Winter's Wolf (A Court of Shifters Chronicles #1)

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

  “You aren’t old if that’s what you are implying.”

  “I’m getting older, Wren. You know that. I did not have you at a young age.”

  “Yet you mated young…”

  “Yes… but not everything went as planned.”

  “Oh?” Was this it? Was she finally going to tell me why she’d been mated for decades before I was born?

  “But that is neither here nor there.”

  Of course not. She wasn’t going to reveal anything about herself. She was such a mystery to us, and that’s how she was going to leave it. “Then what is it you wanted to tell me? It had to be more than a reminder of how impressionable my sister is.”

  “Nothing I do is to hurt you. But sometimes to get what we need we have to face something hard.”

  It was weird. Knowing part of what she was doing but having to pretend I didn’t. I tried to picture how I’d be acting if I’d been left in the dark. I found that was easier said than done. “I know you don’t have any easy job, but you can be honest with me. You don’t need to lie.”

  “I don’t lie to you.”

  “You don’t have to hide the truth from me.” Whatever the real truth was.

  “I do what has to be done. You will understand what that truly means one day when you sit where I do.” She gripped the edge of the throne. I figured now wasn’t the time to let it slip that I wished I’d never sit there. That I daydreamed of another life.

  “I know Genevieve can’t come. You don’t have to explain it to me.”

  “It’s more than her coming or not. It’s the example you are setting.”

  “I'll set a good example.” I bowed my head. Ready to get out of there before I could blow things up.

  “You will make a good queen,” she called after me. “Never doubt that. I never have.”

  Wow. That was a new one considering everything else she’d said. “Thanks,” I called over my shoulder.

  Frost

  “I still don’t understand why you requested me,” Preston whined from his spot in the carriage. The three of us were crammed inside a space that was only supposed to hold one, maybe two, but that was the point. From the outside Wren was supposed to look unprotected. It may have seemed counterintuitive, but throwing off the enemy sometimes is.

  “Because Wren needs the best protection she can get.” I also needed to keep my eye on him.

  “She was traveling without protection a few days ago. What’s changed?” Preston slumped down in the seat. If I didn’t already know he was a teenager, it would have been crystal clear with that action.

  “Something sure has. Did you know the end of days was coming?” Wren crossed her legs at the ankles.

  “Very funny.” Preston rolled his eyes.

  “My mother thinks it is. Hence you being here; I need all the protection I can get.” She put her hands to her chest.

  “Why are we doing this anyway?” Preston stretched out his long legs the best he could given the tight space.

  “Yes, why are we doing this, Frost?” Wren grinned wickedly. “Maybe my mother told you more than she told me.”

  “And why would that be?” Wren knew more than she was letting on. And my guess is Genevieve had something to do with it. I wasn’t sure how much to admit to. She was coming on the trip, so did that mean she had a plan?

  “She’s always liked you better.” Wren’s eyes twinkled, but there was something else behind them. Fear maybe. I hated that. I needed to get rid of it.

  But I wouldn’t let on that I'd seen it. “Get off it, Wren.”

  “Come on. I know she told you more.” She put a hand on my chest. A wave of awareness ran through me. I hated that despite everything going on, my body was still having that response.

  “She told me the bare minimum.” That was the truth. And threatened just enough to get me to agree.

  “You’re telling me my mother didn’t tell you what was in these envelopes?” She held up one of the gray envelopes sealed with the wax and metal stamp of the Winter Court.

  “She told me it was important I go with you.” And truthfully, I didn’t know for sure what was in the envelope. I could only assume it related to the stated mission she’d given.

  “Ok… you know there is a lot more to say about that.”

  “What do you want from me, Wren?” I tugged at my hair. Lying to her was impossible. “You know it kills me to say no to you or hold anything back.”

  “So you admit you are holding back?” She bit her bottom lip. That only meant one thing. She felt guilty.

  “Wren, why are you doing this to me?” She knew how hard it was. She knew me, and the way I felt about her. “I know you know more than what you’re telling me too.”

  “Oh, come on.” Preston groaned. “Don’t do this in front of me.”

  “Do what?” Wren asked innocently.

  “You know exactly what I mean.” Preston rolled his neck around. “I’m tired of this already. Both of you just spill. And if not, then just stop talking.”

  “Might I remind you that you are addressing royalty.” Sometimes I wondered why I bothered when my brother had no sense of self-preservation. Sure, I’d more than crossed the line with Wren kissing her the way I did, but she’d wanted that kiss just as much as I did. And I knew we both wanted so much more.

  “I remember. I remember very well. But I’m already a dead man. Not much worse you can do to me.” He put an arm over his eyes. “At least let me die in peace.”

  “Hey.” Wren reached over and pulled his arm down. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I don't care who you are in a mess with.”

  He shrugged. “You can’t control everything, no matter how hard you try.”

  “I can sure control a lot.”

  A loud burst of thunder had us all glancing at each other.

  Preston pulled back the curtains and looked out. “Was there a storm expected?”

  “No.” Wren shook her head. “Absolutely not.”

  “Maybe we should stop.” Preston continued to look out. “Those clouds look angry.”

  “We are almost to Spring. We can make it.” Wren wrapped her arms over her chest.

  She was worried, and so was I. There weren’t usually storms like this so close to Spring Court. They usually had nice gentle showers most of the time. Thunderstorms belonged at Summer Court. There was magic afoot, and we all knew it.

  “It’s your call, Wren.” I put a hand on her arm, hoping it brought her some comfort. “You’re in charge.”

  “This isn’t good.” She spoke quietly. Just above a whisper. If I didn’t have enhanced hearing from being a shifter, I’d have never heard her over the wind. “Come on. Come clean. You and I both know why my mother sent us out.”

  “I had no choice.” I tried not to yell, but I wanted to make sure she heard me.

  “I know. But I don’t trust any of this. My mother could have had suitors sent to me. Why send us out…”

  “You think your mother is trying to off you so your little sister rules because she’s easier to control?” Preston shouted.

  “Preston!” I snapped. “Do you realize what you are implying?”

  “He’s not implying anything… he’s accusing.” Wren wrapped her arms tighter around her.

  “He’s young,” I tried to explain.

  “Stop. Save your breath. You know I’d never get him in trouble. I’m just trying to work things out in my head.” She closed her eyes.

  “Let’s push through to Spring. There will be calm within those borders, and then we can figure everything else out.” I knew it wouldn’t be that simple but we had to try something.

  “Agree.” She nodded. “We need to press on to Spring.”

  “If we can make it,” Preston mumbled.

  “We have to make it, so we will.” Now wasn’t the time to have doubts.

  The storm continued on, and the carriage swayed back and forth on the old roads. The driver continued on. He would never stop unless we direc
ted him to.

  We reached the gates of Spring and stopped.

  “What’s going on?” Wren lifted the curtain.

  “I don’t know. But I’ll find out.” I prepared myself before I pushed open the door.

  I stepped into the pelting rain. “Why are we—”

  I let the question fall away as I came face to face with the King of the Spring Court. “Your honor.” I bowed my head. One of his men held an umbrella over him, but the rain was pounding down hard enough that he was still getting wet.

  “We received word you were coming.” He tried to look around me into the carriage.

  He was king, but that didn’t mean I’d step away to make it easier unless he ordered me to do so. And even then I wouldn’t follow an order from another Court’s king if it meant I’d leave Wren in danger.

  “You did?” I hadn’t known Esmeralda had sent any word in advance, but I wasn’t overly surprised. “Then why did you stop us before the gates?”

  He gazed up at the sky. “The storms. Did you bring them with you?” Lightning lit up the sky.

  “Bring them?” I puzzled over his words. He couldn’t have been implying we were behind the storms, could he? “No. We hit the line a few hours back.”

  “There is something going on. And I don't like it.” The king gazed back up at the sky.

  He wasn’t the only one struggling to figure things out. “Would you like you to turn around? Our queen sent us on official business, but you rule here.”

  “You should have something for me.” He held out his hand.

  “Yes.” Wren crouched and stuck her head out from the carriage. I held out my hand to help her down. Once she reached the ground she held out the grey envelope with Spring Court written in elegant script.

  “Very well.” The king pocketed it. “Come in and be quick.”

  Wren hopped back into the carriage before I could help her. I wasn’t surprised. She’d only let me help her down because the king was watching.

  “That was strange.” Wren returned to her seat as the carriage started through the gate. Her hair and cloak were damp, but she didn’t seem bothered by it. At least she wasn’t as soaked as I was.

  “Very. The king is nervous.”

  Wren sighed. “I don’t like any of this.”

  “I heard most of that, I still think I was right, and we should have stopped.” Preston stretched his arms over his head. “But I’m not in charge here.”

  “None of us are,” Wren said under her breath.

  She was right. And we all needed to remember that. I caught Preston’s eye. “This court has always been friendly to us, but that doesn't mean it will never change.”

  “I know.” Preston yawned. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m done trusting anyone.”

  Wren wrapped her hand around his wrist. “Listen to me. Please listen to me closely. We have to trust each other. Okay? If we don’t… well, I don’t even want to go there.”

  “Of course.” He nodded. “I didn’t mean I wouldn’t trust you.”

  She released his wrist. “Good.”

  The carriage made it through the gates, and they slammed closed behind us.

  The door yanked open, and Lacey peered in the carriage. “Back so soon, Wren? And you didn’t come alone.” She was completely dry, as two servants held umbrellas for her.

  “Yes… I am.” Wren hopped down and let Lacey lead her inside. Wren was tense. Very tense.

  “Are you okay?” Lacey put an arm around her.

  Preston and I hurried behind.

  The umbrellas fell away as we entered the palace.

  “I’m okay. Just worried.” Wren shivered. She never shivered. She was a Winter Court princess. She didn’t get cold. “Those storms. They felt off.”

  “No kidding.” Lacey glanced back at me with an unreadable expression before turning forward again. “I don’t remember a time we had storms this bad.” The thunder continued to roll outside the walls of the warm palace. I’d been in the Spring Court palace before. I’d admired the flowers that lined the halls and the trees that served as a low canopy, but it felt different this time as the storms continued outside.

  “You feel it too. Right? The magic?” Wren was whispering again. She knew Preston and I could hear, so I wasn’t sure who she was trying to keep the words from.

  “Yes.” Lacey walked close by Wren’s side. “But tell me what brought you back so soon.”

  “My mother claims it’s to find me a mate.” Wren glanced at me over her shoulder. Sometimes I really wished I knew what she was thinking. Other times I was glad I couldn’t tell. “Well, that’s what she told Frost. She told me nothing.”

  “But you don’t believe it?” Lacey turned down another hallway. I wasn’t entirely sure where she was leading us, but staying with Wren was my priority. “And you actually went somewhere with no explanation?”

  “I had no choice. And she was acting really weird. Plus, my sister had spilled the beans.”

  “Oh, Genevieve. Got to love her.” Lacey laughed.

  “Yes. Yes you do.” Wren sighed. “It wasn’t her fault. I pulled it out of her. I’m just glad she didn’t get in trouble. At least it didn’t seem like she was going to be in trouble.”

  “I wish I had a little sister.”

  “It’s better than a little brother.” I grinned at Preston.

  Preston frowned.. “Gee, thanks.”

  “Oh, come on. You have little brothers too.”

  “Yes. But I know that comment was meant for me.”

  “At the moment, yes.”

  Lacey pushed open a set of double doors that led the way into an atrium sitting room. The ceilings were tall and covered in a thick canopy of trees. If I didn’t know any better I’d have thought we were outside. But I did know better. Spring Court was careful. They were often viewed as a weak court and therefore attacked far more often than one would expect. They wouldn’t have anything open air inside their palace anymore. But that didn’t mean they stopped trying to recreate the outdoors inside.

  Wren stretched out on a floral patterned chaise. “I wish I knew what was in that envelope we gave your dad.”

  “You and me both.” Lacey lay down beside Wren.

  On that one piece of furniture were two of the most powerful Fae out there.

  “You could have looked.” Preston paced the room. “Do you mean to tell me you can’t fake the Winter Court seal, Wren?”

  “Really?” I was getting awfully tired of reminding my little brother of his place. “Did you just say that?”

  “Of course I can’t fake it.” Wren sat up. “You think my mother has made anything that easy? And do you know what would happen if I was caught?”

  “I never remember you being scared of anything.” Preston stopped pacing. “Ever.”

  “Everyone is afraid of my mother.” Wren wrapped her arms around herself. “Especially me.”

  I wanted to throttle my brother, but I didn’t think that was going to go over particularly well. If we were back home I’d be taking a much more active response with him. “None of this is helping the situation. None of us know what is in the envelope, so there is no sense wishing we did.”

  The large doors opened wide, and two guards dressed in the green uniforms of Spring Court walked in. “Frost, your presence has been requested in the throne room.”

  “Just Frost?” Wren sprang to her feet.

  “Yes.” One of the guards bowed his head. “With all due respect.”

  “Yes, all the respect.” Wren wove her hand around.

  I didn’t want to leave her, but I couldn’t turn down the request from the king. We also needed answers.

  “It’s okay. Go.” Wren made a shooing motion with our hand. “Preston is here with me anyway.”

  Preston straightened up as if to accentuate his height. “Yup. You know she’s safe with me.”

  Lacey laughed. “You do realize she was here without you guys for a month.”

  “Just o
ver a month,” Wren corrected.

  “Yes, just over a month.” Lacey put her arm around Wren. “She will be just fine here.”

  I knew there was no question of what I had to do, so I followed the so far quiet guard out and toward the throne room.

  I’d been inside the Spring Palace before but not the throne room. I was expecting something similar to the Winter throne room, but I was wrong. Instead of a dais at one end, the king sat on a throne in the middle of the room. Chairs circled all around him and the empty seat beside him.

  “Your majesty.” I bowed as I entered the room. Inside this room I’d need to be even more formal than I was outside the gates. I was there on official court business, and that meant I was representing my queen.

  “Thank you for coming to speak to me alone, Frost.” The king gestured to a chair right in front of where he sat. “Please take a seat.”

  Sitting in front of the king’s throne? It didn’t feel right, but I knew there was no choice. I took a seat, but I sat stock straight up. I wouldn’t be accused of lounging. “Of course.”

  The king peered down at me. “Do you know what information the queen shared in that envelope?”

  Right to the chase. “No, your majesty. The directive was not for me.” I had thought I’d known, but I was really starting to doubt it.

  “War, Frost. War is brewing.” He threaded his hands together on his knees.

  “War?” There was no question that tempers were flaring. But war? Actual war? That word was not one the Fae took lightly.

  He nodded. “Yes. It is coming.”

  “Is that all the message contained?” Had my queen really invented the whole story of finding Wren a mate?

  “No. But that is the part that concerns you. We cannot sit back and wait.”

  “Who is this war with?” He said it concerned me, so hopefully that meant he’d fill me in. Also, did that mean there was stuff about Wren mating, and it just didn’t concern me? I pushed that last question away. I had to stay focused. War was no small thing.

  “The Dwellers.”

  “The Dwellers?” I repeated the name. “Should I know of these people?”