Page 93 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

‘Turns out she did tussle with Vyrus, but exactly how wasn’t recorded. He fathered a child with her… with Chastity.’

The way Matthias’s eyes widened was the only sign the truth was dawning on him. Still he remained silent, allowing me my space.

‘And obviously that child was half-God, so…’

‘I always knew you were a Goddess.’

I shook my head, placing a kiss to his temple.

‘A rather watered-down version.’

He pulled back, his gaze narrowed. ‘But… if that’s what makes you different… a Deviant, then why isn’t Enfys, or your mother? What makes you so wonderfully and slightly terrifyingly unique?’

My fingers slipped down, working the top buttons of his shirt loose as his hands strayed back to my waist. I bit my lip as flames sparked beneath each stroke of his palm.

‘That mythical third line of guaranteed Anomalies that went into hiding?’

Lips pressed against the corner of my mouth, lips that curled wickedly as my breath hitched.

‘Well,’ I gasped, failing to block out the warmth pooling in my core as his hands slid up my back, tugging lightly on the back of my dress. ‘Vyrus knows them. The Blythes. They…’

My head rocked back, eyes fluttered shut as his mouth seared a slow, deliberate track down the side of my neck. I opened my mouth, my words twisted into a moan as he pressed against my hip, his fingers trailing lower. Fuck it all. I’d had enough story time. My focus was shifting, heating and I didn’t want to wait another second.

I pulled back, pressed our foreheads together as he nipped forward, desperate to steal another kiss from my lips.

‘Anyway. Gabriel Blythe is my father. They’re descendants of Evella.’ I moved in, my body thrumming with the need to claim his mouth. ‘Probably explains a lot.’

He moved back, his hands holding my wrists, eyes wide.

‘E-Evella? You… you’re? When the hell did you learn your father’s name?’

Damned man. I inclined my head towards the blurry journal still waiting on the side.

‘My sister’s gift. Mama’s memories.’ I moved in, but Matthias leaned back.

‘But… no one ever shared his name? Even your mother hid it from you.’

Huffing, I sat back, my eyes still locked on his smooth chest, anything to distract myself from the truth.

‘And it’s a name, Matthias. Just a name.’ I swallowed as tears burned my eyes. All the thoughts swirling, demanding I face them finally given their moment. ‘Romero stole him from me. He’ll… he’ll only ever be a name. And Gods I don’t know. I thought having his name would heal all that anger and hurt.’ His thumb wiped away the first tear. ‘I never had him hold me when I cried.’

A kiss, soft, seared my lips, as though Matthias could absorb my pain. He lifted my wrist to lay his mouth against my veins.

‘If, Evella helps us⁠—’

‘Unfortunately, it’s Vyrus we need to convince…’ He nodded, and I giggled at the little smirk on his face.

‘Fine, Vyrus helps us and we survive all this. We have a name and with just a name, we can find kin. We can find who you are.’

‘What if they don’t want to be found? They’ve hidden for centuries.’

He kissed away a tear before cupping my cheek. ‘Then you know the blood of Gabriel Blythe runs through these veins. His courage, his ability to face every obstacle life threw at him and come through with a heart so pure, so damn dogged, still rages in his daughter.’

A sob caught the end of my laugh, and Matthias’s face lit up, the smile that was surely a gift from Evella. I reached forward. Our mouths met with an achingly long kiss. His devotion restraining my pain, pouring all our love into the chasm the loss of Papa created.

Matthias moved away, grinning as I furrowed my brows.

‘And one day.’ He tugged the shirt over his head, throwing it aside, before tucking up my skirts. ‘His blood, rage and heart will run through your own daughter’s veins.’