Page 56 of The Night Prince

“He believed it had been in the Snowlands at one time, but was then transported into the Northlands. Glas-Cladach is the nearest port to the Snowlands, so he reasoned we might have been holding onto it.”

“Were you?”

“No. But we keep a log of all the boats that enter our territory. When he discovered there was a storm on the day your mother left her kingdom to marry your father, and her ship was diverted to Glas-Cladach, he became very interested. Particularly on seeing the crop of moonflower that grows on our cliffs—a crop said to only grow after the earth is touched byGhealach’s power.”

Lochlan steadies me as I almost trip over a fallen branch. “What are you saying?”

“Did she ever give you an heirloom? Something with a precious stone in—a necklace, or a ring, perhaps?”

“You think my mother had the Heart of the Moon?” I let out a half-laugh, though there is no humor in it. “She left me all of her jewelry. Much of it is adorned with precious stones. Some of it is back at the Borderlands, some in my father’s castle.” I shake my head. “None of it held any particular importance to her. If she had such a precious relic in her possession, she would have kept it close, surely. She did not have it, Lochlan.”

“Hm, perhaps. I thought it was worth asking.”

“What would you have done, if I had it?”

He shrugs, though something violent gleams in his eyes. “It’s a very precious thing.”

“In that case, I’m glad Callum is following us.”

Lochlan smirks. We stop by the crumbling chapel, and I let go of his arm. “You didn’t want Blake to overhear this conversation. Why?”

“All alphas want to get their hands on the Heart of the Moon, not just me. Whoever has it in their possession becomes the most powerful wolf in the Northlands. They’d likely become king. I thought you and Callum may appreciate me not passing on this information to him.”

“You don’t want Blake to take the throne? It’s a relief to know that, at least. But why? You seem to get along with him.”

“I told you, he intrigues me.” The corner of his mouth tips up, but I sense sadness in him. He runs a hand over the back of his neck, and I catch another glimpse of his tattoos as he brushes aside his shirt collar. “The problem is, I tend to become intrigued by the wrong sort of men.”

“Kai?” I say softly.

He releases a sad laugh. “I loved him, killed my father for him. He betrayed me and took part of my clan.” He shakes his head. “Regardless, it looks like I’m going to attempt to rescue him. Jack returned from the Borderlands early this morning. One of my men overheard him talking to Blake. Two days after the full moon, Alexander plans to move a group of prisoners—Kai included—between the Borderlands castle and his castle on the coast.”

“The Grey Keep,” I say. Alexander boasted about his sea-drenched castle during the ball when I discovered his treason. Iread about it, in the days after. It’s close to the border and set upon cliffs. The rocks below are too jagged and perilous for boats to approach.

Lochlan nods. “I’m sure that Blake will lie and tell me he’s dead, but you can inform Callum that if he wants my army, we’ll rescue Kai, first.” He raises his voice above the rustle of the leaves because he knows Callum is listening. “There’s a craig in between the two castles, perfect for an ambush. When Kai is safe, Callum can have my army and we’ll pay his brother a visit.”

I smile. “I’ll let him know.”

His eyes glint and he shrugs. “My point is, I tend to be attracted to those who harbor darkness. And there is darkness in Blake. More than in most.” His gaze sweeps over the ruin of the chapel amid the trees. “I fear what would become of the Northlands under his command.”

I don’t disagree.

***

The bond is like a thread, and it gets tighter as the full moon gets closer. After I escaped Sebastian, I told myself I’d be more open with my feelings, but I entomb them, to keep Blake out.

As the days pass, and Callum works with Lochlan to prepare his ambush, there’s a part of me that wonders if I’m using Blake as an excuse. I wonder if feeling nothing is still easier than feeling something. I don’t want to be overcome by fear of the full moon. My father killed my mother, and sometimes I’m so angry I feel like I’ll combust. Callum is still being so gentle with me, and sometimes it makes me want to scream. And my mother. . .my mother hid that I was a wolf. She let herself be poisoned. Why would she do that?

No. I don’t want to feel any of it.

I spend my time poring over books, trying to find something to break the link between Blake and me—or perhaps I’m just trying to distract myself, trying to stop myself from staring out of the window each night, as the moon gets brighter.

One morning, as I’m scanning the shelves in the library, pacing, chewing my fingernails, Elsie taps me on the shoulder and hands me a small paperback.The Alpha’s Secretis written across the front. When I flick through, my lips twitch. “Another love story,” I say.

“The old cook here at Lowfell used to pen them.” She shrugs. “I wasn’t allowed out, with my father being the way he was. These helped pass the time. This one is particularly good. You should read it.”

There’s a slight glint in her eyes, and she looks alarmingly similar to her brother for a moment. I’m sure it’s due to the intimate romantic details I’m sure to find within. I thank her, and pocket it so I can read it in private, later. I go back to my frantic search.

It’s not until the day before the full moon, when I’m eating breakfast, that I make a discovery. I’m reading a scripture that says all Wolves power comes from the moon. I breathe in sharply as Blake’s darkness floods me.

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