Page 8 of Wolfsbane

“Boletus—” The woman swung her whip with an elegant stride as it slapped my face, splitting my cheek with a stinging kiss.

“KingBoletus.” I clenched my jaw as blood gently rolled down my cheek. “You may be a disgraced prince of Dryade, but you know the customs of royalty. Please,” he pressed his hand against his chest, covering his heart in a faux sense of formality, “do not offend me.” I squeezed my jaw.

“I am no longer a prince of Dryade. That part of me died the day I escaped that hell.” I forced myself to my feet, slightly towering over Boletus as my chin rose. “And the only king here isme.”

Hystrix hissed, raising her arm as Boletus stopped her, studying me closely before his expression softened.

“You surprise me,KingMorel.” He spat the title with exasperation. “The last time I saw you, you were a weak little boy clinging to his mother, the complete opposite of his twin brother, who excelled at everything. It seems in the darkness, you have found your strength. I’ve heard stories of your wickedness, how you have defeated many kingdoms who have opposed you and aligned with your brother, burning them until nothing remained but ash. Now, I shall ask again: does your brother know what you’ve become?”

“Agaric will know the devil he created when it knocks on his door and drags him to hell.”

Boletus slapped his hands with an entertained excitement. “Oh, what a tale this will be. The king of darkness, brother to the king of sunshine, the two trapped in a circle of hatred. Tell me, do you really think your kingdom of rejects and outcasts can defeat such a glorious and ancient kingdom as Dryade?”

“Says the man who defeated Hellbore.” His smile fell. “Tell me,” I stepped closer, “where is King Regalis and his queen, Castanea? What have you done with them?” His dark eyes glared up into mine as he refused to answer me. “Where are my friends?” I grit through bared teeth. Boletus looked away, turning to step back to the throne.

“They chose their fate. I offered to let them live in a fair exchange.”

“You killed them?” My voice cracked in anger as Hystrix stepped in front of me, cracking a warning with her whip. Boletus looked over his shoulder at me as he spoke, his voice low and dark.

“We had an agreement. It is no fault of mine that they broke it.”

“How dare you!” I shoved past Hystrix, sprinting towards Boletus as he turned to face me, my vision blurring red with rage as my body snapped back, my breathing restricting as her whip returned to my neck. I fell to my knees, unable to move as Boletus smiled.

“As I said, I offered them an exchange: their lives for Hellbore. There was a small catch that they didn’t seem to like, resulting in their untimely demise. You see, Regalis and Castanea have a daughter, a princess of Hellbore. We grew up together. Our families were once friends long ago.” He stopped. “But that is a story for another time. You see, word of my many successful quests and conquering of kingdoms had finally reached my parents, and it was their wish that if I wanted to continue to conquer kingdoms in their name, I should at least pick a bride. I guess they think marriage will slow me down. Ha, what a thought. Nonetheless, my parent’s demand came as I settled in here, so it was decided: I was to marry the princess of Hellbore.”

Was?

“Of course, the viperous little thing didn’t welcome the idea of marriage or being told what to do. When it came time to wed, her treacherous parents helped her escape, forfeiting their lives in the process. You see, I had no choice.” He grinned, completely satisfied with what he had done. “It’s really a double win for me. I get Hellbore without having to settle down. It is a shame, though. Hesper would have made a stunning bride.”

Hesper?My thoughts returned to the striking beauty I had discovered in the garden of my death caps. The beauty in a ruined wedding dress.

Boletus remained still as he stared at me, wrapped in his assassin’s whip on my knees. He snapped his fingers as the whip once again released me, Hystrix returning to his side.

“Considering our past, and that you share blood with my good friend Agaric, I shall let you go.” What? “You and your companion will be returned to the gates of Hellbore and sent on your way.” Boletus climbed the ivory stairs, sitting on the throne of Hellbore as his night guard approached and removed our binds. I couldn’t help but stare, completely perplexed by his unexpected decision.

“Why?” I asked, hesitant to his kindness.

“Consider it a favor,” he winked. “Your brother has placed a mighty reward on your head, prince of Dryade. Instead of collecting that prize, I am simply letting you go. In return, you are to leave me and all of Hellbore be. If you return, or try to stop me in any way, I shall have no choice but to write to Dryade and rain hell upon your kingdom of shadows.” He retrieved an apple from a bowl of fruit at his side, taking a bite as he tossed it into the air and caught it.

“Be gone, king of darkness. Your duty to Hellbore is fulfilled and your presence is no longer required.” He waved his hand for his guard to usher us away. “Oh, Morel.” I stopped, growling at the sound of my name from his smug mouth. “If by any chanceyou learn the whereabouts of my bride, I expect you to relay such information directly to me.” He took a second bite as I glanced back at him over my shoulder. “We may not have had the pleasure of exchanging our vows, but she belongs to me. I very much look forward to breaking her spirit on our wedding night.” He winked again as I turned away.

Like hell I will.

The guards rushed us to the gate, the rest of our party awaiting our return. The guard at the gate spat at my feet as Orion and I were shoved outside. I glanced back at the distant glow of Hellbore’s castle, my nostrils flared and muscles bulging with an odd and unfamiliar emotion.

Hesper belongs to no one.I turned, Orion and my party silently following me as we began the long and tedious journey home.

I may have failed the kingdom of Hellbore, but I would protect its daughter at all costs.

FIVE

HESPER

My fingers duginto the frozen ground, creating a small hole as I placed one of the tiny, fluorescent blue mushrooms inside it, gently padding the dirt back into place beneath the shadows of an overhanging tree.

“Grow strong, sweet little mushrooms. I shall care for you. As long as I am here, you shall thrive in the darkness.” My lips curled ever so lightly. Ever since I arrived in the kingdom of shadows, I had taken it upon myself to care for these little fungi. They were all alone out here, with no one to tend to them or help them grow. It felt oddly natural and soothing to do such a task. Since I had begun, the garden had almost doubled in size, the little mushrooms growing at such an impressive rate. “Sweet little night caps.”

“Death caps.”

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