Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ESTEE
B etween the shared kiss with Theo, my sister’s arrival, and the looming challenge of facing Orix, I’m being pulled in too many directions. Exhilarated, nervous, determined—I don’t know where to land. And yet, a quiet fear stirs beneath it all.
Not that I’m afraid of going against a god when there’s every reason to stand up to him, but I’d be a fool not to acknowledge how dangerous Orix is—an ancient being of power beyond our understanding. That much, I can’t ignore. We need to tread carefully. One wrong move, and the consequences could be fatal. Freedom from Orix’s grip on Theo is the goal, but staying alive long enough to achieve it is just as crucial.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you,” Isla’s voice slides into my mind through our mental link. “Seeing you with him now, I understand. I just wish I could have been here for you this whole time.”
“It’s okay. We’re going to figure this out.” I normally loved having a mental connection to my sister, but after I practically tackled her with my hug, she immediately began questioning me. I should have known I couldn’t keep anything from her
Our gazes quickly meet and she grins. “Yes, we are and I hope you know how proud I am of you right now. You might be the older sister, but you’ve always forged your own path, doing as you pleased. Seeing you already settling in here, making a difference with the people, it looks good on you.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “You’ve been here less than an hour. How would you know what I’ve done?”
“A fellow queen always knows.” Her corresponding wink makes me laugh harder because while I already know she’s an incredible leader to Polaris, she’s only been in the role a month, yet acts as if this has always been her life.
“I’ve missed you.”
She looks over at me and smiles brightly. “Not more than I’ve missed you.”
We keep walking through the castle, the men not commenting on our silent exchanges that I’m sure they’re more than aware of. I glance up at Theo and hope like hell that I can trust him. I have no doubt about his sincerity, but something I’ve tried not to think about since accepting that he truly is my mate is the fact that he’s allowed himself to be controlled by Orix for the last three years.
I might understand how he got to where he is, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect my decisions. I told him before that I also needed time, but not because I don’t want to be with him. I just need to be sure that he isn’t going to say one thing but wind up doing another. While I might believe he wouldn’t want to hurt me, that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to prevent that from happening with a god linked to him.
He’s been under Orix’s thumb for years now, and I don’t fault him for that, but that doesn’t mean I won’t protect myself from the potential fallout. I can’t give him all of me if there’s a chance he’ll never be able to do the same with his heart. It’s not fair to either of us, but it’s the reality of our situation for now.
Something I’ve been trying not to think about while missing him over the last few days, but also it’s a truth that I can’t avoid for long.
“It’s going to be okay.” Isla’s calm tone takes me by surprise. “I’m your Alpha Queen. I can sense your unease even more than I could as your sister.”
Well, that I didn’t think about, but I also shouldn’t be surprised.
She continues, “ A mate bond is sacred, and I know why you’ve been hesitant, especially under the circumstances, but your walls are cracking and I don’t want to see you sabotage yourself. Trust in your heart and in fate. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what he’s done. It matters how he treats you now and what he’s willing to do to make things right for your future.”
Her welcome words chip away at my defenses, but before I can thank her for them, she manages to mentally throw a punch at me.
“ We’re going to figure this out, and you’re going to be queen. Everything you didn’t know you wanted is coming to you.”
That reminder makes me stumble a little and has her chuckling. I’ve admitted to her many times how glad I am that it’s her destiny to be queen in this lifetime and not mine. I’m sure this is a small payback that I’ll continue to get for the foreseeable future.
Theo and Asher glance over at us, but neither say anything. Smart men.
It’s not that I don’t want to help Selaris—I’ve been doing that since I arrived. But to rule over an entire pack? To stand at Theo’s side and bear the responsibility of a kingdom? That still feels like a future I’m not ready for.
I never expected to lead. Now, things are different. I have to wrap my head around this new path, but for today, we need to focus on Orix.
We arrive at Theo’s office, and Jerome is waiting for us at the door. He bows respectfully to our guests then addresses Theo. “The room has been prepared, and a new cloaking spell has been laid, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you, Jerome. I’ll let you know when we’re done.” Theo enters first, his grip on my hand an anchor.
The office is different, rearranged for the visiting royalty. The two chairs aren’t in front of the desk any longer. Instead, the only seating options are four throne-like chairs positioned on the left side of the space. Two of them are larger than the others, and that’s where Theo leads us to sit, a statement of his higher rank since we’re in Selaris.
“While you’re here, this will be the safest place for us to speak,” Theo says as the four of us get settled.
“How many of those cloaking spells do you have?” Asher asks, looking around as if he might find something amiss. “And where did you get them? They’re not all that common these days with most of the other worlds not being as welcoming to supernaturals.”
I glance over at Theo, who doesn’t answer straight away, making me wonder if he’s speaking telepathically with Jerome.
“My advisor tells me that we have about a dozen left and that they were stolen from a group of witches by King Airik’s mercenaries.”
Asher raises a brow. “Mercenaries?”
Theo’s voice is steady, even though the subject has the potential to cause tensions. “The previous Alpha King may not have raised issues with the rest of the islands, but I believe that was because he preferred to be left alone to do as he pleased. I didn’t reside here in the city before taking the crown. In fact, I lived as far from here as possible with my own pack. We knew things were bad, but it wasn’t until I was coerced into killing Airik that I understood the full extent of his treachery.”
Asher’s growl is deep, reverberating. Isla places a hand on his arm, a silent plea for restraint, but the strain in the room tightens like a frayed bowstring.
“You did what?” Asher leans forward in his chair, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Theo meets Asher’s intense gaze without flinching or shying away. He’s no longer hiding his past indiscretions—a choice I deeply respect and that has me speaking up for him.
“My mate has done things he’s not proud of, Asher,” I interject confidently. “He’s killed when he had no right to, and he’s ignored his people, but for the better part of three years, he’s been under the steady and tainted influence of a god. One more despicable than anything you may be thinking about Theo right now. Killing King Airik wasn’t something he willingly did, but I also believe it ended up being what was best for Selaris.
“How is killing their ruler the best choice?” Asher demands then glares at Theo. “You could’ve come to us. We would’ve intervened once we knew.”
Theo shakes his head. “No, I couldn’t. Orix has had me under his thumb, using my mother’s wellbeing against me. Even if I took a risk and tried to outsmart him, he’s in my head. He has the power to break me and has done so more than once.”
Isla and Asher share a look that doesn’t bode well. Though, it’s my sister who speaks next. “So, let me make sure we understand all of this since we’re only now getting this information. Your pack was murdered. You were hellbent on vengeance, which Orix was eager to offer you. By accepting his help, you somehow tied yourself to him, which led to him being able to compel your actions and eventually bring you back here to kill King Airik for his supposed treachery, allowing you to take the crown. A destiny that was not yours to claim, but you took anyway because this god has been threatening the life of your mother, who now resides in the afterlife.”
That has Asher’s head tilting to the side. I’m surprised she didn’t already share with him what I revealed earlier while he was talking to Theo, but before he can get a word in, Isla continues.
“Now, because of the true bond you share with Estee, you’ve found the strength to think for yourself and are trying to make things right. Not only for you, but my sister, the pack, and the future of this kingdom. Is that the sum of this entire mess?”
Theo’s grip on my hand grows tighter as he nods. “Yes.”
Now, it’s Isla and Asher’s turn to have a silent conversation, but I’m not nearly as patient in waiting to know what it is they’re thinking.
“What is it?” I demand, staring at my sister.
“His mother isn’t in any danger,” Isla answers. “She never was.”
Theo releases his hold on me finally and stands up. “What do you mean?”
“Did Estee tell you that our own mother had originally chosen not to be reborn after we were cursed to Earth?” she asks, and he shakes his head brusquely. “Well, she did, and she was living peacefully in the afterlife, but now, she’s been returned to us as a favor. The memory of her time there is fuzzy, but a few times she’s said things that don’t make sense, and last week was one of them.”
I grip the arms of my chair, my claws threatening to extend. “Is Mom okay?”
Isla nods and smiles brightly. “She’s just as she was when you left, I promise. We have no fear of losing her, but I’ve noticed a pattern. When she wakes up, she’s very groggy for a short time, and I believe she’s dreaming so vividly that she’s not actually getting the rest she’s used to. I asked Dad to document anything she mentions, in case there was something to worry about.”
That doesn’t sound normal, but if my sister isn’t worried, I’m going to try not to be either.
“So, what did she say that relates to what Theo shared?” I’m still not sure how this is helpful.
Asher answers me this time. “She told your father that she was reliving the moment she was brought back to us. Aurora didn’t go get her. She somehow summoned Florence’s energy, pulling your mother back to a body that we’re beginning to suspect isn’t actually her own.”
Theo reaches for me, and I appreciate his support, but right now, I don’t think this is about me and I’m not sure I like where this is going. “I didn’t think the goddess actually got her hands dirty and decided to dig up our mother, reviving her corpse. So, what are the two of you getting at here?”
Isla looks more at Theo than she does me as she starts to answer. “Based on the things Mom has revealed, we’ve learned that gods don’t walk among the spirits within the afterlife. At least not living ones. So unless this Orix god has the power of creation, like Bruess and his twins Ocules and Aurora do, or he’s been lying and is actually Asiris, the ruler over the spirits, then he shouldn’t be able to summon her spirit once she’s settled into the afterlife.”
Theo’s grip on my hand loosens as the truth of that revelation seems to hit him. His mother—his reason for everything—has been safe all along. His face hardens with disbelief, then anger along with the crushing guilt of years lost to Orix’s lies.
“I’ve done so many things,” Theo whispers, his voice cracking. “And all for nothing.”
My heart aches for him as I reach for my mate again, hating that he’s going to live with this. “You didn’t know, Theo. This isn’t your fault.”
He jerks away from me and shoves the chair back into the wall as he storms toward the door. “Don’t lie to me, Estee. I made the choice each time I took a life, and I am most definitely to blame.”
And just like that, he’s gone, leaving behind only the whispers of his pain and the haunting echoes of a god’s manipulation.