Page 38 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

Raine moved back and at least had the manners to look sheepish as I stalked forward. For a few moments, I stood before them, seething and watching my mother steel herself, ready for the inevitable argument.

‘I…’ I crossed my arms in an attempt to keep my fists away from Raine’s nose. Perhaps I could straighten out that already-bent feature. ‘Are you and Raine… are you with them?’

For a moment, pain crashed into my mother’s eyes, before she stood straighter and took Raine’s hand in her own.

‘I deserve to be happy, Matthias.’ She spoke with the same clipped tone I heard so often growing up, when I’d misbehaved and had to face the consequences of my actions. ‘I’ve been lonely for a long time. I lost my husband long before his death.’

Raine kept their blue eyes on Mother as I stared between them. I wasn’t prepared to listen to her guilt trip me over this.

‘Do you honestly think I’d begrudge you another chance to be happy?’ I despised the way my voice cracked. I raised my hands. I suspected Raine could lip-read, but I’d be damned if I let them get away with not knowing the level of my vitriol. ‘I hate the thought of you being lonely, I do.’ I glared at Raine, the rebel leader. The person who could have told the truth to The Alliance, spared Father his humiliation. ‘But why them? How could you? After everything they did to Father? To us?’

Mother’s nostrils flared. Raine placed their hand over hers with a gentleness that set my teeth on edge. Mother opened her mouth, but Raine raised their hand and she let out a shaky breath.

‘You may be king,’ they signed slowly, ensuring I understood every word, ‘Isbeth may be your mother, but I’ve known her a long time.’

Crossing my arms, I narrowed my gaze at my mother, a rare blush creeping across her neck and over her copper cheeks. What did they mean, known her a long time? Visions of Raine creeping around our home flashed through my mind. A time when my parents had apparently been happy.

‘We’ve waited a long time to admit our feelings,’ they signed. My jaw ached against my grinding teeth. ‘We put an ocean between us. Isbeth put an ocean between us. But I love her, Matthias.’

I took a step forward, and they raised their hands once more. Tears I would never allow to fall pressed against my eyes.

‘I get how this must seem. We understand how difficult this is for you.’

‘We do, Matthias. Why do you think I went away?’ Mother interrupted.

I blew out a long, shaky breath. ‘Because I failed yet again?’

Her narrow brows furrowed, head shaking. ‘What? No. Never.’ She reached for me, but I stepped back. Did she not understand what this relationship could cost us? Cost me? If The Alliance got wind of this, there would be nothing I could do or say to remove the taint from my throne. ‘I have nothing but pride for you. All of you. Even Ifan.’

The rage I’d barely contained burst through, my vision misted as I stepped back.

‘Ifan? Ifan? The one who betrayed us?’

A tear shone on her cheek as my back collided with the sharp branches of a gnarled tree.

‘The Ifan currently standing by while the empress destroys our home?’

She gripped the ring around her neck.

‘Yes. My son. The same son who was ripped from me. The son who was put under the care of a monster and nothing, nothing, I ever did, won any of you back.’

Her fingers brushed the ruby.

‘Don’t you dare,’ I hissed. ‘I’m taking a horse and going. Getting away from all of you before I lose my throne forever.’

‘Matthias.’ I turned my back on her, my skin prickling as I stormed away. She called my name again, a part of me breaking at the crack in her usually steely tone. ‘I love them. I love Raine.’

I turned on her.

‘Do you have any idea what The Alliance will⁠—’

‘Yes.’ Desperation rippled across her face. ‘Of course I understand our love could risk the ire of The Alliance.’

My eyes widened. ‘I’m doing everything in my power to keep my throne.’

Mother’s voice wavered as a fierce heat raged through my veins and the first beads of sweat trickled down my forehead. ‘And they’re willing to help you. Help us.’

I let go of the tree, my guts roiling as I signed.