Chapter 60
Chapter Sixty
MAVERICK
A fire crackled in the middle of the small hut we’d found nearby. Abandoned and likely built in the Old World if the triangular shape was any indication. Driscoll had used his magic to make a tree fall over the large canyon. We’d taken a painstakingly long time to cross the tree and get to the other side to reunite with Emory and Aron.
Now we sat around the fire, the logs of the structure peaking over us so that the little dwelling resembled a cone. Old mattresses lay around the edges, full of dust and who knew what else. But none of that mattered. We’d needed a space where we could process everything that just happened.
Aron was now dressed. Thank the spirits because Driscoll had a hard time functioning when the wolf man was naked.
“So the frost queen was responsible for the Wilds?” Aron asked, blond brows pinched together.
“Yes and no,” I said, bobbing my head back and forth while Annalee sat next to me, chewing on some of the rabbit meat Aron had caught and cooked for us. “She intended to trap you in there. That was it. That was what she commanded Spirit Frost’s axe to do—create a canyon around the court. But the magic warped. It did something far greater, far more unpredictable.” Emory sat on my other side, leaning her head on my shoulder.
When I’d thought she was going to die, nothing else had mattered. Not my job. Not my future. Not the world literally splitting in two. I’d just wanted to get to her and make sure she was safe. It had been the most terrifying experience of my life and made me want to hold her tight and never let go.
Driscoll frowned across the fire. “But I’ve seen another spirit’s weapon in use, and it didn’t do that.”
We all looked at him.
“Spirit Water’s trident. The seafolk used it right in front of me.” He waved a hand. “Okay, well, technically not right in front of me since I was hiding out in the pirate lord’s cabin—” He stopped. “It’s a long story. The point is, they used it and it didn’t do what that axe did. It did what they wanted it to. The magic worked.”
Aron grabbed a chunk of rabbit off the spit that now lay on the ground, popping it in his mouth and chewing while he mulled over Driscoll’s words. “The seafolk are said to have been created by Spirit Water’s magic. I’m a product of Spirit Frost’s magic. Maybe you cannot wield those weapons or use their magic unless you are somehow tied to the spirits who made them.”
I stroked my jaw, now bearded more than stubbled. “That makes sense, actually.”
Emory lifted her head from my shoulder. “And that means Bellamy won’t be able to use the lightning bolt to kill Spirit Shadow. She’s going to unleash dangerous magic just like the frost queen did. She’s going to get herself and her brothers killed.”
“Unless Spirit Shadow gets the bolt from her,” Annalee said.
I felt the shiver that rolled through Emory at my sister’s words. I didn’t actually know which of those scenarios would be worse.
“Speaking of the frost queen, what are we going to do?” Aron folded his hands together in front of him. “From what I saw, she was nothing but a pile of blood and guts.”
I still couldn’t believe how those beetles had devoured her. The same beetles who played at our wedding, for spirits’ sake .
Emory sent a curious look at Aron. “How much do you remember from that whole encounter?”
He sighed. “If you’re asking if I know I’m the prince of the frost court, then yes, I do.”
Driscoll gaped at him. “You knew this whole time? And you didn’t tell us?”
Aron shrugged. “I didn’t see how it was relevant.”
“What?” Driscoll shrieked. “It is very, very relevant. You’re not just Hot Wolf Man. You’re Hot Wolf Prince. King, really. That crown belongs to you.”
“I never thought it did,” Aron said. “Or should. I thought because of what I’d become I wouldn’t make a good king. That I was too dangerous with my unpredictable shifting.” He met Driscoll’s gaze. “Then I met you. And for whatever reason, you believed in me. Not even El trusted me in my wolf form. Whenever I started to shift, we’d had a plan where she would put me to sleep until I shifted back. You didn’t fear the beast.”
Driscoll looked away, twiddling his hands. It was fun watching him squirm.
“There’s the frost queen’s husband,” Emory said. “And their son. But with you alive, you have true claim to that crown. Though it’s going to be hard explaining what happened to everyone.”
“We have proof.” I pointed to Spirit Frost’s axe. “There is a huge canyon in between the star and frost court now.”
“What if they think we did it?” Driscoll asked. “Then killed the frost queen?”
“What would be our motive?” Emory asked. “To get some random man onto the throne whom we have no allegiance to?” She shook her head. “It makes sense that the frost queen did it. It aligns with all her actions over the years. She clearly wanted to keep things from changing. It’ll be easier than you think to convince everyone.”
“Creatures will start coming over from the Wilds,” Aron said. “And they’re not adapted to this world. They might be dangerous. Misunderstood.”
Another huge problem. I rubbed my temples, and Emory pressed a light kiss to my cheek. A reminder that she was here, by my side, no matter what.
“I can help,” Annalee piped up. “Let’s do what you and Bellamy did so many years ago. Invite them to stay in the frost castle, and I can help them assimilate into society. I can show them how to survive. I can teach elementals how to interact with them.”
I looked over at her, my smile growing wide. “You know, that might just be perfect for you.”
“Then you’re hired,” Aron said. “My first official act as the unofficial king.”
Annalee was glowing. The irony of all of this was that our father would delight in knowing his daughter was working for the king of the frost court. Yet Annalee couldn’t care less. She never had cared about impressing him. She was staying true to herself like she always had. I looked over at Emory. Same as my wife. These two women on either side of me were the most inspiring I knew.
“What about you?” Aron said, looking at me. “You were the frost queen’s historical advisor. If I become king, would you be mine as well?”
I glanced over at Emory, and she smiled. “If that’s what you want, then you should do it.”
I sighed. I was tired of work ruling my life. “I think I might take a step back. Do a little treasure hunting instead.” That was when I felt most alive. When I was outside of the classroom, outside of the castle walls. “But I can think of someone who would be a much better fit.” I nodded toward Emory.
Aron’s blue eyes snapped to her. “I would be honored to have you.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said, then looked at me. “We have a lot to figure out right now.”
Branches cracked outside our little abode, and all of us stiffened as boots crunched in the snow. Emory summoned ice daggers while Annalee and I summoned our fire magic, the flames hovering over our palms.
None of us moved as a shadow stretched into the space. No one even breathed. Then a woman burst through. I tilted my head. I recognized her from before we’d fallen into the Wilds.
“Leoni!” Driscoll said, standing .
The short woman barreled into him, wrapping her arms tight around his waist. “You’re alive. Oh, thank the Seven Spirits. You’re alive.” She sobbed.
Driscoll patted her on the back. “Yep, I’m here. In the flesh.”
“I’m so sorry.” She looked up at him through teary eyes. “About what I said right before you fell into that hole. I was just upset because I thought we were becoming friends. Really good friends. Best friends, actually. And it seemed like it was so easy for you to just leave me, leave our mission. I’ve been scouring these mountains for you for weeks, and then I stumbled upon this area and saw the firelight, and I hoped—” She stopped, her chest heaving. “I think you’re my soulmate,” she burst out.
Driscoll’s eyes darted to Aron. He scratched his head. “Uh, well this is awkward. I thought you knew I was really into, um, well... penises.”
Leoni rolled her eyes. “Platonic soulmate, you idiot. Like my best friend in soulmate form, if that makes sense.”
“Oh!” Driscoll’s eyes widened. “Yes, totally. I love that for us.”
“So you forgive me?” Leoni asked. “For being completely awful and a terrible friend?”
“You weren’t either of those things,” Driscoll said, “but yes, I forgive you.”
I leaned over to Emory. “Are they always like this?”
“From what I can tell?” She pursed her lips. “Yes.”
“We really got lucky that she didn’t fall with us,” I whispered. I wasn’t sure I could handle all the drama between these two.
Leoni pushed Driscoll at arm’s length, then her gaze swept around to the rest of us.
“And you made some friends.” She raised a brow at Annalee and Aron. Then her gaze landed on Emory and me as she took in how close we sat, the way my arm was wrapped around my wife. “Are you two a thing? Because I thought you hated each other.”
“Oh, they’re definitely a thing,” Driscoll said. “Like an obsessed-with-each-other, totally-nerdy-together, married thing.”
“Married?” Leoni ’s eyes widened. “What happened?” Then she saw the axe propped up against the wall, and her face paled. “Is that...? ”
“Spirit Frost’s axe?” Driscoll asked. “Yes, yes, it is. We have a lot to catch up on. Might as well sit down and get comfy.”
Leoni sat in a stunned silence after we finished telling her everything that had happened since she got separated from us.
“Just let her process,” Driscoll said as we waited for her to say something. Anything. “She’ll say something.” He gave a nervous laugh. “I think.”
He squinted at Leoni, who sat next to him, then he waved a hand in front of her face.
She swatted it away. “Stop that.”
“And she’s back,” Driscoll said cheerfully.
“Well, it’s clear what has to happen,” Leoni said finally.
It didn’t seem that clear, but I was interested in what she had to say. Leoni seemed practical, a woman who took charge. I respected that.
“What?” Driscoll asked.
“I’m interested to know as well.” Aron leaned forward, the shadows from the fire dancing across his pale skin.
She pointed at Aron. “Well, you have to become king and fix the mess the frost queen made by storming out of the conclave and refusing to work with the other courts to defeat Spirit Shadow.” She pointed at Annalee. “You need to corral all the creatures from the Wilds and bring them to the castle.” She pointed to Emory and Maverick. “You both need to start piecing together what in the bloody water happened so many years ago to the Seven Spirits.” She glanced over at Driscoll and smirked. “And you need to go live happily ever after with your king.”
Driscoll squirmed, while Aron, as usual, looked completely unabashed.
“I would like that,” Aron said.
Driscoll cleared his throat, nudging Leoni. “And what about you?”
She looked at him like it was obvious. “I have to go after Bellamy and stop her from using that lightning bolt.”
“I’m coming with you,” Driscoll said quickly. He shot an apologetic look at Aron. “We started this journey together, shorty, and now we’re going to end it together.”
“How do you know this is the end?” Annalee asked.
Driscoll shrugged. “Just a feeling.” He grabbed Leoni’s hand. “I have to finish this. Plus, I can’t let you go back to the shadow court by yourself.”
Leoni’s gaze softened. “You don’t have to do that. It’s really okay.”
“He should go,” Aron said. “Bellamy knows him. She’ll be more receptive to listening to someone familiar. She doesn’t trust easily.”
Driscoll let out a long breath, and I wondered if he was more relieved than he was letting on that he was going on yet another adventure. He might’ve griped about all this, but I suspected he liked it.
“We should leave now.” Leoni stood. “It sounds like Bellamy has quite the head start.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.” Driscoll groaned dramatically. “I guess a warm bed tonight was too much to ask for.”
“You really think you need to leave right now?” Emory asked, coming to a stand. The rest of us followed suit.
“We can’t wait,” Leoni said. “Not when the fate of the literal world hangs in the balance. We have to get to Bellamy before she makes a huge mistake.”
“I mean, I’d take a warm bed tonight, but she’s the boss.” Driscoll jabbed a thumb at Leoni.
Emory surged forward and hugged Driscoll tight, then gave Leoni a hug. “Come back to us, okay?”
He nodded, swallowing.
“Go save Bellamy.” Aron stepped up to Driscoll, putting his hands on his shoulders. “And when you do come back, I’d like to court you. If you want.”
“Yes,” Driscoll squeaked. “Totally.”
Leoni smirked and crossed her arms. “Okay, loverboy. Let’s go.”
We waved our final goodbyes as she pulled him from the dwelling and they disappeared from sight.