Page 62 of Crowned A Traitor
Wolfgang tossed branches into the spiked snatches hoping to save the next poor Creature from losing a paw or foot. Klara hadn’t even thought to destroy the traps, but Wolfgang refused to leave them functioning.Maybe Lycaons weren’t all heart chomping monsters the Queens had described.Klara could see Abadan’s smile in the flames of the Lycaon Caves, remembering how the High Queen hated the packs’ strength and community. One word from her cruel lips and she had wiped them out.
“Are we going to stop for each one?” Klara asked as the jaws of a trap snapped shut, scattering the leaves concealing it. “Yes.”
“This is why Abadan hated your kind, your morals.” Klara didn’t mean to sound like she felt the same.
“Do share what the High Queen thinks of us?” Wolfgang said. Klara came face to face with his chest as he turned sharply, before returning back to the path ahead.
“Abadan felt you didn’t serve as well because you had minds of your own. Hounds follow orders and don’t get sidetracked.”
“Hounds are bred to hunt souls. We are born. We think, eat and hunt. We served in the King’s war when called. We have served in the Human World, protected Humans and aided those who wished to escape Malum. There is more honour in one of our claws than in your twisted family,” Wolfgang argued.
Klara ignored the family comment. She didn’t know why she was picking a fight. “You may have served but never without question. When given orders, your Alphas always had to agree to follow through. Abadan wanted you all caged and trained to obey. She couldn’t handle the strength within her Forest.”
“There must be some reason she didn’t try to wipe out the caves sooner.”
Wolfgang didn’t say anything, so Klara continued.
“The King would have been pissed, but a few false charges and he wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow,” Klara hated to think so little of her Father, but as she stood ankle-deep in mud, she knew who put her in this position.
“Abadan has some allies in the packs, and some deem her a necessary evil or simply fear her,” Wolfgang said, letting out a low growl. “But wipe us out? Abadan underestimates our Alphas. They can withstand the strongest magic. Once we turn, we can’t be compelled by magic. Only our Human form is weakest.”
“That’s why the High Queen burnt your reserve and trapped your people in the caves. She didn’t need magic only good timing.” Klara’s response was silent, but Wolfgang looked through her as if he heard every word. “Did you agree with her?”
Wolfgang sidestepped another trap and Klara kicked a rock into its mouth before Wolfgang could get to it. “Did you agree with her?”
“Yes and no,” Klara admitted, if they were going to trust each other, she needed to be honest. Wolfgang waited for her to continue when she was sure he was going to jump down her throat. “Not with the burning of the caves, that should never have happened,” she clarified.
“We will rebuild, there will be others out there hiding.” Wolfgang said, as if he were trying to convince himself.
“Your strength comes from your community, but the different packs and Alphas rarely agree when called to serve. I’ve read the histories and packs often fought each other instead of working together.”
“So, you know everything about our culture because you read a book?”
“No, but to improve relations, I would have promoted Alphas into the King’s council. That way there wouldn’t have been so much hostility between the Commanders and the Alphas. If an Alpha proved themself, they could be promoted, maybe become a Commander and command a legion containing both Lycaon and Demon.”
An Alpha Commander. The thought was terrifying, but Klara knew they would make an outstanding ally.
“Commanders like to think of themselves as above,” Wolfgang shook his head.
“Don’t Alphas?” Klara countered.
“To a point but their job is to protect not just command.”
Klara thought of Frendall, wondered if he was alive if Father had gone to him. If he was safe. The feel of his lips on hers brought her fingers to her lips.
Klara jumped as a hand grazed her shoulder and Wolfgang cocked his head to the side. “Did you hear me?” he said, dropping his hand.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“An Alpha Commander. The council would have risen against you for even thinking of promoting one of Malums beasts.” Wolfgang winked at Lottie and Lottie stuck out her tongue at the private joke.
“If it meant securing the Forest and ridding Malum of the Queens, I would do it. If someone had an issue, I would get rid of them. I wouldn’t play politics as my Father has grown to.”
“You have some allies on the council to support you?”
Klara threw a stick deactivating another trap, “One, maybe,” she said as the trap snapped shut.
“And where are they now?” He asked, and Klara looked to Arthur. Lilith would never have been able to reach Frendall and warn him in time.
