I shut the front door of Solomon’s hut with a loud bang, making the wood crack. It was already hanging precariously thanks to me kicking it open last night. I stare at the first familiar’s small open room, breathing hard. Everywhere I look reminds me of the few blissful hours I spent with Cheryl. Closing my eyes doesn’t help. Her scent is all over the place, and it heightens her absence to the most painful level. I curl my hands into fists, digging my nails into my skin until I draw blood. My vision becomes tinged in red as fury courses through my veins. A roar comes from the pit of my stomach, clawing its way up my throat.
I reach for the first object within reach and throw it against the wall, shattering it to smithereens. Everything become a blur—all I know is anger, and it consumes me. My pulse pounding in my ears is the only thing I hear besides the cacophony of destruction.
After all my aggressive energy is spent, I drop to my knees, tired to the bone. I’m shaking, and for the first time since I was a young lad, I allow myself to feel the sadness I usually keep bottled up inside. I curl into a ball of misery in front of the cold fireplace and let tears come. I’d planned to start another fire, but spending the day in an icy room is more fitting.
I massage my chest, trying to soothe the ache there, but it isn’t only my pain that I feel swirling inside. It’s Cheryl’s too. I could take solace that she’s miserable about leaving me, but what good will that do for us? I don’t want her to suffer. I want her to be happy. If I wasn’t stuck in this damn hut, I’d have followed her.
I lie down and shut my eyes. This will be longest day of my miserable existence.
Heartache and the business of turning Cheryl into a vampire took a toll on my body. I don’t wake up until a gust of wind blows through the cabin and Solomon’s pissed-off voice follows. “What the hell have you done to my house?”
I prop myself on one elbow and scan the room. Fuck. I destroyed everything that was breakable, and now he’s going to kill me. There’s nothing I can say to excuse my appalling behavior.
“Are you deaf, boy?” Solomon strides toward me and hits me upside the head.
“Ouch!” I jump to my feet, towering over him, but he doesn’t look one bit intimidated. He could fry me with his magic if he wanted to. “I’m sorry about your place, Solomon. But I’m afraid you won’t be able to punish me.”
“Oh, do you want to put a wager on that?” His bushy eyebrows narrow. “I don’t even know how you managed to break through my wards.”
“I broke many things last night, including my vow to King Raphael.”
His eyes widen. “What are you blathering about now? Have you been bewitched?”
I shudder as memories that will never leave my mind for as long as I live replay in my head. “I was coming home from patrol last night when I caught Cheryl’s scent and found her almost dead on your doorstep.”
His eyes widen. “I knew I smelled her and Karl in the forest… but you’re still alive, so you didn’t cross paths with him?”
I grimace. “I did.”
“Does that mean he’s dead, then? I can’t imagine an outcome where you’re both in the same place and one doesn’t end up dead.”
“He would have killed me if I hadn’t brought Cheryl back to life.”
Solomon blinks fast as he processes my words. Then his jaw drops. “You didn’t.”
I nod. “Cheryl is now a vampire—or rather, a half-vampire, half-wolf shifter.”
He starts to pace, rubbing his beard. “You went against King Raphael’s wishes to save the female wolf. Boy, you’re in a heap of trouble.”
“I’m aware. I must return to the castle at once and face the consequences.”
Solomon whirls around and stares at me in this intense manner that makes me think he’s reading my thoughts. “You defied the king. That’s punishable by death.”
I clench my jaw. “I know.”
“Ah hell.”
I pat Solomon’s shoulder on the way to the door. “It was nice knowing you, old friend.”
“You aren’t even going to plead your case?” he asks before I step out into the cold night.
I look over my shoulder. “What’s the point? I’m already dead inside.”
“You’re a fool. All of you. Youth is definitely wasted on the young.”
Those are the last words I hear from the first familiar before I take off. There’s no point avoiding the inevitable. I betrayed my king, and now I must pay the price.
Before I even cross the castle gates that lead into the inner courtyard, news of my arrival spreads. Lucca and Manu come running to meet me, forcing me to stop outside.
