Emory shut her eyes in disbelief as her mind tried to work out the egregious consequence of what Seraphine had done to her. If only she could bring her back from the dead just to rip her heart from her chest!

“It’s not a bad thing, is it? You’re prophesied to marry him anyway.” Sabine took her hand again and placed it on his torso. “If this is what I think it is, you need to place your hands on the source of the link while we chant. Stay here.”

Sabine rose and went back to kneel in front of Aworyn’s statue, and all the hooded priestesses followed her lead, dropping their heads to the ground and resuming the chant.

“She linked us,” Rahl’s voice pulled her attention. “It’s absurd because she didn’t want us together to keep my Lycan side at bay.”

“It was to keep me from being with Kane, I have no doubt about that. The lesser of two evils or a potent instigator of chaos,” she said to him.

“Why did you really come?” he asked her.

She cocked her head to the side as she watched him. He seemed a lot better now, stronger too, with the dark circles around his eyes slowly vanishing. She adjusted on her knees, watching the insignia on his chest as it gradually faded. Was the chant undoing the link or what was happening?

“I came because I couldn’t stand by and do nothing,” she admitted. “Rodyn told me about the coup. I needed to warn you and” be here for you.”

Rahl’s eyes softened, but she saw the pain in them too. “Thank you. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but knowing you’re here” it helps.”

“You knew?” she asked, arching a brow.

He shrugged. “My mother isn’t my biggest supporter. It was only a matter of time. If she’d known about my” predicament, this would have happened sooner. I knew once word reached her that I was ill, she would make a move. That’s why I came to the one place she cannot enter, surrounded by the only warriors she could not corrupt.”

“Warriors?” She looked around at the women surrounding them. “They’re warriors?”

“Yes. The priestesses always were. The best female warriors blessed by Aworyn to serve the king. Should they betray me, they forfeit their lives—it’s their oath. Sabine is the head of the Red Flock,” he explained. “And they know of my inability to shift.”

“I see,” was all she said.

She was relieved more than anything that he wasn’t alone in all this. Now she found herself wondering about his mate, whom he’d mentioned, but now was hardly the time to bring that up. Once he was well, she had to get back home and break the unfortunate news to Kane. He would not like that his mate was tethered to the Lycan king. But he’d mentioned Aworyn could undo it; maybe that was what the goddess was doing now.

She placed her other hand on his chest, feeling the energy pulse beneath her fingers. The chant grew louder, more intense, and the room seemed to vibrate with power.

The dark energy swirling around the insignia began to dissipate, replaced by a gentle glow. Emory closed her eyes, focusing on the connection between them, willing it to heal and strengthen.

As the chanting reached a crescendo, a blinding light enveloped them. A rush of warmth, like a summer breeze, filled her, and then it was over. She opened her eyes to find the insignia completely healed, leaving only a faint scar on his chest.

Rahl took a deep breath, his strength returning. He looked up at her, his blue eyes clear as he sat up. He was too close, so close his scent now flooded her senses. Emory pulled away, but he caught her arm and pulled her back to him. “Thank you.”

“No thanks needed,” she said.

“That’s not true. You could have chosen not to come to warn me, but you risked walking into the king’s court for me. I would still be dying if you hadn’t, so thank you, Emory,” he said as he stroked her face.

Sabine approached them and coughed to get their attention. “The link is stabilized, but you both need to be careful. Stay close to each other, and you should be fine.”

“I thought you were undoing it?” Emory asked her.

“It cannot be undone. She bound the link to your life forces. To undo it would kill one of you,” Sabine explained.

Rahl rose and helped her to her feet. “Sabine, there has to be another way. This link complicates things.”

“I see no problem with it. Aworyn wants both of you together to finally bring peace to the Lycans and wolves. This link ensures that happens. You always have to be close to each other, or Rahl bears the consequences,” Sabine explained. “Unless there’s something you’re not telling me, brother.”

Rahl glanced at Emory with a conflicted look in his eyes. “There is more to this,” he began, but his voice trailed off.

Her chest throbbed with guilt again, knowing her bond with Kane added another layer of complexity to all this. She placed a reassuring hand on Rahl’s arm. “We’ll find a way to make this work,” she said, but it was more hope than anything.

Sabine’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Whatever it is, you need to resolve it quickly. The stability of our realms depends on your unity. We will escort you to the king’s tower now.”

“I think you should send word to the king’s court and the council that the king is fully recovered and in good health,” Emory suggested. “You might also want to add something about a public gathering.”

“Why?” Sabine walked up to her until they were nose to nose. “Why did you really come here?”

“Your mother plans to unseat Rahl and become queen. She’s waiting for him to step out of here to kill him,” Emory answered.

“Hmm.” Sabine eyed him quietly, not in a distasteful way, but peculiarly, as if she wasn’t sure about her intentions toward Rahl. “It’s about time he sends her away from the king’s court anyway.”

“Sabine,” Rahl called with a sigh.

“You know I’m right. After what she did to Lilith, you should have shunned her,” Sabine replied, climbing down from the altar.

The Red Flock, as Rahl had called them, followed after her. Emory’s eyes roamed, counting the fifteen of them as they lined up behind Sabine and finally removed their hoods.

“Lilith?” Emory turned to Rahl as he took her hand in his. “Was that your mate?”

He nodded, and she suddenly hated Lady Wulric. But why would a mother kill her son’s fated knowing how that soul bond would make the loss of his mate hurt?

“I am so sorry. It must break your soul to think about it,” she said to him.

“It’s why I try not to. Come on.” Rahl led her down to his warriors. “How did you really get past the sentinels in the court?” he finally asked.

Emory gave him a half-smile. “Kane’s lair. I used it to transport myself here. It was risky, but I had no other choice.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Kane’s lair? That explains a lot. I suppose I owe him a debt of gratitude as well.”

“He doesn’t know yet. I’ll have to tell him everything when I get back,” she said.

Rahl squeezed her hand gently. “We do need to talk about this link and’” he trailed off, glancing at Sabine. “But first, let’s deal with this.”

Sabine turned back to them. “We need to move quickly. The longer we stay here, the more vulnerable we are. If I know our mother well enough, her sentinels should be lying in wait by the Vander bridge leading to your tower.”

“Agreed,” Rahl said. “Let’s head to the king’s tower. It’s time to put her in her place. Emory, stay close to me.”

They moved as a unit, the Red Flock forming a protective circle around Rahl and Emory. The journey through the temple was tense, every shadow seeming to hide a potential threat. Emory’s heightened senses buzzed, picking up every sound and movement as they went.

When they finally left the temple grounds, Emory noticed the royal guards lining the corridors of the king’s court. Each arching path held two sentinels, and the length of it was enormous. Now she understood why Sabine was surprised she made it past here in one piece.

“Your highness,” the sentinels bowed as their procession walked through.

Emory took a moment to admire the magnificence of the Eclin Tower. It was truly remarkable, with its egg-white walls and golden highlights and fixings. They eventually stepped out of the court onto the street, and she stopped, causing the others to halt as well.

Her veins buzzed, throbbing as they picked up on the sentinels lying in wait around them.

“Ah, look at that. Mother thought a step ahead,” Sabine said with a smile. “We’ll handle the sentinels and make sure mother and the council get your message.” She turned to Emory. “You need to stay with Rahl. His safety is your priority.”

Emory scoffed. “Do you honestly think the king cannot protect himself?”

“Your link is what I am referring to. He is the source. If he dies, you die too,” Sabine explained. “Rahl, we will clear a path. Get to your tower. Your sentinels are there.”

A shiver ran down Emory’s spine at Sabine’s words. Her life was literally linked to his? She needed to hit something. “Alright, let’s move.”

Sabine nodded, and the Red Flock fanned out, their movements precise and fluid. Emory’s eyes darted around, noting the exact location of the sentinels lying in wait.

As they approached the bridge, the ambush sprang out of hiding. Sentinels emerged from the shadows, their weapons drawn. Sabine and her warriors met them head-on, clashing with a ferocity that made Emory smile. The sounds of battle filled the air, and her senses went into overdrive, every instinct screaming at her to protect Rahl.

Rahl pulled her closer. “Stay behind me.”

“What? Did you not hear her? You need to stay behind me or we’re both dead.” Emory glared at him.

“Sabine worries too much. Even without my Lycan abilities, these sentinels are no match. All I lack is my ability to mind link and control them.” He shrugged with a smile. “Now, will you?”

“It’s so insulting, you know, asking a Chav’re warrior to cower. I should smack you for that,” she said.

An arrow whistled through the air toward them, and Rahl caught it without batting an eye, far quicker than she could react.

Emory nodded, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. She watched as the Red Flock fought with an almost supernatural grace, their movements a blur of red and steel. They were outnumbered, but it didn’t seem to matter.

“Go!” Sabine shouted over the din, her blade flashing as she cut down a sentinel. “Get to the tower!”

“No.” Emory stepped away from Rahl, and much to her surprise, he stood there, both hands now tucked in his pants pockets as he watched her. “Flock, fall back to the king,” she ordered.

“Have you lost it?” Sabine shot back.

“Listen to her, you’ll understand why shortly,” Rahl said coolly.

Immediately, the Red Flock drew back. Emory channelled her fire, forming a ring around their procession before sending it off toward the sentinels. It roared to life as she controlled it, like strings pulling the sentinels back in, scorching them, flaring and burning ferociously until all the sentinels fell.

The air filled with the acrid smell of burning flesh, and the flames danced wildly before finally settling.

Emory stood at the centre of the chaos, her chest heaving with exertion. The heat of her fire still lingered on her skin, a reminder of the lethal power she now had and she loved it.

Bloody Lycan filth!