Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Kieran
The ship slams into the sand and we all jerk forward. Poor Isen flies out of the crow’s nest, but Drakor is there to catch him.
There’s no time to take the skiff out. Calista beached her ship instead to save us time. I’m not sure how we’ll get it back out, but that’s a problem for later. There are more important things at play right now. I have a legacy to recapture.
We all leap out into the cold water and wade to the shore.
I wasn’t expecting everyone to follow, but they’re all coming with their emerald weapons. Valther with his daggers, Briallen with her bow and arrow, Edrik with his spear. Even Isen and the cook, Zephan, are coming, holding old rusted swords.
My wolf growls possessively as I step onto our land.
It feels weird to be standing on firm ground after two weeks at sea. Like my swishing brain is still overcompensating for the motion even though there’s a complete lack of it.
Calista doesn’t have that problem, of course. She’s too fucking perfect.
“What’s the plan?” she asks, stepping beside me.
We’re in front of the forest that leads to the castle. There’s a crowning ceremony as well as the Lunaris Vinculum, which means everyone will be in the courtyard, watching. This forest should be empty, so with luck, I’ll be able to burst into the crowning ceremony and surprise Lucan.
“Kieran?” she whispers.
I turn to her and take her hand. She’s so beautiful it hurts.
“I’m going in alone,” I tell her.
“Like hell you are.”
“Calista,” I say softly. “I can’t risk it. You’re everything to me.”
“Then let me come.”
I shake my head sadly. “Let me go get my crown and then I’ll come back for you. Once Lucan has been dealt with, we can be mated. I promise.”
“Kieran, I don’t—”
I gasp when I look up and see the full moon in the sky. There’s no time to lose. Lucan will be fixing to take the crown as soon as he can. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s on the dais now.
“I have to go.” I kiss her lips, step back, and let my raging wolf come.
He charges up from the darkness, angry and snarling and ready for vengeance.
My body swells, muscles tearing, ligaments popping, bones cracking like dry twigs. With a tearing pop, I explode into my wolf.
I sink down into the darkness, watching through his eyes, experiencing the world with all the new sounds and intense smells rushing in. I feel his anger, his rage at being denied his right to be the alpha of the pack.
But when he turns and looks at his mate, I feel nothing but love.
He’s in awe as he steps up to her, head lowered, grumbling affectionately.
“Hello,” Calista whispers as she sinks her hands into his thick fur. “I’ve been waiting to meet you.”
We have to go now, I say, urging him on. We can meet her again later. Go get our crown.
My wolf takes one last long look at our mate and then turns and charges into the forest with nothing but revenge on his mind.