Page 68 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

My body twitched, unsure how to move at first. Then a wolf whined, yelping as snarls rent the air, and with dread thrumming through my veins, my feet finally acted.

Figures, first hazy and blurry, cleared as I squinted, my heart slammed into my chest. Matthias raised a sword. I stumbled over a rock; a scream caught in my throat as he brought his blade down…

Straight through the ribs of a wolf.

Not Pablo. Not my wolf, my mind scattered as I slipped once more, the skin tearing from my palms as I drew myself up. Lungs burned as I rushed forward, watching the hazy form of my husband slam his boot into the flailing creature and send it tumbling into the brush.

A scream died in my throat as my gifts swirled through my chest. I’d kill him, destroy him. Raze the king of Asmar from existence.

Then Matthias crumpled, his knees slamming down as a mass of grey fur limped into focus towards me. Relief flooded my chest. Pablo! Pablo lived! Matthias wouldn’t kill him. My eyes closed, a weak smile breaking on my face that slipped as quickly as it had formed.

Gasping, my steps slowed. The wolf hung his head, his paws in a blooming puddle of dark, sticky blood, when I remembered the single word Matthias had said when we’d first heard the scream.

Mother.

Forcing my core shut, I stepped towards Matthias as he clutched the hand of the mother he’d always adored. I hid my horror as the scene came into focus. Shivers flooded me as I took in the mess of Isbeth’s shoulder – the flesh torn from it, muscle and sinew glistening in the weak sun as she gasped for air. Matthias’s fingers hovered above the wound. His wide eyes met mine.

‘Heal her.’ His voice cracked as he uttered his plea, his expression shattering as I shook my head. ‘Please… please heal…’

My mouth worked, the words a cracked whisper as they left my lips.

‘I can’t.’ I swallowed. ‘I’m… I’m no healer.’

No, I took in her tattered body, the deep gashes to her beautiful face, the metallic stench of her pooling blood. I’m no healer – I’m the cause of this. Visions of the feral wolves Pablo had battled as my rogue threads had escaped swarmed my fractured mind. I’d lost control. And now I watched, helpless as the former Queen of Asmar lay dying before me. I glanced at my husband, the muscles in his jaw shaking as he tried to smother his panic.

Isbeth raised her trembling hand and stroked the jaw of her firstborn, scarlet smearing, her rasping breaths deepened.

‘I’m here, Mum.’ He half-sobbed, gathering her in his arms. ‘I’m here.’

She cried as he settled her, eyes scrunched tight against the pain as I knelt next to them. Pablo held back, his amber eyes darting between us, blood of the feral wolf staining his maw.

A weak groan slipped from Isbeth’s lips, guttural and raw. Her eyes snapped open, locking on mine, and I shuddered. A tear spilled down my face as I tried to smile. She raised her bloody hand, gripping the flesh across her neck. ‘Pr…’ her eyes scrunched tight, back arched and Isbeth gurgled. Matthias hushed her, gently stroking the hair from her eyes. ‘Protect… him…’

‘Till my dying breath,’ I whispered, clutching her hand. For the briefest moment, a smile passed over her pale lips as though she knew I’d keep her son safe. Matthias smoothed her cheek, shuddering as he held back his tears. I squeezed her fingers, breathing hard as I held back the burning pressing against my eyes. She turned her shattered gaze back to her son, lifted her hand, brushed the hair from his eyes.

‘Un… unruly as your…’ Her smile faded, hand fell and Matthias grasped it, raised it once more to his face. A warm breeze ruffled her hair and Isbeth exhaled her final shuddering breath. Tears stung as the light in her dark eyes, once so fierce, faded.

Matthias stilled.

The world halted, a meek pause as Isbeth Elmswood made her final crossing to the other side. The only sound from Matthias was the hitch in his breath as Pablo, whining softly, laid his head on my husband’s shoulder. I joined them, placing my cheek against his other side.

Blowing out a shaky breath, Matthias laid his mother down, brushed her lids closed and kissed her bloodied forehead. Running my fingers through Pab’s fur, I tilted my head as Matthias removed a chain from her neck. Whatever jewel she’d worn was crusted with blood. Matthias turned, grasping my hands and placing the jewel within.

‘It has to be you. Only you,’ he said, swallowing and closing my fingers around the jewel. ‘The ruby. The control. It’s yours, Sorrow. I’m yours.’

The jagged edges of the jewel sparked within the cocoon of my hand. Ruby? Control? Something flashed red within my hands, and I suddenly understood what it was that I held in my hand. Warmth invaded my being, flew through my veins and my pulse thundered as I nodded, placing the chain over my head. Isbeth’s ruby fragment – the heart of a God – pressed against me. A sliver of vengeance, of fury and ire, and it belonged to me. And with it, I’d been granted a gift beyond anything the Gods could bestow.

Matthias.

I laced my fingers with his, his ragged breaths blowing the wisps of my hair, my eyes shut so tight stars burst in the blood red mist of my sight.

I refused to look at the jewel again. I may not have seen eye to eye with Isbeth, but she’d loved her children with a savage devotion. I’d witnessed the pain flickering over her face each time she’d bid her eldest son farewell, every time she visited him at the Keep. I ran my thumb over his hand, forcing my eyes to open. Matthias trembled slightly, his wide gaze set on his mother as though he waited for her to sit up, ruffle his hair, pull him into an embrace. The moments passed and silence pressed in. A lone tear rolled down Matthias’s face. I should say something, anything. But no words could soothe the rawness of his grief.

Pab laid his chin on Isbeth’s tattered chest, his amber eyes set on Matthias. Matthias’s quivering fingers left his mother, absently scratching the wolf’s ear.

‘I…’ he dragged back a harsh breath. His voice barely a whisper. ‘I didn’t tell her I loved her. I… didn’t…’

The king broke. A ragged cry swept through him and I clutched him, pulled him close. Pablo nuzzled his neck and Matthias grasped him, grasped us both.