Page 87 of A Reign of Malice
Aeson’s smirk deepens, his fingers steepling beneath hischin. “Because killing him would’ve been a waste. Death is too easy. But also interesting that you mention hisdarknessto me of all people,” he says, standing slowly. “You didn’t sense it with me. Did you even try? Or were you too busy falling for the monster you thought you could tame?”
What does this man think he knows about what I’ve been up to?
Clara’s voice brushes through my mind.“Noen and I, plus one of the Venaris wolves, are near the castle. Are you okay?”
“For now.”
“Be careful,”she warns.“We were already attacked. We have no clue what Aeson and his people do or don’t know.”
I grit my teeth and adjust my strategy.
I meet Aeson’s gaze and let my voice harden. “I didn’t think you were a threat. You were a means to an end. I came to be Queen of Venaris. You were just the steppingstone. Julian, on the other hand, he’s reckless. Dangerous, even. I kept my eye on him because he didn’t bother hiding his intentions.”
Aeson laughs. It echoes around the chamber, hollow and sharp. “Oh, Sloane. You’ll say anything to get what you want, won’t you?” He leans across the table, his eyes gleaming with sick delight. “I wonder what you’ddoto get what you want.”
Clara again:“He knows, Sloane. He knows Julian is your mate.”
A chill pierces my spine. I’ve walked into the lion’s mouth.
“Dasha finally responded to Garron,”Clara continues, her voice clipped.“She said for you to get out. Aeson’s plan is to force the bond. To mate you and lock you away like he did Julian.”
And still, I don’t move as Aeson inches closer.
“Are you finally piecing things together, my queen?” He gets up and comes to me, stroking my cheek with the back ofhis hand. “I’ve always gotten what I wanted, and nothing will change that. Not you, not my brother, and not the ninety-eight wolves you have left to fight against my army.”
He lowers and takes a deep breath at my neck, a low moan coming from the back of his throat. “Hmm, maybe you’re smarter than I gave you credit for. You didn’t fuck my brother the first chance you got. Maybe I can reward you just a little.”
Aeson grabs my chin and smashes his mouth onto mine. It’s not a kiss. It’s a violation. Acid poured over my lips. His tongue forces its way past my teeth, and I jerk, trying to wrench away. Rage explodes behind my eyes, and I do the only thing I can.
I drive my forehead straight into his nose.
The crack is satisfying. Blood spurts down his face as he stumbles back, clutching his nose.
“You bitch,” he snarls.
I smile, wild and unbroken. “Yeah. I might be. But I’ll never be yours.”
Energy builds within me like a storm caught in a bottle. My wolf thrashes against the confines of my skin, her energy clawing at the ropes that bind me. She’s seething—wild and primal—and there’s no magic strong enough to keep her caged when her fury ignites.
Then it happens.
The shift comes fast and hot, fire coursing through every vein as my body gives way to the beast inside. The magical bindings crackle then snap with a sound like dried branches underfoot. The ropes disintegrate into ash. My wolf surges forward, free and vicious.
I waste no time. My vision locks on Aeson, and we strike.
Our aim is true, my claws directly in line with his throat, but he’s ready. He lifts his arm to block, and we slice intoflesh, just not where I was hoping. For the briefest moment, I feel victory.
But then…
His blood hits my paw like boiling oil. He’s become his own personal brand of poison.
He laughs, the sound a bitter symphony of pleasure and madness. “Haven’t you learned by now?” he taunts, voice reverberating like a curse. “I’m not the same man I used to be.”
I circle him warily, my wolf wounded but not broken. We’ll recover, but we’ll have to be smart about it.
The burning stops before it reaches my flank, and we can put some pressure on that leg, just not enough to charge forward aggressively a second time.
Aeson saunters toward me like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “Are you understanding yet, my queen? Can you see how this ends yet?”
