I killed all these Bonded. With a flick of my wrist.
They may not have been ready to accept me as their queen, but they were my own people.
“Seewhat she is!” Jonah’s voice violates the silence.
I flinch. Of everyone I killed, why didhehave to survive? Anassa rumbles beneath me.
He hurls a finger toward me, his breaths ragged. “This is what Killian warned us about—an uncontrollable evil who will destroy us all!”
Jonah whips his wolf around, heading for an arena exit. His remaining followers flee with him.
A few people on my side start to pursue, but the thought of more violence makes me woozy. Over the bonds, I direct an order to let them go.
This is not how I wanted to persuade people to join my side, to put their faith in me as their leader.
Not through violence and fear.
The shadows start to recede, slinking back to where they belong. Cold shock is taking over my body, cooling the fury that drew them out.
Through our bond, Anassa projects soothing energy. A soft humming settles over my frayed nerves slowly, smoothly. Everyone is watching me; I can’t let them see me crumble.
Stark and Cratos step up next to me. Cratos nudges Anassa briefly with his nose before standing tall and menacing.
“Phylax, help move the wolves’ bodies,” Stark orders. My eyes linger on the corpses of the people I’ve killed.
I recognize the young woman closest to me. She usually wore her strawberry-blond hair in a spiraling braid.
“Meryn,” Anassa urges.“Follow Stark’s lead. They wait for your command.”
“Right.”I swallow hard.
“I swear that Jonah and his followers will answer for their treason,” I say, my voice containing a strength I do not feel.
A man lies close to her with shockingly blue eyes that now stare forward unseeing.
“What else?”My mind is blank.
“They were about to receive their first orders as Bonded,” Anassa prompts me.
I cough, mouth dry as chalk. “In the meantime, we still have our duty to the rest of the country. You will receive your orders regarding deployment to the front lines tomorrow, after… after I have consulted with military leadership.”
I watch numbly as the Bonded bow, then I turn on Anassa’s back to leave the arena. They listened to me, sure, and they bowed, but their fear emanates over the pack bonds.
A fear of me.
Of the devastating power that jumped from my veins.
Anassa and I slip out of the arena, so many eyes on me. I keep my head high, but the moment I know people can’t see me, my vision goes blurry. I let the tears come. I’m not even sure where she’s taking us, and I don’t care—I just need to beaway.
Away from all those people whom I’ve let down and terrified.
Away from the ones whose lives I took.
“You should not be alone,” Anassa warns me.“Not when there are people who want your crown, and certainly not in your current condition.”
I startle when I realize she’s led me to Stark’s office. Slipping off her back, I let myself in. This is as good enough a place to fall apart as any.
Only once we’re inside, the door shut behind us, do I let myself fully break apart.
