Page 3 of Wolfsbane (Deadly Duet #2)

THREE

MOREL

Snow crunched beneath my boots as I approached the ivy curtain, gently brushing the vines aside, revealing a small garden of death caps glowing in the final hour of the moonlight. I had planted merely a handful of my mother’s mushrooms here long ago, tending to them all these years. Since then, they had spread and overtook the ground entirely, drenching it in their vibrant blue color, casting their fluorescent light all around. It baffled me how such delicate fungi could survive and thrive in such harsh conditions, but it seemed they flourished, much like myself.

Stepping deeper into the garden, I noticed a set of footprints in the snow. My guard instantly rose as my hand slowly reached for my sword, my body on full alert. I listened closely to all around me, the sounds of the fading nightlife gently dancing in my ears. A small crunch made me turn, my free arm catching something as it aimed in my direction.

My eyes blinked, processing that, in my hand, was a large rock.

What in the ? —

Before I could finish the thought, a second stone smacked my temple. I stumbled back, feeling where it hit my skull, blood from the wound coating my fingers. My anger boiled as my instincts heightened. I listened carefully, dodging another rock as it whizzed past my ear. My eyes followed it, looking to a small divot on the side of the mountain and catching a glimpse of a figure as it ducked into the shadows.

Enough of this.

My temple throbbed, my face burning with annoyance. Someone had not only trespassed into my garden but attacked me in my land. I didn’t have time for this ridiculousness, but whoever it was needed to learn that what they did was a grave mistake.

I silently made my way towards the edge of the mountain, discovering a small, snow-covered trail leading straight to the divot. I quietly approached, the silhouette hidden in the shadows of the mountain, peeking over the edge. My hand cautiously reached for my sword as I inched closer.

“If you seek death,” I raised my sword, “then you have come to the right place. Death and I are fond of one another. I am his King of Darkness, placed upon this Earth to deliver those who deserve to burn. Now, allow me to deliver you myself.” I raised my arm, the sword angled high as the silhouette turned, eyes almost glowing like silver in the night.

“I hate to disappoint a king,” a soft voice spoke as the shadow slowly stepped into the light of the surrounding death caps, revealing their face. “But I do not fear death.”

My mouth nearly dropped with my sword at the sight of the woman before me. She was unmistakably beautiful, stepping closer with grace, as if the moon herself had fallen from the heavens above and stood before me. Despite her mussed appearance, she was the most fearsome creature I had ever laid eyes on, with hair black as onyx and eyes like sterling silver stars, flickering in the moonlight. Her pale skin was covered in scratches, her hair tangled, and her attire… Well, it wasn’t what one would expect someone to wear out in the wilderness. She was wearing a large, elaborate white gown—a wedding dress that looked as though she had run through a forest of thorns and mud, nearly destroying the gown that desperately clung to her body.

I had to gather my thoughts, the woman touching the tip of my sword with her finger, pricking it as a small bead of blood formed atop her ivory skin. Her eyes lifted, spying the wound she left on my temple.

“Now we are even.” She raised her finger, smiling. “Blood for blood.” There was something about her that completely took me back. Without hesitation or any logical reasoning, I lowered my sword.

“I would ask if you were in need of assistance, but it seems you are more than capable of taking care of yourself.” I nearly chuckled at my own words, intoxicated by her boldness and recalling her rather impressive aim.

“Despite what you may think, I’m not some damsel in distress, oh mighty king of darkness. I can handle things just fine on my own and am exactly where I am meant to be.” An interesting response. The woman stood tall, secure in herself. There was something about her that dangerously lured me in, desperately wanting to know more.

“You know who I am, but you are a stranger to me, hiding in my land. You have already struck the king. Some would call you a threat.” The woman smiled at the label, causing my chest to ache in an odd feeling.

She circled me, glancing up and down as she spoke. “I’m only a threat to those who would seek to harm me. So tell me, oh mighty king of darkness,” she mocked, returning to face me, “do you wish to harm me?”

The moon peeked overhead as a light snow began to fall, kissing her blue-black hair. Her eyes stared up into mine, the silver in her irises swirling with such raw beauty, like two stars burning in the night. I struggled to control my breathing, completely awestruck.

“What is your name?” I asked gently.

The woman studied me closely, hesitating before she answered. “Hesper.”

As the name fell from her lips, my black heart did something it hadn’t done in a very long time: it began to beat. For her. For Hesper.

“I hope you can forgive me.” She grinned, as if knowing my thoughts were completely consumed by her.

“For what?” My thoughts were transfixed by the sound of her voice.

“This.” Hesper moved with a swiftness I had never seen before, kicking my legs out from under me as I fell onto my back, landing in the snow with a heavy thud. She snatched my sword, gathering the overflowing skirts of her gown before rushing around me.

My body rolled as my hand reached out, catching her by the ankle, her body falling forward. She whipped her head around, grunting as she tried to escape my grasp, kicking me with her free leg.

“Let go of me!” Not a chance.

I tugged her body closer as I rolled her torso and pinned her back to the ground. My knees straddled her waist as she struggled, unable to escape my strength. My sword remained tightly in her hand, her feet kicking at air.

“You said you meant no harm,” she gritted out through her teeth.

“And I don’t. But this place is no fit for a lady such as yourself,” I groaned, trying to keep her still. “Would you just?—”

She slammed her head into mine, kicking me from her body as I landed on my ass. Hesper scrambled to her feet, holding my sword, and aimed it at me as I stared up at her, both amused and impressed.

“Despite what you may think, I am no ordinary lady,” she huffed, brushing her hair from her face.

“My king?” Orion’s voice drifted alongside the cold air. “Morel!”

My head snapped back to Hesper, only to find her vanished like a ghost. A playful laugh escaped my mouth as I stood, wiping the snow from my body, brushing my hair back, my forehead aching from the impact.

No, you are most definitely no ordinary lady, Hesper.

My thoughts drifted, haunted by her beauty and temper as I followed the path back to the garden, stopping at the ivy curtain.

“Until we meet again, Hesper.”

HESPER

I watched as the man stepped past the thick ivy curtain. The king of darkness was not at all what I expected. All the stories and tales I had heard of his existence led me to believe he was some menacing evil monster, part demon and part man, not… that . He was nothing like the stories. He was strong and handsome, the embodiment of the night itself.

King of darkness… What a fitting title.

My eyes fell to his sword in my hand, examining the unique black pommel closely. It was covered in a delicately etched constellation, each point of stars represented by a tiny, single diamond.

“Gemini,” I whispered, brushing the design with my fingertip. “Interesting.”

My feet quietly moved as I gathered the many skirts of my shredded dress and followed the trail down the mountain, clutching his sword. I carefully moved past the glowing fungi, smiling at their beauty. They were the reason I had chosen to dwell out here, braving the climate and dangers of the woods. I had never seen such astonishing things before, and I was enamored by their fluorescent color and allure. It was a shame they were tucked away from the rest of the world. Truthfully, though, they were too perfect for the eyes of others.

The sounds of horses caught my attention as I approached the ivy, peeking past it. Just beyond the snow-covered trees, the king was speaking to a man. I gripped the sword, quickly slithered past the vines, and ducked behind a tree, hoping to hear what they were saying.

“Forgive me, but I am to believe that you, Morel, the king of darkness, simply slipped on a death cap and hit your head on a rock?” The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Am I also to believe that you somehow misplaced your sword during the fall?”

Morel shrugged as he glanced in my direction. I quickly shot behind a tree, hoping he did not see me. My heart raced as I closed my eyes and waited, hoping he wouldn’t know I was there or come looking for me.

“My sword is somewhere safe, Orion. Safer than we are about to be.” He was leaving.

The sounds of the horses made me open my eyes. I slowly glanced around the tree and watched as he mounted the beast. Orion tossed a new sword at Morel, the two readying themselves as others joined them. They looked to be preparing for something, decked in all black, weapons secretly hidden amongst their persons. They were prepared to fight.

“It’s a long way to Hellbore, Orion,” Morel smirked. “Try to keep up!” He kicked his horse, the creature rising as it moved its front legs and sped off through the trees. The rest of the men mirrored his actions, chasing after him as they disappeared from view.

Hellbore.

My heart ached as I leaned back against the tree, closing my eyes as my hands squeezed the sword tightly against my chest, a single tear falling down my cheek. The last words I heard before all hell had broken loose echoed in my mind.

Find the kingdom of shadows and trust only the king of darkness.

Be like the sky and remain true; an unchanging symphony of the stars.