Unlikely Queen (Crystal Castle 1)

“Patrick.” He doesn’t move at the sound of my voice. “Patrick,” I say again, this time a little softer. He moves fast and jumps, and when he does, he turns into his wolf, coming straight at me.

Then the world pauses.

Patrick is suspended mid-air, his wolf eyes set firmly on me.

“Little fighter.” Grim stands in front of me, putting himself between Patrick and me. “He’s a caged wolf. What do caged wolves do?”

“Attack,” I reply, knowing this but not even thinking of it when I walked in the door. Grim steps past me and out to where Viper sits. I watch his body tense before he turns back to look at me.

I resist the urge to touch him, to have my hands on him and smell the scent that only I know he possesses.

How death could smell so inviting has me baffled.

“He’s playing you. You know that, right?” Grim’s silver eyes look to Viper. “I wouldn’t stop you if you walked up behind him right now and slit his throat.”

“So dark,” I say to him. “I don’t want to kill anyone else.” I rub my hands on my pants, trying to rid that thought from my mind. Thinking about all that blood makes me sick.

“It would be the kinder thing to do, because his death will be painful.”

“I will not do it.”

He walks over to me, his hands grasping my hips, and he lifts me effortlessly before he positions me, so I am not in the way of Patrick’s attack. “Will you not ask what he is?” Grim inquires, and I know he knows the answer I will need.

“I already know.”

“That you do, little fighter. That you do. I shouldn’t have expected any less, really.” He nods and looks back at Patrick. “Be careful, there are only so many times I can save you.”

“No, there isn’t. And why don’t you just let me die? It could be easier.”

His cold hand reaches up and strokes my dark hair back behind my ear. “Because you are so much more fun alive,” he whispers, and my eyes bounce open. I must have closed them at his touch. I love his touch—the things it makes me feel are beyond this world. Beyond any comprehension.

Death slays me, and I let him.

“Is my sister, Tanya…” I trail off, knowing he will know if she is alive or dead.

“She is alive,” he answers quickly, and I take in a deep breath. “Your wolf should be calmer now.” Before I can argue with him, he is gone and Patrick is moving full speed to the floor. When he connects with nothing but the hard ground, his head shakes and his eyes search around the room until he finds me standing there. His lip lifts to a snarl before his body shakes and he transforms back into human form.

“Patrick.” I don’t move. I don’t know what will scare him, and it’s best I keep calm around him. “We’re going to get out of here.”

He lifts his head to look at me and then lays it back down on the floor.

“I’ve been showing him visions of her.” Viper’s voice comes from behind me. “Reliving that pain, again and again.” He smiles as if it’s some kind of victory. “It would break any wolf. But this one, right here, is… he is strong. I can see why you brought him with you.”

“I didn’t bring him,” I whisper, keeping my voice low.

“No. He chose his path.”

“I guess you can see that, being a seer.”

Viper laughs. “Among other things, my dear. But yes, a seer is what I was born as.”

“Then you made a deal with a demon, much like the queen did,” I finish.

“Indeed, I did. And unlike the queen, I got a better deal out of the transaction.”

“Free him,” I say, watching as Patrick curls into a ball.

“As you wish.” Viper clicks his fingers, and I see the relief wash over Patrick’s face before his eyes close and he falls asleep. “I think it’s time we sit and eat, then you can leave.” He turns and walks out the door. I follow, checking back on Patrick as an ease settles across his face.

What have I done to the people I love?

Who am I even?

“You, my dear, are extraordinary. It’s why powerful beings gravitate toward you. It’s why the Angel of Death saves you when he shouldn’t…” He pauses. “He knows, though, when you will die, because like him, I also know your death. But he is saving you from a lot of pain and torment in the meantime. Must be nice to have an angel on your side.” He murmurs the last part, and I am sure it’s more for himself than for me to hear.

“You will give it to me, then?”

“I will, but I want you to know… this spell cannot be used by just anyone. Only someone with immense power can use it. It’s why the angel told you about it. Your sister could do the spell, but it won’t work, it would only end up killing her. Your queen was smart with her decisions on how to rule. She must have been planning these things for a long time.”