Page 5 of Wolfsbane (Deadly Duet #2)

FIVE

HESPER

My fingers dug into the frozen ground, creating a small hole as I placed one of the tiny, fluorescent blue mushrooms inside it, gently padding the dirt back into place beneath the shadows of an overhanging tree.

“Grow strong, sweet little mushrooms. I shall care for you. As long as I am here, you shall thrive in the darkness.” My lips curled ever so lightly. Ever since I arrived in the kingdom of shadows, I had taken it upon myself to care for these little fungi. They were all alone out here, with no one to tend to them or help them grow. It felt oddly natural and soothing to do such a task. Since I had begun, the garden had almost doubled in size, the little mushrooms growing at such an impressive rate. “Sweet little night caps.”

“Death caps.”

My body swung at the sound of his voice, and I drew the sword I had stolen from him, aiming it in his direction as he remained peacefully still, a gentle smile curling from his mouth. It had been days since I last laid eyes on the king of darkness, oddly eased to see him returned from Hellbore in one piece.

The king’s eyes reluctantly moved from me to the mushrooms, spying the recently planted fungi. I could then feel his gaze as it traveled along my skin, noticing my rough and dirty appearance.

“Your dress,” he stated, pointing to the dirt-stained wedding gown.

“Yes, well, it’s not exactly ideal to garden in. I simply tailored it to my needs.” I raised a brow, ignoring the fact that I had ripped the sleeves, using them to tie my hair from my face and make a sheath for his sword. The skirts had been stripped to a single layer; I’d created a small bed for myself, using what leftover scraps I had to assist me in gardening the little mushrooms.

My eyes rose to his, staring at the warmth of his amber eyes, like two suns setting on a cold winter’s night. They complimented his dark hair, the black almost a deep blue in the peeking sunlight. His pale skin was covered in scars, old and new, giving him an interesting rugged appearance. I noticed a fresh cut along his cheek, my eyes falling to the skin of his bruised neck. Intriguing.

Despite his soft smile, he seemed menacing and powerful. The stories of his appearance may have been farfetched, but they did get one thing correct—the king of darkness was the embodiment of night itself.

I had to shake the wandering thoughts aside, reassuring my grip on the handle of his mighty sword as I kept it aimed at him, ready to strike.

“You seem familiar with a blade.” He stepped closer as I adjusted my stance.

“I assure you, I am quite skilled with a sword. It would be in the king’s best interest to keep his distance.” Despite my parents’ words, I hesitated. I knew it was my duty to seek him out, but something about him made my stomach flutter in a way that scared me.

“Any man would be a fool to cross swords with a daughter of Hellbore.” I gasped, his words nearly knocking me over as he moved swiftly, suddenly raising a sword of his own, our blades meeting as I deflected his swing and adjusted my stance once more. “But alas, I am no fool.” He grinned, mirroring my feet as he too stood with a skillful stance.

I had to harden my emotions, half surprised and half insulted by the idea of him doing such a thing. King or not, no man raised a sword to me and lived to walk away from it.

“You dare to strike at me?” I whacked his sword with my own, twirling as I swung, barely missing his arm. He moved gracefully, attempting to strike back but also missing me. We stood, moving opposite the other as we planned our next moves.

“I mean you no harm, Hesper.” I lunged at my name as it fell from his lips, his hand gripping my wrist, stopping my blade as it reached inches from the side of his waist. He looked down at me as he smiled, his hair falling in front of his eyes and casting his face in a thick layer of shadows. He leaned close enough that it tickled my ear as he whispered deeply. “You can’t keep hiding here in my garden, daughter of Hellbore. Boletus is looking for you.”

My eyes widened at that traitor’s name, fueling my anger as I lost control of my temper. I raised my head, preparing to slam it into his, when he dodged me once more, my body instead falling forward into the snow. I rotated onto my backside, glaring up at him as he kicked the sword from my hand and towered over me.

“I can offer you protection. My protection.” He threw his sword aside and reached his hand out to me, offering it as I stared at his pale hand. I raised a brow and launched a fistful of snow into his eyes, causing him to stumble back. I returned to my feet and ran straight for him, tackling him back into the snow, my legs straddling his large torso. I lifted what was left of my wedding skirt, exposing my thigh as he watched me retrieve a micro blade, aiming it at his exposed, bruised neck.

“I don’t need your protection. I can handle Boletus and his pet, Hystrix, all on my own.” His smile only grew as he flipped us, knocking the blade from my hand as he slammed me onto my back.

“I do not doubt your capabilities, princess, but the king and queen of Hellbore—your parents—were my friends. You are safe here, Hesper. I give you my word.”

“Forgive me, but the last king I trusted betrayed my kingdom and murdered my parents. How do I know your word means anything more than the wind that blows through the trees?” A small crystal fastened around his neck fell from his tunic and hung in the air between us.

“Your crystal,” I whispered, resisting him no longer. His eyes fell to it then back to me, confused by the change in my demeanor. “Where did you get it?”

The king released my hands, sitting back as he remained over me, gripping the small crystal close before tucking it back under his tunic. He gave an odd expression as a dark cloud hung over, painting him in a more fitting image of his title. The king of darkness.

“It was my mother’s.”

“Your mother was a daughter of the night?” He seemed to hear my words but not the meaning behind them. I gently rose as he moved away, allowing me to sit up. “May I?” My hand extended towards the crystal, waiting as he eyed me closely before hesitantly removing it from his neck. He placed it in my open palm, his skin meeting mine as a wave of electricity shot through my veins. I nearly gasped at the surprisingly gentle touch; the clear crystal rested in my palm, instantly glowing.

“What did you do?” he asked, his tone surprised.

“Nothing.” I smiled, looking at him as his eyes remained fixated on the now glowing crystal. “I too am a daughter of the night, blessed at birth by the moon goddess herself. You asked me how I came to be skilled with a sword? Well, this is how. Each daughter is granted a gift by the goddess. I wonder what your mother’s gift was. She must’ve been powerful to possess such a token.”

“If my mother did possess any talents, I’m afraid my father snuffed them out long ago.”

“I’ve heard stories of Queen Mellea. She was quite a beauty, but she had a raw thirst for knowledge and a love for all living things. I wonder if you possess those gifts as well.” My eyes met his as he stared at me, transfixed.

“She did love her death caps.”

“ Her death caps?” My eyes slowly gazed around us, realizing the garden I stood in was not his, but his mother’s.

I had to force my eyes away, extending my arm as I presented the crystal back to him, watching as he concealed it once more beneath his clothing. The king stood, offering his hand to me.

“Forgive me, I did not?—”

He gripped my hand, forcing me up from the snow as my body slammed into his, his arms casually resting around my waist as we stared into each other’s eyes. Time felt like it had slowed, nearly halting as I gazed into the warmth of his irises, the sun glaring back at me. I was lost in the sky of his presence, the heavens and the stars colliding in that moment as I felt something I had never felt before.

“Here.” He lifted his necklace, gently placing the crystal around my neck.

“Why—no, I cannot.” Why would he give me such a treasure? I couldn’t accept it. I tried to remove it, but he stopped me.

“Please.” The whispered word sounded more like a plea than anything else. “I thought I needed it, but it seems I don’t anymore. If my mother truly was a daughter of the night, then it is only fitting you wear it, as you are one yourself.”

“But this is all you have of her.” Why would a king gift someone like me such a valued thing?

“My mother would want you to have it.” My heart nearly skipped at his words, feeling the crystal against the skin of my chest as it glowed. “It seems to feel safe with you.”

“My parents wanted me to find you,” I whispered as he watched me. “I was going to marry him—Boletus—to save them, but they refused. They wouldn’t let it be, saying the only reason to marry is for love, and nothing else. They knew their fate when they sent me away. I tried to convince them to join me, but my father said ‘a king shall never abandon his kingdom’.” Tears began to form in my eyes as I refused to blink. I didn’t want to appear weak, not to him. “The last thing my parents said to me was to 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.”

“What does that mean?” he asked, unchanged by my words.

“Hellbore is a kingdom of the night. We study the heavens and let the moon guide our hearts. It is a phrase taught to us all, to remain true and strong even in the face of death itself. Like stars, burning with a desire to exist. Now that Boletus has taken control of my kingdom, there will be no more kingdom of the night. He will destroy it and leave only fire and poison in his wake. Please.” I slid from his gentle grasp and fell to my knees. “I, Hesper, princess and daughter of Hellbore, pledge my loyalty to you, same as my father, King Regalis. My only request is that you avenge my parents and help me reclaim my kingdom.” My eyes rose, a single tear falling down my cheek as I stared up at him. “Help me kill Boletus, and I shall forever be in your debt, king of darkness.” The king delicately grabbed my hand and helped me to my feet.

“You are Hellbore. You bow to no one.” His statement confused me. “I may be a king, but you are not just the princess of Hellbore. You, Hesper, are now its queen, and I,” he lowered himself down to his knees, “I bow at your feet.”

I couldn’t speak, too shocked and perplexed.

“A king bows to no one,” I whispered.

“The king of darkness does whatever he pleases, my queen.” His queen. “I will help you avenge your parents, but I must be truthful. Grisset, my kingdom, is still growing. We are no match for Boletus and the forces of Hellbore. Help me build this kingdom and train its forces, and I shall lead you to Boletus myself and place your father’s crown upon your head as you take back your throne.”

I didn’t personally enjoy the idea of having to wait for my revenge, but if helping him ensured an easier victory, it only made sense. Truthfully, I was grateful.

“I shall do as you ask, my king, and help you build your forces and train them in that of Hellbore’s ways.” I softly offered a curtsy as he smiled, rising to his feet.

“Morel.” He picked up the two swords, offering his back to me.

“What?” I stared at the pommel, hesitating before accepting it.

“My name is Morel.” He gently guided me away from the garden of mushrooms. “Now, let me show you my kingdom of shadows.”

My eyes returned to the fluorescent heaven behind us as we approached an ivy curtain. I stopped, a sadness falling over me. Morel noticed, patiently waiting.

“Is everything alright?” My eyes grazed the snowy escape, breathing in the thick, cold air. He watched me closely, realizing my hesitation. “Do you enjoy them that much?” he asked.

“I do,” I whispered.

“Then you are welcome here whenever you like, Hesper.”

“They are like a garden of shadows,” I stated softly, turning to face him, my fingers curled along the crystal that now hung from my neck.

“A garden of shadows. What a fitting name.” Indeed it was. I glanced at the notorious king.

Heavens knows what gifts lay sleeping in his midnight sou l.

The kingdom of Grisset was bursting with life, something I hadn’t expected. Everyone was helping one another, bustling with joy and happiness. I watched as children ran past us, playing with Morel as he laughed alongside them, the legendary king of darkness nothing more than a humble man who flourished with his people. It was warming to watch as more of his people would venture near, informing him of their triumphs and success in building the kingdom. He asked about their lives and acted as though he was one of his people. It reminded me of my father. It was no wonder he trusted Morel.

As we approached the gates of his castle, I noticed a vibrant purple flower growing along the stone path and gothic gate.

“Wolfsbane,” I whispered with excitement, rushing to it.

Morel stopped, watching me as I approached the wildflowers, brushing their petals with the tips of my fingers.

“You know this flower?” he asked, shadowing me. “Careful.” He tried to hold me back, but I gave him a look. “I’ve seen what they can do to people if you venture too close.”

“Just as your death caps were beloved by your mother, wolfsbane is beloved by me. In Hellbore, we had a whole garden of these poisonous beauties. Much like those little blue mushrooms, I cared for them. The day Boletus arrived, he burned all our gardens, including the wolfsbane. What he didn’t realize is that, by doing so, he released their toxic perfume. It carried with the wind and killed parts of my kingdom. He made us listen as they died, crying out for help.” I turned to look up at him. “There is no cure for wolfsbane poisoning. Once it lures you in with its beauty, it grips your soul with its scent until it drags it to hell, leaving nothing but your flesh and bones. It possesses you as you fall under its spell.” I turned back to the flower.

“How can you be so close to it?” Morel asked, watching me closely.

“Simple.” My fingers reached to the flower’s stem, plucking it free as I pulled it close and inhaled. “I built an immunity long ago. By slowly introducing it to your body, overtime, it does you no harm.”

“Interesting. Your wolfsbane seeds must’ve carried with the wind when Boletus burned them. These flowers,” he reached out, hesitating before stroking a lavender petal, “began to grow overnight one day, consuming all around my castle. My people were unsure of what they were, so they kept their distance. A few were unfortunate.” He removed his hand. “It's an odd thing, don’t you think?”

“What is?”

“That your kingdom's flowers would grow here. It is as though Hellbore knew its daughter would one day reside in my kingdom, sending these here to comfort you.” He smiled, stepping away as I turned and asked a hasty question.

“Is that how your mother’s death caps came to be here?” He stopped, his back stiffening as he fell silent. “When you were exiled, did you bring them here for comfort?”

“Those death caps are all I have left of her.” Morel slowly turned, his face cast in a shadow of sadness. “The day I escaped Dryade, I took nothing but a handful of those glowing mushrooms. It wasn’t until I reached the woods of this kingdom that I felt safe enough to plant them. I didn’t know how much they loved the cold until then. Their exceptional growth is the reason I chose this place for my home.” He looked around at the snowy landscape. Morel had chosen one of the most beautiful places to lay his roots, the entire kingdom covered in blankets of snow and black bark trees. I felt as though I was existing in a painting.

“They are poisonous too.” I turned back to him, noticing a single death cap now in his palm, glowing in the shadows of his body. “Their glow is poisonous if ingested. My mother studied these little things, alongside all the plants and herbs she could get her hands on. But these…” He held the mushroom out to me. “She was astonished something so beautiful could be so deadly.”

I accepted the tiny fungi, holding it next to the flower in my hand, admiring their blue and lavender hues together.

“It is mesmerizing how the most beautiful things are the deadliest.” I could feel Morel’s eyes on me.

“Indeed it is.”