Page 19 of Through Battle and Blades (The Wolf Queen 2)

“That,” was all she would say as I helped her to her feet. “Whatever the hell that was, bring that to the duel.”

“Alpha…” Orsha said, rushing over to Selene’s side.

“I know,” she replied, then looked back at me. “You beat the alpha of the Wolf Maidens. I knew it was a matter of time, but…”

“When you’re ready, you will lead us,” Ayla said as she joined us.

“That was so damn close to battle fever I’m not entirely sure it wasn’t!” Axe snapped, striding over. “You’re supposed to be sparring, not ganging up on Darcy.”

“We’re preparing her,” Selene insisted. “You know more than anyone what the queen will do. What she’s already done.”

Axe straightened up then, his eyes flicking to me and back again.

“You heard about that?” he said in a much more subdued voice.

“Mother Aeve informed us when she told us about our new duties. We’ve been told to keep an eye out for future infractions.” Selene looked back at the citadel wall. “I admit, if I was going to choose anywhere in Snowmere to wait things out, this would be it, but…”

“Your mother won’t let this go,” Orsha said, almost embarrassed by her words. “We’ve guarded her for some time. We’ve heard her talk about what she wants and the lengths she’s willing to go to…”

“I know what my mother is capable of,” Axe rumbled and then reached for me, pulling me against his chest. I just couldn’t work out if it was to comfort me or him.

Not me, I decided, because something dark with sharp fangs had risen inside me and bringing Selene to her knees hadn’t totally exorcised that. I took a moment though, shifting so my back was to the women, pushing my face into Axe’s chest, just feeling all that muscle in such a broad expanse.

He is a suitable mate, she said to me. Big, strong. He will rut us long and hard and give us strong pups. Take him to bed now, then come back to fight these wolf women. I could feel her panting against my neck, her mouth opening into a savage approximation of a smile. We must beat them all to take the position we need, then they will know we are the one worth following. I snorted and went to pull away, but Axe’s hand held me where I was, just for a moment.

“Don’t go too deep,” he said. “If you do, it won’t matter if you take Mother down or she does you. You’ll be gone, Darcy, never to come back.” I stared up at him, knowing my eyes must be glowing bright blue too now, from the way the sockets ached. “I know as well as anyone the temptation there. The feel of your body. The way your weapon slices through everything and everyone in your path. It’s power, love, pure and simple, and it rushes to your head, just like any other kind, taking away your inhibitions first, then your sense of self, then your bonds, your relationships until all that’s left is blood and fire.”

This was supposed to be some kind of cautionary tale, I could tell that from his tone, but that wasn’t what I was getting from his words. I saw what he said, my body, my weapon perfected somehow, knowing exactly how to move, how to evade being hit, while dealing devastating damage.

I knew this wasn’t real. Nordred had knocked me on the head often enough to beat that into me, but that didn’t stop me from trying. This time, this time, I might achieve it, and that’s what had me pulling away, picking up my weapons and my axe again, before facing the three women. Ayla’s face was a mess of blood, her nose having obviously been hit, but she flicked the blood onto the sands and grinned through her ghastly mask, grabbing her own shield now as well as a sword. As did Orsha and Selene.

“Again?” Selene asked with a cock of her head.

“Again,” I confirmed.

11

By the time the sun began to get low in the sky, the four of us were exhausted.

“C’mon,” Axe said, scooping me up into his arms when I went to return my weapons to their racks. “Fenster or someone will see to them. You’re going to hurt, my mate, a lot, once your muscles cool. Into the sauna for you.”

“What happened?” Gael snapped when he saw me. “What did they do? If those bitches are in league with the queen—”

“No bitches, no league,” Axe replied in a soothing voice. “Our mate worked hard, damn hard today and now she’s starting to feel the after effects.”

And as if summoned by his words, the pain hit. With a searing intensity that far outstripped anything the three women had been able to do to me, my muscles staged a rebellion, spasming, my breath coming in short sharp pants that drew Gael across the room, Weyland close behind him.

“Gods, Gael,” Weyland snapped, “do something!”

“I am,” my mate shot back, shoving up a sleeve as a blue light formed on his fingers. I wanted, needed those flames against my skin. Anything to stop the ache. But as Axe carried me into the sauna and Weyland rattled the ember stones, startling them back to life, Gael unbuttoned my shirt and jerkin and then placed his hands against my skin.

“No…” I moaned, knowing I needed this, but not wanting it either. Because as always, the pain got worse before it got better, making my vision white out with the intensity of it, a strangled cry escaping my lips. I slumped in Axe’s arms. Gael hadn’t managed to wipe it all away, but I could finally take a full breath.

“You were neglecting yourself again,” Gael said in a low, tense tone. A small smile formed, even as he shook his head. “You’ll do the queen’s work for her, and then where will I be?”

My mate seemed to realise he had an audience for this moment, his eyes flicking from one brother to the next, but he forged on.

“I’ll come with you when you train,” he told me. “I’ll be by your side, take the pain away regularly so it doesn’t get this bad.”

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