Page 87 of The Wolf Queen

If only she’d listened.

She hit me like a ton of bricks, so much power in such a small body, and that had me stumbling back, right into Bryson’s arms. They went around us on reflex and with them came the fluttering plumes of black smoke, engulfing the three of us.

“No…” I begged, moving as fast as I could to pull free, trying to search Jan for any sort of injury at the same time. “No!” But the little girl I called daughter just smiled and raised her hand. I’d dragged her away from Bryson, but she reached back, beckoning the black smoke towards her like another child might do a puppy and Bryson’s power came willingly. We all let out a hiss as it played across her palm like a wriggly snake, but did no damage to her.

“Jan…” Del skidded to a halt, struggling to take this all in and we were right there with him. She giggled.

“It tickles.”

“It could’ve bloody killed you, that’s what.” Del grabbed her from my arms and tugged her close. “Jan…” But he inspected the back and palm of her hand and saw she had come to no harm.

“I’ll have a wolf like you for my mate when I’m grown,” she announced gleefully. “He’ll be big and strong and protect me from everything.” Her smile faded as she regarded Bryson steadily. “Just like you will.”

“Of course, princess.” Bryson performed a courtly bow and that had her giggling again. “And each one of us will make sure he’s worthy of a place by your side.”

“How can she—?” Axe started to ask.

“I’ll be damned if I know,” Weyland replied. “But is it…?” He looked at the king and then our daughter, with a slight frown. “Is it because she is pack?”

“Perhaps.” Bryson looked equally befuddled by this. “It’s not something I’ve experienced before but…” His focus slid to me. “I’ve never experienced anything like this before. Perhaps this will mean that I will not form a threat to those who fight on our side when the battle comes?”

That was a good question and one we’d all been pondering in our meetings. We’d created a Royal Council of our own, out here on the border, made up of northern lords, Strelan commanders and the remains of the aristocracy, as well as key stakeholders like Annis and the Maidens. We’d argued about this back and forth, but got nowhere with it.

“We’ll find out soon,” I promised. “The Reavers will be here by nightfall.”

Chapter50

“What’re you looking for?”

It was mid-afternoon and I found myself back in my childhood room. Jan was bored and wanted something to do, so I’d come back here, pawing through my old possessions, looking for something that might amuse her. I’d found a sketchbook Linnea had given me, hoping plein air painting might take my fancy, rather than my long, hopeless rambles along the moors, but I’d tossed it in a drawer and not looked at it again. I grabbed out the book, the pencils and paint set I’d been gifted as well as an old doll and a ball I used to bounce ‘incessantly’ against the keep walls when bored, and was prepared to bring my haul back to Jan.

“Looking for something to keep our daughter amused. We aren’t even enduring siege conditions yet,” I told him, “and she’s already bored.”

“Our daughter…” He stepped into the room and right then I saw the ghost of him, the one that had swept me into this room when I was having breathing problems, who’d loosened my stays. “I bet you never thought you’d be saying those words when we were in here last.”

“I think I was planning your slow and painful death,” I replied with a smile, setting my burdens down. “And my long and happy marriage to Kris.”

“Ach, that milksop.” He wrapped an arm around my waist and tugged me close. “You’d never have been happy with him.”

“That’s true,” I admitted as his mouth drew closer. I watched it curve into a smile.

“He never would’ve led you on such adventures,” Weyland continued in a low purr of a tone.

“I’m fairly sure he didn’t want me stepping two feet beyond the birthing room or the kitchen,” I replied, then reached up to trace the shape of his lips. “You were the far superior choice.”

Praise was always the key with Weyland and that smile broadened.

“You see it now, that we were always made to be together. Until death do us part, or even beyond.”

“I think I saw it then.” My hand slid down to his neck, coming to settle over his heart. “That’s what was so terrifying.” I dared to look into his eyes, feeling suddenly shy. “You offered me the one thing I’d wanted all my life but given up thinking I’d get. Love.” His smile faltered but something much more intense rose to replace it. “I had been brought up to believe all I could hope for was to choose a man my father approved of who wouldn’t be completely terrible to me.”

“You deserve far more than that.” He grabbed my hand and placed a kiss on the palm. “You deserve everything. I thought I loved you then, when I brought you into this room. My heart was fair bursting out of my chest.”

“And something else as well,” I said, sliding my eyes down his body.

“That as well…” He herded me backwards until my legs hit the edge of my old bed. “That Weyland wanted you so fucking badly. You were his queen and he just wanted to worship you, but I…” Weyland paused then, studying my face and while there was heat there, it was only part of what he expressed. “I didn’t know how incredible you would become, Darcy, Wolf Queen of my heart.”

His kiss was slow and sweet, everything his kisses then were not. We weren’t past the animal need to tear each other’s clothes off, but our relationship had grown to include more, like this. Of the incredible sweetness of his mouth, his taste, the sound of him around me, of Weyland, my mate. It was that feeling of connection, throbbing strong between us that helped wash away my concerns, ease the tension in my body, right up until someone knocked sharply on the door.

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