Chapter 25 #2
My tears carved paths through the dust on my cheeks as I writhed against his iron hold. I slammed my fist against him, again and again, still holding back the magic threads that writhed in my chest. My screams rent the air, but still Matthias hauled me upwards. Up towards his brother. The empress.
I threw myself backwards, wincing as my hip smashed into a rock. Matthias turned, a dark warning flashed through his eyes as he knelt down and I shuffled back.
‘Matthias…’
My skin crawled as he cocked his head, before his eyes shuttered and closed. I struggled for air as I scrambled back, when his gaze locked onto mine.
He reached for his boot and a dagger glinted in the air. I kicked out, but he pushed my boot aside, grasping my wrist.
‘No…’ I cried. But in the next heartbeat, he had the dagger in my hand. And he tugged my hand forward, placing the tip against his heaving chest.
‘Matthias?’
Through the swirls I met his gaze. His hands fell limply to the side as though drained of all the strength he’d used to seize me. His mouth worked and pain flashed through his eyes.
‘Please.’ His voice broke as I shook my head. ‘Please, Sorrow. Please… Do it, save yourself.’
Ice flooded my blood as understanding slammed into me.
‘No.’ I dropped the dagger. Matthias tried to grab it but I took hold of his hand, held it between us. ‘There’s being dramatic and thoughtless, Elmswood, but even for you this is insanity.’
‘You don’t understand, Sorrow. You don’t—I can’t—’
‘I do…’ My words faltered at the devastation etched onto his face.
The broken king looked like he would turn into ash in the breeze.
I laid my hand against his cheek, my heart cracking as he slumped into my touch.
‘And I know the boy I adored is still in there, Matthias. That my Matthias is reckless, stupid.’ The briefest flicker of a smile played on his lips.
‘But he knows how much shit he’s caused and still has to make up for. ’
His hand captured mine. His eyes closed.
‘And he’s going to let me go back down the path. Return to—’
The ground trembled, and a stream of small pebbles trickled down the pathway. His eyes snapped open, searching mine. His skin, once a golden copper, was now sallow and pale in the feeble rays of the early evening sun.
‘What’s that—’
A pained scream cut me off. A wolf snarled. Matthias twisted his head back to the path. Pab! He’d found me! But then a woman screamed, and Matthias scrambled to his feet.
‘Mother?’
He tore away. Bile rose up my throat as Isbeth screamed. Savage snarls drowned out the thunder of Matthias’s boots.
Pablo wouldn’t hurt her. He had no reason to. Unless it wasn’t my wolf. Unless it was one tainted by my treacherous gift.
My body twitched, unsure how to move at first. Then a wolf whined, yelping as snarls rent the air, and with dread thrumming through my veins, my feet finally acted.
Figures, first hazy and blurry, cleared as I squinted, my heart slammed into my chest. Matthias raised a sword. I stumbled over a rock; a scream caught in my throat as he brought his blade down…
Straight through the ribs of a wolf.
Not Pablo. Not my wolf, my mind scattered as I slipped once more, the skin tearing from my palms as I drew myself up. Lungs burned as I rushed forward, watching the hazy form of my husband slam his boot into the flailing creature and send it tumbling into the brush.
A scream died in my throat as my gifts swirled through my chest. I’d kill him, destroy him. Raze the king of Asmar from existence.
Then Matthias crumpled, his knees slamming down as a mass of grey fur limped into focus towards me. Relief flooded my chest. Pablo! Pablo lived! Matthias wouldn’t kill him. My eyes closed, a weak smile breaking on my face that slipped as quickly as it had formed.
Gasping, my steps slowed. The wolf hung his head, his paws in a blooming puddle of dark, sticky blood, when I remembered the single word Matthias had said when we’d first heard the scream.
Mother.
Forcing my core shut, I stepped towards Matthias as he clutched the hand of the mother he’d always adored.
I hid my horror as the scene came into focus.
Shivers flooded me as I took in the mess of Isbeth’s shoulder – the flesh torn from it, muscle and sinew glistening in the weak sun as she gasped for air.
Matthias’s fingers hovered above the wound. His wide eyes met mine.
‘Heal her.’ His voice cracked as he uttered his plea, his expression shattering as I shook my head. ‘Please… please heal…’
My mouth worked, the words a cracked whisper as they left my lips.
‘I can’t.’ I swallowed. ‘I’m… I’m no healer.’
No, I took in her tattered body, the deep gashes to her beautiful face, the metallic stench of her pooling blood.
I’m no healer – I’m the cause of this. Visions of the feral wolves Pablo had battled as my rogue threads had escaped swarmed my fractured mind.
I’d lost control. And now I watched, helpless as the former Queen of Asmar lay dying before me.
I glanced at my husband, the muscles in his jaw shaking as he tried to smother his panic.
Isbeth raised her trembling hand and stroked the jaw of her firstborn, scarlet smearing, her rasping breaths deepened.
‘I’m here, Mum.’ He half-sobbed, gathering her in his arms. ‘I’m here.’
She cried as he settled her, eyes scrunched tight against the pain as I knelt next to them. Pablo held back, his amber eyes darting between us, blood of the feral wolf staining his maw.
A weak groan slipped from Isbeth’s lips, guttural and raw.
Her eyes snapped open, locking on mine, and I shuddered.
A tear spilled down my face as I tried to smile.
She raised her bloody hand, gripping the flesh across her neck.
‘Pr…’ her eyes scrunched tight, back arched and Isbeth gurgled.
Matthias hushed her, gently stroking the hair from her eyes. ‘Protect… him…’