Page 97 of Wolf’s Fated Bride

The Peacebroker jumps out of his seat. “What are you staring at? Find him! Find him and kill him!”

The door flies off the hinges. Hands reach for the soldier’s head and twist. Left, right, left again. A strangled battle cry rips through the cabin, and the Shackler’s body crumples.

Ash strides into the cabin, tucking the Shackler’s head under his armpit.

Chapter 40

Runa

The rifles bend, melting away. The soldiers throw them in fear of being burned. Next, they reach for their uniforms and rip them off, screaming in agony. Ash tosses the head at one of them. The soldier is too busy trying to get out of his uniform to catch the head, which thumps on the floor and rolls with the turbulence that rocks the train.

“You signed a peace treaty!” the Peacebroker shouts. “You can’t use your element against us. It’s against the law.”

Ash crouches beside me, giving the Peacebroker his back. Either he’s crazy or has no fucks left to give. I’m eyeing the alchemist for any sudden movements. The man is undressing as well. He must be hot. I don’t feel any heat.

I take the sharp porcelain piece from beneath my foot.

Ash hooks a finger under my jaw and inspects my bleeding wound. “Who did this to you?”

“Him.” I point at the Peacebroker. “It was him. He slapped me and almost cracked my head when I hit the window. He also shot my mom.” My chin quivers. “And my dad. I don’t know what he did to Maren or my brother, but it was awful.”

Ash kisses my forehead. “It’s okay, little wolf, I’ll kill him and everyone with him.”

“I have information you want,” the Peacebroker says.

The pair of Wardens goes up in flames.

“Their fireproof jammies don’t work,” Ash tells me.

I smile. That was my joke. He likes my jokes.

The Peacebroker uses our exchange to slide away and break the window. When he tries to jump out, Ash grabs him by the throat and slams him onto the floor. The soldiers jump out of the windows.

The train shakes violently. At this rate, there’s no way it can stay on the track.

“You’ll kill us all,” the Peacebroker shouts.

“No, I’ll only kill you.” Ash bites the man’s cheek with his very human teeth, ripping the Peacebroker’s flesh from his face, and only then does he shift into his wolf. With a snarl, he rips into the screaming Peacebroker. Chunks of flesh splat against the windows, and blood coats the floor.

The decapitated Shackler’s head is stuck to the floor. The Peacebroker’s head, still attached to his mangled body, joins it.

When I look up, Ash is drenched with blood, but he stretches out his hand. “Come on, little wolf. I’m taking you home.”

Chapter 41

Runa

“Ash?”

“Hm?”

“I have something to tell you.”

He drops the fork and licks blue frosting from the corner of his lips. “Is it about the cakes? They all taste good to me, and I’m useless when it comes to judging which one we should commission for the wedding.”

I swat at the air. “It’s fine, Ash. I’ll ask Maren when she gets here.” Maren sent word that she’s alive and is making her way to Fireborn territory.

We receive periodic news about the rest of my family. My mother barely survived, my father lost his leg, and when Sören woke up, the alchemists put him to sleep for fear he would drown the enemy troops when he found out what they did.