Page 54 of A Reign of Malice
The warmth in Selene’s smile dims slightly as she exchanges a glance with Trav. It’s subtle but enough to send a ripple of unease through me.
“Is something wrong?” I ask immediately.
Neither of them speaks right away. The silence stretches just long enough to make my pulse spike.
“You can speak freely in front of my guests,” I assure them. “Whatever it is, I want to know.”
Trav rests his hand on Selene’s shoulder, his expression grim. “Do we still have a pack?”
The question hits like a stone to the chest. “Of course we do.”
Selene’s brow creases. “But are you happy, Queen Sloane? It’s different here. We’ve been treated well, but it’s not the same as Alcaris.”
I hesitate, torn between the truth and the weight of what I can’t yet share. “You’re not required to stay,” I tell them, choosing my words carefully. “None of the Alcaris wolves will be forced to live in Venaris. There are homes waiting for you in Selaris, Polaris, and maybe, one day, Alcaris itself, if we can rebuild. My only priority is making sure the pack is safe and happy.”
Trav’s next question strikes even deeper. “Arewe safe here?”
I rise to my feet, keeping my smile steady despite the ice crawling up my spine. “I believe so,” I say, and it’s not entirelya lie. Aeson’s cruelty thrives in the shadows, not the light. As long as no one gives him an excuse, the pack should remain untouched.
“But,” I add, locking eyes with both of them, “if you see anything—anything at all—that makes you uncomfortable, tell me directly. No matter how small it seems. I’m still your Alpha Queen, and I will protect you.”
Their relief is visible, though it’s muted by caution. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” Trav says, escorting us to the door. “We’ll see you tomorrow for the bonding ceremony.”
I nod, throat tight, forcing another smile I don’t feel. The second the door closes, Estee grips my arm, her strength keeping me steady.
“They’re going to be okay,” Theo promises, his deep voice quiet but firm. “Asher and I have been talking, and we’ve stationed our most trusted guards throughout the kingdom. Aeson can’t afford to make a mess, not with us here to witness it.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “Calling you is the best decision I’ve made since I left my kingdom.”
“Our packs should have always stood together,” Estee adds. “We’re stronger united. We always have been.”
Their support is the only thing keeping me upright, but there’s something else gnawing at me, something I need to know. “Have you heard from Aurora?”
Theo’s expression shifts, the warmth fading into something harder. “She’s here already.”
The lack of celebration in his voice makes my stomach lurch.
“She hasn’t shown herself to us,” Estee adds, her brows knitting. “But Theo sensed her before sunrise. Clara’s message traveled faster than we expected.”
“Too fast,” Theo mutters. “That kind of urgency doesn’t usually mean good things when it comes to the goddess.”
Panic prickles along my skin, cold and sharp. “Would Aeson have been able to sense her too?”
“It’s possible,” Theo admits. “This is his territory, after all. But I only recognized her because Aurora shared her power with me before.”
A chilling thought roots itself in my mind. What if Aurora didn’t come to us first? What if she went straight for the runes?
What if Aeson’s down there right now because he senses a disruption? What if he knows I’ve discovered the hell in that basement?
What if Julian’s already dead?
My heart slams against my ribs, and the world seems to tilt beneath my feet.
“We need to get back to the castle,” I say, my voice hoarse but resolute. “Now.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
SLOANE
