Sovereignty (The ArcKnight Wolf Pack Chronicles #2)

Lilliana

Echoes of water dripping into the puddles scattered across the stone floors of the catacombs pounded into my head like a hammer on an anvil. The hard floor beneath me dug into my back, leaving dents from the uneven ground. Cold air mixed with a musty smell that wasn’t quite unpleasant hit my nostrils, and I sat up, feeling a rush of panic and amnesia.

The room slowed its spinning after a few moments, and I noticed an eerie light glowing from the rune on my hand. I used it to sweep the room around me, but my eyes focused slowly. I dropped my hand to my lap and sighed, feeling drained and gross. I was wearing a robe Grayson had probably draped on me, for my clothes had been shredded when I’d morphed to heal my neck injury. Then Grayson had scooped me up and taken me away. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. He wasn’t exactly my brother in this lifetime, but it was all sorts of wrong to be seen naked by him.

My neck still hurt and remained stiff, but the rest of my body seemed fine except for my wrist. It ached and burned. I peered down at it, studying the thick metal clasp bracelet digging into my skin.

It was still on me, and that meant I was still under Grayson’s manipulative powers.

Ephrem, I whispered into the darkness.

He’s not here.

Who’s there?

I jerked my head in the direction of the voice, but it was hard to pinpoint, for it bounced off the walls. I regretted the movement immediately. A deafening pounding filled my head, and I clamped my hands to my temples, afraid my skull would burst if I let go. Faint flashes came to me. I remembered seeing Ephrem screaming up toward me while Grayson gripped me in his arms and flew away. The pain in his eyes hit me like a train, and I began to whimper. I missed my love. His warmth and caring were gone for now, far away in the city of Temple.

So where was I?

Grayson? I called out into empty darkness. My eyes adjusted to the torchlight lining the walls and things began to come into view. It was then that I noticed evenly spaced holes in alcoves. Piles of bones were stacked neatly within each of them. Human skulls sat atop of each stack, their empty sockets peering down at me. The sight jolted me from my weariness. What the hell is this place?

Grayson stepped from the black, inky darkness and took one of the torches from the wall where it ignited at his touch. Beyond the light, the gloom seemed to extend forever. I was probably miles from the nearest exit and daylight. His black hair disappeared in darkness, and his pale, gray-toned face reflected the torchlight, illuminating his hardened features. He was young, maybe just twenty. I couldn’t be sure, because he’d mentioned something about being immortal and waiting centuries for my return.

I was Malia, long lost princess and sister to Grayson, the Alpha of the KelHan Gargoyle shifter wolf pack. That was what I’d gleaned from his random musings, but it hardly made sense. I’d hit my head hard in the scuffle between him and Ephrem. My mind wasn’t yet clear enough for me to comprehend.

We’re in the catacombs in the outskirts of Temple, well hidden from any prying eyes. This is the resting place of our brothers and sisters. The KelHan pack.

I peered around, not seeing anyone.

Where are they? I eyed the bones mocking me from their positions in the alcoves.

He kneeled down and held the torch in front of my face. I flinched at the light. It hurt my eyes and increased the pain still lingering in my head.

I’m thirsty, I added, sounding like my old demanding self. Finally.

Wait here, he said, then stood up and walked down one of the darkened tunnels. I stared at the skeletons watching me from the alcoves and swallowed hard. This place was full of ghosts from the past. My dry throat felt like beach sand. How long had I been unconscious?

Hours? Days? Ephrem was probably wild with worry, and I had no way of telling him I was alive. A fissure formed in my heart as I sat there, worrying about my love while I was in dire straits. Would he forgive me for leaving with Grayson? It couldn’t be helped, an inner voice told me. Of course he will. Is he looking for me now? He loves you. Of course he is.

Tears stung my eyes, but I was so dehydrated, none grew large enough to fall.

Grayson returned with a thermos filled with cool water and a plate of wrapped granola and fruit bars. I gulped the fluid down greedily, and he warned me to slow down or I’d throw it all back up. Complying, I licked my cracked lips, feeling much better, and took a more scrutinizing peek around before attempting to chew on the food.

Where are the statues of our pack?

Grayson sat on a creaky wooden chair I hadn’t noticed before, watching me thoughtfully as he scratched his chin. He looked tired, if that was even possible for an immortal. Did he need to sleep? Maybe he was just like other humans with the exception of never dying. It made me wonder how he tolerated being there in such gloomy surroundings without losing his mind.

When you’re up to it, I’ll take you to the chamber of souls, where they sleep.

Are you the only one still awake?

He straightened, eyeing me with a stoically hard stare. Yes. One of us had to stay awake to find you and help you remember what you need to do to save us… to release us from this pit of hell. You chose me as the new Alpha, and my only job was to wait for your return. I’ve waited centuries. He rubbed his face and resumed staring at me with those shiny dark eyes.

That was a long time to wait. I hoped he hadn’t lost his mind in the meantime.

What did you do with yourself all this time, Grayson? I had to get him talking. My own brother was creeping me out. He wasn’t a pleasant man, and if anything, maybe I could play on his affection for his sister. I looked like her. Hopefully he still cared for her enough to not hurt me. I wanted the whole story from the horse’s mouth, and since I couldn’t remember anything anymore, his side would have to do.

I traveled a lot, especially when I got bored. I sealed this place and hoped no one would come across it. That’s why the chamber of souls is deep within this labyrinth. In case anyone did stumble across this place, our pack would be left alone, well secluded. He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, looking more exhausted. Apparently, he needed to rest. How long had it been since he’d slept right?

So this curse I’m supposed to break… it made you immortal?

Yes. We stopped aging when our Alpha decided to steal the forbidden magic from the MarkTiers. The curse passed over all of us who were staying in the MarkTier palace at the time, even if we did not support the actions of our former Alpha. He paused as he stood up. Our father.

My eyes widened. Our father brought the curse onto our family?

Yes. Our own flesh and blood.

Where is he? Is he with you?

He’s dead. Grayson’s eyes narrowed, sharpening their stare toward me and darkening his visage. I had to kill him to assume the throne as the KelHan Alpha. The MarkTiers made me do it. He died by my hand because it was the only way the others of our pack would follow me out into the wilderness and subsequently here, into the darkness of our home in the catacombs. He sighed. So close to home, yet so far away.

My heart stumbled hearing how he had to face our father and kill him to save us. How much had Grayson lost in the fight to keep his pack together? It brought me back to wondering if his sanity was still intact or if it’d been worn down after centuries of pondering his actions, chipping away the best of him. Not many could remain intact after such unspoken crimes and centuries of isolation.

Why did the others choose to be turned to stone?

You ask me as if you don’t know. You, yourself, bespelled each one to take your potion to save them from a more tragic end. Most didn’t want to live anymore under such a curse, never to see daylight again, but to watch the sun from frozen, stone cold eyes. You offered them a way out. You gave them the potions to sleep for as long as it took to cure this curse and flush it from our systems.

But how? How am I reincarnated when you’re here, centuries old? Did I die?

His eyes hardened, and he walked over to me with nothing but disgust marring his features. I backed away until my shoulders hit the stone wall, pressing my body flat in hopes of escaping his wrath. His rage made the veins pop out on his temples as he bent down to face me, giving his head a slight tilt.

Why don’t you remember? You told me once you came of age, your memory would rush back like a bursting dam. How has it not? I even gave you more time to recover it by almost a year, yet I see no signs of my sister within your eyes. It’s like…. He trailed off, contemplating his thoughts. I wished he would say them out loud. I needed to hear anything that could jog my memory and give me the information I needed to keep this crazed lunatic away from me. It’s like her soul didn’t return with her body in this life. Like she was replaced by… by you.

His eyes narrowed as he stared, like he was attempting to summon his sister out. Abruptly, he jumped to his feet and walked away without another word.

Wait! I called out. Where are you going? I scrambled to my feet, invigorated by the water and food he’d given me. My body screamed in protest, but I managed to limp after him, holding my neck, for an awful kink remained where I’d almost snapped it on a tree during the scuffle between Grayson and Ephrem.

Ephrem. His name brought a sting to the back of my eyes, and I wiped away the bit of moisture leaking from them.

To the catacombs, Grayson called from the darkness. It’s time you met my brethren.

Chapter Three

Ephrem

The towering buildings of the ArcKnight palace stood high above. Looming giants of a time long past, they matched the buildings in the MarkTier palace so perfectly, it almost felt like home. It was interesting enough to think the two packs had once been united down to the architecture. It was such a pity they were now so divided. Reconciliation seemed impossible.

Maybe it wasn’t. I eyed the guards as we approached the massive gate. It was also much like ours, including the designs etched into the ancient wood, that it felt odd. Jason greeted the guards, introducing me as a royal general of the MarkTier army and explaining our intentions. As they spoke, I peered up the walls and watched the soldiers staring down at us from above. It was a fortress, just like ours, but maybe in this meeting we were going to have some effect on the prejudices both packs had against each other.

It was long overdue. Too bad it took an impending war to right the wrongs between us.

Ephrem, Jason called out. He motioned me forward as the main gate began to swing open. This wasn’t the first time I’d crossed the threshold through these very gates. The last time I had was when I’d met Lily as a child. I was thirteen and she was five. Not much more than a living doll, but her smile had brought out deep, dancing dimples on her cheeks, and she was just barely losing the baby fat. I was a still a kid too, but was immediately enamored of her. Though she was years younger than me, I knew I would protect her always. She lit up a room whenever she was around. She had that kind of magnetizing presence.

At the time, I’d already been a seasoned fighter. Conditioned from birth as a soldier and working with the army to take over as a high-ranking officer, it was my job to shadow the aging general and his lieutenants. Had I not been banished years later, I’d be the primary leader of the MarkTier army now. But fate had different ideas for me, and even though I was only an Outlands general, Etan, my brother and Alpha of the MarkTier pack, usually deferred a lot to me that was normally Ty’s job. Ty, the current general of the MarkTier legions, was technically my superior, but Etan viewed us as equals.

It was complicated, but somehow it worked. Ty had a level head on him, and I’d grown up with the guy and considered him a close friend. It helped to get along well with the people in authority. I had a lot of advantages I wouldn’t otherwise if I hadn’t been respectful and courteous to others growing up. I counted on these men to back me up, as they counted on me.

Now it was time to do the same with the ArcKnight royals. Rafaela, Lily’s sister, held the key to helping me find my fiancé and love. Lily was out there, imprisoned by Grayson, and it killed me that I hadn’t found her yet. Every moment without her was like a knife in my heart.

This place gives me the weirdest déjà vu, Jason chuckled. It’s like walking into a mirror image of our palace, down to the design and everything. Trippy.

I was thinking the same thing.

"Maybe that’s how Alice in Wonderland started. Some magical mirror, tricked-out déjà vu or something crazy like that. He did a full body shake like a dog drying off. I’m starving! I hope they offer us food."

I gave him a sideways glance, noticing him fidgeting more than usual.

You all right, man? You seem kind of… I don’t know… nervous.

Jason was my right-hand man. Nothing usually got him as jumpy as he was now. I wondered what was going on. If anyone should be losing their mind, it should be me. It had been days since I’d seen or heard from Lily.

Who, me? He pointed to himself. I’m cool, man. I just… I hope they don’t blame us for losing Lily. The crazy shit going on right now… what if they don’t help us? What if that Gargoyle army rises from the dead? They’ll head for us first. Then they’ll come here.

I hushed him as a couple of soldiers passed and took up positions at the front of the entourage escorting us. I know that, and I hope they know that. An alliance would be mutually beneficial. I think Queen Rafaela and King Alec will be reasonable. Especially once we tell them about Lily.

I hope you’re right. I’d hate to be tossed out on our asses before we get anything useful out of this.

Just chill. I’ve got this.

Jason sighed, darting his eyes around. His nervous energy had me on edge, and I gave him a stern look as we continued down the winding roads toward the palace center.

Sometimes Jason was a bit of a pain. Regardless, he was like a brother, and I knew his concerns were rational. The last time we’d been here, neither side had been reasonable, and it had caused the largest rift between the packs imaginable.

But we were not our parents. We’d seen and suffered the consequences of the standstill between packs. It was time to wipe the slate clean of old grudges and move forward. It was a long time coming, and I was going to be quite relieved when this was all past us.

We were stopped in the main hall by what appeared to be one of the lieutenants of the ArcKnight army. Wait here, he said. I’ve sent a messenger ahead to inform the Alphas of your arrival.

The leader of the guard signaled his group, and we remained in our spots. Peering around, I noticed the guards around us had increased in number, like they expected us to attack or something. We’d brought just a small group of guards with us from the MarkTier palace. Not nearly enough to overpower this many men unless we were extremely sophisticated killing machines. I hoped it wouldn’t come to that. especially since the leader turned and signaled the guards next to us to disarm us immediately.

Great.

No weapons allowed. One guard barked the order at Jason when he refused to give up his hunting knife. I motioned for him to comply, and he reluctantly gave it up, throwing an acidic glare at the guard.

No weapons? I don’t like the sound of this.

It’s standard protocol. No visitors may have weapons when visiting the pack rulers.

I glared at Jason. It’s the same back home. Calm down, or I’ll have you return home.

He gave me a curt nod and struggled to shut down his agitation. What was his problem? I’d never seen him so flustered. I’d have to ask him what else was bothering him. This wasn’t his normal behavior.

A messenger returned and spoke softly to the lieutenant, and I watched them closely, keeping my eyes constantly darting around to check out the surrounding area. If something went awry, I wanted to be the first to know it and prepare to fight my way out of there.

We had treated Rafaela the same way when she’d snuck into our palace searching for Lily. I guess it was only fair. I’d told Etan to be respectful, but I’d heard he’d sent twenty soldiers to escort her to the edge of the city and out the gates along with her pack of guards. I hoped she hadn’t taken it personally. It had all been so chaotic after Lily’s friend Elyse—Etan’s fiancé at the time—had died. It was a wonder a war hadn’t started from those events. We deserved any blunt treatment we received. If I’d been allowed to escort her out, she would have been treated with the utmost respect.

This way, the lieutenant said.

We followed along to a large conference room and were told to sit. The room was big, but with so many guards stuffed into it, the air felt stifling.

The Alpha royals have arrived, the lieutenant called out as Rafaela and Alec entered the room. Please rise.

Alec had a gash with stitches on his cheek but looked otherwise fine. I hated to think of how Gil, their former Alpha, looked. I’d heard he’d been banished along with his beautiful new wife. That was the way of the wolf packs of Temple. Fight to win. Die or be banished. I personally wouldn’t want to be in his shoes. Being a lowly prince and banished is one thing. Being a beaten down Alpha and sent away with his tail between his legs is something else entirely.

We waited to sit until after the king and queen had taken their seats. The formalities of everyday royal life were engraved into Jason and me, but I still loathed every little detail that had to be observed.

Welcome, Rafaela said. I take it you know who we are. Alec is my new husband and rules as Alpha beside me. I’m thrilled to be meeting with the MarkTier pack today. Tell me, what news do you have of my sister’s whereabouts?

Jason shifted in his chair next to me. So that’s what was bothering him. He thought we’d be blamed for losing Lily. I cleared my throat. The princess’s whereabouts are currently unknown.

Rafaela didn’t flinch at this. Neither did Alec. It made me wonder how much their spies had already told them.

We have proof that the third wolf pack to ever live in the city of Temple, the KelHans, have returned, and they came for Princess Lilliana, I continued.

What do they want with her? Alec asked, leaning forward and folding his hands together. He was a husky man with thick but well-defined muscles, giving him a girth advantage over me. He’d held the equivalent of Ty’s position before he’d assumed the