Chapter 24 #2
“What?” the werewolf croaked, his eyes bulging. Vander must not have gripped as hard as before because the wolf managed to produce a string of panicked-sounding babble. “Wh-What more do you want? I s-said I was sorry!”
Vander dropped his hand. His claws slid back under his skin with a soft click . “Nothing. Just making sure you meant it.”
I stepped closer. “That’s enough, Sir Vander.”
Vander moved back at once, but he stayed close as I faced off with the werewolf.
“What is your name?” I asked.
The werewolf hesitated. Lorcan punched him in the side of the head.
“Ow!” the werewolf cried, shuddering in Lorcan’s grip. “What was that for?”
“You want another?”
“Fuck you!”
“Tell her your name,” Lorcan growled, the tips of his stolen wings fluttering at his hips as he gripped the werewolf more tightly.
“Daryn!”
I motioned for Lorcan to ease up. When he did, the werewolf straightened, wariness in his eyes as he looked at me.
“It’s nice to meet you, Daryn,” I said. “Is it true you serve Kristoff?”
His expression turned sullen. “That’s what I just said.” Vander growled, and Daryn shot him a nervous glance before adding, “I mean, yes. Kristoff is my alpha.”
“I’d like to speak with him,” I said. “The witches are using you, Daryn. They won’t share power with the werewolves when this war is over. You bleed and die for them, but they don’t respect you. And they won’t permit you to rule yourselves.” I paused, letting my words sink in. “But I will.”
Even as the promise left my mouth, I realized how much I still didn’t know. How were the werewolf packs organized? What was their hierarchy? How many alphas were there, and did they work together or compete for power? I had so much to learn, and the list never stopped growing.
Daryn appeared to consider my words. “Why should I believe you?” He tossed Vander another quick look. “That’s what Kristoff will ask.”
I nodded. “As he should. The truth is, I don’t have a way to convince him.
But I can give you my word. I didn’t come to Nocta freely.
I was brought here against my wishes. Like you, I fight a war that isn’t wholly mine.
But now that I’ve seen how my father treats Nocta’s people, I won’t stand by and let his abuses continue.
I will end him, and I will end this war. That’s what I can tell you.”
Daryn was silent, his gaze watchful.
“Tell Kristoff what you heard here tonight,” I said. “If he wants his wolves to stop dying, I’ll make it happen. And I’ll honor your right to rule yourselves.”
The silence stretched. Finally, Daryn nodded. “I’ll give Kristoff the message.”
“And you’ll arrange a meeting?” I asked.
Some of Daryn’s sullenness returned. “I can only deliver the message. The alpha does what he wants—or doesn’t want. You can’t be angry at me for that.”
“I’m not,” I said before Vander or Lorcan could turn violent again. “And I understand. Thank you for your help.”
Daryn’s shoulders relaxed even as his eyes remained guarded. “Sure.”
“Where can I find you again?” I asked. “How will we know if Kristoff agrees to meet?”
Arrogance touched the man’s features, and his upturned nose went a little higher as he said, “We’ll find you.”
Vander stepped toward him.
“Fair enough,” I said, putting a hand on Vander’s arm. “I look forward to the meeting.”
Lorcan dragged Daryn backward. Wings rose above his shoulders as he looked from me to Vander. “I’m taking the dog back to the forest. You two stay here.”
Daryn jerked against Lorcan’s grip. “I’m not a dog, leech .”
Lorcan pulled Daryn against him. “You smell like one. Now, shut up and stay still.” He dragged Daryn over the ward and to the balcony. A second later, Lorcan launched into the air and swooped toward the forest.
I turned to Vander. “What if someone sees them?”
“Lorcan drained a witch with strong warding magic after dinner tonight.”
My stomach flipped over. “You mean he killed a witch.”
Vander sighed. Standing as close as we were, I could make out the individual freckles on his nose. It was hard to believe the same man with a dusting of the delicate spots had just threatened to feed a werewolf his own manhood.
“We all make difficult choices in war, my queen.”
The title landed as hard as it always did when he used it. Maybe it landed hard because he used it.
“You brought me a werewolf,” I said. Perhaps if I repeated it enough, it would sink in.
Vander captured one of my hands and lifted it to his lips. His pewter eyes on mine, he spoke with his mouth hovering above my knuckles. “You told me to.”
A shiver ran through me. Heat followed in its wake, and my voice sounded breathless in my ears as I asked, “Do you always do what you’re told?”
Something wicked sparked in his gaze. “As I told you before, my inquisitive one, I’m a soldier. Not always the brightest torch on the wall, but I’m very good at following orders.” He brushed my knuckles back and forth over his lips. “Very, very good.”
The heat slid to low, forbidden places. Before I could respond, Lorcan sailed back through the balcony doors and landed on the carpet. He strolled forward with dark eyes and predatory grace, his wings snapping down.
“Took you long enough,” Vander said in a lazy tone.
Lorcan’s expression was cool. “As always, your perception of time is unusual. Almost childlike.”
Vander grinned. “Nothing about me is childlike, sweetheart.”
Lorcan frowned, but the expression wasn’t for Vander. “The ward is broken,” he said, pointing to a piece of feygeld. The crystal sat apart from the others on the carpet.
Vander turned, his gaze falling on the chalky white rock. “You must have kicked it out of place.”
“Or you did,” Lorcan said. “Your feet are the size of serving platters.” Vander’s eyes brightened, and Lorcan held up a hand. “Don’t.”
Vander smiled. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”
Scowling, Lorcan started toward the crystal—
My chamber door opened, and a knight in full armor filled the doorway. His crimson cloak swayed as he took us in before looking over the dead roses and the circle of feygeld on the floor.
“Treason,” he rasped, moving his hand to his sword.
Lorcan stepped in front of me. “You are mistaken.”
Disgust descended over the knight’s features. “I have eyes. You plot against the king.” He whirled, his cloak flaring as he reentered the corridor.
To raise the alarm.
The monster under my skin shot to the surface. The room blurred as I flew to the door, my slippers barely touching the ground. Looping an arm around the knight’s neck, I stabbed my fangs into his throat and dragged him back into the room.
Blood hit my tongue. The bouquet bloomed rich and dark, a river of it pouring down my throat. The monster threw its head back and howled. I sank my fangs deeper, Vander and Lorcan indistinct shapes around me. Lorcan shut the door. Vander dropped another, larger circle of feygeld.
The knight staggered against me. He clawed at my arm, but only for a moment before his hand flopped to his side.
Memories flooded my head like sunlight winking between clouds on a windy day.
Prisoners wept in the corners of cells. Men screamed under the lash.
Blood dripped from a fairy’s wrist. The marching of boots pounded in my ears.
Satisfaction hummed in my chest as vampires shoved the corpses of centaurs into a yawning pit.
The emotion wasn’t mine, but it didn’t matter.
Others took its place, each one accompanied by fleeting glimpses of the knight’s past. A woman with pearlescent horns sobbing for mercy.
Werewolves in human form fleeing from a hail of arrows.
Dark memories twisted before me like the roots of a blackened tree.
Blood surged, and I followed, sliding deeper under the soil.
Too deep. I had to stop. But the lash cracked, and the horses whinnied.
The rasp of a sword being drawn from its scabbard rang in my ears.
More weeping. More blood. Down and down it went, cruel and unending.
Strong hands gripped my shoulders and wrenched me backward. Blood dribbled down my chin, and the scent of rain and forest flooded my lungs as a thick arm wrapped around my waist and hauled me against something big and solid.
“Enough,” Vander growled in my ear, his chest rumbling against my back. Then he bit me.
I jerked. For a second, the monster hissed.
Then desire struck, a thousand bolts of lightning piercing my skin and setting me on fire.
Arousal gushed between my legs. My nipples tightened under my gown.
My hips jerked, and a gasp swelled my throat.
Pleasure wrapped around pain, and both sensations wrapped around me, tightening and tightening until I thought I’d snap in two.
“Gods!” I moaned, my hips lifting. I swayed on my feet, and I would have fallen if not for Vander’s arm holding me up.
His ward glowed around us. Lorcan appeared in front of me, blue light from the feygeld dancing in his eyes.
His hair hung over his shoulder like a dark waterfall.
One flat nipple peeked between the strands, and moonlight played over his rippling abs like the beams couldn’t help themselves. Like they ached to be there.
I ached, too. I ached everywhere, my body soaked in need. Vander withdrew his fangs. He swiped his tongue over my vein, and a wave of desire crashed through me, tearing a cry from my throat.
Lorcan surged forward and pressed a palm over my mouth. His face inches from mine, he spoke in a low, urgent voice.
“You have to be quiet, Corinthe. No ward is perfect, and your magic is unpredictable. If you break the wall, every man in the Drakhold will come through that door.”
Somewhere in my lust-addled brain, I knew he was right. We had to be quiet. We had to be careful. But what good was caution when I was burning to the ground?