My hands shake as I pull up to the massive gates of the royal castle. Every gate on the way in here has let me in without blinking, but this one right before the castle doesn’t open and I know this is where they want to do the trade. I eye the four royal guards, holding long spears as they stand very still in front of the gate. I open the glove compartment, pulling out the stones and taking a deep breath before getting out of the car. The wind blows Chase’s long blue shirt around my legs, and I wish I had a chance to change at some point, but I know there are far worse things to worry about. I move in front of the car and fold my arms, just waiting silently as I keep my ears open for anyone sneaking around. A branch cracks to my right and I turn my gaze there, not seeing anyone and just knowing it must have been an animal. I quickly look back as the gates open and the guards step to the side. The queen walks into view, just behind her is a young boy in chains next to my Rogue who is also tied up. He sees me, and panic feels his eyes, even when I can’t feel his emotions through the bond.
“Run Gold! GO!” Rogue screams and the queen stops, nodding her head at one of the two guards behind Rogue. The guard punches Rogue hard in the face, and he collapses to the ground.
“Stop!” I shout at them and the queen turns slowly to me. The queen is just as beautiful as I have heard she is, but clearly this beauty hides an evil in plain sight. Her black hair is up high in a tight bun, a silver crown sparkles on her head and matches the long silver gown she wears.
“Do not speak to me that way. You are nothing other than a problem that I want to get rid of. Don’t test me by speaking out,” the queen warns with a sweet, sickly voice. Her silver gown blows in the wind as her eyes go to the gemstones in my hands.
“I want my mate and the child set free first,” I tell her, and she laughs.
“Who says any of you are going free? Why would I let you go when you can tell everyone my secret?”
“That you’re a monster. Don’t worry, everyone is learning that as we speak. I bet many people already know. Now let them go, or you do not get what you want,” I warn her, and she chuckles.
“Fine. Fine. It doesn’t matter who knows once I get those gemstones in my hands,” she muses and looks to the guards behind her.
“Free them, and then drag the prisoners over to her,” she commands, and they bow their heads almost robotically. I watch the queen the whole time they undo the chains from the boy and Rogue, who starts to wake up. He looks up at me and I shake my head, hoping he will stay calm until he gets to me at least. Rogue lets the guard lead him over to me, and he wraps an arm around the child, keeping him close. The boy looks scared, and I don’t trust the happy smile on the queens red lips as she watches us.
“Put him in the car, Rogue,” I say when the guards let them go. Rogue nods, listening to me and. rushing the boy to the car as I throw the box and the cloth covered gem onto the floor in front of me.
“They are yours, and we are leaving,” I say, stepping away as a guard rushes over and collects the stones. I feel rogues hand on my waist as he steps next to me. The queen doesn’t watch us as she snatches the stones off the guard.
“Kill them. The castle is on lock-down. No one leaves or comes in. I finally have the last two stones,” she says, whispering the end part more to herself. She walks through the gate, as it closes behind her. The seven guards stay on this side of the gate.
“You fucking bitch!” I shout, needing to call her it and she only laughs as he guards start getting closer.
“Get in the car and go. I will hold them off,” Rogue tells me.
“Hell no. We fight together or not at all,” I say.
“Lucky you have more than one mate then, isn’t it?” I hear Cain say as he steps out of the shadows of the trees with Callum and Chase at his side.
“Lucky she has a family of wolves too,” I hear Nikoli shout from the left of Cain as he steps forward, with his five betas at his side. I smile in relief as we all look back at the guards who now look a little nervous. I shift and run towards them, feeling my mates and family following me. The first guard I get slams his spear at me, and it sinks into the ground. I imagine my human form as I stop behind him. When my human hands come back, I stand up and snap his neck from behind before shifting into my wolf once again. We make quick work of killing all the guards, and not one of us looks hurt. I shift back and go towards the gate, pressing my hand against it. A white light blasts out from my hand, travelling like a wave around what I think is a shield.
“A ward. The castle has one for emergencies. We can’t get in,” Nikoli tells me as he steps to my side.
“Erik is still in there!” I exclaim, feeling the panic rising and a gasp from my left. I turn to see Snow run at the ward, banging her hands against it.
“No. NO!” she shouts, and I run to her, grabbing her hands.
“This isn’t the way. Erik is smart, and the prince loves him like a brother. The prince will hide him and keep him alive,” I tell her because I know it is true.
“I have to get in there,” she wails.
“No, Snow. Arisa needs you,” Nikoli reminds her and she bursts into tears as I pull her to me. We might have won this battle, but without Erik, it feels like we haven’t won anything at all.