Page 75 of A Reign of Malice
Julian’s expression hardens, but not with anger, with resolve.
“I’ll be careful,” I tell him. “And I won’t risk what we’ve found. I won’t ruin the future we both deserve. I need you to trust me on that.”
He presses his forehead to mine, a long breath escaping his lips. His energy is steady now, rooted in the trust we’ve slowly been building toward since the moment I somehow spirit-walked into the prison-cave.
“I do,” he says quietly. “I meant what I told you before. I don’t doubtyou. I know I shouldn’t let fear speak louder than truth, and I’ll do my best to focus on that because Aeson’s already stolen too much from me. I can’t give him more by letting it poison what we have.”
I nod against him, our bond pulsing warm and strong between us. “We’ll finish this.”
He lifts his head slightly, eyes fierce now, a storm behind them. “Together.”
Someone clears their throat behind me, dragging me back to reality. We’re not alone—of course we’re not—but I can’t bring myself to feel embarrassed. Not after everything we’ve endured. If these wolves are going to fight beside us, they should know exactly what we’re fighting for.
I turn toward them, still gripping Julian’s hand. “So,” I begin, my voice steady, “the plan is simple. We spend the afternoon preparing. Then I’ll leave alone, heading toward the castle. When I start to sense Aeson’s guards, I’ll stop and call for him. The rest of you will already be ready and waiting. Once the signal is clear, we move.”
There’s no reason to elaborate on what comes next. Not only because of the many variables we can’t prepare for, but because we all know where it leads. Chaos, blood, and our hopeful survival.
I glance over at Estee and Theo. A part of me wants to offer them a way out. They’ve already walked the edge of death and returned. But the fire in Estee’s eyes and the quiet resolve in Theo’s expression says enough. Whatever they saw and suffered in the god realm hasn’t weakened them. It’s strengthened them.
I nod once. I was right to trust them, to trust all of them.
“We’ll still need the two of you to speak to the packs,” Garron says, pushing himself upright with a wince that betrays more pain than he’s let on. “I’ll gather everyone into the main cavern. Clara and Noen can guide you there when you’re ready.”
As he exits his room, the rest of us face one another. A thick silence blankets the space. But it’s not from hesitation.It’s resolve. The kind of quiet that settles in right before the storm. We all feel it. The surety of what’s coming. The responsibility that we carry not just for ourselves but for every wolf waiting for us to be the leaders they need.
We’re not fighting for revenge. We’re fighting for peace.
For the kingdom that’s been strangled by lies for too long.
“We’ll need some time,” Asher says, slipping an arm around Isla’s waist, “but we won’t go far.”
Isla gently steps out of his hold and crosses to me. Her embrace is sudden and fierce, her arms wrapping around me with bone-deep warmth. “I wish I’d known you sooner,” she murmurs, voice tight with emotion. “But even now, I can say this with certainty. You’re the kind of queen we should all aspire to be.”
Her words cut through me with unexpected force. I blink fast, pushing back the sting in my eyes, and pull away just enough to meet her gaze. “Thank you, Isla. Truly. And thank you for standing with us. It means more than you know.”
She gives a small nod, the glimmer of respect in her eyes unmistakable. “Greed and darkness affect us all,” she says before returning to Asher. Together, they slip into the hallway.
Estee steps forward next, her smirk tempered by grief but fierce nonetheless. “What she said,” she adds with a shrug. “My sister’s always been better at the mushy stuff, but don’t worry. My dying in the god realm is no reflection of my skills here. Aeson won’t win this fight.”
She and Theo follow Isla and Asher, leaving just Clara, Noen, and Julian with me.
Clara looks exhausted. Not physically but soul-deep. Her shoulders are stiff, her mouth tight, and her eyes…haunted.
“I would’ve argued with you earlier,” she says quietly, “but Julian beat me to it.” She flicks her gaze to him, assessing. “Beprepared for her stubbornness. And don’t be afraid to push back. She needs someone to put her in check at least once a week.”
Julian offers a brief grin. “I’ll do my best.”
Clara gives him a once-over. “I know you will, or I wouldn’t trust you with the only family I have left in this world.” Her gaze turns lovingly toward Noen. “You’re more than family.”
He chuckles. “No offense taken.”
Clara turns back to us. “Are you ready to speak to the pack?”
I glance up at Julian, and what I see there tells me everything I need to know. He’s still worried, possibly even afraid, but he’s also healing. He’s no longer the man who came out of that cave shaking with barely controlled rage. He’s standing tall, eyes steady, with purpose etched into every line of his face.
He squeezes my hand. “Let’s do this.”
The path to the main chamber winds through several corridors, the stone cool beneath our feet, the air damp and earthy. I feel the pressure from Julian’s hand on mine the entire way, steady, firm, and real.
