved it, and my happiness over spilling his blood made me smile for a second. The old man hobbles closer and collapses near the bars. “You’re in the Crone lands, in a dungeon cell below the palace, due to be executed tomorrow morning. We both are.”
Fear slams into my heart. “Executed how exactly?” Please say it will be quick and painless. Please, goddesses, I’ll be less sarcastic in my next life. I promise.
“Burnt at the stake, obviously.” He frowns at me like I’m an idiot.
Damn it. That literally sounds like the worst way to die. I groan, rubbing my chilly hands together, and it’s then that I notice my boot’s gone. The one with the hole in it. That’s really annoying because I’ve kept that boot going for six months, only to lose it when I’ve been dragged here. Though I suppose I don’t need two boots when I’m going to be burned at the stake.
“What did you do to get put in here?” I ask.Please, goddess, say he’s a murderer, and then I can edge close enough to the bars where he can give me a quick death.
“I stole money for my family to pay for food and lodging to keep them from the cold,” he nervously whispers, like the walls are listening. Damn it. He sounds like a good guy. He’s not going to murder me. I groan, slamming my head against a brick wall and wincing as it hurts from the bump there. “What about you, little girl?”
