Page 27 of Bonded

My mouth dries as I look at it. It’s dripping wet but exactly as the book described. It looks human in part, but its eyes are empty sockets; it has no hair or markable features below its neck. All of its skin is smooth, except for a series of cuts that are leaking a black liquid. It has long, rotten nails and matching teeth sticking out from its top lip. The Wrath stands completely still—void and empty, staring. I can’t move as I stare back at it.

“A Wrath,” I whisper.

“Yes. The very things we’re trying to stop.” Dain doesn’t take his eyes off it.

Zyran steps forward as I move towards it, and he touches my stomach. “No closer.” I really don’t want to go anywhere near that thing, and I don’t know why I moved forward. It smells like rotten fruit.

“What happens to the body? Why is it wet?” I ask.

“It appeared on our shores.” Dain’s tone says everything about that. The sea is our only protection from the Wrath. “I think our time is running out. If one can appear on the shores, then many can. I have a team working on this, trying to figure out if it’s more intelligent and how it managed to get there. A series of guards are roaming the entire coast in case any more appear. None have, but we need to be prepared.”

“I’ll get the heirs to come. They’re probably the best ones to convince their families.” I straighten my back.

“Can they be trusted?” Dain asks.

“I’m not sure. But I think so,” I murmur.

“They can be trusted to be loyal to her.” It’s all Zyran says. I look up at him and nod once.

The Wrath makes a clicking noise, taking a step forward. We all turn to look at it.

“It awaits the crown,” comes a hollow, scratchy voice from somewhere deep within it. “Awaits the crown.” It repeats the same sentence, over and over until it echoes around us. Dain has gone pale and Zyran is frowning.

“I think it’s time we leave.” Illyia is holding her stomach.

We walk out together quickly, and I know without looking that it is watching us go. Not following. Just watching, still repeating those three words. None of us say a word until we are back in the room we met in, and Dain downs a whiskey before turning our way. “I wanted you to see why we need to hurry. Why you need to.”

I give him a shaky nod. It seems like enough. He pours himself another whiskey, turning to Illyia. “Please stay here for a moment. I will go and inform the housekeeper that there’s a new guest who needs a room and that the princess has returned with her bodyguard. We can talk properly about next steps then.” He looks at me. “We need to talk about announcing you to the city, sooner rather than later. You still cannot have him at your side.”

I don’t answer as he walks out, only looking at Zyran, who is stoic.

“I hope I can sleep here knowing that thing is down there,” Illyia jokes, cutting through the tension.

“Dain has shadow guards everywhere. You can’t see them, but they would never let anything get to you.” Zyran looks at me. “It’s why it’s safe here.”

“How much of the city have you seen?” Illyia asks next, looking out of the window, over the city.

“Nothing more than this.” I wave around. “I was only here a month, and it was all training.”

“What?” She looks genuinely appalled, and she looks at Zyran next. “Tell me they have a good nightlife here.”

“They do.” His voice deepens, and he touches my arm. “It would be my pleasure to take you out for the night. A date.”

“With a plus one!” Illyia adds. “I promise I won’t be annoying.”

I look over the city, knowing damn well Tannith would scream yes at me, before I turn back to Zyran. “It’s a date.”

Chapter Sixteen

PRINCE BLACKFIRE, HEIR OF THE CRONE PACK.

Every inch of this pack feels empty without her, but I know she’s safe. I can feel she’s safe, like a part of me ticking away in my chest that won’t go quiet, and I’m so fucking glad it won’t. I lift her top that I stole from her room to my face and breathe in her sweet cinnamon scent to calm my wolf. Our wife is delicious and I can’t wait for the moment she lets me in. It’s been two days since I’ve seen her, and it’s too long. This fucked-up world of gods and goddesses keeps taking my wife from me, and I’m done with it. I need to just put my eyes on her and check, irrationally, that she’s still breathing. I’ve fought in wars, seen the life slip out of a thousand eyes, and yet just the fear of her dying has my knees wanting to collapse. Some fucker from my court tried to kill her.

When I get my hands on him…fuck it, my claws, I will rip him to shreds and burn what is left when I’m done.

I pace up and down on my balcony, hating the pollen air of this court. It makes my nose itch. Makes me want to pull the mask off and scratch my face, but I don’t take it off. I haven’t since I was five. No one can see what is behind the mask, not even her.

Two sharp knocks have me jolting from my thoughts, and I turn back to see a soldier from the Crone Pack step in. He takes off his red helmet and bows low. I don’t know his name. One of my father’s, my uncle’s many, many soldiers that can’t be trusted. He isn’t one of mine that hide as spies throughout the Crone court. They are all currently watching my little cousin, Lunara, and making sure she is cared for. Crone goddess only knows her parents aren’t going to check in. “Who are you?”