Page 35 of With Fangs and Claws (The Wolf Queen 1)

Chapter 16

A hand was slapped over my mouth and that helped me wake up really quickly. Someone picking me up in their arms and carrying me out of the room was another means to assist with that. The hand wasn’t removed until the bedroom door was closed and we were in the silent hallway.

“Kris, what in the name of all the gods?” I hissed, looking blearily about myself.

“It is in the name of the gods that I rescue you,” he said in a low, terse voice, eyeing the door like it was a wild animal. “Word has gotten out that the wargen have signed the deal with your father, that the priests are due to officiate the wedding in the morning. He left you to sleep in their room like a common slattern!”

The boy I’d thought I was in love with reached out then, gripping my arm, some other knight still holding me in his arms, not allowing me to wriggle free.

“Magnus?” I said, when I saw the other man’s face.

“We couldn’t let you go to the wolves, lass, no matter what His Grace says,” the knight said ruefully.

“Did they dishonour you, Darcy? You can tell me if they did. We’ll take you to the nunnery over by Templestowe and leave you in the care of the abbess there. She’s looked after other noble-born girls who have been sullied—”

“What?”

It felt like my heart was beating too fast or too slow and I couldn’t decide which. Each word was like a ball of flaming pitch lobbed inside me, the stuff sticking to me, burning me alive.

“I know you wouldn’t have suffered their attentions willingly, but when a girl is left without all protections—”

I just stared at him, trying to consider what he said. Being locked up in a nunnery for life, devoted to the worship of the gods, never allowed out for the sin of being touched by a man who wasn’t her husband.

“No one touched me,” I said, shoving my way free until I landed unsteadily on my feet. I didn’t want him. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want… Hands reached out to steady me, but I batted them away. “I had my dagger with me.”

Kris’ face transformed then, flaring brightly with all that radiance that had always set my heart afire, and habit had me turning towards him.

“I always questioned the wisdom of allowing Nordred to train you, but now I see it was all part of the gods’ plan,” he said. “You fought the beasts off? Managed to save your maidenhood?”

I just stared dumbly at him in that moment, unable to believe what I was hearing. But there was more to it than that. Whatever was in my system that’d had me falling asleep precipitously fast, that had me swinging on my feet now, was hitting me hard. Sounds appeared muffled and drawn out, the words not making any sense and when I tried to move, I pitched forward alarmingly. When arms scooped me up again, I was grateful for them, finding that I lolled like a limp little doll.

“Never fear, my love. As you remain untouched, we can fulfil our dreams and marry. I’ll take you to the priests now. We’ll throw ourselves on their mercy, make them see that this is the gods’ plan.”

A kiss was pressed to my forehead, and I made a contented little sound, nestling down in the warm wall of muscle my head rested against.

“Just you wait and see. All will be well.”

That phrase would hauntme for the rest of my life, because nothing went well at all. I woke again to being jostled and tossed around, the cold wind of the night whipping across my face. I groaned, then felt a frightening lurch in my stomach.

“I’m gonna be sick,” I said.

“Here, my love.” I was hauled over to what appeared to be the edge of a cart and once my head was clear of it, all of my dinner came rushing up, splattering the ground below. I coughed and spluttered, my whole body lurching, trying to rid myself of everything inside me, before I let out a pathetic little mewl.

“The duke must have drugged the keep,” Kris said, rubbing his hand across my shoulder blades. “The men were about ready to tear the place down, brick by brick, yet when we slipped inside the place was as silent as the grave. I can only assume you got a dose too?”

“Food,” I croaked out.

“I don’t think eating right now will help—”

“No. Poison. Food.”

I retched again, the thought of all the rich meats and vegetables swimming in sauces enough to make my body revolt, but there was nothing more to come out.

“We’re getting close,” Magnus, who was driving the cart, said. “How are we going to rouse the priests, Kris?”

“With the bell, as always,” he replied. “They’re honour-bound to answer the call of the devout at any hour, even now.”

“They won’t like it,” Magnus said. “Father Gerald is a grumpy old prick at the best of times, let alone in the middle of the night.”

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