A curse of shadows a wol.., p.32
A Curse of Shadows: A Wolf Shifter Romantasy Standalone, page 32
When the pyre is officially in the water, I hug Estee tightly and we cry together, mourning more than just the loss of a great man.
Asher is close by, continually reminding me how much he loves me through our bond, while also giving me space to be in this moment. At least that’s what I sense until his love turns to fury, and I hear him snarl.
“What are you doing here?” he says, his chest rumbling at a stunning woman with long, red hair and wearing a slinky, blue dress.
“Is that the way to treat the goddess who saved your mate’s life?” She clicks her tongue, then turns toward me, her violet eyes bright with delight. “I’m sorry about kissing him, but it was the only way to gift him the power that would save your life. I figured you’d understand.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever been sorry a day in your life.” My canines beg to extend and I’m tempted to punch her in that smug, perfect face, but Estee’s grip remains tight on my wrist, holding me back.
I don’t stand a chance against a goddess and we both know that.
“Down, girl. Good puppy,” she taunts, then she addresses me and Asher together. “Maybe it’s from the bite, or the two of you have managed to catch me on a good day, but I have a present for you.”
“We don’t need anything from you,” Asher says stiffly. “We made our deal and it’s finished.”
Aurora shakes her finger at him, light-purple energy swirling around her hand. “You don’t get to decide when things are finished.”
“If you hurt him…” I start to say, and her dark chuckle cuts me.
“Here I am trying to give you a gift and I’m being threatened.” The power starts to extend up her arm, growing brighter. “Maybe I should just go and the next time your world is at risk, because there will be a next time, your call for help won’t be answered.”
“Are you offering us a gift, or another deal?” I ask, knowing with the gods, there is rarely anything ever given freely.
“A little of both.” She winks at me. “You’ll accept this gift and when the time comes, I will expect your cooperation by sharing your beasts with me. You see, that nibble Asher gave me earlier did exactly what I hoped, but it was temporary. When I require it, I will get all the nibbles I want. And if you deny me, I will burn this entire world to a crisp.”
She says that last bit with a joy that tells me we have no choice here, and the rumble coming from Asher’s chest confirms he understands the same.
Aurora claps her hands together. “Great. Now that we’re all on the same page, how about that gift?”
I look around to see what she’s talking about, but the only thing I notice is that nobody is moving. It’s like time has frozen for everyone other than me, Asher, and this pain-in-the-ass goddess. Even my father’s raft has ceased moving, the flames barely flickering.
Aurora’s glow increases and the light covers her entire body, blinding me until I’m forced to close my eyes. When I can see again, I don’t know how to believe what I’m seeing.
My parents stand on each side of her, both of them in one piece and…alive. Or so I think. They’re not moving, but I can sense their warmth, even with the distance between us.
My heart soars and I want to run toward them, but my feet won’t move. Hell, I can’t move any part of my body except my head. One look at Asher and he appears to be in the same position.
“Now, listen,” Aurora announces. “You see what I’m offering, and I know I said this was a gift, but we goddesses, we really prefer things to be done cleanly. Do I have your promise that when the time comes, you will lend your pack to me?”
“No,” I answer first and while my reply kills me, I can’t allow this to happen. “I won’t sacrifice the lives of others to reverse what’s already been done.”
Her lips flatten and she speaks with disgust. “You wolves and your hearts. I don’t understand, but fine. If I promise that none of them will be at risk, will you make the deal?”
“Yes.” Asher answers first this time, then looks at me. “You deserve this, love. Take this second chance and let me worry about the pack.” His gaze returns to the goddess. “At any point in the future, while I am still King of the Polaris pack, we are indebted to you for one favor in exchange for the lives of Florence and Grayson Blackwood. In order to repay this debt, none of the wolves will be at risk while they cooperate with your one-time request.”
She looks him up and down and licks her lips. “It really is a shame you’re spoken for. Your words are almost as good as your body. We have a deal.” She blows him a kiss. “I’ll be seeing you, Asher, King of Polaris.”
As soon as the goddess disappears, Estee’s grip releases my hand and I realize she was only holding me back because she was frozen. Before I can say anything, she gasps, her sobs returning tenfold. “How?”
“I’ll explain later,” I say, pushing her forward as we rush to hug our parents.
Mom’s arms wrap around both of us. “Oh, my girls. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
There are too many tears to speak, but there is enough love flowing between the four of us that there isn’t any need for words.
I see Asher over my mother’s shoulder and his voice whispers through my mind. “Everything is going to be okay.”
“It’s going to be more than okay,” I tell him. “It’s going to be the way it was always meant to be.”
“Always and forever,” he promises, and for the first time in five hundred years, we can finally have that again.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
ASHER
It’s only been a week since everything unraveled and then somehow came back together. There have been waves of discord within the pack, as I expected. While they all gathered without hesitation for Grayson, the next day, the whispers began.
At least this time, they’re not about my mate.
I know we can handle whatever comes our way and that it will take time for the kingdom to settle, but that’s thankfully something we have plenty of now.
Though I do still wonder about Aurora. I’m grateful for Isla to have her parents back—seeing my mate’s bright smile again isn’t something that can be replaced—but I don’t like not knowing when the goddess might be back.
She’s up to something and us being part of that in any way puts Lunara as a whole at risk. Whatever god she’s plotting to piss off, I know there’s a chance we could be collateral.
Still, that was a risk I had to take.
Not only for my mate, but for me as well.
Grayson had been like a father to me growing up. Isla and Estee wouldn’t have been the only ones to grieve his loss for years to come. Not only that, but Florence was also my mother’s best friend. This was a gift I wanted to give her as well.
Something that has been helpful every day since.
While my mother hasn’t left her room since being brought to it after Gideon had been killed, she’s at least begun to speak again and that is all thanks to Flo. Isla’s mother has spent every minute she’s not with her girls with my mother, helping to heal the fragmented pieces of her heart.
I’m not sure she’ll ever be whole again, but I do hope that a day will come when she won’t blame herself for not seeing what had become of her mate.
I find my mate standing in our closet, wearing a silver gown and adjusting the crown atop her head. The sight makes me grin from ear to ear. “Is my queen ready?”
Her shoulders relax and she turns, smiling back at me. “I believe she is. How about my king?”
Grabbing her hand, I pull her flush against my chest, mindful not let her dress get snagged on my suit. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
The pack has accepted Isla as their queen, but today is the ceremony that will officially bind her to them and them to her. She’ll be able to communicate with them as I do and will formally become the Queen of Polaris, a crowned member of the Lunara monarchy.
The ceremony typically draws the attention of the other kings and queens of the islands, but only two of the three have shown. King Theo being the only other alpha not to show. A fact that surprises me, given his new role within the monarchy and something that I’ll be following up on soon, but not today.
I take Isla’s hand in mine and lead her out of our room. Noen and Declan are waiting for us when we exit our suite and bow for their queen as we pass.
“Seriously?” Isla groans. “I thought we talked about this.”
“We must follow protocol, Your Majesty,” Declan teases, ignoring my mate’s earlier wishes.
Isla glares at them, then me. “When I’m officially queen, I’m changing protocol.”
Kissing the side of her head, I grin. “Whatever you want, love.” My stare meets Noen’s, causing me to release Isla. “Will you give me a moment?”
She glances between the two of us and smiles warmly. “Take your time.”
Declan offers her a hand, which she easily takes, even though he’s been driving her crazy all day with his apologizing, then subsequent jokes about trying to kill her. Something that is much too soon to consider funny, but I also know humor is how Declan copes.
Once they’re around the corner, I face Noen. “I received your transfer request today.”
He holds my gaze and nods. “I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you first, but I didn’t want you to talk me out of it.”
We’ve spoken every day since he was set free from the holding cell, and I’ve apologized each time. Still, I’ve known he wasn’t okay, but Isla insisted that I give him space.
Noen clasps my shoulder. “This has nothing to do with you thinking I might have killed your mate, Asher. You’re still one of my closest friends and I hope you’ll remain that way, but seeing you and Isla back together… I want that.”
I raise a brow, stepping back, but he continues before I can say anything.
“Not Isla.” His face pinches. “Gods, definitely not her. I want my mate. She’s out there somewhere and I’m going to find her. I know there’s a chance to do that by staying put, but my wolf is restless. We need this.”
That, I can understand.
“I have no intentions of denying the transfer,” I tell him sincerely. “I just hope you never forget that you’ll always have a home here with us, and if you ever need anything, I better be the first person that you call on.”
The smile finally returns to his face. “Thanks, Ash. For everything, even for holding back when I knew you wanted to kill me. There was always a part of me that wondered if you’d ever truly forgiven me, but even if you didn’t realize it, the moment you didn’t immediately tear me to shreds that night, I knew there was a fighting chance and that I’d been right these five centuries.”
I tilt my head. “Right about what?”
“That the gods were right.” His eyes get brighter. “You were meant to be king and you’re the perfect mate for Isla—you always have been. I’m just sorry I couldn’t see that before she was taken from us.”
“It’s all in the past,” I promise him. “Today, we’re moving forward, as we should have done years ago.”
“I like the sound of that.” He glances back down the hallway. “I think your queen is waiting eagerly for you.”
My gaze follows his to see a flash of Isla’s silver dress. Of course she didn’t go far.
“Let’s go,” I tell Noen as we walk to catch up.
My mate leans against the wall, whistling casually. “Oh. Hi.”
I grab her by the waist and growl against her neck, letting my teeth lightly scrape over her skin. “Oh. Hi.”
Noen goes on ahead with Declan and I unashamedly pin my queen against the wall. “Eavesdropping is very unqueenly,” I tell her, holding her stare.
She keeps her chin up and grins. “Try to take this crown from my head and see what happens.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” I steal a kiss then wink at her. “You’re mine first and foremost, but just as I was born to be king, you were born to be my queen. Tonight is just formality.”
Isla grips the lapels of my suit coat, bringing me closer. “We’re going to do this together, and nothing will ever stand in our way again. It’s me and you, forever and always, my love.”
“Nothing has ever sounded more perfect.”
EPILOGUE
ESTEE
Life is damn near perfect. After too many lifetimes of loneliness, I finally have everything back in my life that I thought I lost.
My sister is the Queen of Polaris, my parents are alive, together, and healthy, and I have my wolf.
While Isla has always been my sister, my inner animal was my first best friend. She’s been my constant companion for every day I’ve been aware of her existence and since getting her back, I’ve done my best to show her how grateful I am for her presence.
We run at sunset throughout the forest beyond our home and I let her chase all the four-legged creatures her heart desires. The hunt brings her a joy that I hope she never loses and—
“Where are you at?” Isla’s voice sounds within my mind, cutting off my thoughts.
“Out. Why?” Something sounds off with her and I don’t like it.
It’s only been a month since she was crowned queen and if someone is already threatening the kingdom…
“I need you to come to my room.”
Shit. Something is wrong.
Sorry, Wolfie, I think. Fun time is over.
We circle back toward the castle and run until we get to the back door. When I shift back to my human form, I smooth my hands over my dark jeans and cream blouse, grateful that I’m once again living in the castle. I’ve not only taken over Isla’s room, but half her wardrobe that she didn’t want.
“Be right there,” I tell her through our connection as I bound up the stairs inside the castle.
When I get to her door, I don’t bother to knock. Being the queen’s sister means there are few protocols I’m forced to follow, and I may or may not take advantage of that a little too often.
My sister stands from the desk she shares with Asher, holding a folded piece of paper. There’s a crease between her brows as she fidgets with the note.
“What is it?” I ask, closing the door behind me.
“You’re not going to like it.” She gestures to the couch on her right.
I shrug as I take a seat, then hold my hand out. “Let me be the judge of that.”
She places the letter in my palm, then stands beside me, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as I read.
King Asher and Queen Isla of Polaris,
First, my apologies for not making an appearance at the queen’s coronation. I do hope you understand the stress I’m under having only just recently taken on my role as king without much notice.
Though that’s also the reason for my letter. I’m writing in hopes of having your cooperation in locating my future queen. As is my right as the King of Selaris, I hereby request that every unmated adult female within your kingdom be sent to my home by the end of the current moon cycle so that I may claim my mate.
Your cooperation in this matter will be rewarded with your pick of our next crop.
Please respond in kind at your earliest convenience.
Signed,
King Theo of Selaris
My eyes move from the slip of paper to Isla. “What are you going to do? This seems asinine to me. Why can’t he come here instead of forcing dozens of women to travel the seas to him?”
In fact, the longer I consider the request, the more it makes my blood boil.
Isla finally sits next to me and grabs my hand.
“Oh, hell no,” I say before she can get a word out. “I’m not going to answer that lazy king’s demands.”
“Estee.”
My head shakes and I pull out of her grip. “Don’t Estee me. This is crazy and you know it.”
“You’re the queen’s sister,” she tells me, as if I don’t already know. “Venaris has already sent their women. If we refuse, it won’t look good for Asher and me. Worse, I can’t ask all the other unmated females in our pack to go, but not my own flesh and blood. I need you to set an example.”
So much for being thankful to be the queen’s sister.
I cross my arms and lean back on the couch. “I don’t like you right now.”
“I don’t expect you to be happy, but just know I’m grateful.” Her grin widens. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll actually find your mate.”
There’s no stopping the gag that gets caught in my throat. “If the gods think pairing me with a king too weak or capable of leaving his own kingdom in the hands of his people is a good idea, the world is doomed already.”
Isla’s chuckle echoes through the room. “Maybe, but let’s hope not. I’d like to live this life longer than a couple decades this time around.”
Yeah, her and me both. Still, I shudder at the prospect of King Theo being my mate.
No way in hell is that happening.
Thank you so much for reading A Curse of Shadows! I hope you enjoyed Isla and Asher’s story as much as I did writing it. If you did, please consider leaving a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads to let me know!
A Crown of Fates will be Estee and King Theo’s story. Get ready for sparks to fly and tensions to rise with these two!
Their book will release early 2025!
In the meantime, flip the page for ways to stay in touch and talk all things Wolves of Lunara!
Also, if you’re a fan of special editions, then don’t miss out on the upcoming Kickstarter for this series!
This set of three deluxe hardcovers will come with foiling, reversible dust jackets, custom art, edge printing, AND a custom slipcase!!
Follow along HERE. Expected launch date is Spring 2025.
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