Chapter 155 Queenly Madness

Chapter 155 Queenly Madness
❀ Maeve ❀

I woke from the dandiest, most relaxing sleep I’ve ever had. 

As was my new normal, my lids parted without ceremony. I sat up in bed, wide awake as though I’d never slumbered.

My arms stretched up and to the sides to free tense muscles—then froze in that position.

Memories of the last time I was awake assailed me.

My chest tightened, my gaze flitting around the room.

I’d gone feral.

No.

I’d let the wrath win.

My hands dropped to the bed beside me.

I’d attacked, just about to gut Carmela’s wolf, when I’d died.

A mercy from my own vampire mate.

Nikolai had snapped my neck. To stop me from committing a wrath-fueled murder. But even now, it felt like a kill had been stolen from me.

Cold sweat broke over my skin. What had I done? Even though I hadn’t succeeded in killing Carmela, the damage was irreversible.

The whole pack would be abuzz with the news of the latest feral threat within the very walls of IronWolf fortress.

The princess consort who was supposed to serve alongside their prince.

Ice shivered down my spine.

Bastian.

My eyes prickled with tears.

Bastian had seen me feral. Nothing on this goddess-given earth would make him overlook my madness now. I staggered out of bed to dress.

I was naked. Why?

Then it hit me.

My dress had shredded in my transformation.

I’d shifted for the first time. But not into a normal wolf. I’d been bipedal, fur sprouting from select parts of my body. My wrath-filled wolf at the fore, but physically stunted.

My mind reeled.

Everything was happening too fast. Too much.

I wrapped my arms around myself.

Where was Nikolai?

I wasn’t angry at what he’d done. Thankful, in fact. He’d done the only thing that could’ve saved me from myself.

So where was he?

Shame made me curl inward, my body trembling.

I’d never be accepted into the pack now. Never.

I’d embarrassed Bastian, ruined my chances at a community of wolves. I couldn’t be here.

I’d deluded myself into thinking I could control the wrath. Hide my true nature. The truth was, I was a danger to every single wolf in the pack.

A ticking bomb. Worse than the alpha, because at least he’d been imprisoned.

How was I still free? They should’ve tossed me into the cell with Alpha Mordane.

My eyes widened.

The witch was to arrive today, and I doubted the pack would be happy ridding themselves of one feral threat only to permit another.

I had to leave. Anywhere but here.

What a joke. Where else did I have but Veilmoor? At least there, they would appreciate and tolerate my madness better.

I prepared to trace. Naked and terrified—

The door swung open. The smell of sugared pastries and blood wine greeted my senses.

Blood wine?

When the figure entered, I paused, curious, surprised.

“Mom?” I blurted, even though she wasn’t my mother. Not really.

My vision blurred with tears, lips trembling.

“Oh dear!” Gwen set the tray aside and hurried to me.

She held my arms, studying my face and body.

“Are you alright? Do you feel pain?”

The dam broke. “How can you ask me that!” I yelled. “Haven’t you heard what I did? You know what I am.”

“And just what is that, Maeve?”

“A monster!”

“You’re not a monster. No matter what impulses the curse made you feel, or think of acting on, that wasn’t you. And you handled it so well, carried it for so long.” She cupped my face, her tone firm. “I’m proud of you, you hear me? Besides, you don’t have to worry about the curse any longer.”

“W-what?”

“Thank the goddess, my dear. You are free. You have me. You have your mate. You have your pack.”

“What are you saying? I almost killed yesterday!” I gripped her arms in turn. “When I think of Carmela even now, I’m filled with hate. I want to kill her!”

“You don’t mean that!” she snapped. “You have a choice now. Let go of the negative energy, and focus on the life ahead of you.”

I looked at her like she was insane. Her outlook delusionally positive.

While the wrath had waned, I still felt that cloying heaviness deep in my chest.

Would I have to die each time the wrath manifested, just for a moment of peace?

I wiped my tears, unsurprised to see my claws lengthening. My senses were keyed up. Every scent, voice, and texture intense until it bordered on pain.

Gwen followed me with her gaze as I opened the wardrobe. The door broke off in my hand.

I tossed it aside. “I’m leaving.”

“Why? What makes you want to leave all of a sudden?”

Ignoring her, I pulled on pants and a shirt, not minding the fit or match.

“I’m not angry at you. I understand you did what you had to do. But I don’t belong here. I’m going to Veilmoor. I have a queendom to attend to—”

A knock rapped on the main doors.

Yara’s scent announced her.

My heart stuttered.

Had the witch arrived, and they sought to burn me along with the alpha? If they found out I was the vampire queen, they’d seize the opportunity with ten claws.

I faced Gwen again. “This is goodbye.”

“The alpha is awake,” she blurted.

The knocks came again. This time, Yara called, “May I come in?”

I blinked.

The alpha… awake? The crimson amulet.

This was my chance to have it destroyed.

Instead of cowardly running away, I could tie up this loose end. Destroy Lyssa’s essence once and for all. And if it took a thousand years to find a cure for the curse, I’d be able to focus on that end.

Glancing at the door, I nodded.

Gwen called, “Come in, Yara.”

Yara looked happy to see me. Suspiciously so.

“How’re you feeling?”

I’d died and awakened. Nothing serious.

“Perfect,” I choked out, still reeling from the news.

“I’m sure you’ve heard about Alpha Mordane. He summons you.”

“Me? Oh.” I flicked my gaze between them, sensing there was a part of the story I was missing.

“I’ll come right away.”

Outside Bastian’s chambers, Gwen pulled me into a hug. “It’s a new dawn, Maeve.” Her voice shook. “Everything you’ve fought for led to this moment.”

She left me with her cryptic words, heading the opposite way.

With Yara escorting me, I pulled my shoulders back, chin lifted.

Alpha Mordane may have slain my mother, Queen Lyssa, for being a threat to his kingdom.

I’d show him he had nothing of the sort to fear from me.

Veilmoor was my only safe haven. My home.

My heart ached at the thought of Bastian. I wondered what he was thinking now, having seen my primal side.

Whatever his decision, I’d live with it.

It looked like I’d end up with just one mate after all.

Unless Bastian craved the bite of my insanity.

My gaze hardened ahead.

And if Alpha Mordane didn’t hand over the amulet?

I’d unleash the feral hybrid one last time.