131- circle of wolves

MICHAEL’s POV

“What?” My shocked rasp seemed like it had come from somewhere far away as I stared disbelievingly at the royal assassin.

Her long, curly black hair was stretched into a tight bun at the top of her head and her upturned eyes washed over me briefly, before softening when she met my eyes.

Who was dead? I shook my head, exhaling a static, disbelieving laugh before Elena’s cold hands pressed comfortingly around my bicep.

I had seen the body what felt like hours ago, but I hadn't yet been able to scrounge the image of the corpse from my mind. The pale white skin was shredded through with claws and blades until it was a mess of ripe, tender insides.

The skin of the guard’s face had been peeled back messily and his eyes gouged out, leaving only empty, bloodied sockets where they used to be.

I had killed many in my lifetime, but the scene back in that cold room, with bodies hanging off the ceilings, frozen for food, had been nothing short of evil.

The smell of blood and pine tha