Chapter 6

Lyra's Journey to Marcus Thronfield

"Your Highness." Captain Reynolds yelled after her. "I think you should think this through. This is crazy. How can they possibly hope to expect you to arrive unprotected? What if Kael and his crew are after you?

No, I replied, keeping my eyes forward on the journey. "I am going there. I will be fine; I have to keep my word. Only thus will Marcus Thronfield ever believe me."

The sun was setting over the Northern provinces when Princess Lyra appeared on the mountain trail. Marcus observed her from afar. She had come alone, as she had promised—without guard or attendant, boldly into enemy lands.

“She’s either the most courageous or the most reckless woman I’ve ever encountered,” Lucas remarked beside him.

Marcus said nothing, having stood for hours scanning the crowd, his senses alert for any telltale giveaway of deception. But the princess had been as promised. She had arrived alone.

The old gate creaked on its hinges as Lyra rode into the courtyard on her lovely white mare, who snorted and danced restlessly. Waves of determination and terror washed over the princess, but she held her head firm, riding straight as her purple eyes swept over the stone walls that ringed her and the men-at-arms standing around her.

Marcus descended the stairs slowly, his authoritative presence filling the air. A few of his soldiers advanced, their hands on the hilts of their swords. The horse of the princess took an involuntary step back, but Lyra sat firmly in her saddle.

"Princess," Marcus called out, his voice echoing over the courtyard. "You have arrived."

"I delivered." She swung down off her horse in a big arc, her boots scraping against the stony road. "Lord Thronfield."

Lyra was not quite as tall as he had anticipated eye-to-eye. Her face was beautiful, her skin a cool color, her hair black and streaked with subtle silver threads. But her purple eyes held an inner power, that she was far from an innocent omega in politics.

"You see how it is here," Marcus said, pacing around her in a circular fashion. "You're asking to see an alpha. You pay that respect, or you leave."

A couple of his men laughed. The princess's jaw tightened, but she did not retreat. "I know."

"Good." Marcus stepped in front of her. "Then kneel."

The courtyard fell silent. Even the wind ceased. Lyra's omega blood fought back with her, denying him the surrender he needed. For a moment, Marcus thought she would not submit, or crawl back onto him and leave.

She submitted and fell to her knees, her head bowed. "I request an audience with Alpha Marcus Thronfield, Lord of the Northern Peaks."

There was a rumor that went among his men. She'd done it. A princess of royal blood, on her knees in the muck of his courtyard. The movement sent a shiver of pleasure through him, followed by something else: respect.

"Stand up," Marcus told her. "We'll speak in the great hall."

The Northern Peaks hall was typical of wolf society. Colossal stone fireplaces, old battle tapestries, and swords hung on every wall created a decadent atmosphere.

Marcus seated himself in the high-backed chair at the opposite end of the long table, going out of his way to give Lyra space.

"Would you like wine?" he asked, gesturing to a servant. "No, thank you," she replied icily.

Marcus smiled, the line of the smile as knife-edged. "Clever. Now, princess, you mentioned justice in your letter.

Tell me."

Lyra crossed her arms over her back and drifted to stand in front of the huge window that overlooked the mountain. "My brother plans to kill me."

"That's not news; the palace conspiracy is not news."

"No, you don't understand," she faced him, and he saw terror dance in her violet eyes.

"He already tried once to poison my wine three days ago. My test died in place of me." Marcus stepped closer, against his will.

"Why do you tell me this?"

Because Kael believes I'm not strong enough. He believes I'll run, hide, maybe escape to some distant kingdom. Her voice turned icy. He's mistaken.

I'm going to fight back myself, but I require an alpha that can fight him.

"And you're that alpha."

"I know you are." She drew near to him, her scent jasmine and steel, surrounding him. "You've waited two years to take your revenge. I'm providing you with the chance to do so."

Marcus stood, his height making her have to tilt her head back in order to see him. She had to crane her head up to see his eyes. "What do you even mean?"

"Marriage. An honor. To be given permission to enter the castle, to Kael, to all that you have wished to destroy. And for this I become alpha enough to protect you and take the throne."

"And then? When Kael is dead and you're the Queen? What did you do after that?"

"Then we rule together. Or not. Marriage can have exit conditions if we want."

Marcus paced around her again. Considering it. Just what Lucas had suggested but hearing it from her made it tangible. Challenging. Seductive.

"You're putting your trust in Raven Crest."

"I'm asking you to choose between one." She had spoken quietly, but he could notice the tremble of her hands. "I understand what my people have done to you. I know you have every reason to despise me.

But I am not them."

"Then prove it."

Lyra drew from her cloak a pouch of leather and set it down upon the table. "The report of the evening that your family was killed. Guard's reports witness statement, All of what the crown repressed in order to conceal Kael."

Marcus recoiled from the pouch, his heart pounding. "How did you ."

I've been waiting for months for this moment." She unhooked the pouch, revealing scrolls and documents. "It's all here. Proof that Kael sanctioned the attack, proof that he tortured your sister before she died."

"Why?" His voice was harsher. Than he'd intended.

"Because someone has to die to pay for what happened. And because. she hesitated. Because I was stalking. Saw pain in your eyes, and I know it. Both of us lost loved ones to Kael's madness."

Marcus clutched one of the scroll, reading the very writing. Guards report, date: two years ago. His hands shook to read the scientific report of his family last moment.

"It could be forged."

"It could, but it isn't."

He looked into her, attempting to gauge her face for deception, but could find nothing, only steadfast determination and something more, hope.

"How long have you got?"

The council has given me one year in which to wed and produce an heir, that was four months past.

You're close racing.

I needed to be sure. Needed to have the right alpha." She insinuated herself close enough for him to feel her heat. "Marry me, Marcus. We can share the throne. Let me help you kill the man who killed your family."

Before Marcus could even respond, there was yelling in the courtyard. Screams, the sound of metal ringing, the sound of feet pounding. Lucas burst through the doors of the great hall, his face streaked.

"Alpha, we have a problem."

Marcus was already moving, his hand reaching for his sword hilts. "What is it?"

"Bloody Raven Crest troops. Dozens, at least, in the forest to our south. They're not the same colours, but our scouts recognized their armour."

Lyra paled. "Kael. He was tracking me."

"Or you set it up," Marcus snarled, his face contorted in suspicion. "To ambush us."

"No!" She wrapped her hand around his wrist, her finger unexpectedly tight. "I swear to you, I didn't know. He must have trailed me in spite of my caution."

Marcus searched her face, inhaled her perfume, felt the beat of her pulse. Horror and anger and desperation, but no lie. She was speaking the truth.

"How many men are we ready?" He asked

"Thirty in the fortress, another twenty patrolling. But Alpha, there's something more." Lucas stared at Lyra hesitantly.

"Talk"

"Our scouts report they're not trying to break into the fortress. They're standing along the mountain road, waiting for something."

He did. It hit Marcus like a slap of frozen air. "They're waiting outside. They're going to ambush her when she gets back to the palace."

Lyra went white. "He wants to kill me and blame it on you, or on bandits."

"Clever." Marcus couldn't help but admire the scheme, although he was furious. "Either, Kael, what he wants. You dead. Me blamed."

"So what do we do?" Lucas inquired.

Marcus looked at Lyra, seeing the terror she attempted to cover. A princess who'd put her life at risk to be in this place, who'd sworn him support and justice. She was his best chance of making Kael pay for what he'd done to his family.

"Nothing, he declared at last. "Princess you'll not leave at dawn as previously planned. You will remain with us for the time being."

"I don't get it."

"You desire an alpha who will confront Kael? Here is your initial test." Marcus faced Lucas. "Put out a message to the hunt groups. I desire all men we can gather, to gear up in anticipation of Kael trying and attacking."

So are we not returning to the palace once more to retrieve the princess. Asked Lucas.

"Yes." Chewing like winter air was Marcus's smile.

"We'll see what Kael will do next. If we take the princess to the palace, Kael will attack her."

The great hall was silent except for the crackling of frames that were burnt in the fire. Lyra looked at him with hope and fear on her violet eyes.

"You're accepting my proposal?"

"I'm accepting your challenge." Marcus strode over to the window and glared out into the darkening peak. "Kael wishes to play games, let's show him what it is to threaten the mate of a wolf."

The last word hung in the air like promise or threat.

And princess Lyra would learn exactly what kind of alpha she'd trusted.