“Do you know something, Doc?” The thought makes my chest ache.
“No. I would have told you, Ylva,” Kirk’s voice is sincere.
He cups my face. “I know this hurts to hear, but it feels right given what we’ve learned though, doesn’t it?”
“Why tell us now?” Bo massages my scalp, bringing me back from the memories I’m trapped in.
“Because they know we’ll listen,” Fell crumples the paper. “There’s no use talking if no one will believe you.”
Bo pauses his massage. “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”
I lean into his touch, and he resumes.
Fell nods. “Powerful people prey on the young and weak. Take away their choices and put them in impossible situations.”
“I want to help you.” I grip Bo’s forearm. “I can’t take any more secrets.”
Fell exhales. “I know.”
“That’s not telling me anything.” I scowl.
“The Oath.” He chokes the words out, face red.
“We still need to look into this.” I point to Fell.
“One crisis at a time, Princess. Let’s survive the weekend first. Priorities.”
I glance at the paper. If someone murdered my family, I will avenge them. Tears blur my vision. Who thought they had the right to steal away lives that didn’t belong to them? I’ll rip them to shreds. Kirk sinks beside me and pulls me into his lap.
“We’re going to make sure they all pay.” Fell vows.
My parents had been like his own once. Unable to hold it together, I break down for the first time since the madness of being mated to them began. When my body is spent, I’m lifted into a pair of strong arms and carried, I welcome the black void of sleep.
Awareness settles over me and I find my astral body back on the craggy volcanic island.
“Your time is coming soon.”
“Nice to see you too.” I rub my eyes. I take in the enormous wolf sitting in the crater a few feet away. Despite the sword wedged into his mouth, his words ring clearly in my mind.
“Your mates have a decision to make.”
“Why aren’t you telling them this?” Fenrir isn’t one to go through channels. He’s always been direct and to the point with me.
He blows air out of his nostrils, ruffling my hair.
“They aren’t ready to travel here.”
I try to get my brain to boot up and work out the mental gymnastics our meetings put me through. He said here like it’s a real destination. Am I astral projecting?
“To successfully wield the amulet, you must bind yourselves to it.”
“Bind?” The word feels dangerous. Permanent.
“It’s how you prevent others from using its powers against you or stealing it.”
“And what does tying ourselves to the amulet do?”
“Gives you the power necessary to protect it.”
“How are we supposed to find this thing?”
“When the time is right, all will be revealed to you.”
The answer sheds no light on anything. But I sure as hell don’t plan on arguing with a god.
“Why should I save the people who ruined my life? They decided I have value and suddenly they’re offering up empty praise, and vying for my attention. The man meant to lead us all is corrupt. He plays games with my life with no consideration or care for any of us. And still, I must stand strong for his people.”
“Sometimes we are chosen to do the impossible because we are the only ones capable of it.”
I scoff at his reasoning. “It’s not fair.”
“Such is life.” The anguish and sorrow in his short sentence bring a sense of understanding and community.
Who else would understand better than the wolf betrayed by those he loved? Pain and grief combine in a potent combination of emotions too heavy to carry. I fall to my knees under the weight forces me to knell. I wrap my arms around my waist and endure it.
“The pain won’t end, but you will learn to bear it because it is your destiny.”
Throwing my head back, I scream. Who thought they had the right to end my family’s life? Why had I alone been spared?
