Page 103 of A Reign of Malice
Her fingers are warm, centering me.
“You’ve always done the right thing, Aurora,” she says softly. “Now is no different.”
I shake my head. “Not always for the right reasons, though.”
“That doesn’t mean what you’ve done doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.”
We stand there in silence, the clouds parting around us, stars glittering overhead like scattered shards of fate.
“Are you ready to face the other gods?” I say as I turn to head back inside. “I hope you like chaos and deeply repressed feelings, because we have a celebration to make an appearance at.”
“I was raised by wolves,” she quips. “I think I’ll manage.”
That earns her a crooked smile.
Elyn begins to walk back inside ahead of me, but she pauses at the threshold. She glances over her shoulder, eyes sparkling with something I don’t want to name.
“It’s okay that youdocare about them,” she reminds me.
I arch a brow. “Careful. That sounds dangerously like an accusation.”
She shrugs. “Caring won’t kill you. You’re a goddess.”
I roll my eyes. “Noted. Now, can we get the hell out of here before I hug you or something equally horrifying.”
She holds an arm out for me to lead the way, choosing silence this time.
And for the first time, the quiet doesn’t feel empty.
Maybe I do care.
Just a little.
Gods help me.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
SLOANE
The sun is up, gilding the sky in soft gold and pale blue—a new day in a new kingdom, no longer blanketed by fire or fear. The smoke that clung to the horizon like a final curse has lifted, revealing the charred stone of what used to be the Venaris castle. Blackened. Broken. Hollow.
No one has gone near it, and no one plans to. There’s nothing left to salvage. Nothing worth remembering.
And honestly? None of us want to.
It’s been barely twelve hours since the flames reduced centuries of cruelty to ash. Elyn may have told us to “enjoy” our honeymoon, but there’s been little time for anything but rebuilding. Even so, the heat of Julian’s gaze has nearly ignited my clothes more than once. The man can make a promise with a look, and that promise is coming the moment we have a spare breath.
For now, we breathe in other ways.
We’ve set up a temporary camp just beyond the tree line, where the forest thins into a wide meadow dotted with wildflowers and thick grass. The earth hereis untouched. It’s the first time I’ve seen true beauty in this land. Not the kind painted over lies, but real, thriving beauty. Something that doesn’t owe itself to bloodlines or treaties. Something that simply is.
Julian stands a few feet away, speaking with Noen and Clara about how to organize the remaining wolves. His shirt is stained with dried blood as we haven’t had time to find new clothes. His ribs are still bound per my demand and he’s upright. Alive and growing stronger by the second.
My mate. My Alpha King.
Across the field, Estee kneels beside a small group of injured wolves, her movements fluid, patient, calming. The way she changes bandages and whispers encouragement makes her glow like she was born to heal. She and Theo will be leaving tonight, but they’ve been nothing short of extraordinary since the moment the battle ended.
Isla and Asher will leave tomorrow. I find myself watching them often—the way Isla’s sharp, strategic nature blends with Asher’s unwavering presence. They’ve taken it upon themselves to lead the arrangements for the fallen. Without being asked, they’ve organized funerals, tended to the bodies, and ensured each wolf will be honored. It’s more than I could’ve asked for. More than I could’ve handled.
