43. Big Bad Wolf
CHAPTER 43
Big Bad Wolf
Hawke Stormblood
The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the training arena as I step through the arched entrance. Dozens are practicing. The familiar clash of steel and grunts of exertion greet me, a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of emotions surrounding tomorrow's ceremony.
It's only been an hour since I left Melinda with my mother, finishing the final wedding dress preparations while Kellan stands guard outside the room. And already I want to turn around and go back to her. But she’s safe. She’s happy. Calm. Our bond hums happily in my chest.
I need to be prepared for anything that comes for my mate.
When I look up I spot a familiar broad-shouldered silhouette on the opposite side of the arena. Ares. He's back. Relief floods through me, quickly followed by a flicker of concern. I didn’t think he’d be back this soon.
I walk outside of the arena, away from the sparring, and make my way to his side.
"Hawke.” He dips his chin. "The Lady Melinda, is she well?"
"She is," I reply, the words heavy on my tongue. "But grief has sunk its talons deep with the loss of her family. And Aena is reaching for her through nightmares."
"Fucking hell." Ares' fist slams against the nearest pillar, his jaw clenched tight enough to crack stone. "How is that even possible? Aena’s never done anything like that before."
“I don’t have an answer for that. I fear for my mate, Ares. Aena threatens to take her from me.”
Ares’ eyes blaze with fury. "She has all of us knights as family now. No tower witch will be taking her from you. Hear me?"
A sad smile tugs at my lips as I reach out, squeezing his shoulder. “I do, brother. Thank you.” The muscles beneath my fingers are coiled with tension and anger. "She doesn't know what being part of our family means yet. She doesn’t trust it."
Ares’ frown deepens, but understanding flickers in his eyes. He nods, resignation etched in the lines of his face. "It takes time to trust, especially when you've been hated and hunted your whole life."
"Quite true."
Ares' gaze turns sly. "I'm surprised you're back out here with us and not breathing the same air as her still."
A snort of laughter escapes me, unexpected and genuine. "She shooed me away," I admit, warmth blooming in my chest at the memory. "Something about needing girl time with my mother to finish up with the dress and... whatever mysterious rituals that entails."
Boaz's brow furrows, his analytical mind clearly working overtime. "Girl time? Was there a prescribed length to this time away from males?"
I grin, shaking my head. "I don't think there's a rulebook, Boaz. It was just her way of telling Kellan and me it was safe to leave her side."
Fen and Wraith halt their sparring, sheathing their swords with practiced ease. Boaz pushes off the wall he'd been leaning against, his usual stoic demeanor softening. They converge on me, a tight knit circle of brothers.
These are my true brothers, I realize with a pang.
The bitter taste of betrayal rises in my throat as I think of my own flesh and blood–married in secret, aligning himself with those who would see my mate murdered.
Fen bumps shoulders with Boaz. "You're reading into her words too much. Think about it–how much do any of us truly know about Earth? No one but the sirens have been there since the door was locked. Culture shifts like sand in the wind. It’s been centuries."
Boaz rolls his neck, the loud crack making me wince. "How often do you think the sirens make that journey?"
A familiar voice cuts through the air, sending a jolt of surprise through me. "Pretty often."
I whirl to see Arik striding across the arena from a group of sparring rebels near the north entrance. "I've been twice," he continues, a hint of... is that fear in his eyes? "It's terrifyingly different than it used to be. The sirens go regularly. They've been hunting for your missing soul shards since the day it happened."
Ice floods my veins, panic clawing at my insides. My mouth goes dry, and I struggle to form words. "You know about our–" The rest of the sentence dies on my tongue.
Arik's lips curl into a smug grin, but there's a sharp edge to it. "I know you're not missing yours anymore," he says, his voice low and charged with meaning. "Queen Nimue is quite pleased with herself on all accounts. The rebellion has teeth for the first time in centuries."
“How many people know?” Ares stalks toward Arik, fire in his gaze.
The Elven man backs up a few steps and throws up his hands like he’s surrendering. “Look, most people on this side of the council know. We want the Knights back in charge like they’re supposed to be. Yggdrasil doesn’t make mistakes, people do.” He pauses a moment. “Everybody’s got different motives for being on this side, but our goals are the same. Take down the council. Open the Earth door. And fix the soul mate magick.”
Lofty goals, but I can’t argue with the validity of any of them. I want the same.
Ares sneers. “Is that all?”
Arik bares his fangs. “For now.”
“Look. Fighting amongst ourselves won’t help anything.” I step between the two angry men. “Ares, you’re making this worse. Please.”
Ares clenches his fists, and the ground beneath our feet vibrates. Sometimes I forget just how much power he wields. As quickly as it starts, it stops and he walks off, away from the arena.
"Ares." I call after him. "We need you level-headed. All of us do."
He freezes, his back a wall between us. The silence stretches. His shoulders sag, tension bleeding from his frame. He pivots, meets my gaze with a curt head tilt, whirls back around, and stalks away. The air feels charged in his wake, and I'm left to wonder just how close we’d come to witnessing the god of war unleash his fury.
I look back at Arik. “Try not to piss off the god of war.”
“Apologies.” The Elven gives a slight bow before retreating back to his friends.
Boaz, Wraith, and Fen go after him, but I follow Ares and catch up to him a few yards down the path. He takes a large gulp of ambrosia from a glowing flask.
“How are you, really? How are things on Olympus?” I ask.
“Zeus has no interest in helping one side or the other. He recalled the Olympians who sat on the council and has decided to wait and fucking see. ”
“Are you surprised?”
He takes another drink and offers me the flask. “No. I’m not. But I was hoping that he’d give a fuck about my situation.”
“Does he know how bad it’s gotten?”
Ares nods.
I take a small sip of the ambrosia and hand it back. The golden liquid is sweet like honey and full of an uplifting energy that can’t be matched by anything else in the universe other than maybe swimming in a World Tree well.
Ares' mouth curves into a smirk. “How do you feel about becoming a king tomorrow?”
“Terrified that I'll do the wrong thing for my people.”
He snorts. “That’s good. It means you’ll be a good king.”
“I do hope that is true.” I glance back at the arena, the rhythmic clash of steel and determined grunts fill the air, calling me to participate. Nothing like a good fight to get the blood pumping and eliminate stress.
To my surprise, Ares steps up beside me. "How about a round, Hawke?" His voice is gruff but lacking the edge from before. "Might do us both some good."
"You're on."
We take our positions in the center of the arena, drawing the attention of the other knights. Ares rolls his shoulders. I unsheathe my sword, the familiar weight a comfort in my hand.
For a moment, we're still, eyes locked. Then, as if responding to some unspoken signal, we explode into motion.
Ares strikes first, his blade a blur of deadly precision. I parry, the impact jarring my arm, and counter with a thrust of my own. We fall into a dangerous dance, each move a test of skill and strength.
Time loses meaning as we spar, the outside world fading until there's nothing but the next move, the next breath. It's only when I hear a familiar gasp that I falter, nearly missing a block from Ares' sword.
"Melinda," I breathe, my eyes finding hers across the arena.
She stands at the entrance with Kellan as a protective shadow behind her. Her eyes are wide with wonder as she takes in the scene before her. A flash of movement catches her attention, and her face lights up with delight.
"Cyrus!" she exclaims, and I follow her gaze to see the unicorn prancing into the arena, his silver white mane catching the last rays of sunlight.
Ares and I lower our swords, the match forgotten. Melinda approaches Cyrus with reverent steps, her hand outstretched. The unicorn nickers softly, lowering his head to meet her touch.
"I think he likes you," I say, unable to keep the smile from my voice as I move to her side.
“He does. He said he wanted to see me again.” Melinda's fingers card through Cyrus’ mane. “See how I was after the fight.”
“That was nice of him.” I give the unicorn a hard stare, he meets my gaze.
She’s special, this one, Cyrus whispers in my head. Keep her safe.
I intend to, I answer back telepathically.
A snarl shatters the peaceful moment, echoing off the arena walls. I whirl around to see Fen's body contorting, bones cracking and reforming as fur sprouts across his skin. In an instant, I'm moving, placing myself between Melinda and Fen.
Where Fen stood moments ago, a massive wolf now towers, yellow eyes wild with feral rage. Wraith lunges forward, arms outstretched in an attempt to restrain the beast. His muscles strain as he grapples with Fen's lupine form, but he’s no match for Fen’s beast.
I draw my sword, every instinct screaming to protect Melinda. But before I can act, those supernaturally large jaws close around Wraith's arm with a sickening crunch. His agonized shout pierces the air as Fen tosses him across the arena like a rag doll.
"Wraith!" I roar, torn between rushing to his aid and guarding Melinda. But there's no time to choose. I can’t leave Melinda unprotected.
Fen's massive head swivels, those predatory eyes locking onto me. A low, menacing growl rumbles from his chest, and my blood runs cold.
"Fen, no!" I shout, knowing it's futile even as the words leave my lips. The wolf charges, powerful legs propelling him towards us with terrifying speed.
I brace myself, sword raised. "Kellan, get Melinda away!" I yell, not daring to look back. I can distract Fen’s wolf long enough for him to get her to safety.