Page 53 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

I glanced up at Mother before taking a sweeping look back. My stomach flipped as the mist swirled straight for us.

‘Hurry. I won’t go till everyone is over that ledge.’

I swallowed, a small part of me impressed by how Raine ran their troops. Wiping my slick hands on my cloak, I gripped the rope and followed, ignoring the thudding in my chest as I glanced up. Mother. The queen who’d spent my childhood in the finest silks with nary a hair out of place. That woman didn’t exist any more. I nodded my approval as I hauled myself after her, pride beating in my chest.

Part of me wanted to look back, check where the fog was, but it wouldn’t do me any good. My shoulders burned and as I blew out a long breath, a dull dagger of pain slammed into my chest. I breathed against it, but agony lanced my body. No. Not now. I couldn’t face the sickness here, on this ledge. Wincing, I kept my gaze firmly on Mother. It was clear her pace had slowed. If the infection took over before we’d gone over the top, I was dead. I cursed as her arms shook, her boots struggling to keep a grip on the sheer rock.

‘Fall and you’ll take me too,’ I called up, desperately trying to keep the strain from my tone.

She was silent for a few moments before setting off again, whispering a quiet, ‘Don’t tempt me.’

The bitter stings of rain pelted my face. Sickness rolled through my guts. The rebels had scampered up the cliff in less than a heartbeat. I blinked. Mother’s body swirled as my head spun. I wanted to ask how much further, but she’d disappeared over the top, a flurry of black-gloved hands gripping her.

I grimaced as my palms burned against the ropes. The rain beat heavier against my face and my trembling fingers slipped. Damn it. The shuddering outlines of the rebels silhouetted against the silver moonlight as they peered over the edge. Bile rose up my throat as the ledge appeared to rise. Gritting my teeth, I forced one hand higher. If I fell now, I’d never see Sorrow till she crossed to the other side. But if I called for help? From fucking rebels?

Grunting, my fingers scrambled against the flints and my heart lurched as I struggled to get leverage when someone grabbed my arm.

‘Can’t let you go before I get that rematch.’

I recognised the dark brown eyes. I tried to force a thankful smile onto my face as Sacha hauled me over the edge, but instead I slipped forward. My body trembling as a trickle of thin, cloying bile spilled out my lips.

‘You need to move, Your Highness,’ Sacha groaned, dragging me up. ‘The fog’s coming.’

Mother had vanished into the cover of a thick forest, Raine tugging her along. There was no point shouting, they’d never hear. Sacha tucked himself under my arm, hoisted me up with a grunt. Another wave of sickness ripped through me as Sacha swore.

My heavy feet flailed, slipping against the ground. Did it writhe like a nest of snakes or had the fog got us? I blinked, narrowing my blurry eyes as a thick forest surrounded us, sharp branches and thorny barbs slicing into the rebel and the king he despised.

I gasped in the cold air, desperate to cool my burning throat. Sacha cursed as my body slumped. I couldn’t stop, though. Reaching up, I clung to him as he gripped my cloak, dragging me across the forest floor.

‘Come. On,’ he cried. ‘You. Stupid. King.’

I wasn’t certain if the fog had found us as shivers racked my body. I swallowed against the sting. I couldn’t die here. I wouldn’t die here. Left a husk by the fog.

My heels dug in and, screaming, I dragged myself up, my knees trembling as Sacha hauled me forward.

‘That’s it, Matthias. Come on.’

My eyes focused on the rebel’s face, the terror in his eyes. Feeling prickled over my flesh and a weak smile tugged up the corner of my mouth.

‘You want to get back to that wife of yours, yeah?’

I nodded, incapable of words, as our breath misted before us. Turning my head, my stomach twisted once more as the swirls of mist curled around the boughs, closing in with each heartbeat.

We lurched forward, not caring as the branches snagged our flesh and tore our clothes. The path was barely passable for one. I could lose Sacha in the blink of an eye. The only sound was the pounding of our boots, the fury of our frantic breaths.

My knees buckled and Sacha grasped my arm as we burst through the tree line. A building lay ahead of us. Mother and Raine rushed towards us, Raine gripping me under the arm as we raced away from the fog.

Huge spires and candlelit windows grew through the gloom. The Void, I realised. I faltered, and Raine gripped harder when a screeching roar broke through the night.

‘Diafol!’ Mother cried. She didn’t even turn for the answer. We all knew only one creature could utter such a desperate cry. Rebels cried from the open doorway, swords raised as ice gripped the back of my neck.

As the beast screamed, my feet pounded, Sacha tearing past, helping Mother. Raine’s grip moved to my elbow as my strength ebbed. A tree split and the cries of the rebels grew more frantic, when⁠—

Raine grunted, their feet stumbling and they tripped, skidding through the gravel. I turned as they rolled onto their front, Mother’s scream carved a pained slash through the night. Raine’s pale gaze met mine as the first glint of bronze eyes peeked from the forest.

Even as my chest heaved, a smile lit up my face. All I had to do was run, follow Mother and allow the fog, the diafol to end Raine. Their eyes widened as though they sensed my thoughts. The taste of revenge poured down my throat like the sweetest mead.

‘Matthias!’