Wolf queen shadow guild.., p.16
Wolf Queen (Shadow Guild: Wolf Queen Book 5), page 16
He tried to fight back, shooting jets of his shadow magic into my chest. Every blast felt like a hit from a train, but nothing could stop me. I used every ounce of moonlight I had to burn off the shadows of his power until he lay still beneath me.
Dead.
Truly dead.
Panting, I fell off of him and watched his body disappear. Pain still shot through every limb, whiting out my mind as I stared at the vastness above me.
I didn’t know where I was, but I knew the Maker was no longer here with me. He was no longer anywhere, and that was what mattered.
And my mind was clear for the first time in days.
Elation shot through me. The curse was gone. I could no longer feel the fog of madness or the constant need to fight it off.
It’s gone.
Muscles aching, I sat upright and rubbed the back of my neck.
Wait a second…how were my muscles aching? I’d felt the pain of his blows, but before that, I hadn’t been able to feel my body at all.
Now I could?
Confused, I rose to my feet and looked around. I couldn’t see anything but the vast stretch of rocky ground that surrounded me.
This was neither Norway nor Scotland. It wasn’t anywhere I’d ever seen before.
Was I really dead?
“You are.” The faint voice sounded from behind me, and I turned.
A figure stood before me, their body built of mist instead of flesh and bone. They had no gender that I could determine, but they didn’t need one. They were pure power—good and bad, peace and war, love and hate.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I am a creation of belief, just as you are. Just as all gods are.”
“You’re a god?”
The figure paused for a moment. “Perhaps. I am Knowledge. I was created by the beliefs of the same people who created you—the Vikings who blended with the people of Scotland. They did not create many new gods, but they did create us.”
“And the shadow god.”
Knowledge nodded. “Not all products of belief are good ones. Sometimes, belief creates terrible things. But you fixed that.”
“Have I destroyed him forever?”
The figure nodded. “You have. You burned off his dark magic so that he can never hurt anyone again.”
“What about me? My curse is gone, and I feel alive now.” A wry laugh escaped me. “Unless this is hell.”
“No, pain is reserved for the living. Or at least, it’s for those who can choose to live. You did die when you combined your power with the shadow god’s. Both of you died and were brought here, to my realm.”
I tried not to react to the fact that this realm was their home. It was so stark.
“Do not worry,” Knowledge said. “It isn’t always like this. It is a reflection of how you feel about this realm. You don’t want to be dead, and so it is appearing as an unpleasant, barren place.”
“Do I have a choice about being dead?”
“When you first arrived here, you didn’t. But it seems that your actions have given you a choice. Fate wants to honor you for your sacrifice and service in destroying the shadow god.”
I wanted to ask how this figure knew fate, but I was sure the answer would have to do with the fact that they were the embodiment of knowledge. Hell, they could probably read my mind.
“I can,” they said.
A startled laugh escaped me, and I felt almost crazy. I knew that all sorts of wild things were possible in the magical world, but I’d never imagined that this was possible. That I would have a second chance.
“You earned it,” Knowledge said. “And now, if you like, you can choose to return to your life.”
“Yes. Yes, I want to.” Hope flared within me. I could see Lachlan again. My guild. Maybe even my dire wolves one day. I would do anything for that.
“Then it will be so.” Knowledge swept a hand to the side, and the landscape changed.
I no longer stood in that barren place. Instead, I was on the tall pinnacle of rock where I’d died.
Lachlan knelt on the ground, his head tilted up to the sky and an expression of such grief on his face that it threatened to tear the heart from my chest.
“Lachlan!” I ran across the rock, going to my knees and plowing into him. Heart bursting, I wrapped my arms around his neck, and we fell to the ground.
He opened his eyes, shocked joy flashing within them. “You're alive!” He cupped my cheeks. “How? I felt your death.”
I rained kisses on his face, so overjoyed that I couldn’t contain it. “I defeated the Maker, and they let me come back.”
“Who?”
“Fate.” Joy surged through me. I hadn’t escaped the prophecy of my death, but I’d found a way around it. I’d found a way back to Lachlan. I kissed him again, so happy that I couldn’t contain it. “The curse is gone, and the Maker is destroyed.”
He clutched me to him, his grip strong and his lips desperate as he rained kisses all over my face and neck. “I can’t believe you’ve returned.”
Ralph appeared at our side. You’re back!
The delight in his voice made me grin, but I didn’t stop kissing Lachlan anywhere I could reach him.
Ew, get a room.
I laughed and hugged Lachlan tight, but I took my familiar’s advice that it was time to quit. Quickly, I jumped to my feet and grabbed Lachlan’s hand, yanking him upright. His expression of joy was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Somehow, it softened his features. I wanted to throw myself at him and cling to him for hours, reveling in the victory we had achieved.
But we had responsibilities first. “Come on, we need to find everyone else. The Maker’s demons should be gone, too, but I need to know that everyone is okay.”
“Of course.” He pulled a transport charm from his pocket. “Let’s use this. We could climb down, but we might die.”
“Yes. Definitely. I’m sure I only get one do-over, and I don’t want to waste it.”
Lachlan wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me toward him. He threw the transport charm to the ground, and we stepped inside.
The ether delivered us to a scene of chaos. The demons were gone, but our friends were scattered everywhere, helping each other to their feet and tending to the wounded.
Panicked, I raced through the crowd, taking stock of the injuries. I couldn’t bear it if people died on my behalf.
I soon found all of the members of my guild, injured but safe. But the wounded around them made my heart hurt. Everywhere I looked, there were injuries, broken bones and burns, cuts and horrible bruises…but I didn’t see any death.
Please, let there be no death.
“Eve!” Eleanor’s voice cut through the whipping wind, and I turned to her. Blood coated the side of her face, but her eyes glinted with determination, and her stride was powerful.
“Is everyone okay?” I asked. “Any deaths?”
She shook her head. “There were a few close calls, but we got everyone back from the brink in time.”
Relief rushed through me, gratitude so deep that it went straight to the bottom of my soul.
She neared me, then frowned in confusion, her gaze sweeping up and down my body. When she gasped and went to her knees, I reached for her, trying to pull her upright. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?”
She raised her head, her face glowing with awe. “Eve, you are the wolf queen.”
I blinked at her. “What?”
“I can see it now, the way your magic shines around you. You’ve ascended.”
“I’m the moon goddess, not a queen.”
“One and the same. I can read your power as clearly as I can read any other shifter’s, and it is the greatest I’ve ever felt.”
“Well, get up. You don’t need to kneel to me.”
But all around, the other shifters were dropping to one knee. Shock raced through me, and I looked toward Lachlan. He smiled and lowered himself.
Holy fates, this was insane.
I spun in a circle, taking in all the wolves bowing. Even the alphas. Somehow, they could sense that I’d ascended. I’d absorbed the power of my crown into my body, but they could still feel my power the way wolves could sense the power of their alpha.
And I was the strongest of them all.
Holy fates, I was the wolf queen.
Epilogue
Eve
Ten Months Later
* * *
I drew in a bracing breath and reached for Lachlan’s hand. He gripped mine tightly and smiled at me. “Ready?”
I nodded, grinning.
It had been ten months since the fight at the mountain, and life was far different than it had been. For one, I still had to get used to wolves inclining their heads respectfully whenever they passed me. I’d tried to get them to quit doing it, but they wouldn’t. Even though I couldn’t see a crown on my head, apparently, they could. Or at least they could sense it.
Fortunately, I wasn’t a true queen in the sense that I had a kingdom and subjects. Thank fates for that. I would have hated the attention and bureaucracy.
This suited me much better. Everyone knew I was a badass and was nice to me without any of the baggage of having to rule a kingdom. Wolves didn’t organize themselves that way, anyway.
Most importantly, the Maker was gone. The curse was banished. We were safe. Lachlan and I had been happy together for every single one of the days that had passed. Though we still lived in our own guild towers, we’d pretty much moved into each other’s lives in every other sense.
My potion making business was even going well. I might be the moon goddess of the dire wolves, but there wasn’t much work to do for that in the modern day. My job was basically over. I’d taken care of what I’d needed to do, and now I could just live.
But today was a very special day. I’d just got word that one of my dire wolves had been born.
After returning to Guild City following the fight, I’d tried to return to life as normal. But something kept tugging at me—the feeling that I wasn’t alone. All around me, there was family, but I couldn’t see them.
Until I’d realized they hadn’t yet been born.
But they would be.
I’d put Ralph on the task of finding them. He could feel them just like I could, and he was better at sneaking into places and spying on people. The big day had finally arrived for some of them.
Anyway, I didn’t want to be weird about it. They had their own lives to live, with their own families. One day, I’d probably meet them, but for now, they would be left alone with their families. For now, I just wanted a little peek.
This way! Ralph gestured for us to follow him into the London hospital.
“You aren’t allowed in there, you ninny.”
Trust me, I know how to sneak around.
I couldn’t even imagine the fit the hospital staff would have if they found a trash panda on their delivery ward. But there was no stopping Ralph. He was already through the doors.
“We’d better go, then.” Lachlan tugged me forward, and I followed.
Together, we strode into the delivery ward like we knew exactly where we were going. And we sort of did. We weren’t approved visitors, but Ralph had told me the room number, and I could feel him up ahead.
We passed busy doctors and nurses as we headed to room 502. As I neared it, I heard a baby crying.
I looked up at Lachlan, excitement nearly exploding out of me. Even from this distance, I could feel the dire wolf soul inside the baby.
When I reached the door—which was open, thank fates—I stopped briefly to look inside. Just a second, that was all I was allowing myself. I didn’t want to disturb the new parents and their child.
As soon as I looked into the room, my gaze landed on the baby. Squalling and red-faced, it looked pissed as hell, but for the briefest moment, it stopped crying and looked at me. I grinned widely, then moved on down the hall, the memory of the baby’s face emblazoned on my mind forever.
Lachlan caught up with me, and we joined Ralph outside again.
“Was it everything you hoped?” Lachlan asked.
“Yep.” Joy surged through me. I wanted to visit every new dire wolf baby, but I would resist. They needed time away from Nosy Nellies like me.
I had no idea what was going to happen for them in the future, but I hoped I’d be around to find out.
Lachlan took my hand and smiled at me. “What would you say to lunch?”
The invitation was so simple and perfect that I smiled and nodded. I could use a little bit of simple and perfect in my life, and Lachlan was just the one I wanted to spend it with.
* * *
~~~
That’s it for Eve & Lachlan! If you enjoyed their story but haven’t read Carrow and The Devil’s, you can check out Once Bitten by clicking here. Or click here to join my newsletter to find out more about new books and sales. You’ll also get two free novellas. The newest Shadow Guild adventure will be here in July 2021.
THANK YOU FOR READING!
* * *
I hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. Reviews are so helpful to authors. I really appreciate all reviews, both positive and negative. If you want to leave one, you can do so at Amazon or GoodReads.
Acknowledgments
Thank you, Ben, for everything. There would be no books without you.
Thank you to Jena O’Connor and Ash Fitzsimmons for your excellent editing. The book is immensely better because of you! Thank you to Susie Johnson and Jenna Ossip-Klein for the excellent typo hunting.
Thank you to my amazing narrator Laurel Schroeder for bringing the character’s voices to life.
Thank you to Orina Kafe for the beautiful cover art and Chris Sim for the guild crests.
Author’s Note
Hey there! I hope you enjoyed Wolf Queen. If you’ve read any of my other author’s notes, you’ll know that this is where I write about the history or mythology from the books. For Wolf Queen, I used quite a few historical tidbits from Scotland, but I modified them to suit the story.
The Govan Stones are the primary historical element that I used in Wolf Queen. They are a set of carved stones from roughly AD 900 - AD 1000 that were found near the Govan Old Parish Church in Glasgow, Scotland. Scholars believe that they were created to commemorate the rulers of the Kingdom of Strathclyde, one of the ancient kingdoms that rose to prominence after the Vikings invaded Scotland. The Kingdom of Strathclyde dominated south-west Scotland until the 12th century.
The most impressive of the stones are the five carved hogback stones (named for their shape, which resembles a hog’s back) and the ornately carved sarcophagus. The carved hogback stones are particularly interesting because hogback stones have only been found in Scotland where Vikings settled alongside the native Picts. They are not found where Vikings had total rule. It is believed that their arched shape is meant to represent Viking buildings. The five stones at Govan are the largest hogback stones ever found.
For the story, I moved the hogback stones to an island in Loch Lomond and the stone sarcophagus to an invented island off the north coast of Scotland. That wasn’t the only thing I invented in the north, however. The trees that I describe as being on Orkney are no longer there in such great numbers. Though the islands are largely treeless today, that wasn’t the case in the past.
Another real-life element that I used in the book was Sleeping Warrior Mountain. This is a mountain range in Ayrshire (the modern name for the region where the Kingdom of Strathclyde would have ruled) that looks like a warrior lying on their back. It is most convincingly viewed from the Isle of Bute. The Witches Steps are an element of the mountain. Honestly, this was the perfect type of inspiration for me--a remote mountain range with a set of romantic names.
The last real-life element that I used was Baldoon Airfield, also known as the former RAF Wigtown Airfield. It is an abandoned WWII airfield that still has many of the original elements, including control towers, hangars, and abandoned air raid shelters. There are no original WWII planes, however.
That’s it for the historical and mythological elements of Wolf Queen. I hope you enjoyed Eve and Lachlan’s journey--I know I did! Stay on the lookout for the next Shadow Guild series, which should be coming sometime in July 2021.
About Linsey
Before becoming a writer, Linsey Hall was a nautical archaeologist who studied shipwrecks from Hawaii and the Yukon to the UK and the Mediterranean. She credits fantasy and historical romances with her love of history and her career as an archaeologist. After a decade of tromping around the globe in search of old bits of stuff that people left lying about, she settled down and started penning her own romance novels. Her Dragon’s Gift series draws upon her love of history and the paranormal elements that she can't help but include.
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All reference to events, persons, and locale are used fictitiously, except where documented in historical record. Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright 2021 by Linsey Hall
Published by Bonnie Doon Press LLC
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form, except in instances of quotation used in critical articles or book review. Where such permission is sufficient, the author grants the right to strip any DRM which may be applied to this work.
ISBN 978-1-64882-012-0
Linsey@LinseyHall.com
www.LinseyHall.com
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Linsey Hall, Wolf Queen (Shadow Guild: Wolf Queen Book 5)
