“I did,” Victor admitted, lifting the fist holding the necklace to his heart.
“Huh?”
Everand smirked. “The canary diamond hides a locket. I sneaked a peek as a child and found two portraits. For a long time, I thought I had a long-lost brother no one talked about.”
No, the old queen had carried the portraits of her two grandsons.
“I will need time…to consider everything I’ve seen,” Victor announced.
“Understandable,” Everand agreed.
It was on the tip of Hugo’s tongue to ask if that meant he and Everand were free now, but he caught that overeager appendage between his teeth to hold the words in.
“But I would like to return one day…”
“Visit anytime you want. I just request that you don’t remove anything. The code to the lock is the year you were born,” Everand replied.
Victor nodded once and put the necklace over his head. He tucked the pendant inside his shirt, protecting it while keeping it against his skin.
“Does this mean that I met your requirements? We’re both free to return to Frostbourne?” Everand prodded.
Hugo poked the prince in the side. He might have had the same question, but Everand could have framed it a little nicer.
“Oh, yes. You’re free to go. I’ll send a messenger to King Hubert. We’ll start a conversation soon.” Victor’s gaze shifted to Hugo, and one corner of his mouth tipped higher. “I’ll also include that part of the credit for the upcoming peace talks goes to Mr. Baker. He’s the one who helped me realize that it’s time to let old wounds heal. Maybe that will convince the king and queen that their soon-to-be son-in-law isn’t so common after all.”
Hugo opened his mouth to thank King Victor for his efforts, but the words never left his throat. Captain Ryze and the other two guards jumped forward, placing their bodies in front of their king, their swords drawn.
“What the—” Hugo gasped, backpedaling.
“Come here! Hurry!” Victor shouted.
The words were barely out of his mouth when the low rumbling growl rolled out of the nearby woods. Hugo swungaround to see an entire pack of wolves slowly creeping from the shadows of the nearby tree line. The beasts were enormous, far bigger than average wolves. They were almost the size of ponies. Their black-and-brown fur stood up, and menacing fangs dripped saliva.
Hugo’s legs trembled, and goose bumps rushed down his arms. He and Everand were too close to the wolves and too far from Captain Ryze and the other guards. If they ran, it would take nothing for the wolves to catch them before they could reach the guards. Yet, the guards could still use their magic to get King Victor to safety.
They’d been so close. King Victor had released them and promised to work toward peace with Branem. His brothers and all his other countrymen and women were safe. No more war. He’d even started conjuring up images of returning to his courtship of Everand. A hard-won happily ever after.
But now there were wolves.
Wolves that could kill them all. Victor could escape with his guards, but if Everand died here today, war would follow. Their happily ever after destroyed by fangs and claws.
Everand’s fingers bit into Hugo’s wrist as he tried to pull him back. “It’s okay, Hugo. Just move closer to Victor and his men. I’ll take care of this?—”
“No!” Hugo shouted. He’d snapped. He’d officially had enough of this bullshit. It was time to take control of his fate and not leave it up to a bunch of royals and wolves.
Hugo jerked his wrist free of Everand’s grip and stomped in the direction of the wolves, moving in front of Everand and Victor.
“I am tired of the nonsense,” Hugo roared. As he spoke, he extended his arms out to his sides, holding his empty hands palms up. A ring of glass formed around all of them, almost as if he was placing them in a protective dome, separate from thewolves. “If it’s not bloody spinning wheels, it’s Wulian spies and kidnappings and ruining the very best party of my life. Not to mention sitting three days in a dungeon without a proper bath and being used as a pawn in a potential war that could see my family killed. And do you know why? It’s because I wanted someone who wanted me. Who sawmeand lovedme. I didn’t go asking for a prince. But I got one, and no one is taking him from me.”
As he spoke the last word, Hugo flicked his fingers, and the glass dome that had been growing over them shattered into jagged shards that now hovered in the air. He held thousands of sharp glass knives in the air, pointing directly at the wolves. The glass glittered and brightly reflected the late-day sun.
Hugo’s gaze remained cold and merciless. He wasn’t a hunter or a killer, but he was a protector. Nothing was going to take Everand away from him.
“Someone once said I create beautiful things because I have a beautiful soul. Well, I can create ugly, violent things too for protecting those I love.”
The growls from the wolves quieted, and several even retreated, their ears tucked low to their heads. An enormous wolf stepped out of the woods. He was completely black except for a thin stripe of white across his chest. Its large ears were pinned against its head, and it bared enormous fangs. The vicious growl that rattled from its chest chilled Hugo to the bone, but he refused to waver.
“Hugo?” Everand’s voice was a warm embrace, wrapping around him from behind. A hand came to rest in the center of his back, rubbing gently. “It’s okay.”
