Bloodmark

  The sound of everyone’s heads snapping back toward the doorway was like the crack of a whip. They all inspected me as I stood there, and I stared wide-eyed back at them. They scrutinized my every movement as I walked awkwardly to the open seat across from Quinn. As father sat for the second time, everyone around me sat. I followed a few beats behind their mass movements. Down at the end of the table, I recognized Grey’s handsome face sitting with Baran’s small pack. At least I knew he was safe with them. I forced myself not to smile at him and instead busied myself with counting all the gems on Gwyn’s amethyst-covered dress.

  I could feel all their eyes on me like burning flames on my cheek. I didn’t even know whom I was sitting next to. I was too scared to look up for fear of catching Grey’s eye and putting his life in danger. My neighbor leaned in close, whispering in my ear.

  “These dinners are always more show than anything,” said a kind, masculine voice.

  I looked up into Brychan’s dark eyes. Though his regal face didn’t soften, his voice was reassuring. I wondered now how I had never noticed how handsome he was. I suppose I didn’t know what handsome was then. I dared a glance down the lengths of the table, and I spotted Eamon immediately, his eyes burned into mine. I couldn’t hide anything from his watchful eye, so I looked away. Dinner went on for three courses, mostly of raw animal flesh, without me looking up from Gwyn’s dress. I was thankful for the distracting gems.

  “It is time for declarations,” Mother Rhea said.

  Mother Rhea was a werewolf who had lived fifteen centuries but only appeared in her seventies. She had seen many battles and had been near death many times, all of which aged her physically. I knew very little of her history, only what Mund had told me. She was so elegant; I loved her British accent. Her silver hair was curly and sculpted beautifully atop her head with a few ringlets on the right, but it was her pale skin and beautiful blue eyes that everyone always spoke of. For me, it was her smirk and her pointy eyebrows—just like mine—that made me want to fold myself into her arms. She was refined in every way, but I knew underneath that exterior she was one tough lady. She used to visit Mother and me on the cliffs from time to time.

  As first in line for my hand, Brychan stood facing my father. “I, Lord Brychan Kahedin, Beldig-son of Wales, declare my honor and will court Lady Ashling at your will,” he said.

  Father nodded.

  I felt as if I were being auctioned off to the highest bidder. I was sick to my stomach. I had been here for no more than a few days, and I was already being drowned in pack laws.

  A tall blond man stood. His strong jaw held his mouth firm in his decision. He had piercing pale-blue eyes, and his strong body rippled beneath his black suit. He looked like a spy from one of those 007 movies Baran loved. “I, Channing Kingery, Karik son of Switzerland, declare my honor and will court Lady Ashling at your will,” he said. Channing was the elder brother of Cadence, Felan’s wife.

  Father nodded again.

  I knew Grey stared at me. I could feel his rage at other men talking this way about me, Grey’s rightful mate. Publicly, my father showed him where he stood—no more than a witness to these proceedings. Baran was doing all he could to keep Grey in his seat. He was being torn apart by this spectacle. And his pain was my pain. I wanted to cry for us both.

  Eamon stood up; his body was all mended from his battle with Adomnan. Bento sat by his side. “I, King Eamon Dvergar of Iceland, declare my honor and will court Lady Ashling at your will.”

  There was a hush among the guests as they awaited father’s rule. The son of his greatest enemy now asked to court his only daughter, and not only that, but he was now King of the Dvergar land and pack. There was something about the way Eamon stared at me that made me uneasy. Despite everything he’d done for me, I still didn’t trust him. Father nodded, reluctantly. There was a smile in Eamon’s eyes; I was sure only I could see.

  The room grew quiet. No more offers were spoken. I knew, from what I had read, that this was the only time declarations could be made. A female of mating age was either betrothed to someone or open to declarations. If Mother Rhea closed the offers, no more could be made. I could never be with Grey without breaking a Bloodbond with my family. I felt as if my soul were being smothered. Suddenly I needed air, and my head began to spin. I stood abruptly, letting the chair scrape across the floor as I stumbled backward. Trying to catch my balance, I crashed down toward the floor.

  Grey’s strong arms caught me. He was faster than the others—most weren’t even out of their seats. Even Brychan didn’t have time to react to catch me. I breathed Grey in again. He had scooped me up in his arms like a child cradled against his strong chest. When he didn’t put me down, I knew he wanted to run away with me in his arms. Mother Rhea offered me her hand, to intervene before he could take such rash actions. Grey set me back on my feet carefully.

  “Perhaps . . .” she said, studying Grey. She seemed to be reading our connection. The Elder Gods could see the energy between two bonded souls as though it were a colored fiber dancing around us, our own personal aurora borealis wrapping around our bodies and connecting us together. When she finally looked back to me, it was clear she knew what Grey and I were and that we had already bonded. Neither of us could ever live without the other. “Perhaps Grey of Killian should make an offer,” she said.

  There were grumbles and curses around the room at the idea of a nomad courting me, their high princess. It was beyond words, and had anyone but an Elder God suggested it, that person would have been put to death. I held my breath.

  “Mother Rhea?” Father said.

  “As Lady Ashling’s savior, he has earned this right, if he dares claim it.”

  Grey squared his shoulders to my father. “I, Grey Donavan of Killian, declare my honor and will court Lady Ashling.”

  A small smirk was hidden at the corner of his mouth. I knew he had intentionally left out the statement, at your will. He was stating his right to me, not asking for permission. Mund was fighting down a smile, as he had caught the defiance too. Mother Rhea turned to father. He didn’t dare question an Elder God again. He nodded solemnly to Grey’s offer.

  “And so it shall be. The sons of our packs Dvergar, Kahedin, Kingery, and Killian will court Princess Ashling of Boru for the right to be her one true mate,” Mother Rhea said. She held her hand out for Grey to escort her back to her seat.

  Brychan stood, helping me back to mine. He poured my water, setting it in front of me. He studied my pale face as the color started to return.

  “It can be overwhelming at first, but you get used to all the silly rules after a while. Don’t worry, I’ll help you,” he said, smiling for the first time. It softened his masculine features.

  “Thank you, Lord Brychan,” I said. My voice was barely a whisper.

  “As the suitors of my only daughter, I must be sure of your strength as an ally and your ability to protect her. You shall all fight in a series of matches in the Bloodrealms to prove your worth,” Father said.

  There were some rumblings and whispers around the room before each of my suitors started knocking his metal goblet on the table and all cheered at the prospect of the matches. The testosterone nearly dripped off their skin as they sized each other up.

  “Princess Tegan, I think my lady is still feeling a bit faint. Would you kindly escort her back to her room?” Brychan asked.

  I wasn’t sure if he was trying to be nice or just separating me from the other suitors, but I wasn’t going to ask. I was willing to flee before this evening got any worse.

  “Would the ladies care to join us in the sitting room?” Tegan said.

  As though it weren’t a question, the other women and children stood and followed us out, leaving the room filled with testosterone. I suddenly wasn’t sure that was a good idea, either.

  Tegan sat me on the small sofa in the corner of the room where Mother Rhea joined me. She didn’t say anything as she watched me carefully. Her indiscreet eyes didn’t leave any
inch of me unmarked. She knew all my secrets, even the ones I had yet to discover in myself.

  “Thank you, Mother Rhea,” I said.

  “For what, my dear?”

  “Grey,” I whispered his name.

  “He earned his place. It is his right to fight for you. But you must also learn your place. You will save the humans. As a species, they can only be saved by love.” She patted my hand thoughtfully. “You must protect Old Mother; she is the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. Her love is poured out upon the earth, and it is she who links us to the land and the cycles of the seasons and the moon. It is she who created the humans.” She spoke of the humans’ lives as though they were more important than her own beating heart. Her love for them was deep in her bones.

  I finally understood the humans’ need to fight—it stemmed from fear. Fear that resulted from us not protecting them and not fulfilling our duty to Old Mother. We were meant to balance them and protect them from the fear of darkness.

  “Each pack was created with a purpose,” she said. “The Boru brought wisdom, the Vanir brought life, Kahedin brought balance, Killian brought protection, the Kingerys brought compassion . . . even the Dvergar have a place in the elements. They are strength, though strength in the wrong hands can become corrupt. But all along, Old Mother’s work was flawed. She never gave them love. That is why she created you—and why you’re so wild. You are filled with the love and passion the humans so desperately need because one cannot contain love nor stop it. It is the greatest strength in the world. It overpowers evil, fear, and hate.”

  I now knew the brightest of lights would always attract the darkest of nights, but love would outshine the darkness. If love was allowed in, it would save souls.

  I felt so overwhelmed. Everything had changed. I was no longer just a silly werewolf princess in love with a human; I was the survivor of a ruthless attack, a daughter of a king, a princess with four suitors, and the key to the prophecy. In less than a year, my whole world had changed forever.

  Brychan, Channing, and Eamon would likely move to York Harbor, and they wouldn’t go unnoticed by the small town. Their persistent closeness to me would stir suspicion from the humans.

  “Shall we retire?” Tegan asked.

  The room emptied as I was lost in my own thoughts. “Sorry,” I mumbled as I followed her out. “Where’s Grey?”

  “He’ll meet us in the library.”

  I couldn’t stop the smile from taking over my face at the thought of being with him again, to feel his strong arms wrapped around my body. I yearned for his touch.

  25

  Bloodmark

  We walked into the library, the room where I had started my journey down this twisted path of mistaken love. The books still filled the shelves as they had before, but now they did not hold my escape—they held the past. I had lived life away from everything, and my tale had only just begun. Grey leaned against one of the pillars. His black shirt and jacket were open again, and his black tie hung loosely around his neck. He smiled as I approached him. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he kissed me.

  “We have to talk,” Mund interrupted.

  Grey loosened his grip on my waist as I turned around to face my brother, but his hands remained resting on my hips. His touch awakened my body.

  “Grey, I know you are Ashling’s one true mate, but you will need to win not only her choice, but our father’s. You must beat all three of the others in the Bloodrealms. If you don’t do this, you will leave Ashling to her death, as I know she will not accept any other choice from our father,” Mund said.

  “I understand.”

  “The Bloodrealms are an old-world werewolf tradition. It started out as bare-knuckled boxing leagues for royal and noble packs to blow off steam, show strength, win a bride, and occasionally settle disputes. After the split, the forsaken packs have made it a much darker place of unspeakable treachery, violence, and slavery,” Mund said. “There is one more thing you must know. Ashling, before we leave in a fortnight, Father has one more ceremony that will be performed during the Bloodmoon, and no one can interfere. No matter how she screams in pain, Grey, you cannot interfere.” He turned his attention to my obviously worried face, and his voice softened. “You will be branded as a Boru. You will finally receive your Bloodmark.”

  A shiver involuntarily ripped through my body. The brands were tattooed in the blood of our fathers. Tegan said it was the most excruciatingly painful thing she had ever endured. I knew it was for my own protection from other competing packs, but the idea of it being burned into my flesh didn’t bring me any comfort. Still, I was honored to finally earn my mark and my place in the pack.

  “As she wasn’t branded as a child, you will have to bear witness to our father’s right to her, as you are a potential suitor. And if you show any pain or in any way try to interfere, you will be put to death.”

  “Does everything lead to death with you people?” Grey said.

  His dry sense of humor didn’t make anyone else smile the way it made me. I agreed with him. Our laws seemed so ridiculously ancient. You annoy someone, death. You speak to someone above your station, death. You breathe in the wrong blood direction, death.

  “Etiquette dictates that you shall escort Ashling to her chamber as we follow behind,” Tegan said. “Remember there are eyes everywhere here, and they are watching you, Ashling. Until we are home in York Harbor, we aren’t safe from their inspection, and even then, there will be eyes on you. We must behave accordingly.”

  We walked the halls as slowly as we could, dragging out every possible moment we could together without drawing attention from the others we occasionally passed. I wanted to be alone with him. I wanted to pour my heart out to him. To tell him every feeling I had without him by my side. But I knew it couldn’t happen as long as we remained at the Rock.

  He kissed my cheek lightly, and my blood warmed at his lightest touch—he fueled my wild abandon. Tegan shooed him away to the chamber he shared with Baran down the hall. Once I was finally alone in my chamber—as Dillon, the head of the guard, stood watch oustide my door, I climbed into my giant bed. I was still in my beautiful gown. I curled myself into a ball and subconsciously touched my cheek where Grey’s lips had been moments ago.

  I couldn’t stop thinking, I’m alive.

  Grey saved my life in more ways than one. When I thought I had lost him, I had let go of who I was. But he came for me and brought me back to myself. I closed my eyes, letting all the emotions of the day slip away into the night.

  Ancient rituals filled my days leading up to the branding ceremony. One particularly annoyed me. I wasn’t allowed out of my room nor was any male allowed in. It was devastating knowing Grey was on the other side of my stone prison. I busied myself with reading, but in every story I read, the characters became Grey and me. Their love transformed into our love. Grey’s every move and breath besotted me. Even when I couldn’t see him, I still couldn’t get him out of my mind.

  Finally, one night while I lay awake staring at nothing, a small note slipped under my chamber door. I bounced off the bed and picked up the folded piece of parchment, and Grey’s scent saturated the paper. I quickly unfolded the message:

  I dream of you.

  I held it tight to my chest as I fell back onto the bed. He was as desperate for a glimpse of me as I was for him. A wave of calm washed over me, extinguishing my rebellion. Only a few days remained until I would be free to wildly love him once again.

  Every night continued in the same way. I waited, leaning on the door for my knight to come, and every night he slipped the tiny notes under my door.

  You are the fire in my soul.

  As long as you are mine.

  I lie awake missing you.

  The notes became our only moments together in those thirteen days. Our only way to communicate. I wanted to rip the wooden door apart that dared to separate our warm bodies. I wanted to taste his sweet lips once more.

  The Bloodmoon final
ly came, illuminating the night of our sacred ceremony. Mother dressed me in the gown Lady Faye had given me; through the assaults, it hadn’t been damaged or bloodstained in any way.

  “Mother, how did this dress survive?”

  “The Elder Gods, like Mother Rhea and Lady Faye, are the weavers of souls. They see everything, know everything. Lady Faye spun this cloak with her hands from a piece of Old Mother’s soul, and it is yours by birthright. It will not and cannot be destroyed. It was created by Old Mother for her wolf daughters.”

  “But what does that mean?” I said.

  Her light laugh filled the room. “That you have to find out for yourself,” she replied.

  I scowled.

  “A lady does not make such a face.”

  I laid my head on her shoulder, and I breathed in her scent. I had missed her. Her softness gave me such strength. For all my life, I could remember only one other time I had been away from her. Only one time darkened my memories.

  “I don’t like being away from you,” I said.

  “This was our first time apart. It’s always the hardest.”

  I looked up at her, confused by her statement. “When I was two, you left me,” I said, my voice breaking with strain. “You left me alone on the cliffs. They said you’d chosen another life.”

  “I can’t believe you even remember that.”

  I whispered back, “I remember everything.”

  She lightly cupped my chin. “Ashling, I did leave you. I didn’t think you would remember it.” She shook her head lightly. Her scent drifted down on me from her woven hair. “Your father sent word that Crob Dvergar was searching for me. He believed you still lived and that finding me would lead him to you. I fled to protect you. To lead them away. I would never have left you if it had been anything less than life-threatening.”

  “I stood on the cliffs all night until you came back for me. I didn’t move.”

  “Redmund told me how you didn’t cry. You didn’t make a sound. You just watched me flee over the hills. He tried to convince you to come inside after darkness fell, but you just stood there. Unmoving. Your bare feet on the cold stones. You were a stubborn girl.” She smiled. “It’s good you didn’t move. It’s as if you knew something we could not. Crob was waiting at our house . . . you would have walked right into his trap, and I would have lost everything. He was so close to taking everything I held dear from me,” she said, tears welling in her eyes.