Page 56 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

He dropped his cigarillo, crushing it with his foot. The acrid smoke tickled my throat as tears struck my eyes. He approached, his handsome features coming into shaky focus, a sneer on his lips. I raised a brow as he glanced down, eyes widening a fraction when he found Pablo by my side.

‘Ah.’ He moved back, placed his hand on the well-worn handle. ‘That’s why they call you the wolf queen, then? Thought it was a funny name.’

‘Were you expecting me to be hairier? Howling at the full moon?’

He barked out a laugh as the door opened inwards and he indicated the gap.

‘You really expect us to allow you access to our archives? Two centuries’ worth of our history?’ The man with a thick sandy moustache paused, his head turning in my direction as Vyrus crossed his arms, mumbling under his breath as I stood in the doorway. I was past wondering how he’d found the second in command before me. He was Vyrus after all.

‘Ah, there you are, Queen Sorrow,’ Vyrus called, sketching a low bow, and I clenched the fabric of my hem as I attempted a smile.

‘Queen?’ the man blustered, his cheeks turning red. ‘If you think we’re going to call you Your Highness, you’re about to be very disappointed.’

‘Good,’ I said, delighting in his snort of derision. ‘I’ve never really known how to react to pompous titles. Sorrow is fine.’

I raised a brow as he came into focus. His arms loosened as he looked at the tall woman standing next to him. ‘I’m Jeremiah, Raine’s second. What the hell do you want?’

‘Help. Allies. We can⁠—’

Jeremiah’s laugh drowned out my words and my nails dug into the table.

‘You expect us to work with Elmswoods? After last time?’ I clenched my jaw as he laughed again. ‘I suppose you would come crawling back now. We won’t allow you to put a single rebel at risk. Not without assurances.’

I steadied my breath. They truly despised Raul for turning his back on them, even after his punishments. Gods, I had to hope my words were enough to convince them. ‘I might be an Elmswood, but I was a Villente first. What assurances would you like? That you’ll be rewarded with Vyrium? Land? Anomalies?’

Jeremiah took a moment, set his gaze on mine. ‘That’d be a start⁠—’

‘And what assurances do you think you’ll earn at the hands of the empress?’

Behind me, the door opened, whispers were hushed as Jeremiah’s eyes flicked over to the doorway, the rebels around the table instantly straightening. A figure, broad and radiating power, strode next to Jeremiah. I furrowed my brows for a moment, wondering what the flame-haired newcomer was doing.

‘Signing,’ I said, heat spreading across my cheeks praying they could read my lips. ‘I’m sorry. I can’t sign.’

‘I can,’ Vyrus said, his hands moving as he spoke. ‘This, sweetheart, is Raine. Their leader.’

My heart skipped as I turned to Raine and nodded in their direction. They raised their blurry hand; a sign they wanted me to continue. My throat dried. This leader. This was the person I had to persuade and if my damned stubborn mouth ran away with itself, I was dooming a whole continent. A small scuffle erupted outside the door as I tamped down my frustration and spoke, the God signing my words.

‘I stand here not as a queen, or an Asmaran. I don’t even plead for aid as a Drufaeran. I come here as a woman who has spent her life at the mercy of one man or another.’

Raine crossed their arms and inhaled a deep breath.

‘And I’d finally like to be free. A freedom I’ll never taste until we eliminate the empress. We’ve heard the rumours from Carush. Every one of us in this room has felt the sickness in the pit of their stomach as we learn each atrocity she’s acted out on innocent people. I believe we should have acted earlier, halted her before she had the opportunity to cross the sea and hand out her depravity on our shores. The Shuteran Alliance refused to act as it should. Even though they were united in recognising her barbarity, it was acted out on strangers. People an ocean away are easy to disregard. We don’t know their faces; we don’t see their pain. It’s been all too easy to turn away.

‘She’s here now. Here.’

Raine glanced to the door as voices were raised and shook their head. I turned slightly, aware of eyes burning into me, but I had to focus. Something told me I’d only get a single strike of this match and I’d be damned if I’d let them turn away from us.

‘We didn’t act, so now it’s our turn to face her slaughter, her destruction. The last time I saw my husband, he was on the shore of his own beach, a thrall under her command. His own thoughts and actions lost to her whims. That is what you risk. That is why we need to unite.’

I tried to gauge Raine’s expression as they silently regarded me, but swirls marred their features.

‘So you can demand assurances. You can dig your heels in until you secure every reward you’ve undoubtedly earned, but negotiations will cost us time. And time is not our ally in this war.’ My voice broke. I gripped the table, swallowed down the tears. ‘So yes, I come here to plead, not only for Asmar, but Drufaera, and Itoras and Ostos, Trespia and every scrap of life on this land. I stand here as one of the blessed. I represent all the mortals whom I love with every beat of my heart.’ If I failed to find the God’s heart, my words could sway our fates. ‘The only assurance I can offer is hope. A single shred of hope that if we unite, Alliance, rebels, Sisters, Brothers, we can defeat her.’

The single lamp on the table flickered. Raine’s features focused for a heartbeat, their expression unreadable, and I lowered my head, trying to shake the burning sensation of eyes boring into me.

‘So that’s it,’ I said, my heart hammering. ‘We’re free of Romero. Once we’re free of her, too, we can shape a new world. A fairer one. But we’ll never get there unless we unite. So, Raine… hope—’ I raised my eyes and glanced around the silent room.

Raine exhaled and stared pointedly at Vyrus. I caught his nod through the swirls of my sight. Raine raised their hands while Vyrus repeated their words.