AllFreeNovel
Share Us
ROSE
I’ve finally figured out what I have to do to get the moonstone. I need to take it out of its casing. The problem is, I can’t leave this room however much I try, and I’m still unsure of where the stone is. Titan may have worked out he can steal my blood, but I’m unsure how much he knows about my curse. The birthmark finally shows the full moon, and I only have a couple of hours before my werewolf will have full control of my body. I don’t know what she’ll do, but she won’t be happy we’re caged like animals.
Titan stirs in his sleep, and I wriggle away from him. I could easily slit his throat when he’s like this, but I don’t. His family has deprived my family of magic for over a decade. I should hate him. He should make my skin crawl every time he touches me, but he doesn’t. The need I see within him is matched with my own desire. His beautiful bare ass is on show as I slip out of the bed. I’m tempted to wake him but decide my time will be better spent with the books.
I wish there was some kind of order to them. I want to find the one that says, How to Restore the Wolfbane’s Magic, but it isn’t so simple to find.
I’m lost in the history of the Dutchmen’s flowers when Titan finally gets up. He ignores me and goes to the bathroom to get changed into his clothes. Once he’s decent, he leaves down the stone staircase. I don’t look up, even though it might be the last time I see him. I’m guessing he’s going to see his father while his mother isn’t around.
I have all the books spread out, and I’m almost ready to give up when I find a chapter on the moonstone. Power Amplification Using a Moonstone. A picture of a heart wrapped around a stone details how the pain is carried by the holder. Thinking of the deep-set lines on the king’s body makes me shudder. He looks close to death. Could his heart hold the stone? The day my family was cursed was the day this realm was made, so the two must be linked, but why would they make this kingdom if it was poisoning their king?
My birthmark burns like a hot poker branding my skin, which means it’s time. I strip out of my clothes and allow the silver light from the moon to shine down on me. At first, it feels warm, almost comforting, but then the sharp pain of my claws breaking out takes hold as I start to change. I’m a slave to the will of the moon as it reshapes my body and allows my wolf to fog my mind. I scream out in pain as the curse finally takes over.
Lost in my own head, I can sense my wolf’s panic as she tries to get out of the box we’re trapped in. I see the scratches against the wall and the destroyed bed before I black out.
* * *
Singing calms my wolf. I begin to feel light-headed, and I’m seeing through blinking eyes. She helps me down the stairs through the barrier and leads me into the garden.
Is this a dream?
This is the most peaceful I’ve felt when transformed into a werewolf. Our family has the gift of shapeshifting, but it isn’t the same when it’s forced upon us.
My wolf curls up in a den made in the garden, and Daisy snuggles up to her.
We sleep until I wake the next morning in naked human form. My nails are dirty and bloody. “What happened last night?” I ask.
She avoids answering my question fully. “I rescued you so you can leave the Dutchmen lands. That’s what’s best for everyone,” Daisy says.
“Didn’t anyone notice the werewolf or my absence?”
“I had help, but all you need to know is we’re on borrowed time before the prince comes looking for you.”
I want to ask her if I have allies inside these walls, but I don’t because if I get caught, it’s better not to have information that could harm others. Daisy hasn’t tried to get to know me, and maybe that’s to keep her cover, but I think it’s more than that. It isn’t my wellbeing she seems interested in, so her motive must be selfish. “You want to marry the prince?” I ask. Jealousy is already stirring while my wolf still lingers.
“Is that so wrong?” She shrugs.
He held me captive and shared his bed with me. He’s power-hungry and sadistic, but I still want him. Maybe I’m as sick as he is for feeling the way I do. None of it matters really, because I have to make him hate me. I can’t stay here, even if in some twisted way, I want to. Titan would continue to use my blood. He’s using me and trying to keep me captive. He’s part of the reason my family was cheated out of their inheritance, and I have to leave for more than myself.
“You deserve better, Daisy, but thank you for your help.”
I say goodbye and allow her to believe I’m done with this land. When I’m out of sight, I double back around to the castle. I use the poison ivy to climb up to the king’s room, ignoring the irritation it creates. I peer in through the window. The queen is by his bed, and I watch her for a few minutes until she vacates the room.
I use my fingertips to prise open the window and squeeze inside. After rooting around in the wardrobe, I borrow one of the king’s shirts to cover up. I also take a weapon for protection. He looks peaceful as I stand over him with a dagger from the fireplace. I’m a step closer to going home where hunting is second nature. The door creaks as it opens. I stab through the king’s thorax and my dagger jolts as it hits a hard rock. I don’t have time to question my decision. It’s now or never.
“Don’t do this, Rose,” Titan shouts.
“Stay away,” I say, ripping the knife downwards. Titan makes a move towards me, and I aim the weapon at him. With my other hand, I feel down into the king’s chest until I’m holding his heart.
“If you do this, you’ll never be free of me,” he warns, hatred ringing in his voice.
“If I don’t do this, I won’t be free of you either.” I tighten my grip on the heart and yank it out of his chest.
Blood spills from the gaping hole I’ve created as the heart beats in my hand. I feel no sorrow for the man who’s keeping me from my magic. The family dynamics between the Dutchmen coven isn’t something I understand, but if Titan wants revenge, I’ll have to deal with the consequences of killing the king. For all I know, his father may have been cruel and no love was lost, but I have to take this gamble, even if he was loved dearly.
Everything happens so fast. I don’t have time to study his emotions. Titan knocks the dagger out of my hand as the illusion shatters. The world goes dark and the wind picks up, blowing us off our feet. Thunder and lightning crash around us as a vortex consumes my vision. Titan grabs onto me, holding me tight as I squash the heart further. He isn’t hurting me with his grip. It seems more like he doesn’t want to lose me in the chaos. We drop to the floor as we return to the real world. Hell has broken out around us as the different witch covens fight around us with magic and swords. I knew my coven would be waiting for me when I left the realm, but there seem to be other people I don’t recognise here too. I see a glimpse of Silvi, but I can’t reach her. Titan pulls me away with a force I can’t fight. There’s so much going on I can’t focus on any single thing, whereas Titan only seems to be interested in me.
“Silvi,” I shout, but he muffles my cries with his hand. Freeing the moonstone from the king’s heart has to be my priority. My own safety never truly mattered, I tell myself as he yanks me farther away from my coven. The lump of flesh from the remainder of the king’s heart drops onto the floor, and I hold the stone tight. My people are free, even if I’m not. Once the stone is washed of flesh, our magic should be restored.
