Chapter 115

Dane

I stood between Aurora and the oncoming rogues. They were the same mysterious women we’d met in the woods. Power still burned through me like fire. I wasn’t exactly surprised to be one of the people chosen by the ceremony. It felt like we’d been in over our heads with gods and dark forces for a while now. But that didn’t mean I had expected it, or that I wasn’t humbled by the goddess’s choice.

“Stand down,” I growled to my pack. They obeyed, parting so the women could come nearer.

The women stopped at the edge of the ceremonial circle painted onto the grass. There, they bowed.

“Greetings,” she said, “to the goddess’s chosen king and queen.”

King? No. I had enough on my plate as Alpha of Blue Ridge. I squared my shoulders and folded my arms across my chest. There was nothing to say about the “king” comment, so I ignored it. “Are you finally going to tell us your name and who you are?”

Their leader smiled. “I’m Camila, and we are the shield maidens of the goddess. Guardians of the queen.”

Confusion was written across Aurora’s face, and she darted a glance to where Evelyn stood upon the deck, watching us all silently. “But there were two women chosen. Are we both—?”

Camila’s eyes flashed to Evelyn. “No,” she said to Aurora. “You’re the queen—if ‘queen’ is even the right word for it. I can feel it in the magic that binds us together. She is the First Shield. Our leader. And your most powerful protector.”

Aurora made a squawking sound that sounded like she was trying to laugh around a suddenly dry throat. “Evelyn… my protector?”

I raised a brow. “That’s not going to work.”

Camila’s dark gaze snapped to me. “It’s not for you to say.” Then her eyes dropped to the ground, as if she was remembering something, and her voice went quiet. “It’s not for any of us to decide whether or not we’re called, or what we’re called to do. Trust me.”

“We should have this conversation inside,” Aurora said.

I couldn’t blame them for thinking she was a queen. She held her chin high, and though her eyes were still red from all the crying she had done in the last few days, her face didn’t give any of her thoughts or feelings away.

I agreed and dismissed the pack. I could feel their curiosity, their confusion. I was also curious and confused. There was new magic in my body. I felt stronger, sharper. But I had no idea what I could do.

I had no idea why these people would call me a king.

We went into a conference room: me, Aurora, Evelyn, Camila, and one other of the female rogues who claimed to be the shield maidens of the moon goddess.

“This is getting ridiculous,” Aurora said as soon as the doors closed. “Queen? Really?”

Camila shrugged. She looked like she was about thirty. She also had the look of a woman who didn’t have time for nonsense. “How about the destined female leader who will unite wolves and their allies against threats you can’t even imagine and lead them through a war like they’ve never known”? I think ‘queen’ is a little easier to say, even if it feels dramatic.”

Aurora sighed, took a seat, and pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. “Everything lately is dramatic.” She dropped her hand and gestured to chairs around the table. “Sit. Please. It seems like you all know things we don’t. I’d like to know what you know.”

Everyone sat. I took the seat on Aurora’s right. Evelyn sat halfway down the table from us. Camila and her companion sat across from her.

Camila began to speak. “Like I said, we’re the shield maidens of the moon goddess. We all heard the call; we all abandoned our packs. It was… hard. Some of us left lovers. Some even left children. At first, I thought I was crazy. Then we started finding each other.”

“So, you’re warriors?” I asked.

Camila shook her head. “All of us can fight, but only some of us are dedicated warriors. Some are healers; some, I think, are meant to be diplomats and advisors. A few, like me, can hear the voice of the goddess. Sometimes we see visions.”

Evelyn tilted her head. “Like the goddess put together a court of handmaidens ready-made for her chosen queen?”

“Yes,” said Camila. “And you are her first choice. You are supposed to be the queen’s greatest ally. Her fiercest protector. The goddess has said that there will come a time when the fates of all the wolves in the world will be in her queen’s hands… and the queen’s life will be in yours.”

Evelyn and Aurora stared at each other. Then Evelyn sat back in her chair. Unhappily, she said, “There’s one problem with that. I hate this woman. She took everything from me. I’d watch her die in a heartbeat.”