Page 26 of The Night Prince

Men carrying muskets emerge from the shadows between the stones. Adrenaline surges through my body. James strides through them. This is the wolf who attacked me, who gave me back to Sebastian, who bit me and almost killed me.

As tall and muscular as Callum, James makes his way toward the center of circle. The wind stirs his wild brown hair, causing it to brush against his broad shoulders. He wears a simple crown made of twisted branches—a crown he didn’t wear the last time I saw him. It’s a message to those gathered here.

He is the Wolf King.

“Hello, Brother,” he says as people part around him, giving the two Wolves space. His guards remain at the edge of the stone circle—keeping us prisoner within.

“James.” Callum’s hands curl into fists. “I hope you’re not here to spill blood on this holy night.” His tone is dark, and he sounds as if the opposite is true, as if he longs for James to give him an excuse to expel the violence inside him.

James smiles, though it doesn’t meet his eyes. “As king, it’s my duty to uphold wolf law, not break it.” He rolls up his shirtsleeves, exposing corded forearms—one of them inked with tattoos. “Though, ifyouwere in breach ofGhealach’s rules, Brother, then I would be forced to take action—regardless of what night it was.” His gaze moves to me, and I force myself to hold it. “You have something that belongs to me. Give her to me, and no blood will be spilt.”

Callum’s answering growl rumbles around the circle. “Rory does not belong to you.”

My breathing is fast. My mouth is dry. I can’t belong to another man, yet I can’t figure out how we are going to escape this situation. Perhaps I should have let Callum bite me, yet I have a feeling James would have found an excuse to take me anyway.

“I bit her and she survived,” says James. “Wolf law dictates that she is mine. She bears my mark. Unless you can say the same, you have no claim. Give her to me, or blood willbe spilt.” His men raise their muskets. “Do the Wolves gathered here today really want to die for the sake of a cunt-struck alpha and the daughter of their enemy king?”

A few of Lochlan’s clan exchange whispers. I stiffen when the Wolf King turns his attention to me.

“Do you want to cause another war, Aurora?” asks James. “Do you want countless Wolves to die? Is that why you came to the Northlands? To stir up trouble between my brother and me on behalf of your father?”

Another murmur fills the whisky-scented air. I wonder if we have underestimated James. He has come here to turn Lochlan’s clan against Callum and me, to make them reconsider joining his ranks.

“You were the one who caused a war between us,Brother,”snarls Callum, “when you brutally attacked the woman I love.”

I breathe in sharply as the wordloverattles around inside my chest. He has never said that to me before. I don’t have time to process it. The small child, Alfie, trembles as he hides behind Arran’s big bulk, and a decision builds inside me. We are outmatched. We have no weapons, and if Callum spills blood, his claim to the throne will be ruined due to the breach of wolf law. I don’t want to go with James, but I won’t let these people die for me.

Whatever happens, Callum will get me back.

“Oh, for the love of the Goddess.” Blake’s exasperated tone comes from behind me. He hooks an arm around my waist, and wrenches me against his chest. He brings his mouth to my ear as my breath catches in my throat. “I apologize for this, Aurora, darling.”

He sinks his teeth into my shoulder. Time slows down. I breathe in sharply, and jerk against him as he bites through my cloak. I arch my back, and pain flares through me as his canines penetrate my skin. I gasp.

Callum spins around, and the shock in his eyes is followed quickly by his wolf.

Shadows flood my body. The sound of dripping water fills my ears, and the taste of pine and parchment fills my mouth. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as a scalpel screeches against metal. A deep aching hunger consumes me. Far away, someone screams.

Blake releases me, and my knees almost buckle.

He steps past me and wipes my blood off his lips with the back of his hand.

“On this sacred night, with a priestess of the moon as my witness, I, Blake, alpha of Lowfell, claim Aurora as one of my clan.” His tone drips with sarcasm. “I seal the claim by marking her with my bite. From this night, untilGhealachherself sees fit, Aurora is part of Lowfell and I her alpha. To dispute this claim is to break wolf law.”

Chapter Ten

I’m numb. An icy wave of adrenaline crashes through me. Everyone stares at me, and their faces blur. My shoulder is hot and wet, and it throbs in time with my elevated heartbeat. It takes a moment to process what just happened, what’s still happening.

James stands in the center of the stone circle. His men point muskets at us.

Blake just claimed me as his. His lips are stained red with my blood.

The wolf blazes in Callum’s eyes.

Violence radiates from every ridge of his body. The wind howls around him and makes his kilt flap against his thighs. His chest rises and falls deeply, but his expression is stony. It’s as if he’s battling the beast that rages inside him. Or perhaps he is deciding who to unleash it upon. He has turned his back on James. His full attention is consumed by Blake.

James smiles wickedly. “I suppose the matter of which alpha Aurora belongs to is settled then.” James gestures that his men lower their weapons. “We’ll respect wolf law and leave peacefully. No blood will be spilled tonight.”

James’s voice is amused. He doesn’t seem concerned to be leaving without me, and I’m filled with dread as I wonder if he wanted this to happen. Callum and Blake make a powerful, but fragile, alliance. Even though Callum has told me he doesn’t like the dominant, alpha side of himself, he’s protective of me. Blake biting me, hurting me, and claiming me as part of his clan could be enough to ruin their alliance.

---