The Wolf Queen

“SIT.” THE GUARDS FORCE William into a chair and two more tie his hands and then legs. He isn’t going anywhere. Not that he had really planned on trying to.

“Leave us.” Able says. He’s keeping his words short. Anything he has to say has been expressed in a few words.

The guards leave, but stay outside of the door. William looks around. It’s one of the more comfy rooms in the palace. Wooden walls and floors, a brick fireplace, two chairs at a small desk, a bookcase filled and piles of books spilling to the floor. A sword above the mantle gives away who the room used to belong too. It’s barely been used, Isaac preferred the chakrams. It’s clear where Channin’s love of reading came from.

“You know, I wasn’t here when it happened, but I hear that Isaac gave you quite the beating.” William can’t help but taunt Able. If he’s going to die, he might as well have fun with it.

Able bares his fangs. They are bigger than Ian’s, Born Vampire’s typically are. “You know where that got him.”

Will shrugs, still looking around the room. A door behind Able leads to the bed room. He wouls guess the door behind his chair leads to the kitchen and washroom. “Well, it gained us the city of Polia and the Centaurs. I’d say he didn’t die in vain.”

Able smiles and crosses back to his guest, pulling a knife from his belt. “You see, William, I’ve been doing a little rummaging through your old friend’s notes. He kept a lot on you.” He points to a small chest under the desk. “And I know who you are.”

He lifts the knife, the light from the fire catches it, “I’m guessing you know what this is.”

Will shrugs again, “I’ve got no idea. Never seen it.”

Able digs the tip under Will’s right ear. It’s silver. “See, there’s this thing about good Shapeshifter blood. It’s hard to come by.”

The silver burns more than the actual cut. From his ear, down to his collarbone. Because of their connection to the Werewolf race, silver still affects Shapeshifters. In most cases, more so than their wild counterparts. He knows there is a story about why the silver burns them but he can’t summon it through the pain.

“Because they are royalty.” Will says through gritted teeth, “We are supposed to protect them.”

“Well that’s just the blind leading the blind isn’t it?” Able wipes the blade off on a rag, “Or is it the royal leading royals?”

He goes silent, studying William. Something seems to go off in his mind. A thought that hadn’t quite formed, suddenly becomes whole. “Does Channin know?” The Vampire asks, clearly enjoying it.

Will fights to keep a blank expression, “You’ll leave her out of this.”

Able tilts his head, “Or you’ll what? You can’t go anywhere.”

Before Will can say anything else, Able’s fangs brush against his neck. Vampire fangs, while intimidating, aren’t effective enough to break skin and allow enough blood loss for a feeding.

Channin follows Amaryllis out to the garden to watch some of the training. Abarrane is sitting in the corner of the garden, putting up shields around some leaves.

“Lady Abarrane?” Amaryllis calls, “You should be in bed.”

The Vampire shrugs, “Not really tired.” She doesn’t seem like she has slept. She isn’t wearing her cloak either and her skin is already turning a pale pink.

Channin motions for her to join them and she does. Hopping onto the fence, rather than taking an empty chair. She’s quiet, but that isn’t unusual. She catches a floating leaf in a shield and pulls it towards her. She is clearly distracting herself. She crushes the leaf in the shield and watches the pieces fall.

“Abarrane, are you alright?” Channin asks, starting to be concerned for her.

Her shield slams into the ground, “Why wouldn’t I be?” Her tone deceives her and she knows it.

“You shouldn’t-“

“I don’t blame myself.” She stands up, now facing Channin, “I blame Will. If he had never told Ian that he could, Ian never would have left.”

“This isn’t anyone’s fault.” Channin growls. She’s ready to defend William.

Abarrane sighs and leans back against the fence, “This rebellion isn’t worth it. Not for me. Not anymore.” She waits a minute more and then walks to the barn. Minutes pass before she leads Gray out and down the path. She doesn’t look back until she is through the gates and trotting away.

“You know, Will.” Able wipes his mouth, “I always kinda liked you.”

Will can hardly lift his head, “Can’t say the same about you.” He mumbles.

Able laughs, giggles really. “That’s probably why. You’re funny.” His speech is slurred and he sighs. “You know, I’ve been around a while. A few hundred years. And I’ll tell you, this-“ he motions to Will in a wide gesture, “Well, it was a surprise.” More laughter, “The lost Dragon Prince, in Laneyth. You know your brothers are still looking for you.”

“I’m so glad you’re happy.” He fights to keep his head up.

Able rolls off the bed and crosses back to Will, “It’s more than happy. It’s bliss. I feel really bad for you. You’ll never experience this high.”

“Because I’m not a monster.” Will mumbles.

Able grabs Will’s hair and wrenches his head backwards, “I am not the monster.” He snarls, then smirks. “I will say, your little Elf? Quite the spitfire.”

Will can’t force any words out. His stomach turns a little at the mention of Runir. He is certain that he doesn’t want to hear the next thing Able says.

“You’re looking a little rough. He lasted much longer.”

“What did you do to him?” he knows the answer, but for some reason, the question still weighs on him. At least his suffering was over.

Able tilts his head and smiles, “He kept saying that if we kept him here, you would come for him. You can imagine our mutual disappoint when you didn’t. Yet, you dropped the rebellion for Ian. Why’s that?”

“Sir Able.” The door flings open. Will is oddly relieved.

A man with sandy brown hair and pale skin stands there. His hair has grown out a little, but his bright blue eyes are the same. He’s wearing a black scarf and a red coat. Aaron has grown up, something is immediately different about the Shifter Prince of Athedor.

“Lord Aaron.” Able turns Will lose, “Won’t you join me?”

Aaron doesn’t break eye contact with Able. “The King has requested you. It seems your brother is ready to go home. Part of the trade. General Starker for Ian of Dawncliff.”

Able takes a hesitant step back and seems confused, “Very well.” When the Vampire leaves the room Aaron locks the door and kneels beside Will.

“You look terrible.” He says quietly, “Here,” he unties the rope on his wrist, “That’ll help.”

“What are you doing?” Will struggles to look up at him. His vision swims when he moves his head. Leaving is not going to be easy.

Aaron’s nose bends slightly to the right now, “I had an enlightening experience.” He cracks a smile, it’s less unsettling now than it was all those years ago. He wraps his scarf around Will’s neck, but not before he can see the line running from his ear to his collarbone.

“That many feedings are going to take their toll on you both.” Aaron warns, “But he’s still stronger than you.”

“I’ve got to get back to Ravenguard.” Will tries to stand and sinks to the floor. Correction. Leaving was going to be nearly impossible.

“You need to leave Laneyth.” Aaron says quietly, helping him back to his feet. “I will do everything I can to protect Channin, but I can’t do that if you are here.”

“You don’t understand.” Will shakes a little, “She’s pregnant. She’s having my child.”

Aaron turns Will’s arm loose, only to reach back out and stabilize him. He stares for a minute, not sure what to say to him. He says the first thing to come to mind, “I feel like congratulations is salt in the wound.”

William doesn’t answer him, but allows the small Prince to support him. He leads him out the door and the opposite way of the way they came in. Will hasn’t seen this part of the castle and is really not sure that Aaron knows where he is going.

Aaron sighs, “If you stay, Channin will always rebel. She’ll always cling to you. She’s always going to fight for you.”

“Exactly.”

Aaron feels his heart drop. He doesn’t need to turn around to know Able is standing behind them.

The Vampire circles around them. He’s wearing his typical all black and Aaron wonders if they didn’t just walk past him. He draws his sword and stands between them and the exit. Aaron glances to Will. He’s in no shape to fight and Aaron is little competition for Able. He reaches for his sword anyways. Before he has it fully drawn, Able’s elbow connects with his head.

Aaron hits the wall and catches himself. The Vampire smacks the sword from his hand and delivers a kick to his ribs.

“Your blood is the only thing saving you from my blade.” The Vampire growls, “If you stand in my way again, a terrible accident will befall you and your islands.” Able is crazy enough to do something of the sort. Wiping out entire royal lines and their countries is not what Aaron wants to pressure him into.

“And you.” Able chuckles and turns back to William, who has steadied himself against the opposite wall. “You, have worn out your usefulness, General.” There is poison in his tone and the way he doesn’t lower his sword.

The sun is sinking below the skyline when Abarrane returns. She doesn’t speak to anyone, only places herself at the table. She doesn’t eat with the rest of them. Channin stares around the chairs. Of the seven original Order of Night members, four remain. The once full table feels vacant now. Her attention turns to the window, a tiny figure at the gates.

Kaiser slowly approaches Ravenguard, the horse stops and his rider slides to the ground, startling the horse. When he recovers, he sniffs and then nudges the form on the ground. It’s not his usual rider, but it’s still someone he knows.

“Kaiser?” Channin opens the door, he pricks his ears at the sound of his name.

“Ian?” Abarrane pushes past Channin and races towards the Vampire. She throws herself down and pulls him into a hug. He’s just strong enough to return it.

Ravenguard seems to celebrate Ian’s return, until Raoul notices Channin sink to the floor. He realizes it too. The missing Vampire, returning from Dragonspire on William’s horse. Raoul hurries over to her and tries to help her up. She refuses to move, or look anywhere but the floor. She isn’t crying, but rather in the state of shock.

“Hey, kid.” He kneels next to her, “It’s okay, he’s going to be fine. Will can talk his way out of anything.”

The others take notice and gather. Everything spins. Pressure builds in her chest until she is certain it will crush her. She can’t get enough air and rather than take deeper breaths, they become shallow.

“Channin, calm down.” Amaryllis says, “This isn’t good for the baby.”

“What does it matter?” she asks, tone empty. “They’ve won. They know they have.”

“Don’t talk like that.” Raoul warns, “They haven’t won. They won’t.”

“And what do you suggest, Raoul?” Channin turns on him, “They’ve killed Runir and Isaac. They are doing who knows what to Will-“ she chokes on his name.

“Channin, please.” Amaryllis begs.

The blonde pushes herself up and goes back inside without saying anything. She stumbles into her room and falls onto the bed. She can’t make herself cry. She knows she should, but she can’t. Something out of place on her drawing table catches her eye. When she can’t place it from the bed, she stands up and struggles over to the table.

She picks up William’s amulet and a neatly folded piece of paper with one word on the outside