Page 114 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

I tugged on Pablo and we stalked forward. That damn God had made a deal with me. If he failed to honour it, I’d tear his heart out myself.

‘Evella,’ he said, his voice didn’t come immediately, and when he spoke, it sounded thin and tired. ‘Good to see you. Alive.’

The Goddess he’d created, the one he’d failed to destroy us for, huffed. ‘Vyrus.’

Pablo led me before the God. ‘Bring him back,’ I demanded.

Evella sighed. ‘Sorrow, I⁠—’

‘Don’t,’ I warned Evella. ‘Don’t.’

She let out an exasperated sigh. ‘But⁠—’

‘No,’ I cried. Evella may not be able to revive the one I loved, but Vyrus wouldn’t leave this temple in one piece unless he honoured the vow he’d made. ‘We had a deal, God. A deal.’

He barked out a laugh. ‘And who are you to defy the Gods, sweetheart? Do you have any idea how much power runs through⁠—’

‘Power I granted you, God.’

A hand pressed against my arm. I didn’t need to see to know it was Evella.

‘I tried, Sorrow. You’ve no idea how hard I tried.’ Her hand lay against my chin, tipped my head till her glow pierced the shadows of my eyes. ‘It won’t work. I only wish to protect you. Protect you from the pain. I have tried.’

‘I know,’ I said, dragging my chin out of her grip, tilting it to where I felt the God stood. ‘But he hasn’t tried.’

Evella sighed. ‘Vyrus? The God of Vengeance?’

‘Not vengeance,’ I hissed.

‘Creation,’ the God and I said as one.

‘I’ve had enough of fate, enough of being forced to play cards in a game I never asked to join. We’ve been denied our time over and over. So damn fate. Fuck her. From now on, I control my life. My destiny. We made a bond, Vyrus. Your heart for my husband. I upheld my side. If you fail me, I will destroy you. You’re not quite as immortal as you’d like us to believe.’ My voice shivered despite the warmth of the bitter sun. Hands took mine, and my shivers receded as a voice as sweet as honey entered my thoughts.

‘He may not be the same, my Sorrow.’ Evella gripped my fingers. ‘He’s mine to keep safe. He’s passed over. His heart is mine.’

I held a stare I could no longer see. ‘Matthias’s heart will never be yours.’ I swallowed as her fingers loosened. I turned my attention back to the god I’d help raise from the dead. ‘Vyrus. You promised me – my husband. Our time. You will return what fate denied us. The chance to be the girl and her boy.’

He clicked his tongue. ‘You’d be a formidable God, Villente.’

‘Deny me my husband and you’ll find out exactly how formidable.’

Vyrus took my hand.

‘I did promise. Evella and I will do all we can. I’ll make sure of it.’ He squeezed my fingers. ‘If it works, then this is farewell, sweetheart. My child.’

I nodded, unable to forge words. If this failed…

A flash exploded, my skin prickled as gold shimmered at the edges of the shadow covering my vision, and the temple exploded into a cacophony of echoey prayers as the Gods finally returned to their thrones and crossed to the other side. I prayed that they were set on retrieving my husband’s soul.

The wolf grabbed my skirts, tugged, and I grasped at him, knowing who he led me towards. My heart hammered as we passed over the rubble, my feet shuffling and sliding, the space suddenly feeling more vast than it had been when I’d still possessed my fading sight, till finally he halted. Placing his maw gently over my wrist, he guided me down to my husband.

A sob wrenched from me as I traced Matthias’s stubble, his skin already cold. So fucking cold. He lay on his front, his right hand severed, sticking to the pool of viscous blood. The wind ruffled his wild hair and I threaded my fingers through it, desperate to feel something, a movement, a flicker.

Had the fucking Gods defied me? Gone, and taken Matthias with them. My trembling hands slipped down, pressed against his back, pushing, willing him to take a breath. A single breath to tell me I hadn’t lost him.

A cry broke through me as I slumped against him. Enfys settled behind me, wrapped herself across me as grief finally claimed me, piercing my soul. Boots scuffed the ashy ruins as our captain sat beside us, placed his hand over mine as I clutched the only one I could ever love.

At first, I thought it was the wolf as he nuzzled my neck. The movement so slight I almost missed it. I paused, my damned sobs shaking me and I cursed as they refused to abate. Had Matthias…?