Chapter 91
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Mornings like this aren’t common enough for me. The fog is thick. I can barely see a few feet in front of me as I jog down to the river. The air’s moisture is hydrating my skin in a way that shouldn’t be possible.
A part of me wants to let go and run in my pelt, but the better part of me knows that it’s not a good idea on this side of the country. There are kids out here, and I don’t have control over my primal instincts yet.
Anastasia Polucci put together an auction for the weapons we stole and invited a bunch of underground criminals to take their pick. Among them is former Luna Romano’s father. Former royal guard, dismissed from his position on dishonorable discharge for undisclosed illegal activity. Ortencio Gurrerro.
Rogues under Mr. Polucci’s pay have reported that he is beyond pissed about us taking the guns and that he is trying his best to gather as many weapons as he can get his hands on. The media hasn’t covered a single thing about the attack. Everything, in Artume City media is about what the visiting alphas were wearing to the Mating Ball, along with the mention of many wolves finding their mate.
For the past two days, I’ve been going through the body cams to identify the guards that were protecting them for Ivar, who put together a video that is about to hit every conspiracy page run by rogues and lycans. Paid for by their king or Queen in Anastasia’s case.
I take a seat near the edge of the riverbank, where Ragnar told me that my affinity was water. I take my blanket out of the backpack I packed this morning and cover myself with it as I open up the Howlers app.
I slide the feed down, and the first thing that pops up is a video showcasing the weapons we stole. A voice with autotune begins to speak, explaining how he came to be in possession of the weapons, the medical supplies, the money, and the drugs. I scroll past a few trendy videos, and I find the video of all the fallen guards from that night.
The videos have been up for forty minutes and already have over six hundred likes and shares. I take a deep breath and listen to the list. I don’t know what the Romanos told the families of the people who were implicated, but I know this is a horrible way to find out the truth.
“You woke up before me,” Ragnar finds me as I’m trying my best to hold the water bubbles suspended for longer than a couple of seconds. They burst, making me flinch. He comes over and sits beside me. I hold up half my blanket for him.
Built–in heater,” he taps his chest and lowers my arm. He lifts me up and sets me down on his lap. “Keep going.”
“I couldn’t sleep.” I admit, and pull on the water in the air to form the bubbles. I spin them a little for structure and then release them. When they burst, they turn back into mist.
“That’s really cool,” he says.
I reach for the running water this time, taking as much as I can carry. The stream is so much better to control than tiny droplets. The water dances around us. I splash him in the face, making him laugh.
“Sorry, lost control for a second,” I grin.
“Now you’re just showing off,” he says, bumping his chin on the back of my head. I can feel the warmth of his body against my back, and he’s telling me that I’m a show off? His arms come around me comfortingly. “That sick feeling goes away.”
“I’m trying not to think about it,” I sigh.
“It’s best to think about it as it’s happening. To watch and let the images in. It sounds horrible, but it’s not the worst thing we’ll ever do. And even if it is, coming to terms with the power we wield is essential for the position we’re in. Every outcome is a lesson. Good or bad.”
I turn around to face him. I kneel and sit on my calves, wanting to look him in the eyes.
“Do you really think I’d be good at this?” I ask. “If I’m being honest, I’ve never wanted power. Most days, I can barely stand
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Chapter 91
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the sound of my chewing. Fate is kind of an asshole for thinking I can take on all of this responsibility. The last thing I want is to let down the guy who was born to be the Lycan King.”
“Becoming Queen is an extension of our mating. My mom was a book conservationalist before being a Queen. She loved her job at the temple. It’s not as exciting as being a surgeon, but it’s kind of a dying craft, and there was no one as good as she was.”
“That’s a very important job. She was keeping our history intact.” I agree.
“Aside from a few galas and court meetings, your job as the Queen is mostly a title.”
“That is not encouraging,” I laugh.
“I hate that they made you this way,” he cups my face. “I’ve seen you in action, remember? I’ve seen what you can do for others. Fate can only be wrong once. I’m not at all worried about your place at my side.”
“You mean that,” I smile, feeling it in my chest. I reach out, placing my hand where his mark is. I let the water soak through his shirt when I see his eyes glow. “I swear I can feel you sometimes. I can tell when you’re upset, and you’re not around now.”
“Is it familiar?” he asks, unable to meet my eyes. “To his, I mean?”
I scoot closer to him and breathe out slowly.
“I never felt him like this,” I say honestly. I reach for his hand and trace the outlines of his tattoos there, feeling the flare of our mating between us. “That was the only thing I ever felt from him. The physical attraction between us.
“Because I was basically human, I was unable to connect with him any other way. Our relationship wasn’t based on the ranks. I feel cold when you’re away. I didn’t feel like that when he left for training. I think maybe because we’re the same, I feel the bond the way I do. But it’s not familiar in any way.”
He reaches forward to lift me up so I can straddle him.
“I keep having this dream,” he says quietly. “I see you standing between us. He says something. I don’t know what, but you turn your back to me, and you take his hand. You look back at me the same way you did when you found out what we were.”
“I don’t care what he says. I would rather die than ever go back. I could never hate you, Ragnar. I didn’t hate you when I found out. I was just mad and hurt. Getting rejected hurt. I felt like I was dying. I know it might not have been the same thing, but that pain lingers, and the idea of ever feeling it again is the only thing that scares me.”
“Romano is a fucking idiot. He knows exactly what he’s lost, Sophia. There is no doubt in my mind that this shit with Poppy wasn’t his idea.”
“It doesn’t matter if it was or not. He chose this. He did what he did, and he can’t ever take it back. I will never forgive him for it. I can’t. That part of my life is over. All that’s left are the ugly memories. He destroyed everything when he hurt me. I don’t want to please anyone anymore. I love the person I’m becoming. I feel seen here, useful. I think that’s all I ever
wanted.”
When I look up at him to show him I’m serious, his lips meet mine. He always finds a way to steal one. But I think that each kiss has slowly melted away the ice I sealed my heart in. I’m scared of the way my body reacts to his touch. I know he’d never hurt me, but that fear still lingers in my bones.
“We should get back,” he whispers against my lips.
I nod, unable to say anything else. He stands, keeping me in place, then puts me on my feet. He dusts me off and secures the blanket around me before drying the wet spot on his chest.
“Now who’s showing off?” I laugh.
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“Wait until you see me play with the fireballs,” he smirks. Although I think your water–bending kicks their ass.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
