Chapter 93: The Princess and the Wolf
Trishelle POV
Pain. All I knew, all I felt, was pain. It was like drifting in a sea made of it, and holding onto my pup within me took everything I had. Hot, finger-like tendrils of agony wanted to rob me of breath and my babe. I was lost, and I knew I should leave, but what was I returning to? A life without one or both of my mates? How could I live like that? Maybe it was better to stay here, to let the darkness take me and end this suffering.
I shook my head. What was I thinking? I had to survive, for myself, for my pup. Even if James died, I carried his heir. Would I rob that child of a mother, the way I had once been robbed of something precious?
I pulled back, startled. Where did that thought come from? I looked around, but all I saw were different shades of red melding into each other, bleeding together like watercolors left in the rain. It was like standing inside a moving painting, or drifting in a red river that carried me nowhere. I knew where each bite and slash landed on my mates’ bodies because I felt it happen to my own, even though no visible traces marked my skin.
Soon, the red darkened into black, and a heavy numbness took over. I sighed and closed my eyes, grateful for the reprieve it offered. With my eyes closed, everything grew muted. I no longer heard the growls, no longer felt the burn of wounds or the dull ache of blows. I felt nothing at all, and for a moment, that emptiness felt like mercy.
I frowned, trying to open my eyes, but they refused to obey. Opening them would mean pain, and I didn’t want that, though I couldn’t quite recall pain from what. A light touch grazed my brow, and I relaxed instantly, my fear melting away. There was peace here, a stillness I hadn’t known I craved, and I allowed myself to drift into it.
I wasn’t sure how long I floated in that quiet dark, but eventually a dot of light appeared in the distance. I watched as it moved closer, or perhaps I moved toward it. Either way, a gentle glow soon enveloped me, warm and inviting. A door appeared before me, and I walked toward it without hesitation. My hand went automatically to my stomach, seeking the familiar swell, but found it flat instead. A twinge of panic filled me, sharp and sudden, but that same gentle touch soothed the thought away before it could take root. I wasn’t sure of much in that place, but I knew I was safe; the touch told me so, wordless and certain.
I stepped closer to the door, which looked as though it led into a fairy world. It was green and old, weathered by time, yet still lovingly cared for, with vines curling up its sides like nature’s own decoration. Carvings marked the lintel in some ancient language, and I squinted, trying to read them.
"This is the path to your past and future. Enter if you seek the truth."
I studied the door again, feeling an inexplicable pull toward whatever lay behind it. With a last glance around at the darkness receding behind me, I entered.
I opened my eyes and marveled at the place before me. It resembled something conjured from dreams and fairytales. The woods surrounding me brimmed with pines, birches, maples, ash, and several trees I couldn’t name. Birds sang overhead, their melodies weaving together, and little creatures scurried through the underbrush; I even glimpsed a squirrel darting up a trunk, nuts clutched in its mouth.
I laughed, closed my eyes, and breathed in a familiar scent I hadn’t realized I’d missed. When I opened them again, I felt a presence settle beside me.
Looking down, I saw a brown wolf, the same shade as my own hair, with a white natal star marking its rump, walking in step with me. Sensing my gaze, the wolf lifted its head, and tears filled my eyes at the wave of familiarity that washed over me. I knew this wolf intimately, as though it were a part of my very soul.
The wolf nodded and turned its head, gesturing toward the direction we should take. I fell into step beside it, and together we made our way along the path. It led to a clearing that opened onto the back of what could only be described as a castle, its towers rising proud against the sky.
Colorful decorations adorned the grounds, and servants scurried about in a flurry of purpose. As we drew nearer, worry crept in, wondering if we might be interrupting something important, but my companion assured me our presence would cause no disturbance. Sure enough, a maid hurried toward us, her arms piled high with decorations so tall she could barely see over them, and passed straight through me as though I were made of mist.
Shocked felt like too weak a word for what I experienced, but the wolf only chuckled, her voice echoing warmly in my head. "This is simply memories, Anna. Our presence cannot be sensed, nor do we affect anything here."
I paused, unsettled by the name. "Why are you calling me Anna?" I asked.
The wolf shrugged, the gesture more felt than seen. "Because it’s your name."
I felt an odd truth settle in that statement, though I still wondered if this was merely some strange dream conjured to ease trauma I’d suffered, though at this very moment, I couldn’t quite recall what had caused it in the first place.
"All will be revealed. Just wait."
I nodded, and we continued onward, the castle looming larger with each step.
Entering the palace through its nearest entrance, I found the flurry of activity even more pronounced than outside. People scurried in every direction, while an elderly man and a commanding woman shouted orders that sounded almost discordant, yet somehow rallied everyone into a kind of chaotic harmony. Tasks seemed to complete themselves beneath the noise. Windows gleamed, cleaned until they shone in the afternoon sun; vases and ornaments received careful dusting; paintings were straightened with precise hands; floors and railings gleamed, polished to perfection.
We made our way down the hall, and I knew we neared the kitchen as delicious aromas filled the air, rich with spice and sweetness.
"Oh my god, are these people having a banquet?" I asked my wolf companion, whom I’d decided to call El.
"Today is the Princess’s fifth birthday, and this is a very special day indeed," El replied, a note of tenderness in her mental voice.
I was about to ask why when a different kind of commotion erupted further down the corridor. I quickened my pace, no longer bothering to avoid walking through those around me. Standing at one of the windows, a few feet from the staircase, stood two children, around eight years old. They were clearly siblings, sharing the same striking purple eyes, though their builds differed greatly. Even as a child, the boy possessed a muscular physique, while the girl radiated calm, though I could sense a quiet strength within her, one that likely ran deeper and more intense than her brother’s outward confidence.
The woman who seemed to be in charge threw up her hands in exasperation, her voice sharp with worry. "What do you mean you can’t find her? It’s your job to know where she is," she chided the children.
The boy clenched his fist, his young face tight with frustration. "I know that, Ms. Bosbe. We were playing hide and seek as a way to keep her busy, but my sister just had a feeling that we should find her quickly."
At this statement, the woman went pale, and even those bustling around her stilled, sensing the shift in mood. Ms. Bosbe turned to the little girl, her voice gentler now. "My dear, are you sure?"
As the girl looked up, I gasped, catching sight of her eyes swirling with glowing streaks, otherworldly and mesmerizing.
"I just think it would be good to find her," the girl said, her voice calm despite the strange light in her gaze.
Ms. Bosbe nodded and clapped her hands briskly. "Alright, a few of you go look for the princess; the others, continue with your tasks. No sense in upsetting the family if there’s no need for it."
With that, several servants dispersed in different directions while the remaining activities resumed, though at a more subdued pace. I noticed worry etched on more than a few faces, concern mingling with something closer to fear.
El nudged my hand gently, and we left the bustling scene behind to head upstairs. We made our way down a hallway, and I marveled at the quiet there, such a contrast to the chaos below. El led me to a door, and I walked through without thinking, then paused for only a moment before following her deeper inside.
We entered what could only be described as a luxurious study, its grandeur evident at first glance. It was a large room dominated by a huge mahogany desk positioned directly in front of the door. A window behind the desk let in soft light, making the desk appear to be the very heart of the room. On either side of the window, the walls held shelves filled with books, all neatly arranged, spines aligned with careful precision.
I took a step toward them, drawn by curiosity, but a small sniff on my left drew my attention away. I looked over and noticed El had settled in front of a couple, a man comforting his wife, if the gentle kiss pressed to her brow was any indication. El’s tail wagged slowly, and I could feel the quiet joy radiating from her at seeing this couple again, an emotion so strong it felt like my own.
I edged closer to listen, taking in their appearance with growing curiosity. The man stood tall, at least 6’3", with black hair and eyes as green as ivy leaves in shade. His face carried a fearsome quality, sharp and commanding, but the gentle smile he offered his wife softened those hard features into something tender. The woman had brown hair and clear blue eyes, her figure shapely in a way her husband clearly adored, evident in how his hand moved along her body without conscious thought, as natural as breathing.
The woman wore a concerned expression, sniffing softly. "You shouldn’t have made today such a big deal."
The man scoffed, though warmth colored his tone. "My queen, today is a big deal, the biggest deal in all our lands. How could I not? It’s our precious daughter’s fifth birthday. You know how important it is; besides, the more we invite, the better our chance of finding that special person."
"I know, honey, really I do, and as king, it would look bad if you didn’t," she admitted, worry creasing her brow, "but I am worried about him. What if he shows up and causes a ruckus?"
The king’s jaw hardened, his eyes darkening with quiet resolve. "If he does, he is asking for death." Then his gaze softened as he looked upon his wife. "Trust me, my love, today will be a day no one will forget."