Chapter 28
HEKLA
I breathed Belenus in as he ignited my lips with his. He smelled and felt so delicious that had we the choice, I’d never leave his lips. He knew I longed to taste him, so he devoured my ravenous mouth, plunging his tongue inside to find mine. I arched into his unyielding chest, and his grip loosened, allowing me to slide down his torso until I could feel his cock jutting against my bottom.
I whimpered into his mouth, and the sound I knew he loved drew a responding groan from him. “Gods, she-wolf. The things you do to me,” he gasped out and crushed his mouth against mine once more. His love and lust radiated through our bond and called out to what was already in the very center of my being. I didn’t just need him inside me. I needed him to know he’d claimed my heart.
I grabbed his head with both my hands, tasting him with matching fervor while I mentally prepared myself. I pulled away from his lips, licking mine while catching my breath. “Belenus, my mate, I need to tell y—” I started confessing, but our fiery moment was interrupted by a call from the other side of the river.
Aw, what? Eventide snapped irritably. We were so close!
What the shit is it now? Escort growled.
I sighed under the din of our wolves protesting and twisted to see who’d spoken to us. I thought it sounded like Ferrer. My mate turned to hide my nudity behind him, and I held back a second sigh. I guessed he still hadn’t shaken old habits. Many of the shifters had already seen me naked, but I could grudgingly respect that Belenus still didn’t want to share the view of my body if it could be helped. Zorian was that way with Ragna. Maybe it was more common with mated males than I thought.
“Prince Belenus?” Ferrer’s voice repeated hesitantly.
I finally spied him; he was turned away from us, partially hidden by a tree. I dropped my disappointed head onto Belenus’s shoulder with a thunk.
Ferrer hastily delivered his message. “King Nechtan is calling for a meeting. All the shifters are rising. He’s requesting your presence at your… convenience. Ehm… sorry for interrupting.” Without waiting for a reply, he rushed back toward wherever they were camped, pointed ears red with embarrassment.
Belenus, downright disgruntled with his flat brows and his pressed lips, looked down at me to deliver an apologetic look. I was lowered onto a warm, dry boulder where my clothes and shoes waited, and we both dressed like sullen teenagers.
“What were you going to say? Before Ferrer interrupted?” Belenus asked, shrugging on a tunic. The poor fae man was still completely erect.
I shook my head, knowing I needed to wait for another opportunity. “Some other time,” I answered lightly, trying not to make it seem like a big deal. The truth was, I wanted to tell him I loved him before we stormed the castle, whenever that would be. As determined as I was, I wasn’t a fool. I knew we could both die.
Belenus and I arrived at the camp to find King Nechtan in a discussion with some of his men, Emer, and Nofre. Ferrer looked uncomfortable, no doubt embarrassed about stumbling into our activity at the river. I also noticed he kept glancing stealthily over at Nofre and Emer. The fated mates were tense, but Nofre wouldn’t stop his protective hovering. Seemed like nothing had changed between those two while I was unconscious. Ferrer’s yearning was new, however, and I tried to feel hope for him instead of sadness.
Soon, I thought. Soon you’ll all have a chance to find your mates.
“King Nechtan,” Belenus greeted as we reached the circle. “Are we ready to discuss?”
“Indeed, we are,” he replied. He still wore the bag containing the mac-talla, and I wondered how our little Skye was faring.
Belenus led us to a large section of dirt that had the layout of the castle and the city drawn onto it. I wasn’t sure how accurate it was, but the details impressed me. Belenus must have spent a lot of time on this after arriving here. I looked up at his tired face and frowned. Had he even slept?
“We have multiple agenda items,” my mate announced sternly, placing his hands on his hips. “One, evacuating those most likely to be targeted or used as hostages. I know Hekla’s particularly anxious to recover Bidelia, her mac-talla, and Doctor Egres. I need to retrieve my team, the one that was working on the contract issue, and Koray, if he remained there. I don’t know if he went back home.”
“He was there when I left,” Emer informed.
Nofre released a short, quiet growl but froze when he realized it came from him. He shifted uncomfortably and avoided Emer’s irritated look. As they were now, Nofre was going to act like a jealous beast with any attention she gave to the opposite sex. She was going to have to be careful with that, seeing as how it was almost a reflex with them.
I suspected that Emer was going to snap at him, so I jumped into the conversation and said, “We shouldn’t pull anyone out who’d be noticed right away. I think it’s safe for everyone we mentioned, but I’m not sure who on your team would be missed, Belenus.”
“Absolutely,” Belenus said. “I also need to meet with Drust. He’s a high-ranking guard who I ordered to get an idea of how many soldiers are willing to join our forces. He gave me a sense that the percentage was going to be significant.”
“It’s not ideal going into this without even knowing if you have an army, Prince Belenus,” King Nechtan said gravely, crossing his arms.
“Your concern has been noted,” Belenus replied, unfazed. King Nechtan would either help or he wouldn’t; we all understood that quite well. “We’ll certainly find out soon enough. We won’t be removing them from the castle, though. That’ll be counterproductive and would grab too much attention. I’ll work with Drust on a signal.”
“Excuse me, Prince Belenus… what are we to do?” Ferrer asked and Nofre nodded.
I gave them an apologetic look. “We won’t be able to get you to the Realm of the Humans until after we take the castle, so you’ll have to stay here. I’m sorry about the delay. The door is on the castle grounds, and it wouldn’t be safe to h—”
Luzia interrupted, “If you need an army, you have an army.” She gestured back to the bat-shifters biding their time. Some were eating, while others were chatting or napping. “You’ve saved us from extinction. We owe you our lives, vessel of the Sky Gods.”
“Don’t… don’t speak for the others,” I ordered sternly, trying to keep the pleading tone from my voice. “This isn’t your fight. I’m supposed to get you all home safe.”
“I will get a sense of who wishes to help, Luzia,” Nofre replied, completely ignoring me. He turned to Emer, pointed a finger at her, and said in earnest, “Whether you like it or not, your fight is my fight. I’m not letting you do this without me.”
He stalked off before Emer could say a thing. I expected her temper to flare, but her shoulders merely dropped, and she bit her lip .
Belenus said to me in a low voice, “If they’re truly going to volunteer, Hekla, you’re going to have to lead them. No one else will be able to control them if they slip and start feeding on people.”
I nodded in agreement. That had crossed my mind. They’d be harder to trust than a pack, but at least they’d be controllable.
King Nechtan was simply staring back at the shifters, deep in thought. “Am I to assume the other items on the agenda depend on how the next day goes?” he asked. “We have two days left?”
“Two more sunrises, yes,” Belenus said. “If I’m caught after that without a solution to the contract, I’m likely as good as dead.”
“I should go and pick up your team instead of you,” Emer said. “I don’t want you going into the castle so close to the deadline. If I see Koray, I’ll bring him back too.”
“Best for you to focus on Drust, mate,” I said to him. “I’ll retrieve my little pack and the doctor.”
“Should glamour you,” Emer suggested to me and looked over at her suddenly agitated brother.
He ran his fingers through his hair and took a steadying breath. “Hekla, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go,” he said through his teeth. “If the queen catches you, she’ll either use you as bait or execute you on the spot.”
King Nechtan asked, “Who else can go in her stead? It’ll be noticed if Emer leaves with such a large group of people.”
Did he think me incapable?
I bristled at his question and opened my mouth, but the king cut off my protest before I could even start. “If you’re to be queen, you need to understand value and risk. The fact that you’re about ready to fight me over this means you don’t understand either.”
I froze in place and let his words sink into my heated brain. I wasn’t thinking like an alpha. I had to think like an alpha. I was a wolf with an army, not a lonely female with something to prove.
“Right,” I said tersely, swallowing my pride. So, instead of arguing, I searched for a solution. “What about Oscar? He delivered Arse to Bidelia. He won’t know who Doctor Egres is, but maybe he could scent her out if we told him to look for a lycan among the doctors. Bidelia should be able to track her down, though.”
“I will get in touch with Oscar,” Belenus agreed. “I think he’s a good candidate, especially since he’s not a new face, and folk fae are more likely to be ignored.”
“You should glamour some of my men so they can escort you and see the layout with their own eyes,” King Nechtan suggested. “I don’t want to just be sitting here. There’s much to evaluate, and I’d rather not do it last minute.”
“Alright, give me four soldiers. Meanwhile, I’d like you to help Hekla prepare to organize an army. She doesn’t know anything about leading an assault,” he replied. “If these bat-shifters are adamant about helping, they’ll all need to be readied.”
I was slowly sinking into a sour mood. They were all right, but it got under my skin.
Don’t be upset, mate, Escort consoled. We’re all learning here. Also, these know-it-alls are old as fuck. They’ve had a lifetime of war already.
Even alphas need to be trained, Eventide reminded. We were just kind of dropped into the role.
That’s true, I replied. I guess I should count myself lucky that we have another person who’s going to act as an advisor.
Putting a lot of trust in him, Escort said flatly. The king will now know more of our layout than he should.
Takes trust to build a team, I mused with a sigh. We’ll come out of this knowing exactly where everyone stands…
If we come out of it, Eventide murmured, but Escort snarled at her.
If Belenus was listening to our chatting, it wasn’t obvious. He clapped to get everyone’s attention. “Alright, Luzia, you said the shifters are discussing. King Nechtan, you’ll give me soldiers and tutor Hekla. I’ll glamour your men, make contact with Oscar and Drust. On our way back, we’ll gather extra supplies from the city. Emer, you’ll fetch my team, then Koray, and you’ll return immediately.”
“We’ll see you by dawn then,” King Nechtan stated, scratching at his chin before turning away.
“Stay safe,” Luzia murmured and wandered off toward the quiet crowd of debating shifters. Emer hesitated, then followed Luzia. I assumed she was going to find Nofre before leaving. He’d probably go wild if she left without telling him.
They really need to mate, Eventide said and uttered a tsk, before it turns into a Hekla-and-Belenus situation.
Belenus jolted me from my thoughts by grabbing my hand and leading me to where our bags were. Out of sight from the others, he pushed me against a tree and claimed my mouth, framing my face with his fingers. Warm lips pressed into mine, and I felt myself slowly relaxing. The thumping of my anxious heart slowed and softened as my attention centered on him.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered into the air between our lips. “I know it’s a lot. I know you’re upset.” He spread urgent kisses down my neck, desperate for forgiveness. Each tingling peck had me shivering more than the last.
“I know you trust me,” I replied and hissed in pleasure when his mouth grazed over the mark he’d left on my skin. “You just told me to command an army of shifters. I… ah.” I sighed when he tried to move the collar of my dress to access more of my skin.
He voiced his fear in a quiet voice. “I wouldn’t be able to focus with you wandering the castle. All I’d be able to think about is the last time the queen threatened to execute you. Please just stay here tonight. Please, Hekla. Let the shifters guard you until we’re ready. You’re my queen, my precious queen.”
“Shh, it’s ok. I understand.” I pulled his rigid face up to look at me. “I have plenty to do here.” I stroked his hair out of his gleaming amber eyes. “I’m anxious to see those three again,” I confessed.
“And you will,” he growled, kissing me fiercely while sliding his hands up my body. His hungry grip squeezed my breasts over my dress. “I hate how I can’t get my hands into this blistering dress. I’m five seconds away from ripping it.”
I gave him a grin, showing off my eager canines. “Come back safely, and maybe you’ll find it gone.”
Belenus pried himself away with a tortured groan and held his hand out for a shake. “Can we make that a promise?”
BELENUS
It took everything in me to pry myself away from my mate to pursue the first stage of our mission. I wanted so badly to feel all of her, to know she was alive and well after what had happened. Despite the witch’s attack, I desired her more by the day. I wanted to finally be free, genuinely free, to love her the way I should’ve been able to from the day we met. I loved her in all the ways that truly mattered, but I wanted our love to be seen and accepted because I wanted to show her off to all the realms.
I wanted to not only give her a place in my bed, our bed, but I hungered to place the queen’s throne at her feet, to offer the royal dais she deserved to be heard and heeded. She would be good for our people. She would have wonderful, clever ideas. She would be loved and respected, and I knew that from the bottom of my very soul. I just had to get us there. If I had to spill the blood of the unjust to get there, I would.
And we will, Escort agreed savagely. For our people and our mate.
As we reached the city with a disguised Slaine and three other winter fae, I felt like I was seeing everything with fresh eyes. This was the first I’d returned since being mated to my future queen, and all I could think about were the possibilities. I could imagine so many projects I could initiate to improve the lives of our people, and it wouldn’t just be this city. I wouldn’t have to fight the current queen anymore over every little thing .
Even my breaths tasted different. The night air felt fresher now; I could almost taste a better future. I pictured our carriage rolling through the city. I’d be in it with my new queen, holding her hand in mine while she held our heir in the other. I wished I knew what our first child would look like. Would it be fae or wolf? Could it be both? Perhaps they’d have their mother’s soft, dark brown skin with a dusting of gold like their father. That would be beautiful.
Our mate would only make beautiful children, Escort asserted.
I definitely agree.
I had to calm myself down after that. Thinking of impregnating my mate, my future queen and wife, was giving me quite the erection to contend with at the moment. I pumped my fists and tried to focus on my goals for today. Fantasizing had to wait. There was far too much to do before we could get to making an heir, and I suppressed a frustrated growl.
The wooden closed sign hung in Oscar’s shop’s window, but I knocked all the same, persisting until I heard movement. I knew he lived in the apartment upstairs with his daughter, and unless he was visiting someone, he should be home.
My wulver friend, to my great relief, appeared and rushed to the door to usher us inside. I couldn’t shake the fear that I’d discover that the queen had taken a loved one into custody just to hurt and manipulate me. This was why we had to move fast.
Oscar led us up to his apartment, but by the raised fur on his neck, I could tell that he was tense. He wasn’t fooled by my glamour of the winter fae; he could definitely smell what they were. In hindsight, I was shocked that this wulver held so much trust in me that he’d willingly bring winter fae even remotely close to his daughter, especially after everything Hekla had told him.
“Please return to your chamber, little fawn,” the wulver said to his daughter in fae, who retired but not before looking at us with youthful curiosity. I never understood Oscar’s obsession with deer, and after years of knowing him, I figured I never would .
Oscar submitted until I quickly told him to rise, and we retired to a table where I swore him to secrecy. I filled him in on everything, which had him more surprised by the word. He fretted over the risks but would occasionally have a bout of excitement at the thought of dethroning the current ruler.
“I told her you weren’t capable of doing it,” Oscar stated after I removed the glamour that hid my mating mark. He nodded proudly, and I reapplied the glamour to hide it again. “You did scent a little different.”
“That could be because of Escort too,” I replied thoughtfully.
“So where do I fit in all of this?” he asked. “Do ye need a place to harbor innocents? Soldiers?” His ears had pinned back, and I could easily guess what his reservations were about that.
“I’m honored you think to volunteer before I’ve said a thing about it. No, nothing that involved. I just need you to fetch three people from the castle. Hekla was about to do it, and I have my hands full with the soldiers. You already know Bidelia and—wait, were you aware your famous mac-talla named himself Arse?” I inquired, resting my elbow on the table with my chin in my palm. My index finger tapped at the corner of a lip where my smile was forming.
Oscar released a sharp, breathy noise that I knew to be his laugh. He shook his head and slapped a hand down on the table in his mirth. “I thought everyone was just swearing! I did not,” he wheezed. “We spoke, but it wasn’t mentioned. The mood was very serious.”
“Anyway”—I gestured the topic away with a hand, chuckling—“if you can fetch Bidelia and Arse from the castle, I also need you to pick up the lycan healer who’s originally from Hekla’s realm. Her name is Doctor Egres. Bidelia should be able to help you find her, but you could probably also scent her out. She’s the only lycan there.” I put a serious face on and added, “I know you have your daughter to worry about. I won’t force you to do this, Oscar. This is voluntary. If you can’t, I’ll look for someone else.”
The wulver nodded, sobering. “It is because I have family that I should do this, my prince. My daughter deserves a better life, and I know you will treat us better.” He jabbed a finger into the table to punctuate his adamance.
Satisfied and more than relieved, I stood from the table and grabbed Oscar’s forearm in a strong grip. He did the same, and I locked eyes with him like I would any other soldier. “I will leave first, Oscar. Put some distance between us and find Bidelia or Arse first. They’ll help you retrieve Doctor Egres, then I want you to head northeast from the castle where you’ll eventually encounter my… army behind a glamour. There will be over four hundred other shifters we’ve liberated and about fifty winter fae. My sister and Hekla are there. Just make sure no one follows you and return home safe to your daughter. Abort the mission if there is an immediate risk to you or your family, but if you get to my army in time, they will protect and hide you. They already know you’re coming. Are my instructions clear, Oscar?”
Oscar straightened and nodded. I took my winter fae escort out of the shop, and we moved on to the castle. I pointed out various locations they’d need to keep in mind for acquiring supplies and orienting themselves if they got lost. The guards at the castle gate were surprised to see me, and as I passed them, I studied their faces, wondering who owned their loyalty.
Exactly why we need to see Drust, Escort said.
He may be in the barracks. If not, we’ll inquire subtly, I replied.
Drust wasn’t in the first two barracks, and after searching the third building for twenty minutes, I began to worry that he’d been caught and charged with treason. I tried to stay calm, but my heart slammed louder than a hammer to hot metal; it nigh felt like it too.
When we left the building and stepped into the shadows to visit the fourth one, I sensed a man approaching, and an immediate scuffle broke out. I spun to find Slaine and Drust grappling, both unaware that the other was an ally .
“Cease!” I hissed and pried the two men apart before they killed each other. “Drust, it’s your prince!”
He stepped back, but his gloved hand still went for the hilt of his claybeg. “Who are these men?” he snapped under his breath. “They’re not ours!”
“No, they’re not. King Nechtan loaned me some of his warriors.”
“They’re winter?” Drust’s eyes narrowed, and he edged closer to my side. Slaine snorted and crossed his arms while the other winter fae shifted uneasily.
“They’re allies,” I clarified aggressively. “I uncovered some nasty shit on my tour, Drust. I’m trusting you about our soldiers, so I need you to trust me.”
Drust seemed to remember who he was addressing, and his scowl vanished into the night, his visage immediately adopting a cool and professional expression. “My deepest apologies, my prince.” He bowed deeply. “I realize we’re working under unusual circumstances.”
“You’re right about that,” I replied sternly and patted his shoulder in unspoken forgiveness. “Let’s find a private place to discuss our situation.”
Drust escorted us into the fourth barrack where I passed enthusiastic soldiers who’d wondered where I’d been this entire time. “Everyone here is safe,” Drust informed under his breath, “but let’s meet in the cellar.”
We seated ourselves at an old wooden table, and I lit the one candle with my summer magic to fill the room with an uneasy glow. Slaine took the third chair, and the other three winter fae settled on some barrels. Drust gestured for them to avail themselves of the fresh food and rations, which the warriors eagerly crowded.
“Fill as many bags as you can, and we’ll bring them back to your men,” I told one winter fae, who grabbed a burlap sack and started stuffing it with food. At least we wouldn’t have to return to the city for supplies. I turned back to Drust and said, “What are the numbers? We won’t have a lot of time to organize, and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to return after tonight.”
“Understood. The surveying was slow, as expected, but I’ve estimated that we have about forty percent of our soldiers who are willing to revolt.” I nodded as I listened to Drust. That was about eight hundred fae. “Fifty-five are unwilling to participate, meaning that they will not help, nor hinder, our forces. They’re mostly made of soldiers—many posted in the city—who have young children and fear retaliation.”
“For good reason,” I murmured over my folded hands. “What about the last one hundred?”
“We suspect they are loyal to the queen for one reason or another. It’s likely out of duty or fear of execution.”
I sat back in the chair and placed a hand to my mouth. “The problem is not in numbers then. We could obviously clear a straight path forward to the queen.”
Who is much more lethal, Escort reminded.
“Correct.”
“Then I want our goal to be in stopping these one hundred, not killing them. They are fulfilling their vows, and I cannot fault them for that. They may be just as loyal after I take the throne. I don’t want to see anyone die during this if I can. I know it might not be possible, but that is my standing order. You are only to capture hostile soldiers. Injuring or killing in self-defense is permissible, but I want that to be the very last resort.”
“Understood,” Drust replied.
I sat with my soldier and the winter warriors through most of the night, going through our strategies and signals until we decided upon something that was agreeable to all parties. We’d take this back to King Nechtan for his approval. Hopefully Emer would have returned before me so I could catch up with my team and Koray.
After that… well, I just wanted to dive into my sweet Hekla’s arms.