Fate

ALASTAIR

“No way!” Cathan protested, throwing his hands up in surrender. The king shot him a sharp look before turning his attention back to Adalric.

The destiny spell. It was a legend among the wolves, a tale spun to frighten them during the war. Now, it was being touted as the only hope to save the queen.

Adalric made a quick exit, not wanting to be caught by the queen or her warrior wolves, plotting against her with the king.

“It can’t be done. Trust me, I’ve tried,” Cathan insisted, sounding frustrated.

“I wanted to use it on you, after all. You know how powerful my magic is when it’s fueled by my anger. If I can’t do the spell, no one can.”

“Thanks for the pep talk,” Vidarr retorted, rolling his eyes. “What about Aurelia? Could she do the spell?”

“The queen isn’t going to help us, so what’s the point?” the king pointed out.

“And for the record, no, she can’t do the spell. She doesn’t have enough control over her magic, and she doesn’t have anything to fuel the spell with,” Cathan added.

“Fuel? What fuels the spell besides magic?” Vidarr asked.

“My fuel was revenge, but it wasn’t strong enough. The spell needs something more powerful than just dark magic to work,” Cathan explained.

“So, we need an emotion strong enough to fuel the spell? The king’s anger is legendary,” the general declared, determined to save Aurelia and restore order.

Cathan scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“The king has as much emotion as a rock. He’s all hard on the outside and empty on the inside. The anger is just a side effect, something to fill the void.”

The king glared and slammed his fist on the table, but Cathan wasn’t fazed. He was right. “That’s why I’m saying it’s impossible.”

“It’s our only option.”

“That’s easy for you to say. I’m the one who has to do the spell, and if it doesn’t work, I’m dead,” Cathan snapped.

“If it doesn’t work, we’re all dead except for the king,” Vidarr pointed out.

“She doesn’t need me. She’ll definitely kill you. She hates Lochlan, and when her sister tries to attack her for killing her mate, she’ll kill her too.”

Harsh, but true.

“We could—” Cathan was cut off by the door being blasted open.

“What’s going on here?” a familiar voice asked, stepping into the room with her warrior wolves as backup.

Her eyes met the king’s first. A smirk played on her lips, quickly replaced by a seductive smile.

Her eyes darkened, as they often did around him lately. He had to fight the urge to take her right there on the table, to show everyone who she still belonged to.

He longed for control again. And he longed for her.

“Take them all to the throne room. I’ll decide their punishment there,” she ordered, her gaze lingering on the king before she turned and left.

The warrior wolves grabbed Olympia, Lochlan, Cathan, and Vidarr, two wolves for each of them. But the king walked alone.

After ripping out the throats of the wolves who tried to take him, he still had enough dignity to walk to his own throne room unaided.

They all followed the queen into the room. She took her place on the throne. The king watched her quietly. He saw the pride in her eyes as she sat on the throne.

He knew the feeling. Total control, with no one to answer to.

“What should I do with you all, hmm?” she mused.

The warrior wolves put familiar shackles on Cathan’s wrists, preventing him from escaping.

The same shackles were used on Ellathoria and Cirillo, who were probably still in the eternal dungeons, driven mad by now.

“My king? Any suggestions for how to punish the fae man? He’s been your enemy for so long.”

The king glared at her, anger boiling within him. She spoke to him in such a condescending tone, as if she was superior.

He used to find comfort in her voice, though he hated to admit it. It was sweet and warm, even when tinged with fear or anxiety.

“Nothing to say? Any more brilliant plans? Maybe another kiss,” she taunted, amusement dancing in her eyes.

“No?” No one spoke. “Lochlan, I think it’s time for your punishment, don’t you?”

“M-my punishment?” he stuttered as her attention turned to him, her eyes sharp and cunning.

“Surely you didn’t think I’d let you drag me out of my home by my hair and kick me without consequences? I am the queen, after all,” she said, standing up and commanding the room.

“Don’t threaten him!” Olympia growled, silencing the room. The queen looked surprised. She must have thought she was scary enough to keep her sister quiet.

The queen walked over to Olympia after her outburst, her face unreadable. Her next move was so fast, you’d miss it if you blinked.

“Aure—” Her throat was cut from one side to the other. Blood poured down her neck and onto her dress as she fell to the ground with a sickening thud.

Before her sister’s mate could react, the queen ripped out his throat too, leaving him writhing on the floor in agony until he finally died.

Alastair had seen a lot of violence in his life, but never such brutality. From his mate. Her own sister. Aurelia had killed her. Ruthlessly.

“Do the spell now,” the king muttered to Cathan while the queen was distracted.

“It won’t work,” he protested.

“You don’t get a say,” the king growled. “I’m guessing you’re next. Is that how you want to wrap up your long life?” Cathan grumbled but gave in.

He started to chant, the words in a language unknown to them, the incantation for the destiny spell. The queen’s attention shifted to the three remaining men in the room, and she heard the words spilling from Cathan’s mouth.

Instead of stopping him, she laughed. She obviously thought it was impossible, too.

Alastair couldn’t stand it anymore. He couldn’t bear to watch his queen behave like this. This wasn’t her. His queen was compassionate, independent, adventurous.

She never wanted to be stuck here, but she was a kind soul. She wanted to bring together the fae and wolf kingdoms; she yearned for peace. She wanted to annihilate him because of it.

She had murdered her sister. It was something she would never have done. Never.

The king didn’t hold back. He stormed toward her and embraced her as if she was his entire world.

She was all he wanted. He just wanted her to be whole again. He wanted to shield her and protect her from all of this. Because he loved her.

It was an admission he had tried so hard to bury, but there was no denying it. He loved her, every part of her. He wanted her back.

Holding her as tightly as he could, he wished for time to stand still. He wished for their world to be just the two of them, forever. He never knew how to be gentle or loving or comforting.

But he knew what he wanted.

Then... something started to happen...