Both stone circles near these “protected cliffs” had been removed from our never-ending ritual trek.
Because of the two-story residence we stood in front of now.
The Belfast House…
It loomed before me. Like a curse.
Why had Sea stopped us here?
Made me look at the place where my entire life had fallen apartwhen our queen was missing and possibly drowned at the bottom of a lake.
“What does this place have to do with finding our…” I started to ask.
Only to trail off when I, too, noticed what had likely made Sea stop walking in front of the place I only ever saw in nightmares.
“If the house doesn’t belong to the Belfast Priest anymore, why’s there smoke wisping out of the chimney?”
“And a car parked in the driveway?” Sea added.
We both stared at the residence, putting two and two together.
Then Sea asked, “Do you think she might have…”
I tore off, running toward the house before he could finish the sentence.
Only to slow when I reached the driveway, where one of those sleek, electric cars that only city folk drive was parked in the gravel out front.
It wasn’t hesitation that slowed my steps, though. It was the smell.
Unmistakable and potent.
Heat. There was no doubt about it.
My heart squeezed as if a fist had wrapped around it.
Our Flower had finally gone into heat.
Inside a house with another male!
Suddenly, the ocean’s roar was no longer behind mebut inside my ears.
“Wild, wait…” I heard Sea order.
Sea. The True King, my father, and every other Cursed King since the time of Mairinua had sworn a blood vow to obey. But I couldn’t bring myself to heed him.
The world had turned red.
Knowing she was in there. In full heat with another.
The next thing I knew, instead of holding back as commanded, I was at the entrance of the meeting house, grabbing the handle. The door was locked.
It didn’t matter. One wolf-backed kick and that barrier was done.
“Wild!” Sea called out again. “Wild, stop. Hold on!”
The True King was the one who couldn’t control his wolf. But in this case, I couldn’t control my human.
I tore toward the stairs, planning to take them two at a time and rip our Flower away from whatever male had been nearby when she went into the heat meant for her three kings.
