Page 21 of Wolfsbane (Deadly Duet #2)

TWENTY-ONE

HESPER

Grisset’s army tore through the gates of Hellbore, ripping it to shreds as darkness poured through the kingdom. My men easily triumphed over Boletus’, slaughtering them as they flooded the kingdom. Rain began to pour as thunder roared through the skies, lightning flashing. My army remained unphased thanks to the spell we performed. I moved through the kingdom, aiming for the castle. As I neared the entrance, one of Boletus’ men injured my horse, causing me to fall into the mud.

I held my sword tightly, quickly standing as he ran at me screaming. I swung my sword, slapping his away as my elbow slammed into his face, knocking him to the ground.

“Pathetic,” I spat, kicking him in the face. A cluster of my men galloped to my aid as I nodded. “Follow me!” The paint on my face smeared from the rain as I wiped it clean. I charged the castle entrance, followed by my army. “Morel!” I screamed as their horses kicked the doors down with ease, flooding the castle.

I ran inside, only to be instantly met by more of Boletus’ men. I swung my sword as I moved, slicing them down with little effort.

“Morel!” I screamed, moving toward the throne room. Another man crossed me, and we locked blades as I groaned, fighting back. “Big mistake.” I swirled my arm, freeing my blade as I lunged deep into his gut, gripping his neck as I pulled his body closer, my hand sinking into his bloodied flesh. “No man is a match for me.” He stared at me in absolute fear, and I smiled as I flung his body aside, shaking the blood from my hand. An arrow landed in my shoulder as I stumbled back in shock. Pain radiated as I looked up to see an archer just ahead, docking a second arrow. Without hesitation, I ripped it from my flesh, screaming through my teeth as he launched the next, my sword hitting it away. He moved a third time, missing as I charged him, grabbing his bow and snapping it across my knee. “It’s going to take more than that to kill me.” The archer tried to run, but he was too slow.

I adjusted my handle of my sword, throwing it like a spear. It landed deep into his spine, and the man fell to the ground as I walked to his side. I stared down at him, grinning as he watched me slam my foot into his skull, listening to the sound of his brain smooshing beneath my sole.

“My queen!” I snapped my head to one of my soldiers. “We believe Boletus has the king in the throne room!” I looked down at the corpse, ripping my sword from his back as I joined my men, aiming for the large doors.

“Do you know his pet’s whereabouts, Hystrix?” I asked as I watched my men use a nearby fallen pillar to ram the door.

“We believe she is also inside.” They rammed the door again as the wood splintered, weakening at their strength.

“Good. You and the rest are to defeat his guard and clear a path for me. Protect the king at all costs, but remember: Boletus and Hystrix are mine.”

“Yes, my queen.” The throne room doors crumbled as the army of the night flowed into the room, fighting ensuing as they continued, doing as I commanded, leaving me a path.

I gripped my sword, slowly stalking into the corridor as my soldiers attacked, taking Boletus’ men down one by one. Thunder roared, shaking the castle as I stepped into the throne room. I smiled as I locked eyes with Morel, who matched my own expression as he watched me. My heart nearly leapt from my chest as I saw him, any emotion quickly replaced with anger as I noticed the blood from his mouth. My sights turned to Boletus, standing on the dais in front of Hellbore’s throne. My throne. He was pale, drowning in fear as my smile grew. His pet was nowhere to be seen, but I didn’t care. All I saw was red, and all I craved was blood.

My head raised as the army cleared a path, making their way to their king, allowing me to move towards him with ease. I walked like the queen I was, time slowing as I neared him.

My king.

I approached Morel’s side as one of my men tried to free him from the chains, my hand caressing his check as he gazed up at me.

“I told you to never leave me.” He leaned into my touch.

“Forgive me, my queen.”

“Hesper!” Boletus hissed my name as my body tightened, my smile fading at his voice. I turned to address my men behind Morel.

“Free the king, finish off what’s left of Boletus’ forces, and then return to Grisset.”

“Hesper,” Morel protested.

“A kingdom is nothing without its king.” I leaned down, kissing him gently as thunder boomed. “Protect our people. Do not let our sacrifice be for nothing.” As my whispered words hit his ear, I turned to face Boletus, stepping down from the dais.

“You’ve returned home,” he snarked, his sword in hand.

I rose, stepping from Morel as he tried to break free from the chains, to rush after me, but it was no use. He had to wait and watch.

“Boletus,” I hissed, stopping at the base of the steps. “How does it feel to know you will die a traitor?”

“Traitor?” He smirked. “No, the only traitor here is you .” He raised his sword in my direction as I chuckled, clutching mine at my side. “You fled Hellbore in its time of need, running into the arms of this illegitimate king, living amongst his people and warming his bed as your kingdom burned. And now, you stand before me, slaughtering and killing for a man with no place in this world.” Boletus stepped down further. “Tell me: how does it feel to know your parents' sacrifice was wasted?”

“You know nothing of sacrifice.” I raised my blade, adjusting my footing as he approached, standing less than a foot away. “I have done everything for my people, the very people you let die for a throne and a crown you will never have. Morel is more of a king than you will ever be.”

Boletus glared at me, looking past me to Morel, who was still chained.

“This may have been my home once, but Grisset is my home now. And I, the queen of shadows, fight for the people in both my kingdoms. I fight for Hellbore, I fight for Grisset, but most importantly, I fight for my king.”

My body twirled as I swung my sword toward him, clashing blades with him. He grunted, pushing back as I backed down a few steps, grinning.

“You are insane,” he stated. I ran up the steps as he tried to back away, nearly falling as he blocked my aim.

“No,” I growled, kicking his sword from his hand as he fell back. “I am death . I am here to set things right, to seek my revenge.” My foot pressed down on his chest, pinning him to the floor as I pierced my blade gently into the flesh of his neck. He groaned, blood staining my blade. “It’s time to pay for all you’ve done, Boletus.”

His fearful expression changed as her whip cracked, forcing me back as it wrapped around my neck. I nearly fell down the dais when it released me, dropping my sword as my body rolled down the stairs.

“Wolfsbane!” Morel’s voice filled my ears as I groaned, my vision slightly blurred from my head slamming into the cold stone floor. The whip cracked again as Hystrix stalked towards me. “Hesper!” I could hear the fear and pain in his voice. My eyes raised as I spotted my sword nearby, and I crawled to reach it.

Hystrix’s whip caught my ankle, the stinging strength pulling me back. I groaned, rotating my body as I looked up at her. She was mostly covered, dressed in dark assassin’s gear, a hood covering most of her face, though her cloudy eyes burned into mine. My eyes fell to her chest, a necklace hanging against her clothing—a golden sun pendant. Hystrix was not just a skilled warrior; she was a child of the dawn. My smile returned. Children of the dawn were enemies of children of the night, matched in almost every way—almost.

My leg rotated, yanking the whip and her body forward, her feet stumbling as it broke from her grasp. I quickly removed it from my ankle, running to my sword as she picked her weapon up. We both studied the other as we slowly rotated, easing closer. Boletus stood, groaning as he held his neck, his ridiculous smile back now.

“Kill her, Hystrix.” The hooded woman nodded, raising her whip as she spun and cracked it, hitting my arm. The impact shredded the armor, causing my flesh to bleed as I backed up, refusing to give in to the pain.

“Hesper!” Morel finally broke free of his chains and ran for a nearby sword, watching me closely.

“I can handle her!” He stood nearby, his eyes rising to meet Boletus.

“Let us fight like men, Boletus.” Morel threw his sword aside, removing his gloves as he approached the dais.

I couldn’t watch, my focus returning to Hystrix as she swung, her whip missing me. I took advantage of the moment, rushing her as I swung my blade. She moved quickly, her whip wrapping around the end of the sword, attempting to pull it from my grasp. I remained firm, fighting her. My muscles screamed, my new strength building as her eyes widened in shock. She tried to use both hands, tugging with all her strength, but it was no use.

“This is not possible!” She groaned, her feet sliding across the stone. “You cannot possess such strength! Not unless—” Her hands gave out as I stole the whip from her, my sword in one hand, whip in the other as thunder once again rumbled. Hystrix stared at me in fear, slowly backing away.

“You may be a child of the dawn,” I hissed, stepping closer, twirling my sword, “but I am a daughter of the night.” I cracked her whip, the end catching her neck as I pulled her to her knees. She tried to fight me, one hand gripping the coil around her throat, the other pulling at the whip. I tightened my grip as I approached her, my sword at my side. “And unlike you, I am blessed by the moon goddess herself. You cannot defeat me. Darkness will always consume the light and triumph in the end.” My eyes bore into hers. “Let’s see the dawn save you now.” As I dropped the whip, my body swung, my blade following as it sliced through her flesh and bone, decapitating her. Her blood sprayed across my face as her head fell, her body slumping to the floor. Lightning flashed as my head rose, and I inhaled the smell of her blood stained across my face.

“No!” My head snapped as I watched Morel swing, his fists landing into Boletus’ face.

I gripped my sword, gripping Hystrix’s head as I slowly approached the base of the dais, looking up as Morel yanked Boletus to his knees. His eyes fell to me, grinning as he beamed at my victory.

“Your pet,” I spat, tossing Hystrix’s head down. We all watched it roll, hitting the lower step of the dais. I exhaled, my men surrounding me, as they, too, had been victorious.

Morel adjusted his grip, snatching the back of Boletus’ neck as he casually began to drag the bloodied and beaten man down the steps.

“Allow me to present you with one last wedding present, my queen.” He dropped Boletus at my feet, the man groaning as he looked up at me, defeated and filled with absolute fear. I raised my sword, smiling as I stared at him, the moment of my revenge finally within my grasp.

“Any last words, traitor?” Boletus laughed, spitting blood at my feet.

“You may win today, but someday, you will lose. The ancient kingdoms will never accept your kingdom or its king.” My smile nearly reached my ears.

“The ancient kingdoms will either accept our kingdom of shadows or they will burn. We will cover this world in darkness, starting with Hellbore.” My arm swung as his eyes bulged, his head falling to the ground as it rolled next to Hystrix’s.

Morel looked at me as I dropped my sword and ran into his arms. The storm raged outside as our men cheered, my mouth crushing to Morel’s, our laughter mixing with our breath.

“Hesper,” he breathed as I slowly pulled away from him. “Your throne.” My eyes raised, landing on my father’s throne. My throne. Morel offered his hand, guiding me to the steps of the dais. He walked me up the steps, our men flooding the room, falling silent as I took my seat. Morel grinned, turning to face the room. “All hail Hesper, daughter of the night, the savior of our people, Queen of Hellbore and Grisset. All hail the queen of darkness!” He raised a fist as the room erupted, chanting alongside him. “Until the heavens fall onto the Earth, forever she shall remain your queen!

“Queen Hesper! Queen Hesper! Queen Hesper!”

Morel turned to me, kneeling as he bowed. He took my hand, kissing the ring upon my finger.

“Queen Hesper.”

I tried to fight back tears, looking out at our army then back at my husband, a king kneeling before me. He had not only made true on his promise, but he delivered both the world and his heart at my feet.

Morel’s eyes raised to mine.

“What shall we do next, my queen?” I glanced around, noticing tapestries with Boletus’ sigil around the throne room.

“Have the army of the night evacuate the kingdom and prepare them for the journey back to Grisset.” He nodded, commanding our men as they began to carry out my wishes. “As for Hellbore…” I glanced around. “Burn it to the ground.”

More of our men scattered, carrying torches as they began to light the tapestries, working their way through the kingdom as I remained on my throne, my fingers curling over the armrests. A large tapestry burned behind me, thunder roaring once more.

“Hellbore is no more. There is only Grisset.” Morel stood at my side, watching the room ignite as we took it all in. “You have given me my revenge.” I turned to look at him. “Now, let me give you yours, my king.”

Morel offered his hand to me as we gracefully walked down the steps, leaving the throne room as it crumbled beneath the raging fire. We stepped out into the night, the rain soaking us as our army waited, a horse readied just for us. Morel mounted first before helping me as I took my place in front of him.

“Let us worry about that another day, my queen. We have a kingdom to complete and people to care for. Besides, I remember breaking a promise to you, so I am in need of a punishment.” I raised a brow, grinning as he kicked the horse. “Let us return to Grisset. Let us return home.”

Home.

“I love you, Morel.” He gripped my body close as we galloped away from the burning kingdom, my people joining our army as we began the short journey back.

“And I love you, wolfsbane, until the heavens fall upon the Earth. A symphony of stars.”

“A symphony of stars.”