Page 117 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

Evella help me.

Holding Carrie’s gaze had never been easy. I still saw the child sobbing in a dungeon as I held a dagger to her raging heart. My desire to make amends had finally brought me to her family’s door. Then, three years ago, it brought her back to the palace when we sought a nanny for our boys.

‘She’ll only open the door for the children,’ Carrie said, before offering a wave and running off to join the other servants as they prepared for the birthday picnic.

Settling Grace against me, I savoured the warmth of her tiny body, kissed the soft down of her dark hair. Lifting my hand, I held it a breath from the door. My shoulders slumped. Could I really ask Sorrow to put aside her grief and join us?

It’d only been a week and although we’d had a growing sense of dread for months, his death still cut us more than we could put into words.

It was the way Pablo had stayed longer before the fire, how his legs stumbled when he tried to sit beside his Sorrow. He gave up his space curled up on the bed to his daughter, Rosa. Then, when his mate, his cubs and those who’d come after started to bring him his barely touched food, we’d known he wasn’t going to stay with us much longer.

But that morning, when we’d found him, forever sleeping by the fire, Sorrow had shut herself away, only opening the door to feed Grace, before going back into herself. I’d stood by the door, my heart ripping as her muted sobs carried through the wood. But I knew my Sorrow. Knew she needed to grieve him in her own way.

But as a bundle of grey fur growled, snarling and tugging at my trouser leg, I knew a part of that damn wolf still lived on.

I shook out my leg, but the terror gripped tighter, snarled louder.

‘Diego!’ Like his grandfather, he ignored me completely, and I sighed as the rather expensive fabric ripped.

I raised my hand. I’d knock on the count of three.

One.

Two.

My hand fell forward, narrowly skimming Sorrow’s jaw as the door opened.

She raised her chin, a brow quirked, and my heart soared as the whisper of a smirk tugged up the corner of her mouth.

‘Grace is hungry,’ I lied, holding up our youngest.

She tilted her head, and I couldn’t help but smile.

‘No, she isn’t,’ she said, stepping forward, Rosa taking her usual spot by her queen’s side. ‘But I am. Is the picnic ready yet?’

‘Almost,’ I said, stepping in line with her, thankful she couldn’t see the relief on my face. ‘Asher and the kids are loading it up in the entrance hall.’

‘And there’s definitely cheese?’

I groaned. ‘You’ll never let me live that down, will you?’

She turned that perfect head in my direction, a stray strand of darkest hair slipping down and I tucked it behind her ear.

‘You swore I’d have at least four varieties and when we got to the beach?’

I sighed. ‘I forgot. It was a different time. I had a lot on my mind.’

‘I only had cheese on mine.’

‘It must be the effect all those mice had on you.’

She slapped my arm gently and I laughed.

‘And tuck that damn shirt in.’

I scowled, hastily shoving the white shirt back. How she always knew, despite the loss of her sight, was nothing short of a miracle… or perhaps she did possess a third gift like Glesni after all.

As we entered the entrance hall, she halted and dragged in a deep breath. Rosa nuzzled her queen and Sorrow ran her fingers through the wolf’s soft fur. I groaned as tiny teeth tore into my already tattered trouser leg.