Chapter 0047
A jolt of unease shot through me. She cocked an eyebrow as the sky began to darken with storm clouds.
“Last I checked, this side of Midnight’s border was shared with the Dark Forest pack, which Isn’t exactly a friend of yours.”
I winced. Violet’s gaze lingered on the path the rogue took away from us.
“So how likely is it that you’ve got traitors in Midnight?”
I bristled, folding my arms across my chest. “Not likely at all,” I said firmly. “My men are loyal.”
She tilted her head, studying me with those sharp, piercing eyes. “You’re that confident?”
I glared at her. “Yes,”
“Then It must be your brother who wants you dead.” her eyes narrowed. “you don’t seem very surprised about that.”
I said nothing. Her words sank like stones in my stomach, hitting the truth I hadn’t wanted to ever think about. Owen and I had never gotten along, but I had never thought he might have the gall, or the recklessness, to set an ambush like this.
“How are the wounded? The carriage?”
“Alive. And in need of repair.” I looked over and winced, noticing the broken axles and wheels. The attack had left it barely able to stand, let alone carry us. The steam engine hissed as it continued to cool.
“We’re definitely not going to make it to the palace, but I thought we would.”
And if Violet was right, Owen wouldn’t give a damn. He’d be halfway to celebrating probably.
“We’ll have to make it to the next town on foot,” Violet said. “And hope that Dark Forest is hospitable. How far to the nearest town?”
I winced, “It’s the capital… Alpha Tyron Hayward’s city.”
She smirked. “He doesn’t like you, does he?”
“Dislike‘ might be a gentle way to put it.”
The Hayward line wasn’t noble like the Donovans, but they had always been loyal to the crown. The alpha of Dark Forest would rather spit on me than help me, and I knew this. He and his brother had made it very clear what they thought of me ages ago. The current alpha of Dark Forest was a middle child of the six brothers who actually ran the territory, each of them presiding over their own city.
But we didn’t have a choice. I turned to the guards.
1/2
“If we can get his cooperation, we’ll have supplies and repairs within hours. If not, we’re looking at a delay of days.”
Violet chuckled, shaking her head. With the few remaining guards, we started down the narrow path toward Hayward’s town, leaving the luggage and the carriage where it was. By the time we reached the town gates, dusk had settled, casting long shadows over the worn stones of the wall surrounding it.
We walked through the town toward the main hall, where people were heading to the warm, glowing lights of the large fireplace I knew was there.
No sooner had we entered that I saw him, and he saw me.
Tyron Hayward was an older, grizzled man sitting on his throne–like chair carved with images of the forests and mountains, glaring at me with a wry smirk on his face.
“Well, well, what brings the wayward prince to Dark Forest?” His eyes narrowed. “Where he knows he is not welcome.”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need to be. We were attacked on your roads.”
He scoffed. “Not by my me and not on my order.” Tyron grinned and lifted his mug. “You’d be dead.‘
A laugh rippled through the hall. The bitter edge in his tone made me clench my jaw. “We’re seeking help. Of course, I wouldn’t ask for it for free.”
He laughed. “And I would not offer it for pay. You should have spared yourself the walk.”
I snarled. “You would turn away injured men for what? You-”
A peel of laughter cut through the air, feminine and warm.
“Oh, you must give him the benefit of the doubt! They can’t help themselves.”
Tyron turned stiffly toward the sound. His entire demeanor had changed. Shock, awe, hope, and something else. The whole room turned toward the sound as did I. Violet was seated with an older woman in a long, flowing dress and a toddler on her lap. The woman’s eyes were bright as she leaned toward Violet, who had her phone between them, showing her something.
Who was she?
I
