The Forbidden Wolf King: Kings of Avalier, Book 4(52)

We all burst into laughter at that. Raife was probably the only one in the room who was excited for morning.

SEVENTEEN

I’d barely slept, only about two hours, but it was enough. After finishing our breakfast while the sky was still dark, we made our way to the stables.

The maker of the saddles that had been used on the dragon king and queen was able to retrofit a couple horse saddles for Axil and me. We’d finalized the plan and it was decided that Axil would carry Raife on his back and I would carry Kailani. Meanwhile, Arwen and Drae would take to the skies, watching over us from above and Madelynn would stay on the ground, using her wind to blow back any assault on the Winter Castle where her little sister and Arwen and Drae’s twins were being kept safe.

Surrounding us would be the armies of Avalier mixed with dragon-folk, elves and fae. And our elite royal wolven army. If the war went on for days, then the wolven would arrive and bring an even stronger show of force. Ten thousand strong all together with the others. The necromeres were a surprise but nothing we couldn’t handle together. I was feeling good about things.

It was a great plan, nearly a perfect plan if everything went accordingly.

I turned to look at Axil and ask him something when I saw the color drain from his face. I frowned as he stared far off into space, seemingly lost in his thoughts.

“Axil?”

His gaze snapped to mine and he swallowed hard. We were in the stall of a barn, about to shift and have our saddles put on. He crossed the barn and reached for my face with shaky hands. “My love, one of my advisors has given me grave news.” His voice cracked and something inside of me broke.

It was bad. Whatever it was, was so bad. Axil had a constant mental link to his advisors, it was part of his alpha magic. It meant that no matter the distance, or form, they could communicate.

By the look on his face, his advisor had just told Axil something truly awful.

“No,” I whimpered, not wanting to know whatever it was that had made Axil look as if he’d seen death.

Tears filled his eyes and his bottom lip quivered. “Last night, Queen Zaphira sent an army of necromerian raiders to Fallenmoore. She must have been watching—”

“Axil, tell me!” I screamed, a sob already forming in my throat.

He released a shaky breath and looked me right in the eyes, his own still welling with tears. “Cyrus was killed and Oslo was taken.”

Nothing in this world could have prepared me for those words to come out of his mouth. My legs collapsed beneath me and everything went dark.

SPECIAL_IMAGE-images/svgimg0003.svg-REPLACE_ME

I came to in Axil’s arms a few moments later. Raife was there, some purple light glowing from his palm to my face as I blinked rapidly.

Why was I lying on the floor of the barn? Pure grief poured through me at the memory of what Axil had told me.

I sobbed and rolled onto my side as my wolf took over. I couldn’t be strong, not in my human form, it was too much to bear.

Cyrus. My sweet big brother. My coach. A husband. Father.

No. This couldn’t be happening.

But it was.

I welcomed the pain that the snapping of bones and ripping of muscles brought. It felt good in this moment. I wanted to feel hurt, it was better than feeling hollow. Like a huge gaping hole had opened in my chest.

Tipping my head up, I let loose with a gut-wrenching howl. I couldn’t help but wonder if Axil hadn’t claimed me last night if I would have felt Cyrus dying through the pack link. Something strong like that, a death, could be felt by all pack members. Maybe it was a small mercy I didn’t.

I expected Axil to take me into his arms, to try and sooth me with words but instead it was Raife who knelt before me, grasped the sides of my wolf’s face lightly and forced me to look into his gaze.

“I know,” he said calmly, eyes glowing with rage. “I hate that I know exactly how you feel but I do. Zaphira took my mother, father and all of my siblings from me in one fell swoop and I’ve waited years for this revenge.”

My wolf whimpered as I held his stare and I felt in that moment that he was the only one in the world who understood me and what I was going through.

“But you don’t have to wait years for your revenge, Zara,” he said. “You can get it now and you can save your little brother before she takes him too.”

Oslo. At the mention of his name, I sprang into a standing position, forcing Raife to let go of my face. The only thing that parted the dark clouds of my grief was the thought of my little brother.

“Ready?” Raife asked.

I nodded eagerly. If the Nightfall queen did have Oslo, she was about to learn that she’d messed with the wrong woman.

Just then the barn doors were thrown open and Kailani ran inside, panting. “I heard about your little brother getting taken. I know where the queen would hide him, and how to get into the castle.”

This had just become a rescue mission.

I looked up at Axil and he appeared conflicted for a moment. This changed everything, Oslo was taken – we had to save him first.

“Let’s do it,” Axil agreed.

Kailani rushed forward, making quick work of strapping the saddles to our backs. If she grew up in Nightfall City and knew the area like the back of her hand, then I needed her to get Oslo back. If we were to infiltrate the castle, she was our best bet.

“Where are your clothes for after you shift?” Kailani asked and I indicated to the pile of clothing in the corner. She scooped it up, stashed it in her bag and then leapt onto my back without fear.