Persephone's Wolves, page 63
She will come back here, and I will fight for that future. One day, it won’t be a simple fantasy daydream, but a reality. I find a balcony that overlooks the waterfall, and I pause, needing a second to breathe in air and not fixate on the fact that I just want to rip the world apart till I find her.
I grip the banisters tightly, squeezing them under my palms as I watch the water fall down so softly, the opposite to how I feel inside. I wonder if I could borrow some of the calmness from the water, to soothe me.
I’m surprised when I hear him. I rarely hear Hades outside of my dreams, but this time I do, so clear, like he’s right there next to me. His power is completely and utterly controlling my body for a moment, and I can feel his anger, his worry and panic like it is my own.
“Our queen is cunning and fierce. Be ready for her return and the army she brings at her call. The war is coming.”
In a blink, he is gone, and his power still echoes through my blood. I knew Mai was coming back, and this is a warning that we need to get moving to the Ravensword Pack quickly. She will need us soon. Mai’s the most important thing to Hades and me. He didn’t seem to think she was in danger or hurt, or he would have said. I don’t think Cenwyn will hurt her. If I did for a second, I’d be there. No. I saw him pretending to be Ragnar, and I think he loves her in his own warped way. He’s possessive of her, jealous of anyone close to her, and he will keep her close. The idea of him even touching her makes me want to rip every inch of him to shreds. But that sickness he thinks is love will keep her safe. He might be so obsessed that he won’t notice what she’s doing while she’s there. Our little spy, something I never thought that she would be. Mai could be our only hope of saving the entire world. I hear a slight ringing noise right before something small lands next to me.
I look over to see the strange little fairy thing that lives in the library. I don’t know if she is a fairy or gods above know what, but she looks like one but missing wings. She is the size of a doll, and her grey hair looks like a curtain around her shoulders. She is wearing a weird blue dress with dozens of stripes on it and a bandana around her head to match.
She sits on the banister, looking at me with those strange eyes of hers. I’ve met her a few times, and she never actually talks to me. Just stares. My brothers say she is the same with them, and Silas states she is always in his room after he has a shower.
Creepy little thing.
“My name’s Dot. If you don’t remember,” she says. Her voice is sweet and childlike, no doubt to lure some unlucky fool into thinking she is harmless. Being small doesn’t equal safe.
“I am not in the mood for a chat with a fairy,” I reply and look away from her at the waterfall.
“Hades’s soul, I don’t care what you wish for,” she replies.
“I have a name, and it’s Henderson.”
“Yes, but who cares about that?” she replies. Dot stands up in little flat shoes and walks across the banister. It’s harder to ignore her when she stops in front of me. I let go of the banister and step back.
I sigh and rub my forehead, a headache beginning. “What do you want?”
“I have a secret for you, alpha.”
The way she calls me alpha is almost patronizing. I really want to throw her into that waterfall.
“And why would I want to know a fairy’s secret?”
“One, I’m not a fairy,” she replies with a disgusted tone. “Two, for Astra.”
It takes me a second to realise she is using Mai’s middle name. One of them anyway. “Mai?”
“Yes,” she replies with a smile. “Aren’t you going to say please and beg me to tell you? You’d do anything for her, wouldn’t you?”
“What is it then?” I bite out, my patience with this creature gone.
She giggles. “One of the seven is in the Ravensword Pack. You will see it or feel its power. You should definitely get it and bring it back.”
“The seven?” I question. What the hell is that? The only thing I can think of is how there were seven children born with gods’ souls, but that isn’t true anymore. There was an eighth, the witch Erin.
“Each of those seven weapons are a clue.”
“What weapons?” I ask.
She gets a little sparkle in her eyes. “Do as you’re told, alpha, and it might save her in the end.”
“How could I possibly trust that you want to save her at all?”
“Why would you think I wouldn’t?” she counters.
Honestly, I don’t have a clue either way. No one knows what she is or where she came from. Hades might.
“What are you?” I demand.
She looks up at me with her strange white eyes. Her eyes are all white which makes it even creepier.
“What are you?” she mimics me. “Alpha wolf or god?”
“Both,” I reply.
“I find it so interesting that you think you’re part of him. One soul can only be one soul. You could split a soul a thousand ways, and it still can be only one person. Perhaps it’s time you start looking at yourself as one person and using the power the same way. Aren’t you tired of sitting on the sidelines and watching other people fight for you, alpha?”
Then, she’s gone in a burst of gold light, leaving me with a vague secret and a new threat to worry about. I don’t trust Dot, and I won’t for a second let her close to Mai until she tells us what she is. I growl before heading straight to the training rooms.
I’m going to find a hundred wolves, all good fighters, and then I’m going to destroy the Ravensword Pack for every single time they hurt my female.
Seventy-Seven
I lie in bed looking up at the plain ceiling above me, and I almost forget where I am for a second. I can imagine myself back in Darkland Castle with the beautifully painted ceilings and my alphas all around me, filling the room with their warmth. But it’s a lie I’ve created for myself to escape the reality of my situation, and at some point, I need to sit up. The bed itself is extremely comfy, and it’s not what I expected when I first saw it. It’s one gigantic grey board that has a built-in mattress, and it’s extremely low to the ground with a tiny headboard. There are little side units made of glass, and above the bed are three neon red lines for lights. This is such a human-created world, and it feels untouched in here. The only part I think I’ll like is the massive and expensive shower room to the side. My clothes stick to me like a second skin, and I place my fingers on my forehead, over the alpha female marks. With everything that has happened, I haven’t had a chance to really take in the fact that I won The Rite, and I am going to be their mate. I was once a rejected female wolf, with no title or power and nothing but darkness for memories. Until I washed up on their beach and my world changed.
I changed.
The room shakes now and then, like the wind is furious with the cavern and wants to blow it out of the hill altogether. The glass cabinet rattles with the movement, and I eye the various colours of many dresses inside it. The colours of the dresses stored in the glass don’t mix with the utterly spotless white fur rug in front of a long mirror. There are no windows in this room, and part of me is glad there isn’t. The temptation to jump out of one of the windows would be too much. Plus, with angels flying about, who knows who is watching me. I hear guards outside my room, but I think they are pointless when the door is laced with Erin’s magic. There isn’t even a handle on the door, and every time I go near it, it pushes me away. I could use my powers, but with how our magic exploded before, I don’t think it’s a good idea. I look away and to my boots by the door, where Morganis is hidden.
I don’t think it’s wise to carry her around in this revealing dress, and no one is going to look at my boots.
Hopefully.
The polished stone walls are so smooth, and I briefly wonder if I should shift and run my claws all the way down it. A yawn escapes my mouth, and I rub my tired eyes, fighting off the need to sleep. I’ve lain in this bed for hours, unable to sleep and not caring much to close my eyes at all.
It’s a mix of fear and overthinking my plans that makes sleep seem so far off. I breathe in the citrus scent that clings in the air, but it does nothing to comfort me.
I know he isn’t going to kill me or hurt me, because it wouldn’t make any sense, but I know that I can be hurt in far worse ways than just being killed. I need to be extremely careful. I’m going to guess it’s morning when the door opens and Cenwyn himself walks in. He is wearing a dark red shirt with black buttons, and it’s tucked into tight black trousers. His sleeves are rolled up, and his shiny shoes squeak on the floor with every step. I try not to recoil from him when his scent hits me, a mixture of his desire and all Cenwyn. My wolf instinctively rises to the surface and itches to get out.
He runs his eyes up me, focusing on my chest for a second too long before meeting my eyes. His changing scent makes my stomach feel twisted. He looks almost human as he stands there with his wings gone, but he is too unnatural in the way he stands, his eyes too bright and glowing like gold.
“Good morning, my darling Mai,” he offers, and I clench my teeth hard. I can’t say anything. “Not much happens in my home, but lucky for you, we’ve got a full day planned with your introduction to my inner court. There are others who aren’t here, but most are, and I can’t wait to show you off.”
Inner court? I need to learn about these people, how many there are and what connection they have to the armies. Do they have men to fight for just them and how many?
I don’t say anything as I sit up and watch him as he walks around the room, looking so pleased with himself. “I’ve been away a long time, so it might be boring for a moment for you. Females struggle with such important business.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. “I will be happy to see your inner court.”
“Good,” he replies, and he sounds pleased.
“What are inner court members called? I’m aware your leaders in the courts around the world you made are called viscounts of each area.”
His eyes spark with interest. “So, you researched and learnt about the world I made?”
The world he destroyed and built on ashes of humans. But I can’t correct him.
“Yes,” I reply. “I wanted—want—to learn about this world. I was trapped behind walls for a long time.”
“Ah, that,” he hums. “Being the alpha female of a large pack gives you more power. It was difficult for me to have you on that Ravensword alpha’s arm, but it was the only way I could see you getting the power you need.”
“I’m already powerful, thanks to Persephone,” I remind him.
He smiles. “Yes and no. You needed to be blessed by the Wolven gods. The only way known is The Rite of Wolves or mating in the Ravensword land to the alpha.”
Hearing him talk about the Wolven gods makes me worried for a reason I can’t put my finger on. I don’t like him knowing about them or using them.
I don’t even know who and what they are, but it was my mum’s and my secret.
“What if I mated with my alphas?” I question.
His eyes narrow. “I told you to forget about them!”
“I’m sorry, I was curious,” I reply quickly.
He sucks in a breath. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll answer your question and you do something for me in return.”
“What exactly were you thinking?” I thoughtlessly ask.
His eyes strip me down, and I hate his gaze. “You get dressed. That simple.”
“Fine, I’ll go and get—”
“No, here,” he purrs.
My stomach drops and my hands shake slightly. I don’t want this. He’s seen me naked before when I’ve shifted back, but I had no clue that it was him underneath that shell that he put on to trick me. I thought he was Ragnar, someone I was in love with. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before I was told, because Ragnar was so different from the second we got to Fall Mountain Pack.
“I’m waiting.”
His statement lingers in the cold room, and my skin pebbles with how nervous I am. This is different from shifting back, having no choice but to be naked for a short time. Most shifters are fine with nakedness, but not me. It’s private. I know that Cenwyn’s in love with me, and I’m using that connection to build armies against him, but there is only so far I can go. I try to imagine the millions that will die, all the wolves gone from this world, my alphas dead. I try to think of the reality of this world if I don’t play this right.
But this is not something I want to do. I look around for anywhere that I could shield myself, and he clicks his tongue.
“No, I want to watch, and I’m getting bored.”
I nod once and he grins. I watch as he goes to the glass drawer and pulls out a long red silky dress. It’s dark red, like blood, with a black band around the middle holding it together and a large slit up to the top of my thigh. The neckline is very low, but it seems well fitted around the top, at least.
I can do this.
It means nothing.
He is nothing.
I walk over and take the dress off him, but he catches my hand, squeezing it tightly, making sure I can’t go anywhere. His voice is laced with cold fury. “I told you to get undressed, and you shouldn’t have blinked before doing it. You need to learn to listen, or I will teach you a lesson. I am your king.”
Love is control to him.
My power itches at my fingertips, and I know I could make this room explode with it. I could take down this whole hill with me inside of it. But I need to survive. I’ve got to play this stupid game, and I hate it.
“Yes, King Cenwyn,” I respond.
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes as I take the dress and step away from him. I need distance between us, at least. I rip off the clothes I’m wearing until it is a puddle around my feet. I try to pretend I’m alone as I face the opposite way to him. He can see my back and the alphas’ marks down my spine. Unfortunately though, there’s a mirror right in front of me, and I’m forced to see his eyes as I strip off the rest of my clothes.
But I can see the alpha female markings covering me for the first time. They slide down my collar bone on each side before meeting in the middle to make a crown shape. The marks curl down my upper arms and down my back to where I can’t see them. The swirls and moons curl around the side of my breasts and onto my stomach, connecting in the middle to make a moon shape with a pomegranate in the middle that matches the mark on my arm. I glance at my hand, where the upside mountain mark is, and I think of my home.
The very reason I’m here and doing this.
I will always, always belong to my alphas.
Cenwyn can never take that away from me.
I quickly pull the red dress on and tighten the black band around my waist to hold it in place. It doesn’t do much to cover me, I notice, as I pull my long hair out of the dress straps.
“Put your hair up,” he commands from behind me. Too close. “I like it when you have your hair up.”
“I don’t have any bands,” I snap, and I regret losing my temper as he moves right behind me, pressing his body against mine, and I’m forced to feel how much he liked his view.
Bastard.
“I have one,” he whispers in my ear, and the urge to be sick gathers in my throat.
Breathe, Mai. This will be over soon. Imagine his face when you escape. When you’ve used him.
Cenwyn gathers my hair in his hand and ties it tightly up in a ponytail on top of my head. I feel like a doll he has just dressed up, and I really, really don’t want to be here. I’m surprised he makes me wear red, though red mainly makes me think of Hades, and it makes me think of them, my alphas, and their shifter energy.
“I prefer the colour blue,” I tell him. I don’t say it’s because it reminds me of my twin alphas’ eyes.
“I don’t,” he replies, taking my hand and dragging me out of the room. The door opens for him, slamming against the wall to let us out. I’m left in bare feet as he wraps an arm around me, pulling me hard against him before flying and taking the air out of my lungs. He flies down corridors effortlessly, and everyone moves out of his way, flattening themselves against the wall as we dive through them. Suddenly, we’re outside and I breathe in the cold air only for what seems like a second before we’re back inside, and I can’t see anything because he moves so fast. I can only hear the flap of his wings, and everything else is blocked out before we suddenly land.
My stomach dances as I try to stand straight. Cenwyn holds me close, and I really want to shove him away from me.
I don’t need to look around to know there’s a lot of eyes on me. I can feel their presence in the room as my bare feet touch the cold stone, and I shiver.
I turn around, not surprised to see a dozen angels. There aren’t many women here, and I only spot two who stand at the back. The rest are males and most look a lot older. Some are young, but most…most look like they’ve been here a very long time. Maybe they are Oisean’s friends? It would make sense. They are wearing a mixture of clothing, suggesting that they are from all over the place. The females aren’t wearing any armour, and I think they are consorts, or mates, of one or two of the males in the room. Cenwyn takes my upper arm and pulls me towards a large red velvet couch. It’s small and only one person could sit on it. I wonder where I’m going to sit when he wraps an arm around my waist and sits down with me on his lap.
“Aren’t you all glad to have your king back?”
His question is sharp, and his voice echoes in the room. It’s another one of the all-glass rooms with stone floors and open archways that allow in the cold wind. There isn’t a fireplace in this room, and it isn’t as welcoming. The ceiling is domed almost into the building, and a long chandelier hangs in the middle of it, splintering light around the room. Outside the sea rages, harsh water blows against everything, and I try to focus on that when the angels cheer for their king for his win.
