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Primal Wolf King (Wolves Of The Night Book 2) 51
“My bedroom,” I said. “Under my pillow.”She stood up, then strode down the hall into my quarters. She returned with both in hand, then dropped back into her seat. Corinne stared at the scales in her palm like she couldn’t quite believe we had them.“Finally,” she whispered. “After all this time.”Before I could ask how long that was, exactly, Corinne slid the pointed tip of the golden scale under the band on her wrist. She gripped it tight, then flicked it upward.The band stretched.Suddenly all the air seemed to be sucked out of the room. My lungs flattened in my chest, and I struggled to hold my mug in hand. The air all seemed to be drawn toward Corinne; she tipped her head back and her silvery hair fell like a waterfall. Then, she exhaled, and the air rocketed back, filling the cavern and bringing my breathing back to normal. But now, the air crackled with power, power stronger than Draunar’s but lighter, too, like stardust dancing all over my skin. I blinked, dazed, unsteady on
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“Fire,” she said.The tension in the air seemed to shimmer like heat waves. I didn’t know if it was her power or my nerves causing it.Corinne knelt in the center of the circle. She clicked her tongue, and Sini, her cave salamander, peeked its head out from the hem of her trousers. She held out her hand and Sini crawled into her palm, comfortably winding onto her wrist. She stood up, then gripped the salamander’s body and flipped it over, revealing the creature’s vulnerable belly.I clapped my clean hand over my mouth, eyes widening. Part of me wanted to leap over the circle and stop this. I’d assumed the water in the equation would be just that: water, pulled from the bathing pools around us. But she’d said blood, and she meant it, blood from a water-dwelling creature that had built its life in the cave. She slit the salamander’s throat deftly; it thrashed once in her hold then fell still. She dripped its blood over the circle, then placed the lifeless body outside of it, directly ac
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Corinne patted my back gently. “Portal travel can be overwhelming if you’re not used to it,” she said gently. “Now come, we have much to attend to.”I took a few deep breaths. The air was so crisp—did it always feel like this in Frasia? Almost sharp in my lungs?“Up, wolf,” Corinne said. Her voice was colder now, and laced with impatience.“I’m coming, I’m coming,” I said with a groan.I staggered to my feet.Then, on the horizon, I saw it.A palace.But it wasn’t the manor in Frasia.It was a white stone palace, with silvery roofs and windows inlaid with pale pink glass that shone in the sunlight. It wasn’t nearly the size of the Shiangan palace, not even the manor, but it shone like a gem tucked into the lush, hilly landscape. It was built right at the edge of a vast lake sitting between the building and the mountain range across from it. We were in a valley, dotted with tall trees which burst with lush green leaves and pale pink flowers. As Corinne stood near one, it leaned toward
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My paws hit the soft grass of the meadow. The differences between Faerie and my realm were even starker now with my sharpened animal senses. I could smell the magic in the air, bright and layered, like the air itself was sweetened. Everything about the Faerie was slightly different than what I was used to in Frasia, and even Shianga, from the hints of animal musk and humanoid sweat, even the dirt, even the wind. Everything was just different. I shook out my pelt and bared my teeth at Corinne, hackles up. I had half a mind to leap forward and tear her throat out myself. My inhibitions were not nearly as strong in my wolf form.Corinne laughed, bright and musical, and then waved her hand idly in the air. She conjured a delicate silver muzzle out of the air, and it fit itself over my snout and snapped close. I snarled behind it and shook my head rapidly, trying to shake it off, but it was locked in place, fastened to a delicate silver collar that had made its way around my neck.I snarle
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Corinne glanced over at me. Then she waved her hand and the hearth roared to life, bursting into cozy flame. I started a little, but then the warmth washed over me and I settled back down. That was nice of her at least.“I’ve instructed Adrian to let us rest for a day or so,” she said. “I’ll regain my strength, and then we’ll begin the preparations to return to Shianga.”I flicked an ear in acknowledgment. I was still angry, and wanted her to see that in my expression, but I did want to know the details. If I was stuck with her in this form—I could at least get those.I slept fitfully by the fire, and before dawn, when Corinne unceremoniously jerked me to my feet with a pulse of her power. I shook into wakefulness and padded after her, through the quiet white stone hallways of the palace, to a meeting room at the far end. This was much smaller than the other grand rooms we’d walked through, with nothing more than a low table and a vast window overlooking the still lake. When Corinne s
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I blinked. Within the palace walls?Then, Corinne left the room.Without me.I was alone in her quarters for the first time in what felt like an age. I stood up, shook out my pelt, and then glanced around.When I was sure I was alone, I closed my eyes, then tried to find my human form under my wolf’s wild nature. She was there still, pacing irritably—but I couldn’t shift back. Corinne’s magic still had a hold on my abilities, and I was locked in this form until she loosened her hold. In Daybreak, my tutors had always instilled in me that one was not to spend too much time in her wolf form, lest the wolf take control and the human couldn’t re-emerge. I’d thought after five days shifted, I’d feel less like myself, and more like an animal. Perhaps that’s what all the recent runs had done, though—made it easier to be myself while in my wolf shape.My paws itched at the thought of a run. Gods, that was what I needed now. A long, moonlit run, moving quickly through the trees with Elias on m
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Corrine’s plan weighed heavily on my mind. It wasn’t just Shianga she wanted. Surely, she’d come for Frasia next, what with the way the Fae lands had dissipated in our nation. She’d already spoken ill of Daybreak. And then after that, surely she’d use her power to take Osna, Cruora, and Askon, too.From spending time at her side, I knew how conniving and convincing she could be. I knew she would try to build a diplomatic relationship with those nations while she built up her army in our realm. She’d try to woo us all into a sense of safety, and then she would strike.But now I knew. Now, Frasia would be ready.Now, I could bring the fight to her.For the next two days, the queen continued to give me freedom to roam the palace during the day, but she did insist that I remain at her side during the dramatic banquets that happened every night without fail. It was part of the ongoing celebration for the queen’s return, but I was well sick of it. The first Fae banquet I’d been dragged to h
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Corinne smiled faintly as if she could read my thoughts. “I know, wolf,” she said. “You’ll have your human form back soon enough. You know I can’t risk you running off while we’re in Shianga, though. If the wolf king is still alive, I might need a little bargaining tool.”She fastened the clasps of her own armor, the same fine silver as mine, though hers was ornately engraved with a carving of a many-branched tree. She looked so different than the woman I’d spent those weeks with in the cavern—now she was a warrior queen. She removed the muzzle. I gnashed my teeth and shook my head, relieved to have it off. The blacksmith glanced at her, clearly nervous, but I wasn’t about to ruin my chances of making it back to the realm by launching a foolish attack now.She didn’t know if Elias was alive or not. My heart beat into my throat. I was terrified to face what awaited me in Shianga—terrified to be turned into a war-beast at the queen’s side—but the thought of seeing Elias propelled my spi
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Primal Wolf King (Wolves Of The Night Book 2) 91
Elias and I sat at a long table atop the dais, with Enet and Khainan seated at our sides. The band played a riotous, fast-moving song, and the crowd of wolves on the floor engaged in one of Nightfall’s many elegant, quick, high-energy jigs. I caught a few glimpses of Fina and Adora in the crowd, exchanging grins as they bounced gleefully between dance partners. Laughter rang through the room as men swung women up into the air, dark skirts flashed like waves, and even a few kisses were snuck on the dance floor.Looking out over the crowd, with a glass of wine in my hand and Elias’ hand on my thigh, I felt settled. I felt like I was at home. Elias gazed over the crowd, too, then caught my eye and gave me a small smile.We’d been through a lot. In my darkest moments I’d thought I might never see him again.But here we were. Seated side by side with a convoy from abroad, overlooking our kingdom. I’d survived Draunar and Corinne both. Elias had survived a brush with craziness.If we’d made
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I pushed open the door to the balcony and stepped outside, immediately sighing with pleasure in the crisp, cool midday air. Enet joined me, then braced both hands on the railing and gazed out over the tree line.“It’s beautiful here,” she said. “Colder than Askon, but just as lush.”“I’ve read about Askon,” I said. “And pored over the maps and the few sketches we have. Your architecture is incredible.”Enet smiled, looking vaguely impressed. “You’re interested in Askonian architecture?”“It’s unique,” I said, “building around the trees like that. I hope to include some of that style if Efra continues to grow.”Enet nodded. “What else have you read about Askon?” she asked.I knew a leading question when I heard one. I stood next to her, gazing out over the tree line.“There’s not much in the library,” I said. “Frasia hasn’t maintained a close relationship with Askon, obviously. But there’s some history.”“History that led you to call on us rather than Osna, or Cruora?”“We’re also both
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I had never seen such a grand procession of carriages. I had to intentionally keep my jaw shut as they rolled seemingly without end through the gates of the manor. The carriages were pure black, detailed with gold, and pulled by gorgeous horses with sleek black pelts. They carried no markings of the jaguars, but the sheer beauty of the carriages proved they were royal. Two carriages rolled ahead, guided by a few servants hustling on foot—luggage and servants of Askon’s own, I assumed. The third carriage in the line came to a stop at the front doors of the palace. The horses tossed their heads, nickering; the driver hopped down and swept into a dramatic bow before he opened the door to the carriage.I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. I had a vision of what jaguar shifters might look like—tall and elegant, catlike and sleek, dressed in gold and jewels, like the dragons of Shianga. But the two that stepped out of the carriage surprised me.The queen emerged first. She was a short, lean
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There was a part of me that wondered why I still wanted to shift so badly. I’d spent so much time trapped in that shape—shouldn’t I be sick of it? Yet I only felt more connected to my wolf. We weren’t two separate identities in the same body. We were two sides of the same coin. Connected. One and the same. A run sounded amazing—a break from the responsibilities of leadership—but we had no time for that now.We could take a break in other ways, though.I took control of the kiss with a hand on his nape. Elias smiled against my lips, surprised and pleased. I set my hands at his chest and pushed him backward. He took a few steps back until the backs of his legs hit the edge of the bed, and then I pushed him down. He hit the mattress with a smirk, then scooted back, propped up on one elbow. He watched me with one eyebrow raised slightly, curiously, like he was waiting for something.I felt my face heat slightly. I still wasn’t used to being looked at like this—watched so openly, and with
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“The talks in Shianga were doomed from the start,” he said, “courtesy of Rodthar of Daybreak. I hope having you all here, as a show of good faith, will prevent such complications in these talks. Since all of our fates hang in the balance.”The heads of the packs agreed to stay until word was received from Askon. Now all that was left to discuss were the details of the invitation we would send to the jaguars. Elias nodded to the servants posted at the edge of the room, and on his command, they exited and returned with the fine spread of boar and vegetables prepared for dinner.As the conversation moved away from the more serious topics of politicking to the more casual engagements of wolves catching up, Elias got roped into a conversation with Giles, and at my side, Barion topped off my glass of wine from the carafe in the center of the table.“Your Highness,” he said quietly, “I owe you an apology as well.”I sighed and closed my eyes briefly. “Please,” I said. “Not now.”Barion’s exp
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There was Giles from Dawnguard, a broad-shouldered man dressed in leather armor, with a scar over one eye. From Duskmoon, Isalde, a tall woman who looked remarkably like Fina, wearing an immense necklace of amethyst and onyx. Starcrest had sent an older woman, Marget, whose eyes were clouded with blindness, but not Ealric, and for that I was grateful. It would have been a little much to have to navigate sitting at this table with Ealric and Barion of Daybreak.We took our seats at the head. I was between Barion and Elias, and anxiety was already crawling in my throat.“Thank you all for attending,” Elias said, “and welcome to Efra. I trust your journeys were not too challenging.”Around the table, murmurs of assent.“If I may,” Barion said. “Before we start, I do believe it’d be best for me to speak on the recent happenings.”He held my gaze as he said it, and he looked…beaten down. Terrible even. So unlike the gregarious man who had trained me all through my youth. His fine clothes w
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She smiled gently. “Well, I’m grateful to you for keeping them to yourself. Some shifters are not so keen to be reminded of our continued existence.”I nodded, glancing toward the back room.Aerika caught it. “They have even closer lineage than I do. It’s safer for them to stay there. I do the guest-facing work when I can.” She finished pinning the hem and moved up to check the fit of the waistband. “There’s no word going around. It’s more like…a feeling.”“A feeling?”She nodded. “There was a feeling when the queen was taken captive—though we didn’t know that was what happened. I felt like a hole had been struck inside of me, somehow, and my power was beginning to slowly drain out. So slowly I hardly noticed it happening. And then, a few weeks ago, suddenly the hole was plugged. I felt stronger. More awake. More like myself again.” She smiled again, softly. “Like I’d been living in a fog, and didn’t even realize it until it cleared. I knew something had changed. I had my suspicions,
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The thought was so horrifying it rattled down my spine like a physical touch. Had Duchess Alana really been capable of something so awful? Using her son to get rid of her own husband?“He’d be proud of you now,” I said. “That much I know.”He swallowed hard, his eyes closed tight. My heart broke for him—for us both—but there was still a flare of pride there too. It hurt, but we’d done the right thing. For ourselves, and for our kingdom.“Come on,” I said, “let’s get some sleep before we have to face your adoring subjects in a few hours.”Elias climbed out of the tub and toweled off, and then we fell into the bed as quickly as we could. We wouldn’t have much peace now, not with all the work that needed to be done to heal the city from Rodthar’s terrible leadership, and then the specter of Corinne looming in the future. There wasn’t a lot of peace to be found, but there was a little here, in this moment. The sun had already crossed the horizon, but with Elias’ arms finally around me, sl
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I still felt distant from myself, unreal, like the events of the past few weeks had happened to someone else. How was it possible that I was standing safely in this room? How was it possible that the man who raised me had tried to steal the throne? That the duchess’ blade had been at my throat just a little while ago? And that just days before that, I’d been a hostage of the Fae queen, and before that, a relic in Draunar’s hoard?I wasn’t sure how much time passed as I stood at the window. The sky turned golden with the dawn and the soup cooled to a lukewarm temperature in my bowl. I was about to give up, crawl onto the welcoming mattress and try to sleep, when finally, finally, the door opened.I turned from the window.Elias stepped over the threshold. The King of Frasia.My husband.In the privacy of our quarters, with his exhausted gaze meeting mine, the numbness finally cracked like ice inside me. I dropped the soup and barreled forward, threw my arms around his neck, and pulled
