Page 103 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

‘A world where each life is valued for the blessing, the wonder they are. Where no child is expendable,’ they signed.

‘A world of love…’

‘Peace…’

‘Equality,’ we signed together.

Raine held their hand out. I glanced at it. At the hand I’d considered belonged to the enemy. The hand that played a part in Father’s fall. And I grasped it. Grasped them as a promise reflected in their eyes. Then we crossed our arms as we looked out across the Whispering Sea.

Today we shaped a new world. Not me, not an alliance, but us. My mother, Gods how it burned to think of her, spent years uttering swords first and consequences later. I swore on the soul of Evella I’d not fail my Sorrow this time.

My heart swelled as we laid our hands in the centre. Palm covered hand one by one till the people of our world had a plan. We shook and I blew out a breath, a tentative smile on my lips as I brushed the hair from my face, facing the bruised sea.

Enfys shivered as she stood next to me. I wrapped my arm around her, placed a kiss onto her furrowed brow.

She turned to face me. ‘Promise we’ll save her?’ Tears burned behind my eyes at the thought of what that woman was doing to Sorrow. ‘I’ve only just got her back in my life, Matthias. I can’t lose her too.’

I failed to place a reassuring smile on my face as the wolf slipped beneath my fingers. ‘I know the feeling, En. But I swear, while there’s a single breath left in my body, I won’t falter. We’ve all been denied too much and Sorrow deserves her peace. She deserves us. So, yes, Enfys, I promise we’ll bring her back to you. To us.’

Sniffing, she nodded, her hand grasping the tree pendant. I was about to ask her about it when Raine grabbed my arm, spinning me around, their eyes wide.

‘Look,’ they signed, pointing out to sea.

I squinted in the direction of their finger, scouring the waves but seeing nothing but the swell of grey. I shook my head, glancing back at the rebel.

‘Vyrus,’ they spelled, and a stone slammed into my chest as I spotted the God stalking across the sea.

Enfys stilled. ‘Is he… walking? Walking across the water?’

I gripped my hair, cursing as the waves swallowed him. If he got to the volcano first? He was a god, a god fighting for us, but I still wasn’t certain about his motives. We could still unwittingly unleash the final days of Eusis if he clung to his nefarious dreams.

I cursed as every eye on the beach stared over the sea. His lack of patience could cost us everything.

‘He’s an Anomaly?’ Enfys asked, and I gripped her shoulders, turned Evella’s most devout student towards me.

‘No.’ Grumbles and shouts echoed across the beach as the God disappeared. ‘And I don’t want you to panic, but…’

I glanced at Raine as they signed random swear words.

‘He’s our secret weapon. A weapon about to give away our entire plan.’ The solitary boat bobbed against the waves and I knew what I needed to do.

Enfys gasped, her eyes wide. ‘A Deviant?’

‘No,’ I said, searching for Asher. ‘Vyrus.’

An odd smirk hooked up the corner of her mouth. She blinked. ‘Vyrus?’ A laugh burst out of her, so like Sorrow. ‘Don’t be silly⁠—’

‘I’m not.’ I placed a final kiss to her head, watching the blood seep from her cheeks. ‘But it’s fine. He’s on our side.’

I think.

I spotted the black coils and grabbed my captain.

‘He’s going to give us away!’ he cried.

‘I know. Do you trust me?’

My dearest friend narrowed his eyes, crossed his arms.