Chapter 55
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
Briar
“What are you doing?” I asked.
I placed a finger in my book to keep my place as the sprites flew around, tying string onto the rafters. A few of them looked at me while others carried boots up to their friends. They giggled as they worked to tie the bootlaces onto the strings.
Gizzi darted up to where I sat on a tree branch with my feet propped up and my back against the trunk. This branch, in the tree of unity, was a perfect place to read.
Plus, I got to absorb the energy pulsating through the beautiful tree while inhaling its freshly blooming flowers’ fragrance. Pleasant little tingles ran across my skin from soaking up the tree’s strength.
While I read, they’d faded into the background, but I became aware of them again as Zephyr flew into the room. He had a pair of Knox’s boots tucked under his arm.
With a squeak, Gizzi dashed through the tree and into the limbs stretching toward the open roof above. The buzz of the bees mingled with the sprites’ giggles and the scrape of Gizzi’s claws.
“Oops,” Zephyr said.
He dropped one of Knox’s boots onto the floor. He picked it up to peer down at something before releasing the boot again.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It accidentally fell on one of those spiders.”
“They’re good for us and good luck,” I reminded him.
“Well, that one’s good luck ran out.”
Zephyr grinned at me before zooming away. He left the boot behind but took the other with him.
I returned to my book. It was best if I didn’t know what the mischievous creatures were up to.
A few minutes later, a loud curse drew my attention, and I looked up as Knox swatted aside a swinging boot. At the end of one of the strings, it spun around him as the sprites giggled, slapped hands, and buzzed around the rafters.
“Little assholes,” Knox muttered as he slapped the boot aside again.
When Dromon entered behind him, the sprites released another boot. It arced toward Dromon’s head as it swung through the air. The shifter must have heard it coming as he dodged out of the way and smacked the boot aside before it hit him in the head.
When he hit it, color erupted from the boot as it flipped upside down and spun in circles. It threw a rainbow of sand everywhere. The sprites squealed with laughter as sand settled around the shifters’ shoulders, sparkled in their hair, and turned them into colorful, scowling behemoths.
I couldn’t stop chuckling as Gizzi’s laughter echoed in my head. Dromon and Knox looked as happy as a dragon poked with a spear, but they didn’t lash out at the sprites or start cursing.
When Knox’s eyes landed on me, his scowl deepened at the sight of me belly laughing in the tree. My stomach hurt from laughing, and tears formed as he shook some of the sparkly rainbow off his head.
I’d spent the past few days avoiding him, but I was glad to be here for this. I smirked at him as I leaned against the trunk.
I opened my book again, but didn’t look at the story about a princess falling in love with a kind prince. The prince worshipped the ground she walked on and treated her like a queen.
It was bullshit.
I had no idea why I was reading this garbage. When I chose it, I was looking for a diversion from Knox, but I hated this story… especially since my prince had turned into an overbearing ogre.
Closing the book, I sat up on the branch and slid down to the next one. I was about to climb out of the tree and retreat to my workroom when a hand extended to me.
I’d recognize that hand anywhere, but why was Knox offering to help me from the tree? Was he going to drop me on my face or command me to do something?
My eyes met Knox’s as I waited to see what was coming. He stared expectantly back at me. He’d shaken most of the sand off, but colored flecks still stuck to his black shirt and pants. At least he was finally wearing clothes.
I hesitated before sliding my hand into his. Clasping it, he placed a hand on my waist and helped me from the tree.
“Is that a comfortable place to read?” he asked.
“You haven’t tried it before?”
“No. My father never would have approved of me lounging in a tree and reading books. Since my return…” His words trailed off as he shrugged. “Who has time for reading?”
He could probably make time, but I was sure he’d punish himself for indulging in something while his kingdom remained in ruins. A pang of sympathy stabbed my heart. Why did he make it so difficult to keep hating him as I sanely should?
“It’s a very comfortable spot,” I told him. “I like being surrounded by the flowers and bees. They make me happy.”
He looked past me toward the tree and… no… it couldn’t be… was that a smile tugging at his lips? Maybe miracles did happen after all.
“I do enjoy both of those things,” he said.
I almost asked if he’d hit his head or if the sprites had slipped something into his food, but I bit the questions back. It might chase away his good mood.
“Do you know what the stones stand for around the tree?” he inquired.
“I assumed they represented the three different shifter species—feline, canine, and dragon.”
When he tucked my arm into his, I almost pulled it back. The last time we had any real interaction, we’d clashed—of course—and I bit his thigh. I couldn’t quite place how that led to this.
But nothing was domineering about the way he clasped my arm against his side. His touch was tender as he turned me to face the different stones circling the tree.
Carved onto each stone was a different animal representing a different species. There was a wolf, lion, dragon, fox, panther, another dragon, and then a W, which I assumed stood for Wildwood. The pattern continued around the tree; there were four W’s in total.
“You’re correct; the stones are a representation of the different shifter species, with the W’s representing Wildwood. Each W is placed at one of the main compass points.” He pointed to the one in front of us. “That’s north.”
I followed the W toward the hallway leading to the main dining room.
“There was a time when the three different species of shifters battled each other for control of the kingdom,” he continued.
“They burned this castle many times over the years of shifting power and infighting before the great alpha Acor seized control.
He knew that if the fighting continued, the shifters would soon destroy each other because by then our numbers had plummeted.
“The other eternals, having stood by while the shifters destroyed themselves, were starting to eye Wildwood as an easy kingdom to gain control over. They wanted the lush land of Wildwood for themselves. If the shifters didn’t join to keep Wildwood, they’d either destroy each other or the other eternals would conquer them. ”
I loved the way his face relaxed as he spoke proudly of his heritage. His thumb caressed my arm; I wasn’t sure if he was aware of it or not.
“Amongst the different species, various groups had different leaders, and they all attacked each other. The panthers battled the tigers and the tigers and jaguars ganged up on the lions while the wolves fought the jackals and so on and so on. Even the dragons split into groups, each following a different leader who sought to rule all.”
“It must have been horrible,” I murmured.
“I’m sure it was. It’s written as a time of great distress and much death as the shifters nearly eradicated themselves. Acor gathered the leaders of the various factions and suggested only one should rule all the shifters and that we should all unite.
“At first, as I’m sure you can imagine, there was a lot of disagreement about his suggestion, but when the cyclops nearly succeeded in taking Wildwood from us, the shifters banded together to keep them out.
“It was the first time they’d united in centuries, and not only did it make them stronger, but they realized if they didn’t merge, they would all fall.
So they returned to Acor and agreed with his idea of having only one rule all.
It took some time to decide how they would choose the first king, but they came up with a plan for the deathmatch. ”
“The what?” I blurted.
There was that small, sweet smile again. It relaxed his face and lessened the severity of the scars slicing across his right eye.
“The deathmatch,” he said. “Each separate species could send anyone into the fray, but whoever entered was aware it could result in their death. That first deathmatch was the biggest, as each alpha believed they were strong enough to rule the kingdom. Thirteen entered, and only one exited.”
“Acor,” I said.
“Acor.”
“And does the alpha rule until they die?”
“Every ten years, there’s a new deathmatch to ensure the ruling alpha remains the strongest in the land. My father has been uncontested for twenty years, but before then, he fought a few battles against those foolish enough to oppose him.”
“Does the dragon always rule Wildwood?” Knox’s father was the last dragon shifter.
“No, they’re not always the strongest. There have been many different ruling species throughout our history. Acor was a wolf.”
“How interesting,” I murmured. “And brutal.”
Knox chuckled. “That is our way.”
“Did Acor plant this tree?”
“He did. After establishing his rule, Acor planted this tree. It was only a seed at the time, but he knew it would grow stronger with every passing year, just as Wildwood would. He had the stones carved and placed around the tree as a reminder we’re far stronger together than we are apart.”
“How lovely. Was he killed during a death matches?”
“He was, but we still consider him our greatest alpha.”
“So every alpha knows that the only way out is death?”
“No, they can resign if they choose, but throughout our history, only two have ever done so.”
“Wow.”
I felt his eyes on me, but my attention remained on the stones.
“Would you like to take a walk with me, Briar?”