Page 77 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

Since we were children, since the pretty girl with the dark eyes who lurked in the shadows of Romero’s keep took a chance on me, I’d known I loved her. First, as a friend, a real friend. How it became more, I’m not sure. I can’t pinpoint the moment Sorrow went from being the friend I adored to the other piece of my soul, the one it was impossible to breathe without. I’d always thought we had all the time in the world. That as we grew, we’d reveal our feelings and the day I returned to Asmar, she’d come with me.

Then, I watched as her horse reared up. How Sorrow had flown through the air. I still feel sick recalling the dull crash of her skull against the bottom bough. My sobs as I raced to her, terrified to touch her as she lay – lifeless, I thought – on the grass, blood matting her hair and spilling into the already stained grass.

The days she lay in her chambers and Romero’s refusal to allow me in.

‘The girl is too sick. She may die,’ he’d sneered. ‘She despises you for what you’ve done and will not see you. Not now. Not ever.’

It tore me to shreds, but I never stopped trying to reach her. The day he told me I was to leave, my father was dead and I was to take my throne — with Romero’s guidance, of course — I refused to leave without saying farewell to Sorrow. I’d been beaten so badly when a guard followed me into the hidden corridors and still, I wouldn’t go. They’d hauled me away, dragged me kicking and screaming into the carriage as I finally left Drufaera and the only one I could love behind.

And now she was here in my life once more. My wife. Gazing around at the trees surrounding us as her wolf returned, licking his bloody maw.

And she stank. We both did.

‘Do you think that wolf can find us some water? Somewhere to clean up?’

She blew a long breath as she searched my face and nodded. I knew her head was somewhere else and anxiety gnawed at me. I knew when her heart held secrets.

She patted her pocket, held out her hand. Smiling, I slipped my filthy fingers around hers and followed the wolf.

I whistled low, turning in a circle, taking in the underground waterfall the wolf had found. He’d turned down a river I’d ached to stop at, nipping my fingers and hauling Sorrow away. She shook her head when I’d said the wolf was wrong and told me to be patient. I narrowed my gaze to the wolf as he bent his head at the shallow shoreline, lapping the crystal water. He raised his head, glaring at me. A told you so shone in his sharp eyes.

Honestly, most of the time I was torn between offering that wolf a steak or turning him into a throw rug. But he loved Sorrow, almost as much as I did.

And he’d found us this place. Turquoise water shimmered as shards of sunlight sliced through the gap in the cave roof. A waterfall, soft and gentle, slipped over three layers. Water dripped from pale grey stalactites, ripples casting across the surface. A rock, smooth and damp, sat in the middle of the lake and my hooded gaze found my wife.

Her harsh lines, deep furrows had softened. She tilted her head, squinting slightly as the light reflected in her eyes, brown blazing like molten gold. She’d always been a pretty little thing, but the beauty time had gifted her almost stung. Sorrow raised her chin, taking in the sun’s rays, and a smile, soft, reverent, spread over her face. I swallowed. Could she see the dust motes sparkling like the stars as they danced through the gilded rays? Gods, how I hoped she could. My Sorrow always delighted in those little things. The heart beating within her ached with the soul of an artist and she’d always find hidden delights I missed. Always saw the world in a way I failed to. She sighed, brushing a wild strand of hair behind her ear, and my gaze flicked across to the rock, narrowing as I spotted a light blanket of moss.

She jumped as I threaded my fingers through hers, as though she’d forgotten I was there. I grinned as she scowled, tugging the hem of her tunic.

‘These need to come off if we’re getting in there,’ I whispered against her ear. A wicked grin spread across my face as Sorrow melted into me, mischief glinting in her eyes as she turned. Her teeth dug into the dark pink of her bottom lip as she backed towards the water’s edge. Her long fingers rose to her tunic, working through the buttons, her gaze locked on mine.

This woman would be the death of me one day. I stepped forward, but Sorrow tutted, shaking her head.

‘I don’t think so, Elmswood,’ she said, facing the water, turning to glance back over her shoulder. ‘You’re not forgiven. Not yet. This king must earn his redemption. I forbid you to move.’

Rooting my feet into the shoal was pure agony as the tunic slipped down, exposing her shoulder. Gods, I imagined the little noise she’d make as my teeth dug into that soft flesh. Her eyes searched my face, those lips curving deliciously when she found my heated gaze. She locked her stare on mine, walking towards the water, her full hips swaying with each step. Fuck, this woman knew what she was doing as the tunic slipped to the floor, revealing the golden skin of her back and I groaned. Damn, I wasn’t even touching her and I was unravelling.

‘If it’s your forgiveness I seek, I have a few interesting ideas for earning my pardon.’ Damn, I twitched so hard as she laughed, shimmying out of those tight trousers. She raised her arm to the side, dropped them to the ground while I blew out a long breath, fighting the urge to simply grab her. ‘But in order to do that, I’ll have to come over there.’

‘Oh, you will, Elmswood.’ She shivered as she tested the water, but still those delicious legs moved deeper as I imagined them wrapped around my waist. Finally turning when she knew the water would cover her, she denied me the sight of her breasts. ‘But you’ll bow to my commands first.’

Swiping the hair out of my eyes so I could see her better, my cock pressed against my pants. ‘All right, Sorrow. Number one?’

‘I can’t see you. Move closer.’

I swear this woman could command me to throw myself into the flames of Vyrus and I’d be incapable of denying her when she spoke like that.

Stalking forward, I took my time, keeping my gaze on hers and forcing away my grin at the moment I realised she’d focused.

‘Stop.’

My feet crunched against the shoal.

‘Boots. Off.’

With a thud, they fell to the ground, my muscles shaking as I held back the urge to dive in fully clothed.

‘Tunic next.’