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42 Mother’s Arrival 

Sera 

The Valdris carriages looked like a joke against the brutal grey stone of Ironmaw They were painted white and trimmed with gold, built for paved southern roads, not mountain passes. The horses pulling them looked exhausted, their coats thick with sweat and frozen mud 

I stood in the courtyard The wind was biting, slicing right through my heavy wool cloak Fenris stood ten feet away from me. He wore no cloak, just his dark leathers and a thick tunic Yvara was beside him, her arms crossed, watching the carriages with open disgust 

The lead carriage stopped. The door opened. 

A man stepped out first. Lord Torin. He was one of my father’s top advisors. He wore a thick silk cloak over velvet, and he immediately pulled it tighter around his neck. He looked around the courtyard, his nose crinkling like he smelled shit. 

Then, she stepped out. 

My mother 

She looked smaller than I remembered. She was wrapped in layers of expensive, useless southern fur Her blonde hair was pinned up perfectly, but her face was pale. She looked around, her eyes wide and frightened Then she saw me. 

Her hands flew to her mouth. She burst into tears instantly. 

She ran across the dirt courtyard. I didn’t move to meet her. My boots felt glued to the frozen ground. She crashed into me, throwing her arms around my neck and sobbing into my shoulder 

She smelled like crushed roses and vanilla. It was a familiar smell, the smell of my childhood. But out here, mixed with the scent of pine and woodsmoke, it just smelled wrong. It smelled fake. 

“My sweet girl,” she sobbed, pulling back to look at my face. Her hands gripped my cheeks. Her thumbs brushed over the fading yellow bruise on my jaw and the fresh cut near my hairline. “Look at you. Look at this awful place What has he done to you?” 

She glared past me at Fenris 

I grabbed her wrists and gently pulled her hands away from my face ‘Fenris didn’t do this, Mother” 

Lord Torin approached Fennis He didn’t bow “Alpha Volkov King Aldric sends his regards. We have a long journey behind us, and much to discuss regarding the trade routes and the border lines. ” 

Fenris looked at Torin for a long, quiet second ‘My study We don’t do politics in the snow 

Fenris turned and walked toward the main doors. He didn’t look at me. Yvara followed him, throwing one last sneer at the Valdris guards Torin hurried after them, shivering 

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That left me in the yard with my mother. 

“Take me inside, Sera,” she said, her teeth actually chattering. “I am freezing to death.” 

I led her into the fortress and down the corridor to the guest quarters. Mina followed silently, a few paces behind. We went into a large room with a roaring fire. My mother immediately walked to the hearth and held her hands out to the flames. 

“Savages,” she muttered. “They live like actual beasts in a cave. I told your father it was a mistake. I told him this place would ruin you.” 

“You didn’t tell him anything,” I said. 

My voice was flat. The words just fell out of my mouth before I could stop them. 

My mother turned around. Her eyes were red. “What did you say?” 

“When he made the deal,” I said, looking right at her. “You sat next to me. You held my hand under the table. You didn’t say a single word. You let him sell me.” 

She flinched. She looked down at her hands. “You don’t understand politics, Sera. He is the King. I cannot question him in front of the council.” 

“I am your daughter.” 

“And I wept for you!” she cried, stepping toward me. “Do you know how hard it has been for me? The palace is so empty. Lyra is anxious all the time. Your father is stressed. I haven’t slept a full night since you left.” 

I stared at her. Mina was right. My mother hadn’t found her courage. She hadn’t come to save me. She 

came because she was sad and wanted me to comfort her. 

“How did you get those bruises, Sera?” she asked, changing the subject. “If the Alpha didn’t do it, who did? I will have Lord Torin speak to him. They cannot treat a princess this way.” 

“I got them in training,” I said. “I’m fighting a duel tomorrow.” 

My mother froze. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. She blinked twice. “A duel? What are you talking about? You are a princess, not a soldier.” 

“I punched a chief’s daughter,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “She challenged me. It was either accept the fight or get flogged in front of the whole pack.” 

The color drained completely from her face. She reached out and grabbed my arm. Her grip was weak.” Sera, no. You can’t. You will die.” 

“I’ve been training.” 

“It doesn’t matter!” She was shaking now. “You have to apologize. You have to go to this girl and beg for her forgiveness. Get on your knees if you have to. Offer her gold. Offer her whatever she wants. You cannot fight.” 

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I looked at her. I really looked at her. I saw the panic in her eyes. It was the exact same panic I saw in her eyes the day my father signed the contract. The instinct to fold. The instinct to yield to whoever was louder, stronger, or scarier. 

“I am not getting on my knees,” I said. 

“Sera, please,” my mother begged, tears spilling down her cheeks again. “Please, don’t cause trouble. Do it for me. Your father needs this alliance to hold. If you fight and cause a rift with a chief, the Alpha might break the treaty.” 

My chest felt hollow. All the anger I’d been carrying for the last few days just evaporated. There was nothing left but a cold, hard truth. 

“You didn’t come to see me,” I said quietly. “You came to make sure I don’t ruin his deal.” 

“That isn’t true,” she sobbed. “I missed you. I love you.” 

“You love peace,” I corrected her. “You love when things are quiet. You love it when nobody is yelling.” 

I stepped back, pulling my arm out of her grip. She looked small. Just a frightened woman in a heavy coat. I didn’t hate her anymore. I just pitied her. 

“I am fighting tomorrow,” I said. “If you don’t want to watch, stay in this room.” 

I turned around and walked out the door. I didn’t slam it. I just closed it quietly behind me. 

Mina was standing in the corridor. She looked at my face. She didn’t ask how it went. 

“Yvara wants you in the yard,” Mina said. “Final session.” 

I nodded. I rolled my shoulders back. The bruises ached, but I didn’t care. “Let’s go.” 

*** 

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