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I glanced up from the table, leaning past the tall stem of the candelabra to see Grae talking with Briar and Maez.
“Do you think they’re fated mates?” Sadie asked, snapping my attention back to her.
“It’s said that the King and Queen Marriel were fated mates,” Hector said, swirling his goblet.
It was a good question—and strangely one I hadn’t ever reallythought about. Lots of Wolves took a mate. Some married, others had many lovers over their lifetime, but fated mates were something special. There was a magic to their bond that existed beyond this realm, weaving through time. That magic superseded all others, a most rare and respected gift from the Moon Goddess herself.
Some said it was like two bodies existing with one soul. Most thought it was beautiful, but I only thought it was tragic. When my father died, my mother died, too, so strong was their fated bond. The bards wrote ballads about their love, but all I felt was their absence. Tying two souls together didn’t seem like a gift... it seemed like cruelty.
Probably why I never considered it for Briar.
“Maybe Grae and Briar are, too,” Sadie mused, shaking her head so that her bangs moved out of her eyes. “Maybe it was the Goddess who made their parents arrange their marriage.”
“All royals arrange these alliances if they have daughters instead of sons,” I said.
“But why Damrienn?” Sadie asked. “Why not one of the other kingdoms?”
I shook my head, setting down my glass. “Taigos has no male heir and Valta’s male royals are either too old or too young.”
Of the four kingdoms of Aotreas, each was ruled by a different pack, protectors of their human kingdoms. The Gold, Ice, Silver, and Onyx Wolf packs ruled over the continent, with my kingdom at the very north and the floating islands of Valta at the southernmost tip.
“It would explain why Grae’s been keeping this secret,” Hector replied. “Didn’t want one of the Valtan princes to swoop in and propose to her, too old or not.”
Sadie twirled her knife. “I can’t image the Onyx Wolves attempting to rule a kingdom so far from their own. They’d need to cross Damrienn and Taigos to even oversee it.”
“It needed to be a secret.” My goblet refilled, the candlelight flickering at the magical act. “To protect her from Sawyn.” Evenwhispering the sorceress’s name felt wrong. Her magic seemed to darken every room.
Sadie rolled her eyes. “Sawyn is probably a withered old crone by now.”
“Sorcerers are immortal, as is the gift of their dark magic,” Hector countered. “Everyone knows that.”
“Maybe she’s not a very good one, then,” Sadie snapped back. “No one has seen her in a decade. Olmdere might be flooded with her Rooks, but any fool with a sword could take that throne.”
“Then why haven’t you?” Hector japed. This seemed to be a conversation they’d had before. “If Sawyn isn’t a threat, then why hasn’tanyonetaken Olmdere?”
“They were probably waiting for her.” Sadie hooked her thumb at Briar. “King Nero needs a Marriel daughter before he can name his son King of Olmdere.”
And there it was, laid out on the dining room table. I bit back on the bitter taste in my mouth. My kingdom would no longer be ruled by Gold Wolves, and all because Briar and I hadn’t been boys. Grae and his father would get everything, having won their titles and thrones the moment the midwives peeked between their legs.
I scowled at Briar, trying to wish away the pain of that truth. She leaned across the dining table, in deep conversation with Maez. I clenched my teeth, forcing myself not to roll my eyes. It’d been only a few minutes and Briar had already lost interest in entertaining Grae, preferring the company of the guard. Grae and Briar had always been amiable, but they’d never really been friends... not like us.
Grae’s eyes lifted to meet mine, one cheek dimpling. That bloody grin turned me into a melting idiot. I grabbed my wineglass and dropped my eyes, shifting back in my seat so the candelabra blocked my view of the handsome prince. I wasn’t a swooning dame. Leave the fans and coy smiles to Briar.
With a flicker of shimmering light, the empty plates on the table filled. The greasy scent of spiced meats lifted into the air asthe guards gaped at the sumptuous meal before them. I picked up my fork and speared a balsamic-glazed carrot.
Listening to the guards’ banter, I ate in silence. Briar was magnificent as she regaled our guests with story after story of our magical childhood, spinning our sad tale into something worthy of a song. But every story took place in the same cabin in the same forest. That sameness became nagging no matter how magical, and it kept reminding me that we were both like caged animals, ready to bolt from a trap. Tomorrow, all that would change. I didn’t care if the food was rotten and my clothes were the itchiest wool. I was ready for something more.
Four
I stumbled out of the dining room, the goblets of honey wine rushing to my head. I couldn’t believe how many times Vellia had refilled my cup over the course of the evening. On wobbly legs, I somehow made it across the entryway. The chandelier above me still glimmered with half-melted candles. A fire roared to life beside me, despite the balmy summer air. Vellia seemed determined to make this home seem grand, using up every last drop of her magic before our departure tomorrow.
The night had droned on until the genteel voices became drunken howls. The guards became more boisterous with each hour that passed, endearing them to me even more. Vellia had kept the food coming, dish after dish, until the third round of desserts. At that point I was so stuffed I thought I might be sick and had finally excused myself.
“Little fox,” a mirthful voice called after me as I reached the stairs.
I certainly didn’t feel like “little” anything at that moment, and I practically froze with the thought that he could see how the butterflies in my stomach had nowhere to go. I turned anyway, and the impact of seeing his figure in that uniform again made me suck in a breath. The wine had loosened my limbs, along with my good sense. I scanned him from head to toe, permitting myself to appreciate his glorious features for one more night. Those muscled thighs, lean hips, and broad shoulders. My eyes roved up his angular cheekbones to his hooded bedroom eyes.
“Your Wolf form is magnificent, Grae,” I murmured, waving my hand at him. “But you are quite the dashing prince in this outfit, too.”
