Page 22 of A Heart of Crimson Flames
“I found a way to get rid of that stipulation, like weeding out nettles. I’m not anchored down by any moon magic.”
“So... we’re no longer mates?”
“Would you still want us to be?” Maez let out a maniacal laugh as she waved a hand up and down herself. Magic spit from her fingertips like a hissing cat. “You’d want to be mated to a monster?”
“Yes,” I replied instantly. Something like disappointment flashed across Maez’s expression at that. “Don’t you want us to still be mates, too?”
Nothing in Maez softened to my question. “For what reason? Because the fucking moon said we were meant to be? Give me one good reason why I should care about you more than anything? More than riches? More than safety? More thanpower?” When I didn’t reply, she simply laughed.
“So that’s it, then?” My chest heaved. “We’re not mates anymore?”
Maez crossed the distance to me. Standing only a hair’s breadth away, she lifted her hand and tucked a strand of red hair behind my ear.
“I didn’t say that,” she murmured. “But I don’t think you have it in you to be my mate now. You will always be mourningher.” She crouched down slightly to meet my gaze, looking me dead in the eyes. “And I’m telling you now, Briar, there will be no going back to what we once were. This magic cannot be undone; there is no curse to break. I can still see that flicker of hope in your eyes, and I promise you now, it will kill you.”
She bent her head, leaning in closer, and I instinctively pulled away.
Maez let out a rough laugh. “That’s what I thought,” she said, turning and striding off. Before she vanished around the corner, she called, “Let me know about that horse.”
Calla
ICE WOLVES WERE OVER OUR BORDERS.
I sat anxiously on my throne, rolling my shoulders back as if the act alone could prepare me for the envoy from Taigos. When scouts reported five Ice Wolves traveling through the Sevelde Forest, I’d rallied my soldiers and put the city into a state of high alert. I didn’t trust that this was simply a messenger’s visit. Perhaps they thought five Ice Wolves would be all it took to fell the Golden Court once and for all.
A little snarl escaped my lips at the thought.
“Steady,” Grae said from the throne beside mine. His hand landed on the knee I bounced up and down.
Mina played her violin from the corner—a song I knew was meant to soothe. If the Ice Wolves had any unfavorable plans, her magic would come in handy. They would have no clue that the most powerful weapon among us was the musician in the corner.
“Another declaration of war,” I muttered, adjusting my crown as I stared at the golden doors at the far end of the great hall.
“We don’t know that. We haven’t heard anything about who has taken Ingrid’s place yet. How is Taigos rallying for a war against our court without a ruler?” Grae adjusted his fur mantle, both of us equally uncomfortable in the regal garb.
“Stop fidgeting,” I snapped.
“You’re fidgeting, too.”
“Well, you’ve had a lot more practice wearing these ridiculous garments than me so I expect you to be better at it.”
Gods, we sounded like children.
Grae reached over and squeezed my hand. “Whatever happens, we will find a way through it together.”
The giant doors rumbled open and Grae reluctantly dropped my hand.
Through the opening doors, we found five heads of ash-blond hair and five sets of cool blue eyes staring at us. They moved as a unit, the one at the front clearly their leader. She appeared to be in her mid-forties, a true beauty but with sharp, predatory features. She wore the finest clothes of the five, her eyes keen, her mouth tight as she marched to the end of the dais and dropped into a deep bow. Her packmates followed suit.
“Your Majesty,” she said, staying in her bow. I raised an eyebrow at the reverent gesture.Hopefully, this meant she wasn’t about to try to kill us or declare war. People didn’t usually graciously bow to their enemies. “I am Verena Baliczech, second cousin to the late Queen Ingrid. I believe you knew my older brother, Klaus.”
I had to bite back my scathing retort. Klaus had been an arrogant courtier, one that neither respected my gender nor my sister’s mating bond. He deserved his bloody end.
“Rise.” The group stood as one and I met Verena’s pale gaze. “Yes, I remember your brother.”
She smirked at me. “He was a piece of shit, wasn’t he?” Verena said. “I’m glad someone finally put a blade through him.”
My eyes widened as I took her in. She didn’t seem to speak in jest. “I suppose on that, we can agree.”
