79

Daybreak guards emerged from the side doors, stumbling like they’d just been woken from a nap. Rodthar cast them an irritated look, then held a hand up to hold them back. Behind us, our battalion of wolves bared their teeth at the guards, ready to strike if necessary.

“You were supposed to be a little treat for the King of Shianga,” he hissed. “How in the gods’ name did you end up back here?”

“What?” I asked. My rage was shot through with confusion. “How do you know about that?”

Duchess Alana sighed and took a sip of her wine. “Did you really think we were uninformed of the negotiations in Shianga?” she asked. “Of course we had to keep an eye on things ourselves, too.”

“In what way, Duchess?” Elias hissed. He spoke the title with such vitriol—I couldn’t imagine how it might sound if he had called her ‘mother.’

“Frasia belongs to Daybreak,” Rodthar said with cold venom in his voice. “Your father took the throne from us dishonorably, and went crazy for his trouble. I’ve known since the first day I laid eyes on you that the craziness ran in your blood too. Frasia needs stable rule. Not the violent, impulsive leadership you’ve shown.”

“You’ve aligned yourself with this fool?” Elias roared as his mother. “You’ve turned your back on your pack?”

“There was a test,” Rodthar said, “one you failed.”

“What fucking tests?” he snarled. “What did you do?”

Duchess Alana sighed again, then leaned forward, elbows on the table like this was a casual dinner conversation, and not an argument between two wolves about to tear out each other’s throats.

“I’d hoped it wouldn’t turn out like this,” she said, in a tone that suggested she had hoped for just that. “But Rodthar was right, when he said you wouldn’t be able to take it.”

“You planned it,” I said. The pieces began to come together in my mind. “The same as you planned the coup with Griffin. You nudged Draunar.”

“Just slightly,” Rodthar said with a grin. “He’s a man who likes pretty things. It wasn’t a grand plan. It was just a small message, sent to him during the negotiations. A suggestion that if he were to add the queen to his hoard, then the new King and Queen of Frasia would be more than happy to allot some territory to him at the border as a show of good faith. No treaty required.” He sucked his teeth. “But it appears I overestimated Draunar. He’d assured me it was impossible to escape the hoard.”

“Rodthar suggested the loss of your pet would drive you to craziness,” Alana said. “And a wolf prone to craziness is not fit to lead. Simple as that. I thought it was a ridiculous claim, but he was correct. How quickly you lost control of your senses and fled your responsibility. You are an embarrassment to Nightfall.”

“I will not be dressed down by traitors in my own kingdom,” Elias growled with his teeth bared.

Rodthar sighed. “This really is such a disappointment. I’d hoped for a two-birds-one-stone situation, where I’d be rid of my waste of a daughter. Since you were too weak to do your duty to Daybreak, it’d be best to just be rid of you.”

I was shredded. Nausea roiled my stomach. It wasn’t just Draunar who’d wanted me—the man who had raised me also hated me so much he wanted me kidnapped. What kind of man could feel that way about a child he’d reared? How could the duchess have agreed? How could so much hatred drive those two? So much hunger for power? My hand shook where I gripped my sword.

“If you think yourself worthy to lead Frasia,” Elias growled, “prove it. I challenge you for the throne.”

26

“A

 challenge?” Rodthar asked, eyebrows raised. “You would challenge me?”

“I slaughtered the last wolf you sent to challenge me,” Elias said. “And I’ll do it again.”

“Griffin was a weakling,” Rodthar said with a roll of his eyes. “I was a fool to think he would be able to handle such a request.”

“Then accept,” Elias growled. “I challenge you. Right now. Right here.”

“I accept,” Rodthar said. “On one condition.”

Elias said nothing.

“We fight as wolves,” Rodthar said. “As is traditional.”

I balked. No one else seemed as surprised as I did. Elias seemed pleased, and Ealric beside me was nodding with agreement. Even Fina looked relieved. They all knew Elias was strongest when he’d shifted.

Why would Rodthar of Daybreak suggest a battle in wolf form? Growing up, I’d always been taught that shifting was uncouth. It was something that must be done, but should be kept in check when it wasn’t necessary. It was savage. It was feral.

Maybe, I realized, it was something I wasn’t supposed to have.

Power.

The wolf form was power.

Was Rodthar totally comfortable as his wolf? Had he gone running whenever he wanted? Was he connected with his animal in a way I was just developing now?

Had he done this intentionally? Cut me off from her? Kept me weak and unsure, ignoring her?

I was too stunned to even feel any anger. I was frozen in disbelief. All this time, he had led me to believe that a good citizen of Daybreak kept things on a tight leash. Internally, my wolf whined in frustration, and my hackles lifted.

Elias grinned. “I accept.”

Rodthar waved his hand instructively, and the few Daybreak guards in the chamber moved to the edges of the room. Elias stepped toward the center of the throne room, feet silent on the polished floor. The rest of the Nightfall wolves moved as well, creating a wide ring around Rodthar and Elias as they faced each other. I stayed where I was, near the door, and Duchess Alana crossed the room and stood at my side.