Persephone's Wolves, page 44
I glance at Adira, who has paused to speak to two males. I hate her, but she does look amazing in a tiny, glittering black dress that pretty much reveals everything about her body. Her long hair falls down her back in a straight wave, and Adira almost glows with her blue tints of power. She is far more connected to her goddess than she is pretending not to be, and I’m going to prove that she is using her powers and she controlled the Levi on the train.
“What kind of bullshit room doesn’t allow weapons?” Phim questions as she sits down next to me. “I feel naked and I don’t like it.”
I smile and she glares at me, making me only smile more. “What could you need a weapon for at a meal?”
“To look threatening and possibly stab someone if they don’t stop talking to me,” she deadpans.
“I think that’s the point. You don’t stab people during a meal,” I say quietly, but several people are looking at us like we are wild animals. I try not to laugh as she continues to frown at me like I’m insane.
“But where’s the fun in that?”
I laugh as I slide her wine glass towards her. “Drink instead.”
She grumbles at my suggestion but takes a sip.
“Alpha Heir Henderson Fall and Alpha Heir Silas Fall.”
I watch them take the steps down two at a time, effortlessly and too impressive for words. They are both in suits that match what Val and Ragnar are wearing, but Silas has lost his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular arms. The top of his buttons is undone, revealing his golden chest. Henderson looks flawless in his suit perfectly hugging his body, and he has cut his hair, left his five o’clock shadow and—god dammit. My heart feels like it stops beating as I look at them both. I can literally see their abs through the white shirt, their toned muscled chests and arms, and the way their bodies are so well built. They look like gods, coming to claim the room with just their presence. Somehow, they look better every single time I see them, and this time, I don’t try to hide my desire as they both look my way, no doubt sensing my change in scent.
A wicked smirk fills Silas’s lips, and he leans to Henderson, saying something that makes Henderson chuckle low, the sound making its way to me. I could literally stare at them all day.
Adira sits down in the seat next to Phim, and I turn to find her watching the alphas, her scent changing to one of desire. Gods, I hate her.
Phim stands up and slowly drags her chair closer to me, the awful noise of the chair grating across the floor, before she stops and sits down, close enough for her arm to brush mine.
“Bitch,” Adira mouths at Phim. I don’t even want to know what she mouths back that makes Adira turn away with a paler face than she had before.
Silas and Henderson spend time talking to several people on their way to us. Henderson softly smiles at me before he sits down on the other side of Ragnar. Silas walks past next, pausing behind my chair and leaning down to whisper into my ear. “Beautiful. So beautiful.”
Heat fills my cheeks as he carries on walking to his seat, and Phim shakes her head.
“You lot are so sweet it’s sickly,” she mutters.
“One day it will be you,” I tell her.
She wiggles her nose. “At this point, only a goddess could tempt me into the clusterfuck called falling in love.”
“Don’t go saying stuff like that out loud. The gods might hear you and see it as a challenge,” Valentine teases.
Phim glares at him, and I touch his hand under the table. He links our fingers as the room goes deadly silent.
“Alpha Soren Fall and Alpha Female Reine Fall. Rise.”
We only get a second of warning before everyone stands, and I do the same, Valentine still holding onto my hand. I realize this must be a tradition of sorts for them as everyone is silent, their heads bowed as Alpha Soren and Alpha Reine walk down the steps. Alpha Soren is wearing a dark chocolate brown tux with a red bow tie, and Alpha Reine is wearing a red dress with long sleeves and a short hem. They both don their crowns, marking who they are as they walk around the table, not acknowledging any of us. There’s a pause when Alpha Soren pulls out a seat for Alpha Reine and she sits first. Something about her sitting before anyone else seems symbolic.
“We thank the gods above and below us for the meal we are to eat. All hail the gods.”
“All hail the gods,” everyone repeats as Alpha Soren sits, and everyone else does after him. The room is full of waiters within seconds, running around, offering drinks to everybody, and placing small bowls of nuts, breads and butter on the table. My glass is refilled before I can even blink, and soon a steaming pile of food is placed in front of me. The plate is brimming with seafood, all fish I’ve never seen, let alone tasted.
“Try the red one,” Ragnar leans over to suggest.
I pick up one of the red slices of fish, cutting it with my knife and fork into a small slice, and my mouth explodes with flavour from one bite. It’s absolutely stunning. I barely get three mouthfuls before my plate is taken and replaced with another meal. This time it is a full plate of roasted chicken, steaming vegetables, and spiced potatoes all designed to make a flower shape on the plate.
“How many courses are there?” I whisper to Valentine.
“Usually five to six,” he quietly replies. Gods. In Ravensword, every meal was a blessing, and food was scarce in some parts of the city. The only reason I was fed well enough was the fact that food was donated to the foster home, but still, Mike had to hunt occasionally. I wish he’d taught me how to hunt. It would have been a good life skill, but he was always concerned about other wolves watching a female hunt and the reaction they might have had. Females weren’t allowed to do things like that.
“So tell me, Mai, what do you remember about how you got to the Ravensword Pack?” Alpha Soren questions. “I’ve been filled in on everything, but I do wonder how you got there.”
“I was shown a memory. An angel I’ve never met carrying me when I was twelve,” I reply.
Alpha Soren folds his hands together and turns to his mate. “Perhaps The Wolves of Mnemosyne could help with Mairin’s memories?”
She nods. “But there will be a price.”
“Who are these wolves?” Silas questions.
Alpha Soren sighs. “A last resort and a bad choice at that. The Wolves of Mnemosyne are immortal, ancient, and live not far from these lands. We have met them once or twice to trade, and some of our people have gone to them for trades. They make trades, magical ones, and I’ve heard they can control minds.”
“Recently a female wolf wanted a male to be in love with her, who wasn’t, so she went to The Wolves of Mnemosyne for help. They gave her what she wanted, and we don’t have a clue what she traded, but she lost her sight. She may have the male, who is in love to the point of obsession, but she can’t ever see him or anything anymore,” Alpha Reine continues. “The male is starving to death because he won’t eat or drink, or even sleep for more than a few seconds, because being away from the female is too much.”
“It’s safe to say no one but The Wolves of Mnemosyne got what they wanted,” Alpha Soren states.
“For my memories, I’m willing to do what it takes,” I say, and my alphas look at me with varying shades of disbelief.
“You did just hear what she said, right? The part about losing her sight and the male going mad with love to the point of killing himself?” Silas demands.
“Yes, I heard,” I reply, holding my head high. “And I will be careful. I won’t trade anything like my sight, but I need my memories back. If there is even a little chance of getting them back, I’m going to explore that option. I want to remember. I need to.”
“I think it’s a bad idea,” Adira adds in.
“You’re not the only one,” Henderson agrees. “This is too dangerous, Mai. I’m sorry, but you can’t do this.”
His words are filled with the power of an alpha, pushing me to submit. He instantly pulls the power back when he sees the look of shock on my face. “I’m sorry. I just can’t see you dead. I can’t see you nearly dying again, Mai.”
“None of us can,” Valentine says. “The rite is dangerous enough. Can we deal with one life-threatening issue at a time?”
“Fine,” I grumble... I don’t need their permission or knowledge. I can find The Wolves of Mnemosyne myself. Well, with a little help from Erin, that is.
The tension between us all is thick as my meal is replaced with a platter of fruit, and I don’t eat any, my appetite gone.
“Training is at six tomorrow morning, Mai,” Silas says. “I will send someone to guide you while I prepare a space.”
“We all will be at training,” Ragnar adds in.
“I’m looking forward to kicking your asses,” Phim says with a grin. The rest of the meals are served while we sit in silence, and I feel my alphas staring at me every so often, but I don’t want to look at them right now. I never want to feel controlled or forced into a box again, which they are trying to do with their overprotectiveness. Loving someone too much can be dangerous for everyone involved. I’m pretty sure the female who went to The Wolves of Mnemosyne can attest to that.
Alpha Soren stands, and the room goes silent as he pulls out the chair for Alpha Reine before she slides her arm into his. “The city is waiting to see our heirs and their guests. We should retiring for the night. Good moon to you all. May we endure the fall to rise in the ashes.”
“May we endure the fall to rise in the ashes,” is repeated around the room several times, echoing in the silence that follows after it. Then my alphas rise, and Valentine pulls my chair out for me, offering me his hand. I raise an eyebrow at him, making it clear what I think of that, before moving to stand next to my sister.
“You’re so pissed, aren’t you?” she asks as we walk after my alphas, their parents in front of them. I look at her and she chuckles low. “Overprotective alpha-assholes, the lot of them. Why do you like men again?”
I glance at their muscular bodies, a twinge of desire flickering through me. “Even now, I want them despite being pissed.”
“Angry sex is the best, by the way,” she tells me. “All that tension…”
I almost choke on thin air, looking at my younger sister like she is insane. “Let’s change the subject.”
“Okay, if you’re going to sneak away to see these witchy wolves”—she keeps her voice low—“you damn well better bring me along. I want to be your omega when you win this rite and become alpha female. Omegas protect.”
My chest warms…even though I’m not ever putting her in danger, and I think she knows that. “Who said I was sneaking out?”
“Please,” she laughs. “I’m not as oblivious as those four.”
We go up a winding staircase at the back of the throne room, and after a few dozen steps, I hear the whistling of the air coming through the cracks in the stone walls. Eventually we come out onto a balcony, and in the middle is the clock tower, the massive bell at the same level we are on.
Henderson steps back. “The bell is rung for three reasons. One ring is for a new alpha being born. Two are an alpha mating ceremony. Three are for war or an attack on the city.”
“Let’s hope the bell is never rung three times,” I say.
“The world is full of angels, and we are the only race dangerous to them. The bell will be rung... I only want us to be ready for when it is,” Henderson replies, and I turn to see Ragnar looking at us, a smile on his lips.
“I’m still pissed at you all,” I reply, crossing my arms as I start to hear a slow building chant getting louder and louder. I realise it’s a chant of the gods, a lullaby Mike told me once. It gets louder, deafeningly loud as we all reach the edge of the balcony wall and look down. The courtyard is crammed with people and wolves. Many of them are holding lanterns that make it look like there’s a million stars on the floor, and it’s a special and memorable view. It takes my breath away, seeing so many people crammed into the courtyard and the forest, filling every bit of space. They cheer and chant, crying out my alphas’ names. I hear my own name and Adira’s repeated in the crowds, too.
“Our gods and goddesses have come home. The future has just begun,” Alpha Soren says, his words feeling as powerful as they sound.
I stare over the sea of stars that are people, and for the first time, I realise what it will be to be an alpha female to a pack of this size. To make decisions that could risk their lives, to run a pack, to be at their side to help them in any way I can. Part of me is terrified, and another part of me wonders if I can do it, if I can be a strong alpha female like Reine.
I guess all I can do is try.
Because I belong in this city, in this pack...and in The Rite of Wolves.
Fifty-Eight
“Too slow,” Silas growls, easily whipping himself around me as I pant breathlessly and narrow my eyes as sweat drips over my tight clothes. I hate and equally love training, but Silas is a smug bastard at the best of times. And it’s the worst in here. I lift my daggers in my sweaty hands and brace myself once more. His eyes look me over, assessing me from head to toe in a calculating way that sets my blood alight. “What are you doing wrong?”
“You don’t want to tell me, all knowing master?” I bait him. I shouldn’t, not with the way he always reacts when I tease him during training.
At least I make it fun in my own sadistic way.
His eyes flare, and he moves swiftly with his own dagger. I block, only to lose my footing and stumble back. He is on me in seconds, pinning me to the mat, his dagger at my throat as my arse burns from the impact with the floor. I struggle underneath him as he easily holds me down, and he smirks. “Smartass, your core wasn’t tight, and you are favouring your left still. It’s a weakness, not one I want to see.”
He doesn’t move for a second, and this reminds me of the days we met, when he trained me from a weak girl into one who could do this. I flip him off me with my legs and bounce up, jumping away from him, using his tiny distraction. He glowers at me as he flips up in one smooth move I couldn’t do if I tried.
Sweat pours down my back from the hours of training, starting so damn early this morning that the sun hadn’t even risen as I walked the dark corridors to this place. It’s a long room with tall ceilings and rows of seating on one side and yellow mat-covered floors designed to soften a blow.
“My turn. Mai should take a break,” Henderson states, offering me a bottle of water and stepping into the circle marked on the floor. I give him a thankful look as I walk to the seating and sit next to my sister, who is sweaty and tired from training, too.
I drink my water as Henderson pulls his shirt off, revealing his glistening, corded, muscular chest, broad shoulders, thick arms and slim waist. Silas leaves his white shirt on, but the sweat reveals some of his massive build and trained body beneath. They both grab swords from the table of weapons, and Henderson flips his sword in his hand before getting into a stance.
“If I liked males, this would be a good show,” Phim sighs. She would be right. Seeing them like this burns something in my blood, in my core and soul. I could watch them fight all day, watch the sweat drip down their muscles, and imagine running my tongue—
Phim nudges my shoulder, and she grins at me, no doubt reading my mind. I lower my voice as Silas attacks, Henderson blocking and shoving him away in one swoop. “I want you to shadow Adira in the castle. It was easy to watch her on the train, but here? Not so much.”
Henderson attacks next, and they meet blow for blow, never missing a beat. They are equally matched. Silas is stronger, but Henderson is quick, as he moves like a ghost in the ring, and it’s mesmerising to watch. I feel Phim’s eyes on me, but I don’t look her way. “Consider it an omega-in-training order.”
“I’d do it anyway, as your sister,” Phim replies and nods. “But I will do it. I don’t think she should be left alone in the city either.”
“A snake in a chicken’s nest,” I murmur.
Phim doesn’t need to say a word; I feel her agreement as the alphas brutally clash their swords together and move like water in a river, fluid and graceful. I’m not sure who is going to win until Henderson makes a mistake, stepping to the right when he shouldn’t have, and Silas’s sword is in the space, the tip on his neck within moments. Only the tiniest break, that’s all he needed to find a way in and end it. Henderson chuckles and pats Silas’s shoulder, both of them talking about moves and countermoves.
“I’m going to shower,” I tell Phim, knowing my alphas will overhear. Phim nods before I leave the seats and head to the door and out into the corridor. The corridors are confusing, but somehow I find myself back at the bottom of the stairway of statues that leads to the courtyard, and I walk up them, pausing in front of Persephone, looking for something in the stillness of the statue’s eyes. I don’t know how long I stare at her, her beauty shining through even the statue, but suddenly Trey comes hurtling down the steps, a female chasing after him. His eyes widen, and he crashes into me. I embrace him back, breathing in his scent.
“This castle is amazing,” he exclaims in a hurry. “Want to see something cool?”
“Always,” I say as he grabs my hand and pulls me along. I chuckle, looking back at the female, who is kind. I can tell from her eyes of honey, her soft face and general demeanour, and how quickly she hurries after us. We head around corners and down a flight of stairs before we come to a door, and Trey opens it. It’s a sweet bedroom, filled with children’s toys, from a large dollhouse to a piano in the corner, and wooden toy planes lie on a mat on the ground in front of a fireplace. Trey drags me through the room that scents of him—his new bedroom, I assume—to the back where there is a small dog bouncing in an area with a wooden fence. Its fur is black, and it barks, yapping at Trey as he leans down to pick it up.
“It’s a wolvenhound pup,” the female who followed us explains. “They are given to our royal young to teach them commitment and caring and loyalty as part of a tradition. It will live eighteen years and be a fierce animal to behold.”
