“To break the curse,” she says before shifting her focus to the other Alpha in the water—one who is also no longer in wolf form. He’s standing there, gaping at Krolic and his mother, a note of horror in his features.
Features that remind me of Krolic’s.
“You and your sister have a great deal to atone for, Spaten,” the woman announces, her voice carrying as it loses the raspy quality. “First, you killed my mate-circle.Your own father. Then you banished me to the depths of the ritual fountain. But you had no idea the Fates would send all of Omega kind with me, did you?”
She looks for Heart—who is kneeling on the cobblestone with Craze behind her, one of his cards against her throat. His opposite hand is locked in her blonde hair—the same color as Krolic’s mom’s. As well as Baroness Clarice’s, but I already gathered that Heart can shape-shift. That was pretty obvious when she transitioned into another woman right before my eyes.
Just like Krolic being able to turn into a wolf at will.
An eerie quiet falls over the courtyard as the fountain—which I now realize is more of a small pond due to the depth in the center—shuts off.
Krolic’s mother has lifted her hand into the sky, creating a dark hue that overtakes the sun and cascades the courtyard into darkness.
A blinding light soon follows as a bolt comes sailing through the air to strike Heart in the chest.
Craze releases her just in time, jumping several feet back a second before it hits. He curses. “A little warning next time, Alice,” he mutters, his words carrying due to the astounding silence.
A soft churning noise echoes next, the sound of it seeming to be radiating from Heart’s skin as it literally turns to stone.
I realize with a start that all the other statues no longer exist.
Because they were the Omegas,I suddenly comprehend.
That’s why the pink-haired man told me to look at the reflections. I do it again now and see Heart’s face frozen in horror.
Another bolt jolts through the night-like sky, this one striking the Alpha in the water.
His body vanishes, only to reappear alongside Heart’s, his reflection showing a snarl rather than one of terror.
“Crimson,” the woman calls out.
The maze parts to reveal a new arc, allowing the male I met just hours ago to step into the courtyard. “Your Majesty,” he replies, bowing low. “It’s good to see you in the flesh, Alice.”
She smiles. “Likewise, Tav.”
Krolic frowns. “He’s aligned with Heart.”
“He’s not,” she murmurs. “He’s aligned with me. And he has been for a very, very long time.”
Tav goes to one knee on the edge of the pond, his head bowed. “My fealty rests with the Silver Queen.”
“As does mine,” the pink-haired man says as he appears beside Tav, both men on their knees.
“I should have fucking known,” Catum grounds out, making the pink-haired man grin.
“Queen Alice will always be my first and only love,” he says.
Queen Alice’s lips curl. “I won’t be queen for much longer.” She looks at me. “That honor falls to you, Ailsa Marvel. So have your chase. Run free.” She shifts her attention to Krolic. “And enjoy your hunt.”
The night clears, revealing the sun once more as amusement meets her proclamation.
“Happy hiding,” she whispers to me as she walks past me to reach Tav and the other man.
Both of them stand in sequence, heads still bowed in reverence.
“You’ll always be queen to me,” the pink-haired one purrs.
“Stop flirting with me, Ches,” she replies.
