Page 48 of Wolf Queen Ruin
“Then what do you believe in?”
“Preparation.Adaptability.And the occasional strategic alliance with someone whose abilities complement my own.”The intensity in his blue eyes made me swallow hard.“Even if that someone drives me crazy.”
Heat crawled up my neck.“I do not drive you crazy.”
“Evidence suggests otherwise.”With a small smile, he turned his attention toward the water ahead.
“Well, I can’t help it if I have a small bladder,” I blurted, but I wasn’t so sure that’s what he was referring to.
His knee nudged mine, casually or on purpose, I didn’t know.“I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier.”
“It’s fine.”The heat spreading up my face reached the tips of my ears.
The jungle heat, obviously.
The river narrowed as we ventured deeper, the vegetation growing denser until it formed a natural canopy overhead, dappling the water with shifting shadows.Monkeys chattered in the branches, their calls punctuated by the screech of unseen birds.Eduardo pointed out landmarks in a mixture of Spanish and English—places where the river grew treacherous, sectors controlled by different smuggling operations, areas where migrant groups had disappeared.
“The Gap has been a barrier since before recorded history,” he explained, steering around a partially submerged tree.“Even the indigenous peoples created their villages on either side, never within.They say the gods made this place as a boundary not just between lands, but between worlds.”
I fingered the amulet Theo had given me, feeling its subtle vibration growing stronger as we penetrated deeper.“What do the locals say about the Wolf Queen?”
Eduardo’s hands tightened on the tiller.“La Reina de Lobos is not discussed casually, señorita.The old tribes believe she still walks these jungles in animal form, collecting souls who trespass without offering proper respect.”
“And what constitutes proper respect?”Damien asked.
Eduardo barked a laugh.“For you, señor?Turning around immediately.The Queen had special hatred for blood drinkers.The stories say she captured seven vampire princes and buried them alive beneath her throne, feeding them only enough blood to keep them conscious while they slowly went mad over centuries.”
“Holy shit,” I breathed.
“So her hospitality leaves something to be desired, I suppose,” he said with a nod.
Despite the grim topic, I found myself smothering a smile at his deadpan delivery.
The river narrowed further, forcing Eduardo to reduce speed as we navigated increasingly treacherous waters.The jungle pressed closer, its green intensity almost overwhelming.I found myself listening more intently, straining for information.Something felt…different.A pressure in the air, a subtle change in the quality of light filtering through the canopy.
“We’re crossing a boundary,” I said, the realization sudden and certain.
Damien’s entire demeanor changed in an instant, his posture straightening, his eyes scanning our surroundings with predatory focus.“What kind?”
“I don’t know.But can you feel it?The air is…” I struggled to describe the sensation.
“Watching,” Eduardo finished for me.“Yes.We have entered the old territories.From here, we must be more careful with words and actions.The jungle listens.”
As if to emphasize his point, the ambient sounds—insects, birds, monkeys—abruptly ceased, leaving only the gentle lapping of water against the boat’s hull and the muted purr of the motor.The silence felt deliberate, expectant.
Eduardo muttered something that might have been a prayer and increased our speed slightly, scanning the shoreline.The river had widened again into a small lagoon surrounded by massive trees draped in vines and moss.Their roots emerged from the water like grasping fingers, creating a maze of natural obstacles.
“Not much farther by boat,” Eduardo said.“The river becomes unnavigable beyond the next bend.”
As we rounded the curve, I noticed something strange about the water ahead—a subtle shift in color, from muddy brown to a deeper, almost metallic blue.The boundary between the two was unnaturally distinct, a clear line bisecting the river.
Eduardo cut the engine, letting us drift toward the color change.“You see it, yes?The Queen’s tears, they call it.Where normal water meets her domain.”
Damien stood, maintaining the boat’s balance as he studied the water.“It’s not a natural sediment difference,” he said, his voice tight with strain.“It’s a magical barrier.”
I glanced up at him in alarm.Though his expression remained composed, a fine sheen of sweat had appeared on his forehead.
“The boundary is affecting you?”I asked.
