Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
They’d been so close. King Victor had released them and promised to work toward peace with Branem. His brothers and all his other countrymen and women were safe. No more war. He’d even started conjuring up images of returning to his courtship of Everand. A hard-won happily ever after.
But now there were wolves.
Wolves that could kill them all. Victor could escape with his guards, but if Everand died here today, war would follow. Their happily ever after destroyed by fangs and claws.
Everand’s fingers bit into Hugo’s wrist as he tried to pull him back. “It’s okay, Hugo. Just move closer to Victor and his men. I’ll take care of this—”
“No!” Hugo shouted. He’d snapped. He’d officially had enough of this bullshit. It was time to take control of his fate and not leave it up to a bunch of royals and wolves.
Hugo jerked his wrist free of Everand’s grip and stomped in the direction of the wolves, moving in front of Everand and Victor.
“I am tired of the nonsense,” Hugo roared. As he spoke, he extended his arms out to his sides, holding his empty hands palms up. A ring of glass formed around all of them, almost as if he was placing them in a protective dome, separate from the wolves. “If it’s not bloody spinning wheels, it’s Wulian spies and kidnappings and ruining the very best party of my life. Not to mention sitting three days in a dungeon without a proper bath and being used as a pawn in a potential war that could see my family killed. And do you know why? It’s because I wanted someone who wanted me. Who saw me and loved me. I didn’t go asking for a prince. But I got one, and no one is taking him from me.”
As he spoke the last word, Hugo flicked his fingers, and the glass dome that had been growing over them shattered into jagged shards that now hovered in the air. He held thousands of sharp glass knives in the air, pointing directly at the wolves. The glass glittered and brightly reflected the late-day sun.
Hugo’s gaze remained cold and merciless. He wasn’t a hunter or a killer, but he was a protector. Nothing was going to take Everand away from him.
“Someone once said I create beautiful things because I have a beautiful soul. Well, I can create ugly, violent things too for protecting those I love.”
The growls from the wolves quieted, and several even retreated, their ears tucked low to their heads. An enormous wolf stepped out of the woods. He was completely black except for a thin stripe of white across his chest. Its large ears were pinned against its head, and it bared enormous fangs. The vicious growl that rattled from its chest chilled Hugo to the bone, but he refused to waver.
“Hugo?” Everand’s voice was a warm embrace, wrapping around him from behind. A hand came to rest in the center of his back, rubbing gently. “It’s okay.”
“I’ve got this. Let Victor’s guards get you out of here,” Hugo snapped, unwilling to take his eyes off the wolves. He was afraid that if he blinked or even flinched, they’d attack. There was only one chance to get this right.
“No, Hugo, really. It’s okay. My father sent them,” Everand stated.
“Are you kidding?” Victor barked.
“What?” Hugo added to the demands, still unwilling to look away.
“I’m sure it was just a precaution. You know we have spies watching Onisa, the same way you have spies watching Frostbourne,” Everand continued.
“Ev? The wolves? Are you sure?” Hugo pressed when it seemed like the prince and king might fall into their usual bickering.
“Yes, I’m sure.” Everand moved to stand beside Hugo, his hand sliding up his spine to rest on his tense shoulder. He even gave the muscles a squeeze. “General, it’s okay. King Victor has released me. We’re free to return home. You can recall your men. Notify my father I’m heading home.”
Hugo still didn’t move, but he squinted his eyes at the deeper shadows of the woods. There was no sign of a general or any humans whatsoever. As far as he could see, there were only wolves. Lots of angry wolves.
Tension vibrated in the air for several long seconds before, one by one, the wolves retreated, disappearing into the woods.
“Hugo? Treasure? It’s okay. We’re safe. Can you release the glass?” Everand’s hand continued to knead and massage Hugo’s shoulder, trying to ease away the tension that vibrated in his frame. “I’m safe, my treasure. No one is going to hurt me.”
The repeated words finally seeped into Hugo’s frazzled mind, and he released the breath he was holding. With one last push of magic, Hugo waved his hands. The shards hanging in the air disintegrated into sand and were caught on the wind.
As Hugo lowered his arms, Everand pulled him into a hard embrace, seizing his mouth in a brutal, demanding kiss. “Never again say that your magic is useless. Never,” Everand growled between rough kisses. Hugo clung to him, his body trembling from all the magic he’d consumed. He was ready to pass out from a mix of profound relief and exhaustion. Had he really done that? Had he threatened an entire pack of wolves to keep Prince Everand and King Victor safe? Insane. He’d lost his mind.