Page 52 of Direbound (The Wolves of Ruin #1)

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

B y the time I reach the empty Rawbond common lounge and part with Venna, it’s become a powerful need. How many times have I gone to him, wounded and in pain, only for him to take me into his hands and smooth it all away?

Help , my bloodied heart screams. I need his help. I need something to make sense again.

I find him still curled up in my bed, sleeping peacefully. I lock the door to my room behind me, then race to him urgently, shaking him awake.

Killian’s dark blue eyes blink open blearily. “Meryn?”

I was right. Just looking at him makes me feel more in control. “I…”

“Are you alright?” he asks, snapping awake and sitting up. “You?—”

“I found her,” I blurt.

The moment the words are out, my eyes well again. I huff in frustration and angrily wipe my face. “Sh-She’s right here . Below the castle. The entire time, and I never knew. I was right here, and she was so afraid, Killian. It was my job to keep her safe. To make sure she felt safe , and I failed.”

He reaches out, taking both of my hands in his. His skin is warm. His grip is firm. He’s quiet, but he pulls me closer. “You found her,” Killian repeats. “Saela?”

I nod, chin trembling. Killian moves deeper into the bed so that I can sit next to him. Once I’m there, he rests a reassuring hand on my thigh, smoothing his touch back and forth. It slowly starts to calm me. “Take a breath, Meryn.”

“I don’t have time . I need?—”

“Look at me,” he says. I drag my tear-filled gaze up to his. “That’s better,” he says, nodding. I breathe out shakily, reaching up with slightly trembling hands to hold his face. “Talk to me. I’ll listen.”

I take a deep breath. “There’s a prison beneath the castle. I went down through some tunnels. It was a maze, but at the end of it, I found her. And dozens of other kids, mostly young. They’re all behind bars, Killian. And Saela was there.”

Killian’s brow tightens, his skin paling. There’s a razor-sharp grief in his eyes, like this revelation is taking something precious from him. “Is she alright?”

I shake my head. “They’re being kept for something. Taken every few weeks for goddess-knows-what. I think they’re dying. They could take her any moment.”

Killian sinks back against the walls. He shakes his head, hand covering his mouth. Then he looks up at me. His voice is hoarse. “Who takes them? Did you see them?”

“Your…” I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to hurt him. But there’s no other way. “Your father,” I breathe.

His eyes widen and he presses his lips into a thin, pale line.

“Saela said he’s the one who picks the children. Takes them away. This is because of him. All of it is him,” I say.

Killian looks hollowed out, like I’ve just extinguished his soul in a single breath. I think this might’ve been the same look I wore on my face, having to leave Saela. It’s loss. Killian and the king have long been at odds, but surely even he wouldn’t think his parent capable of such a thing.

“My father?”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“My father?” he repeats, blinking slowly. “He… My father did this?”

Like the crack of a whip, the horror turns to anger. Tension ripples through his muscles.

“ No ,” he growls, throwing back the covers of the bed. “He won’t . I won’t let him,” he mutters, shaking his head. “ Shit , Mer. I should have seen this. There were signs that he was up to something horrible.”

I reach out, stroking a hand up his arm. “We know now. We can do something now.”

“I was suspicious, but this is entirely different…” He breathes out shakily. “ Children ,” he says, pained.

“I know,” I say. Then I take a breath, steeling my resolve. “Killian, look… I made a promise to Saela. And I’m keeping that promise. No matter what I have to do. No matter whose blood I have to shed.”

His eyes widen slightly, then they narrow. He grabs my shoulders, pulling me roughly to him, and tucks my head under his chin. “I know.”

“He’s your father.”

“It’s Saela ,” he says. “ He did this. Now he’ll have to face it.”

“I’ll tear his throat out,” I snarl.

Killian pulls back and his eyes are slightly wild. He reaches up and cups my cheek with trembling fingers. It isn’t fear. It’s rage. “He betrayed the kingdom first. He betrayed me . He took your family, Meryn. Whatever it takes, we will stop him, free the children, and end this nightmare. I swear it to you.”

I breathe out shakily, nodding. When he holds me like this, I feel stronger. The challenge before me is like another Ascent—a cold journey bathed in blood, all the way up to the throne.

“Tomorrow, at the graduation ceremony,” he says, leaving no room for questions. “It can’t wait.”

“It can’t,” I agree. “But how?”

“All the Rawbonds go to the king to receive his blessing as they become Bonded,” he tells me. “That will be your opportunity. You’ll have to strike then, and you can’t falter or you’ll fail.”

“Believe me,” I say, my voice dangerous. “I won’t miss. How much control do you have of the castle guard?”

“I can access information, change orders,” he says. “Good thinking, I’ll work on the prison security and figure out how to get in and get the kids.”

Hope beats erratic in my chest. After everything I’ve been through to try to get Saela, it’s too much to believe that we might actually be there. Still, I ask, “Do you think this will work?”

The resolve in Killian’s gaze sets me on fire. “It will work. Tomorrow, you’ll get your sister back. Tomorrow, we’ll make my father pay. Tomorrow, the throne is ours.”

The arena is deafening the next afternoon, the stands packed once again with nobles and Bonded alike. The nobles look bored—with the bloodshed of the Unity Trials behind us, today’s graduation ceremony must seem dull for them. But I suppose it would’ve been impolite for them to skip it, after relishing our gore so many times.

All of us Rawbonds are in our training uniforms for the last time, complete with ceremonial swords. The afternoon sun casts long shadows across the arena. The air is cool, but sweat trickles down my spine and beads on my upper lip. Anxiety coils around my insides, twisting my mind.

It starts to make the shadows look strange.

I blink rapidly and wipe sweat from my eyes, averting my gaze. My eyes are drawn right to him, though. King Cyril. He sits above us all, resplendent in his royal purple and gold, that infamous wolf-pommel blade resting across his lap.

Even from here, I can see his fingers stroking over the handle repetitively as he stares down at us, eyes dragging over our wolves and bodies like a violating touch.

I know him for what he is now. Beneath that glittering mask of nobility, there’s a hideous fucking monster. Whatever he’s doing to those kids—whatever he’s already done—it’s going to end. Today.

And I’m going to be the one to do it.

My eyes jump to Killian, and some of the anxiety churning in me settles. He shines brighter than his father does, standing tall at his right hand and holding his head high. He’s dressed in royal blues to his father’s purples. His hair is perfectly arranged, his hands braced behind him. His eyes glint a brighter blue than usual in the piercing sunlight.

My future husband. My true king.

I think he senses me looking at him, because a moment later, our eyes meet from across the noisy arena. And ever so slightly, he inclines his head. An echo of a nod.

He’s ready. So am I.

Leader Aldrich is seated on the king’s other side. He’ll be the master of ceremonies today. In the row behind them are all the instructors. Even from here, I can see that Stark is wound as tightly as usual.

Clenching my jaw, I look away. He’s not going to distract me from my purpose right now.

A horn blasts, and all the direwolves enter the arena, padding over to their riders. Anassa bares her fangs at me when she approaches. I’ve kept the mental wall intact and her message is clear—she’s pissed at me.

Sighing, I lift it now. I’ll need her cooperation for this. Quickly, I let my plan flow to her: when I get close to the king for my blessing, I’m going to strike.

I expect her to rebuke me, to tell me the plan is too dangerous or that I haven’t thought things through, or to chide me for getting Killian involved.

Instead, she merely growls, “ Make it quick .”

A surprised laugh escapes me, and then she lowers her neck. I lace my fingers in her dense silver-white fur and haul myself onto her back like the other riders.

Once all the Rawbonds are mounted, Leader Aldrich rises and lifts a voice amplifier.

“Today is the formal end of the Bonding Trials. It marks the culmination of the incredible hard work that you all have exhibited over the past four months. Nearly a thousand soldiers attempted the Ascent. Ninety-eight direwolves chose ninety-eight riders. And today, seventy-six Rawbonds officially take their place in their packs as Bonded.”

The other Rawbonds around me are lifting their heads in pride. We, the chosen few, have made it.

Twenty-two riders did not. Three of them died at my hands. All of this bloodshed that I’ve participated in—all because of him .

King Cyril stands, pulling the amplifier from Leader Aldrich’s hands. Aldrich seems flustered by the move, but hands the amplifier over and steps back.

“Yes, thank you, Leader Aldrich, and thank you, Rawbonds!” His eerie light blue gaze darts over all of us, and a strange little smile spreads across his face. “This graduation ceremony is part of centuries of tradition. And as tradition, you will all come before me and receive my blessing to go forth and fight in my military as our most elite warriors. However, even the best traditions need updating sometimes…”

A bolt of panic shoots through me, hot and urgent. What does that mean? I glance around quickly and everyone else looks just as confused as I do.

“The Unity Trial showed impressive coordination, but I was disappointed by your performance. More Rawbonds should have been culled. Some Trials, you know, we only have fifty survivors!” He lets out a cheery laugh at this.

My stomach turns over in unease and my gaze catches on Stark standing behind the king. His brow is furrowed in concern. Great, so the instructors don’t know where this is going, either.

“Because I am a just and fair king, I have decided to give you one additional chance to rid yourselves of unnecessary baggage or unworthy pack members. And I don’t want anyone to hold back! So before we proceed to the blessing, we will have a final free-for-all battle.”

No .

Does he know what I had planned? Did he somehow find out? Killian stands and catches my eyes, his own widened with fear.

King Cyril slams the wolf pommel sword into the platform at his feet. “Begin.”

And chaos breaks loose.