Chapter 27

LLOYD

I was drifting through layers of consciousness, each distinct yet seamlessly interconnected, much like the intricate transitions I experienced when I first awakened from dormancy. I heard voices and focused on them.

“Is he dead?” an unfamiliar voice asked.

I felt something prod my arm and realized I was lying face down on the cement floor of the dungeon. What happened? Calvin had whipped me every hour, but I couldn’t remember anything else as though I’d blanked out.

“He can’t die, and his body isn’t cold or hard,” Calvin mused. “Maybe the whippings got the better of him.”

“Hmm,” the unknown male grunted. “What are King Axel’s instructions?”

“Once he’s woken, put him in a cell.”

I listened to receding footsteps but remained inert.

~“Vetus?”~

~“I’m not entirely sure, but I think we were asleep.”~

~“Can’t be…”~

I could barely remember what sleep felt like, but Vetus had a point, and I struggled to find the right word—fatigued.

The urge to sink back into this comfortable void was overwhelming. My last thought was: Had Misty broken the spell?

~I was back on the day I turned fourteen—the day everything changed. ~

~My brothers’ faces were incredulous when I told everyone at the breakfast table that my wolf, Vetus, had woken. Overnight, I had shot up a full foot, now towering over them, even taller than our father.~

~“Huh, I guess we have to stop teasing you,” my eldest brother Bryn said, looking me up and down. They’d always targeted my gray hair, mocking me endlessly. ~

~My mom winked at me, and I smiled in delight. I hadn’t expected Vetus to make an appearance so early, and with it, my strength and agility surged far beyond anything my brothers could match.~

~My father beamed with pride, ruffling my hair. “You’re a throwback to our ancestors,” he said, his voice filled with admiration. “I bet Vetus is gray, and you might even discover the gift of shadows.”~

Ice-cold water splashed over me, jolting me awake with a shock that sent adrenaline surging through my veins. Instinctively, I sprang to my feet, my body moving before my mind could fully catch up.

As I blinked away the remnants of sleep, I found myself staring down a squad of warriors, their faces set in grim determination. I hadn’t dreamed in centuries and it lingered at the edges of my consciousness, surreal and haunting.

“Get him into a cell and be careful. He’s stronger than all of you put together,” the same voice I heard earlier said.

While they unshackled me, I glanced at the voice’s owner. Unlike Calvin, he was much older, with graying hair and keen brown eyes focused on me.

I didn’t resist and was locked in a cell with several alphas, including Beta Anthony and Josh, who glared at me. The space was so tight that there was barely room for everyone to lie down at night, but most moved aside as I entered.

“Murderous traitor,” Anthony mumbled under his breath.

All eyes were focused on me, some in fear, others in confusion. They’d all seen me snap Zack’s neck and witnessed the whippings. By now, they realized that not everything was as it seemed.

~“You hope,”~ Vetus muttered.

I sank to my haunches against the wall and cocked my head. “Ask your questions,” I encouraged.

“Who are you? You barely bled when they whipped you,” one alpha asked.

“I’m Lloyd Tenebris, captive of the Sayelle-Moreaus since 1773. I am cursed to protect the monarchy against my will.”

Gasps and mutterings echoed through the dungeon. I had spoken loud enough so everyone could hear. I no longer wanted to keep secrets, and saying it aloud came with vindication.

The guarded conversations in the palace, the captive alphas and betas, all pointed to growing discontent, and perhaps, if fortune favored us, we could initiate a coup.

I could coordinate with Tanner through Misty, and our chances of success would improve significantly. So long as she stayed hidden, it was worth taking a chance.

Anthony sank to his knees, his customary stern expression replaced by astonishment. “Are you saying you had no choice snapping Zack’s neck? And is Misty really a witch? Or is she your mate?”

“I am part of the royal pack unwillingly. If I could, I would have killed the reigning monarch centuries ago. And yes, Misty is my mate,” I confirmed, skipping over the witch question.

“Fuck,” another alpha said. “How the fuck do we get out of here? The packs are without leadership, and my boys and mate are locked up elsewhere.”

This was something else to consider: where did they lock up the she-wolves? In the upper level? It was so quiet I couldn’t hear any female voices.

Another alpha jumped in. “The packs whose alphas have been killed are adrift and rogues. Goddess only knows what havoc they’re wreaking,” he said nervously.

It could be anarchy out there, but wolves had evolved and become civilized. In my day, they were far more aggressive and intolerant. The slightest infraction had dire repercussions.

I wasn’t raised like that—my father had been wise, introspective, and insightful.

I looked at the guard sitting at the desk with his head down and a pen in his hand. Was he making notes or doing the crossword puzzle?

One alpha was standing close to the bars, his eyes clouded over. He was linking… I waited for his eyes to clear and raised my eyebrows in silent question. He glanced at the guard and back at me, shaking his head.

A clattering at the entrance announced the food cart, and fuck, I was hungry. It didn’t smell nearly as appetizing as Frieda’s food, but any sustenance would help—I wasn’t picky.

The she-wolf pushing it looked vaguely familiar, and I was sure I had seen her in the kitchen. A squad of warriors accompanied her to ensure everything stayed orderly.

At each cell, we were told to form a line, and a dented steel bowl with some stew, a slice of bread, and a cup of water was handed to us. The bowls just fit between the bars, so there was no need to open the cell door.

No cutlery was provided, but at this point, I didn’t care, gulping the food and water down rapidly, barely chewing.

I sat in the corner and blinked sleepily while all my cellmates looked at me in astonishment. “Immune to silver,” I explained.

~“Vetus? This can’t be right. I feel tired even though we slept.”~

~“Misty must have broken the spell, and this is the effect.”~

I tried linking Misty, but she was out of range—disappointing and reassuring in equal measure.

~“Frieda? What time is it?”~ I linked her.

She didn’t respond immediately, and I feared for her safety.

~“It’s lunchtime. I’ll link you when I’m in my room.”~

After the bowls were collected and the dungeon quieted down, I began listing the items that could be bound to my allegiance. Was it the king’s crown or the ring that every monarch wore?

~“What about the royal seal?” ~Vetus suggested.

~“Or the scepter?”~

~“She has Kiralah’s grimoire and might be able to determine what was used,” ~Vetus mused.

~“Yes, but I don’t want her near the palace. By the way, how was your conversation with Calamity?”~

Vetus chuckled.~ “She is my equal and my opposite and will keep me on my toes. I got the distinct feeling she didn’t like being called Calamity, but I like it.”~

Time dragged, and conversation ceased. I jerked awake when Frieda linked me.

~“Lloyd? King Axel has dispatched more than half the garrison to look for Misty. I’m worried for her.”~

~“I haven’t been able to link her. Does Adam have a phone number?”~

~“Yes, he gave it to me, but I deleted it for now. His desertion has sparked another royal order. King Axel put a squad in charge of checking all phones and messages. I don’t know what to do… If he gives me an alpha command…”~

~“I don’t think he will come to the kitchen to do that, but you brought Misty into the palace and were more than likely seen with her. Someone is going to tell King Axel sooner or later. ~

~“There are always those who try to ingratiate themselves to save their own skins. It might be best to leave the palace; otherwise, you may end up with me, and that’s the best-case scenario.”~

~“Where would I go?”~

~“Anywhere away from here. Have they checked your phone yet?”~

~“No, I believe we are last on the list. Goddess, I thought Misty could break the curse, and you would kill Axel. I didn’t expect it to be so complex…”~

I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I had overlooked the fact that I now needed sleep.

~“Leave as soon as possible. If he catches you, we are all at risk, and the Sayelle-Moreau dynasty will continue.”~

~“I have no choice, do I?”~

~“Not really, if you want to keep them safe.”~

~“Okay, but many she-wolves think it’s time for a change, and I hate the thought of leaving them behind… I have to go. I will update you later.”~

She severed the connection, and dread gathered in my stomach. I had a feeling that Frieda wouldn’t leave the palace.

I looked around the dungeon. I couldn’t see Harris, but I couldn’t speak to him anyway, and the pack link broke when I snapped Zack’s neck.

Snapping a wolf’s neck was far more humane than ripping him to shreds. King Axel hadn’t thought to instruct me how to kill him, but Cillian had grown wise very quickly and commanded a fight in wolf form; even then, I tried to end them as quickly as possible.

The conversation was sparse, each male lost in his thoughts. I made eye contact with the alpha I had seen linking earlier. “Who are you, and which pack do you lead?” I asked.

“I’m Luke from the Aurus Pack,” he replied.

He had a clean-cut face now covered in stubble, with light brown hair and eyes. He was still dressed in a three-piece suit with an expensive watch on his wrist. His white dress shirt hid his neck, and I wasn’t sure if he was mated. “Are you mated?”

~“I wouldn’t call that white…,”~ Vetus said.

He shook his head, casting a glance at the guard.

I’d never heard of the Aurus Pack, but it seemed that pack names weren’t as traditional as they once were. After several awakenings, I stopped praying to the Moon Goddess, and in this century, no one even mentioned her.

Getting to my feet, I walked to the bars and rattled them, noting how loose they were. The dungeons hadn’t been updated like the rest of the palace, and the bars had eroded slightly.

I knew I could bend them wide enough to slip through—possibly even break them—but now was not the time.

~“But if we had a distraction, we could take the palace from the inside, especially since half the warriors are gone,”~ Vetus remarked.

~“I was thinking the same thing, but there will still be a significant number of warriors in the palace. We can’t communicate without the guard overhearing, and I’m sure others are stationed just outside the doors in the hallway.

“Plus, Patrick, Reese, and Aaron will want to prove their loyalty… And let’s not forget that while fighting on their side, I could be fighting against them in a second…”~

~“Are you really going to ask?”~ Vetus said, picking up on my thoughts.

“Guard?” I called out.

He looked up and cocked his head. “What?”

“Can I have pen and paper?”

He burst out laughing. “Sure, any other requests?” he asked sarcastically.

“Now that you mention it—I’m starving.”