Page 83 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

The wolf raised his head, his snout wrinkling. A sure sign he was about to sneeze on me as I tugged on his fur.

‘I’m not the one threatening to put a suit on you.’ Jagged teeth snapped as he set his amber gaze on me and he sat down. I pulled again, desperate to locate Vyrus before the wedding. The wolf simply yawned, and I swear he raised a brow. It was no good. I crossed my arms as we glared at each other.

He’d been like this since Skye had forced a rather bemused Asher to measure him up. Apparently, she’d set her heart on adjusting a pale blue page boy jacket to fit Pablo. By the way his teeth had narrowly missed a tender part of Asher’s anatomy, I don’t think he was keen on the idea.

‘Fine,’ I said, ‘I’ll break Skye’s heart and tell her you’re not going to put on the suit. Will you please find him for me now?’

He cocked his head before settling beneath my fingers and we set off through the corridors in search of the God.

‘But don’t blame me if you end up as a bridesmaid instead.’

Pab snorted and a wry grin tugged up the corner of my mouth as we avoided the eclectic mix of rebels and courtiers, Sisters and hunters milling about The Alliance. My smile faded as my pulse thundered, and I pressed my free hand to my pocket. My heart stuttered as I patted the comforting weight of Isbeth’s ruby.

As Matthias and I rested on the lake’s shore, he’d explained how his mother had discovered how it worked. There was no question in my mind of this being one of the fragments the God had tasked me with hunting down. I wanted to make a deal. My fragment for Matthias’s freedom. Vyrus would remove the Vyrium from the tattoos and have half his heart. He already knew the empress wore the other half after the meeting, but he’d dived out before I got a chance to talk to him.

My mind played out the words I’d use to convince him. I had all my arguments sorted when Pab tugged me towards the sounds of raucous laughter.

I peered into a room too poorly lit to make out who was in there, but I couldn’t miss the gravely tone of the God.

‘I had no choice. Had to leap out of her window completely starkers.’ He paused, probably to have a sip of whatever this evening’s tipple of choice was. I placed the most amiable smile I could on my face. ‘Two floors up, and just threw myself out. But don’t worry, I landed on something soft. Her husband.’

The room exploded into guffaws and laughs as I cleared my throat. Judging by the way the God crossed his arms and inclined his head, he’d spotted me.

‘I was wondering if I could have a word?’ I said.

He snorted and my guts churned. ‘I bet you did, sweetheart.’

He stalked forward, my skin prickling as his dark gaze narrowed on me. Pablo leapt up, licked his cheek as the god chuckled and pushed him down. I couldn’t be certain, but I think the wolf may have winked as he settled under my free hand and I led Vyrus to an empty room.

The curling edges of yellowing pages littered every surface and I shivered at the lack of flames in the hearth. Raising my chin, I turned as Vyrus took a long drag from a green bottle, wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

‘So…’ We both spoke at the same time. He raised a brow and, with thin lips, inclined his chin for me to speak.

My heart hammered as I tried my sweetest smile. By the way his brow furrowed, I wasn’t sure my grin had the same effect on people that my husband’s did.

‘Have I ever told you how… vengeful you are?’

Pab whined, placed his paw over his snout. But this damn God was always so stubborn, so grumpy. I had to sweeten him up before I made my request.

‘And that beard.’ Vyrus’s lip curled as Pablo hid behind my leg. ‘It’s so… very… beardy.’

Vyrus shook his head. ‘I don’t even think that’s a word, sweetheart.’

The ruby burnt against my thigh and I resisted the urge to place my hand against it. I was more than willing to give it to him; it was his after all, but I needed to keep it from Vyrus for now. Handing it over would be on my terms and my terms alone. Pissing off a God was nothing compared to losing Matthias.

‘So, my little Villente. Please explain this pathetic attempt at flattery. Wouldn’t have anything to do with the God’s heart that little king of yours had lying around his palace? The one now in the empress’s hands?’

I clenched my jaw. I’d had the feeling he might use that against me.

‘I didn’t know. Surely you saw Matthias’s face? Skye’s? Not one of us knew that a part of your heart lay amongst the Elmswood’s collection.’ Something like resignation slipped across his features. ‘And believe me, if anyone was going to know about that piece of jewellery, it would be Skye.’

Rolling his brown eyes, he took another swig.

‘But I did want to talk about our deal.’

My pulse thundered as Vyrus sighed.

‘Back out if you want, but⁠—’