Page 35 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

Hawk snorted. ‘You think that lot will get off their backsides and help?’

‘It’s in their best interests. And as someone prepared to lay down my life in service to Evella—’ An even louder snort escaped him. Enfys clutched her necklace where the many-branched tree of the Goddess lay. ‘My dream was to be a healer and serve Evella. I can confirm they’ll want to do the right thing.’

‘But why him?’ Asher inclined his head towards Hawk.

‘Because,’ I couldn’t hide the exhaustion any longer, ‘you carry a huge amount of resentment towards the rebels. And, as you’ve pointed out, Hawk has already proven he can defend me. As he has no ties to any throne, he can speak for those of us not blessed with money or titles.’

‘I know how much your queen means to you, Captain. You don’t need to fear for her. I’ll guard her like the treasure she is.’ Hawk pushed his long, dark hair away from his face. I still wasn’t entirely sure why he’d agreed to accompany me, but his eyes had lit up when he’d learnt of our intended destination. ‘Join me for a drink. We’ll devise a plan together.’

My brows knitted together as I shook my head. ‘I’ll also have Pablo.’

Hawk obviously wanted to keep his gifts secret. Anomalies were often forced to work or serve as guards. A Deviant would never have a moment’s reprieve. Enfys only had a fraction of say in her future as she was royalty. Hawk wouldn’t want a room full of advisors and military leaders knowing his secret. A secret I was willing to keep, as long as he came with me and I could persuade him to admit what lurked under his skin.

This was my chance, my opportunity to be alone with him. So why did my skin still prickle as I sensed the heat of his stare on my face?

Asher rubbed his jaw. ‘If anything happens to her, I’ll kill you myself.’

Hawk snorted. ‘I’ll drink to that!’

I dragged my gaze away from him. In the morning we’d be off. One step closer to Asmar. One step closer to Matthias.

CHAPTER 15

MATTHIAS

Freedom from Vyrus’s shackles lay in gaining the allegiance of his Gods. Evella swore she’d protect the fledglings’ hearts. She collected them, one by one, to hang from her tree. Their powers seeped into her gilded veins, her protection into theirs. When she was certain of their alliance, she set her sights back on Eusis.

​— ​REDACTED VERSE FROM THE CHRONICLES OF EVELLA

The bower remains eerily silent. My breath mists before me as a frigid fog curls around the wilting blooms. The silence swamps me. I stamp my feet on the frost-strewn lawn, and the crunching echoes. Taunts me. My chest tightens further as I search for her. Search for my Sorrow. It’s been nights since I last saw her here, when I’d tried to warn her I was coming, to not trust a word from my broken lips. Fear coats me, slicing my flesh as I cast my glance around once more. Why isn’t she here? I’d welcomed the lull of sleep each night, knowing a fragment of our souls collided within the bower. But since I’d tried to warn her about my journey, she’d not returned. It was what I wanted. Surely? So why did my chest shatter as though my heart was nothing more than glass? My eyes close as frustration wells within, spreading, surging.

Glancing down, I gasp. Blood, thick and inky seeps from my broken palms. Swallowing the pain, I stare around at the devastation. The bower, so beautiful, so fragile, so completely perfect, is no more. This corner of the world that was ours has been spoiled and as I turn over my trembling hands, torn to shreds by thorns, I know only one person is to blame.

I am.

I am the fallen king who has desecrated, destroyed and forever tainted a place of pure beauty. This is why my Sorrow won’t come. This is why I’ve lost her.

I scream into the icy void. Each jagged barb of my pain spilling from me until my burning lungs empty. Heaving, I turn, swallowing the agony as I stand alone once more. I fill my lungs, ready to scream…

‘So dramatic, Elmswood.’ I spin, relief flooding me as Sorrow stands against the archway, her nose and cheeks pink from the cold, a rare smile on her lips. I close my eyes, ready to fly into her arms. Cover her with kisses. Not stop until⁠—

The scent of sizzling bacon awakened me. I dragged my hand down my numb face, shivering in the fragile dawn. The fractured images from my dreams faded all too quickly. I grabbed my head as though I could force them to remain. The images of Sorrow, so stark, so visceral, already lost. A shaky exhale spilled from my frozen lips.

As much as it pained me, my dreams may be the only safe way I’d ever see her again.

Sitting up, I glanced over to the fire. Mother added sausages to a huge pan. As though she sensed me, she raised her head, squinting through the steaming haze, her face lighting up as she saw me. Instinctively, I returned her smile before remembering how she’d rescued me, the company she now kept. Dropping my smile and turning away, my stomach gave a traitorous rumble. The scents drifting across the camp proved I still needed food, so I forced the grin back. Running my fingers through the tangles of my hair, I approached the fire, where my mother – of all people – fed the camp.

Raine strode up, grabbing a plate from her and laughing as she slapped their arm away. A part of my chest constricted as they placed a hand on the crook of her elbow, a strange warmth to their eyes. How could she be so easy around them? Father was little more than a spectre after The Alliance had condemned him. Had she truly found forgiveness within her heart for the person who’d robbed her of her husband? Her children? Something about the familiarity of their touch had me reaching for a sword no longer slung over my hip. Mother’s head flicked in my direction. Raine noticed me. A grimace sliced across their face before they turned and walked away.

I ignored the rebels, stepping over the log.

‘Morning,’ Mother said, offering her cheek. I kissed it, more out of habit and an empty stomach than any fondness for her at this moment. ‘The next plate is yours. Why don’t you sit down?’

She angled her pointed chin towards where the felled logs circled the roaring flames. The same logs where the rebels sat either pretending I didn’t exist or glaring at me with pure venom. My stomach sank at the sight of them. If anyone saw me with these rebels, this damn Insurgence, The Alliance would strip me of my crown in a heartbeat.

After the last great war, when the battle-weary leaders came together to create The Alliance in an effort to bring peace to Eusis, a number of nobles from across Shutera grew increasingly frustrated as the new laws and regulations were laid out.

They’d fought alongside men and women who had nothing but pitchforks from their farms and valour in their hearts. They’d broken bread with those they’d once seen as lesser… common. Drank with them, played cards, bled and died alongside them. And what did they gain through their brutal sacrifice?