Page 24 of Plug and Tame

She held up the locket, so it flashed in the sunlight. Opening her mouth to speak, she froze. Something new had caught her attention on the locket’s surface. Each wave of red rubies was bordered by black, but it was only now that she realised what the borders were: thin rows of black onyx gems.

Black, the colour of wolves. Red, the colour of vampires. And inside the locket, as she already knew, was a tiny clump of dry herbs that smelt like brimstone and magic.

Byron and Mary had given her the locket on her ninth birthday, stating that she was old enough to have it. But now that she thought about it, they’d claimed that the locket had been enchanted to protect her.

If that was the case, why hadn’t they given it to her when she was younger?

She frowned. Something didn’t add up, and she suspected the locket had only come into her foster parents’ possession when she was nine.

It wasn’t hard to guess who might have given it to them. Nathaniel was ten years older than her, and he’d said he was nineteen years old when he finally located her years after the Revolution. It couldn’t just be a coincidence.

“My parents didn’t give you this locket, did they?” she asked.

Byron shook his head. “Not exactly. We didn’t have a chance to salvage anything from Wintermaw the night we rescued you. Mary and I left with you; we never went back…”

He trailed off, but his answer had all but confirmed her suspicion.

“Nathaniel went back for it, didn’t he?”

Byron nodded. “That locket is one of the last remaining heirlooms of Wintermaw Keep. It was made especially for you, the daughter of Queen Liddia and King Bakker. Henrikk destroyed everything he could during the takeover.”

“Why did Nathaniel risk his father’s wrath to bring me this?” she whispered.

“Because he wanted you to know that you come from a great line of wolves. That no matter what the future brings, you are the daughter of a king and queen of two great creatures—nine tails wolves, and vampires.”

Kira shut her eyes for a moment, recalling her ninth birthday. That locket had triggered a thousand questions that she’d badgered Mary and Byron with over the subsequent years, but it had also solidified something in her—a sense of belonging to something greater.

Removing the gold chain, she used the ruby collar’s clasp to attach the locket. It hung like a pendant. The collar had clearly been designed with the locket in mind, because the pattern of rubies and onyxes flowed together seamlessly.

“I wish I’d known all of this a lot sooner. But,” she added, holding up her hand when Byron went to speak, “I suppose I was only a child.”

“We debated when to tell you about the plan. Nathaniel intended to tell you everything on your eighteenth birthday when he came for you. But I got cold feet. I wanted you to have a choice.”

“And we went into hiding for a year.”

“That’s right. By the time Nathaniel realised you were back at the cottage, it left him very little time to prepare you. I spoke to him when he arrived in Nordokk the evening he took you to the academy. He had decided not to reveal the plan to you after all. He feared that with no time for you to process things, you would not agree to help.”

“He was fucking right about that,” Kira muttered.

A pained expression crossed Byron’s face. “Mary and I love you with all our hearts,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “How could we not? You’re Princess Kirabelle. Everyone adored you. But to us...you were the only daughter we ever had. Our little Kira.”

“Byron…”

“Let me finish, please. While I still have the words.” He cleared his throat. “I need you to know that your parents loved you too. Very much. I should have told you more often. Just like I should have told you the truth sooner. Mary and I argued about it all the time. I can see we left it too late. Please, forgive me.”

“I forgive you,” she whispered, his honesty prompting her to reveal a truth she’d buried deep. “And I think we both know I would have chosen this path no matter what.”

Byron shook his head. “Like a fool, I hoped to talk you out of your plan for revenge.” He glanced at her warily. “It is not too late, Kira. The choice is yours. It is not an easy path, and I fear it may not end well.”

When she didn’t speak, he sighed. “But like any father who loves his child—one who is no longer a child—I will accept your decision. Nothing would have made me happier than to see you leave all this behind. We have often spoken of justice. But revenge is not the same thing, Kira. It can eat at the soul and continue this cycle of destruction we’ve all been pulled into. If you choose to go on with the plan, remember that.”

“I will.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled with a smile. “Nothing has made me prouder than seeing you grow up to become the fearless leader you were born to be.”

A tear ran down her cheek before she even realised she was crying.

“Don’t cry, little princess.” Byron’s rough thumb scraped the tear from her cheek, his own eyes glistening.