Page 86 of A Sky of Emerald Stars

“Watch yourself, human,” the guard growled, baring his teeth. “Wedon’tleave our packs.” His eyes landed on me again. “Not if we want to live.”

“Then if she is a Silver Wolf, she can only be but one of two,” Navin countered. “I followed her in the woods outside Sevelde before her capture, bright silver fur tipped in black. She’s either Sadie Rauxtide or Maez Claudius, the only other woman to defect. Either way, you have Nero’s niece or the King’s future sister-in-law. I suspect he will want to know she’s here regardless.” Navin looked back behind him at the lingering crowd of onlookers. “You can inspect her as closely as you like inside, but let us in. I don’t want one of these ruffians thinking of snatching my prize from me before I get my reward.”

The guard paused for one more split second before relenting and unlocking the gates. Navin half-dragged me in and I put up a mild protest.

“Behave,” he snapped at me, making the guard chuckle.

Our act seemed to encourage the guard more. “The King willbe overjoyed,” he said. “To have his brother’s bride here at last. Finally, there will be new royal pups. The people will rejoice. The line of Valtan succession will be secured when she whelps.”

Normally, I would’ve pretended to dry heave at that sentiment, but I just kept walking.Whelping.They seriously thought they could just ship me off here and I’d be a good little bitch for these Onyx Wolf royals? Me? Of all people! Nero never knew me at all. Clearly, neither did my father. I hoped my father and uncles were rolled over, belly up in front of Nero’s throne right now, begging for his forgiveness for not delivering me to Tadei.

My stomach soured, knowing Briar wasn’t all that far off from living this life, too. She had been willing to go through with it when she was betrothed to Grae... and despite it making my stomach turn, I understood. It was all we’d ever known. No matter the ferocity of my female relatives, I came from a line of subservience and mind control that I was only beginning to unscramble. If it were me, would I have had the strength to deny King Nero’s orders? Would I have said no?

But that hadn’t happened. Instead, Nero was going to leave Maez to rot, and Ifinallyhad the courage to understand just how barbaric we could be as a people and rebel. Thank the Gods I did. Because maybe Nero had always planned on offering me to Tadei one day—a pawn in his games of power. Or if not this prince, some other Wolf not of my choosing. I shuddered, suddenly aware of how close I was to being trapped in a life like this.

As we entered into the spacious courtyard, I felt bolstered that I was a new person now—not a follower but a fighter in nameandin action. The fragrant smell of flowers hit me as we crossed to the giant steps, radiating heat from their dark stones. Up here, the air was thinner and cooler than in the city below, and though the dark stones baked with heat, the castle still felt airy and fresh compared to the throng.

The guard scuttled ahead through the garden hedges to warn his comrades of my arrival. We followed the winding paththrough the gardens, curving through the lush flora until we reached those black and bronze steps.

The castle’s interior was just as impressive as its exterior. The walls were covered in exquisite carvings, depicting scenes from ancient myths and stories of valor. The floors were covered with intricately patterned tiles, and the high domed ceilings were adorned with elaborately painted frescoes.

We wandered down the echoing space, Navin giving my arm an occasional squeeze as if to remind me that we were still here together. We’d find a way out. We just needed that vase and a hasty retreat.

When we entered the throne room, my heart skipped a beat. The space was enormous. Giant pennants of midnight draped from the ceilings all the way to the floor, swaying in the breeze like the forked tongue of a massive serpent.

We padded across the tiles to the empty dais ahead of us, each step bouncing around the empty room.

Courtiers hustled in from the doors lining the sides of the grand hall, whispering excitedly to each other. They wore light clothing in the most brilliant jewel tones, along with dented bronze and gemstone jewelry that displayed their clear wealth. Valta was one of the wealthiest courts in Aotreas, second only to Olmdere, and now with the Olmderian mines closed, Valta was poised to become the front-runner.

The throne itself was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, adorned with precious jewels and moon phase carvings. Two heralds rushed in, curling brass horns in hand, and they positioned themselves on either side of the dais as they waited for the King.

I stood before the first step up to the dais, Navin by my side. The crowds swarmed around our backs but kept at least two paces of distance as if they might catch something if they got too close. My stomach twisted into a burning knot. This was it.

The muffled whispers of the crowd were so quiet that the screech of the giant doors opening made me jolt. The roominstantly silenced so that now the quiet was absolute, and my heart thundered so hard in my chest as a horde of guards entered, I wondered if others could hear it. Almost as a relief, horns bellowed a royal call as two figures clad in flowing black robes strode into the room. They wore elaborate headpieces, swirling atop their heads like antlers. The one at the front also wore a golden half-moon chest piece inlaid with red and blue gemstones. The one behind wore a smaller golden necklace depicting a bursting sun.

Their faces were stoic, yet their eyes bore a wary intensity as they stepped up onto the dais. King Luo, the one with a short gray beard and the more elaborate headpiece, carefully lowered himself onto his throne. He waited until Tadei moved to stand beside him before he spoke.

“So you found my brother’s wayward bride?” His voice was a deep timbre that cut easily through the room, silencing the eager crowd.

Navin dropped into a low bow, placing his fist over his chest. “I have, Your Majesty,” he answered in slightly garbled Valtan.

The King pressed one of his ringed fingers to his lips, intrigued. “Bring her forward.” He lazily curled his fingers, beckoning us, and we approached the dais.

I didn’t have to pretend to be panicked now. Fear wafted off me, enough to scent the air, and Tadei’s mouth pinched as his frown lines deepened. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could hear my eyes widening.

“Hello, wife,” he purred, waiting for his brother to gesture with his hand before he approached me.

The snarl poised on my lips was silenced as Navin kicked my knee, forcing me to drop. “Bow for your King.”

Tadei’s delighted laugh grated against my skin. His eyes were alight with wicked intrigue, one that curdled my stomach. Oh, he clearly loved this, watching the way Navin manhandled me. The fucking sadist. I desperately wished for my knives.

As Tadei approached, he surveyed me with a cruel smirk that made a shiver of dread trail down my spine. Navin stiffened beside me.

“Why the veil?” Tadei asked Navin, dropping my hand to rub his thumb and forefinger across the fabric, but he didn’t lift it.

“I thought you would want to be the first Rikeshi to see your bride’s face,” Navin said. “It’s custom, isn’t it, Your Highness?”

King Luo and Tadei flashed matching smiles. Clearly, they liked the thought of that as much as Maez had predicted. Tadei’s fingers traced across the veil, lingering, seemingly enjoying the claim and possessiveness of it. This is what Wolf Kings did; they traded and sold us to consolidate their power. Bile rose up my throat at the thought. I knew they would delight in owning me,breaking me, another beautiful treasure for their mantel. How close was I to this becoming my life?

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