Page 40 of Of Wolves and Wives

Lyra says nothing as we reach the door. I drag it open to find a long dark hallway. Shouts reach my ears, and I realize that I have no choice but to hope this leads somewhere far from the prince. With one last breath of fresh air, I step into the damp darkness of the little tunnel. I drag the door closed behind Lyra, plunging us into the darkness.

Lyra hiccups as her fingers dig into my hand. Belatedly, I remember her fear of the dark from our time in the hall. Before all of this. Her breathing becomes sharp as I take a step forward. She’s a weight around me that threatens to drag me down.

“We need to move,” I hiss.

“It’s so hard.”

I close my eyes, searching for any last remains of patience. Neither of us can afford to be caught here. How can she not see that? If she’s not afraid of the prince at this moment, then I’m not sure her words from earlier were true. Still, I need to get her to move. I glance about the tunnel. It’s dim but not an actual inky darkness like I expected. I can still make out her shape.

“Come, the longer we waste here, the dark it’ll become.”

She lets out a small squeak at my words. Her cries are soft as I move forward. I’m thankful that at least she’s no longer frozen. Though, I wish she would quiet herself for a breath. Every breath she draws is too loud. I pray that she won’t give away our locations because she can’t calm herself. I have to bite my tongue to keep from snapping at her.

Finally, just as I’m certain that this tunnel is endless, we reach another door. I don’t hesitate to push it open. Bright light blinds me for a moment. Blinking it away, I peer out into a new courtyard. Disappointment hits me for a moment. Then my eyes land on the gate across the yard from where we stand. It’s open, the forest just beyond it beckoning to me.

Thunder reaches my ears just as several men come riding through the gate. I shrink back into the shadows, pressing a hand to Lyra’s mouth. They don’t glance in our direction, but I fear that their arrival means the gate will close. This is our chance, and I can’t let it slip by. If we mean to leave, we need to do it now.

With a breath, I leave the shadows. In a light run, I drag Lyra toward the gate. A curse slips from me as it begins to close. I pick up the pace even as Lyra lets out a small noise of complaint. Every inch the gates close, my heart pounds harder and harder. Finally, we reach it. I shove Lyra under it before slipping under.

I stand just as the gate slams into the ground. At my side, Lyra gasps for breath. I reach for her, dragging her behind me once again. We aren’t in the clear yet and can’t afford to waste any time leaving the castle behind. Moving toward the trees, I’m pulled back to the Hunt. That night, I saw a crack in the mountain buried deep in the trees. There, I believe we will be safe. That’s where we will go.

Unable to stop myself, I glance over my shoulder at the castle. My eye catches on the guards as they dismount the horses. Several of them are pulling off their helmets. I’m caught by one of them as he reaches for his helmet. My heart stutters as my eyes meet his.

Rykker.

My heart pangs. Everything in me wants to turn around and close the distance between us. But I don’t. I turn my gaze back toward the trees and hurry toward them.

25

Rykker

Iforce myself to turn back. My heart pounds in my chest and my fingers fumble with my armor. Still, I refuse to glance back. The urge to run after her, to follow her, is strong. Stronger than any other urge I’ve had.

Yet, I’m not sure that’s what she would want me to follow her. Also, I’m sure that my following her would only put her in more danger than she’s already in. Though, if she’s managed to slip away, I imagine that she’s already in quite a bit of danger. Would my following her put her in even more danger?

The sounds of the Grey Prince entering the courtyard with his men finally tears my attention away from where I last saw Rose. Giant silver paws hit the stone next to me as the prince slows his pursuit. I take a step closer to him as he raises his snout to the air and inhales deeply. A snarl drags from him then he shifts back to his human form. Anger colors his face as he turns to face me and the others.

“Where did the girl go?” he demands, his eyes narrowing as they land on me. “The redhead, she’s gone. And she’s taken the other girl with her.”

I say nothing. My eyes catch on the cut on the prince’s face and the wild anger burning bright in his eyes. Blinking, I start formulating a plan before I open my mouth.

“The forest.”

The Grey Prince takes a step closer to me, “What was that guard?”

“I saw them slip into the trees.”

Growling, the prince marches toward the gate. He signals for one of the guards standing near it to raise it. I move to stop him, flinching as his anger is directed toward me.

“Let me go after her,” I say. “I’m the best hunter in the kingdom. No one else will be able to track her like I can. I’ll have her back within the hour.”

“No. Why would I let you go after her? You have a stake in keeping her alive, something I’m no longer interested in.”

My teeth clench together as I pull myself up. The words stick in my throat, though. He’s not wrong. I can see the thirst for blood in his eyes. He wants Rose to pay for what she’s done. Both in stealing away the other girl and for injuring him. Before I can open my mouth, a voice carries across the courtyard.

“Let him go.”

Turning, I spy Helena. She stands just outside the shadows of the castle, looking worn and beaten but alive. It’s clear that she’s been fighting for her life in the way her skin sags and the shadows under her skin. But holding her head high, she still looks every bit as regal as usual.

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