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Autumn
Werewolves surrounded us. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how we were going to get out of this. Just when I was convinced this couldn’t get any worse, a boom sounded in the distance. But I couldn’t afford to worry about the source of the noise.
I had to stay focused. All the blood and death over the last few months meant nothing if Mortimer lived to rule. I wanted someone else to battle Mortimer, but who better than me? Dathan was an ancient and recently had witch’s blood. But he was prone to werewolf bite even as an ancient, and I’d sucked most, if not all, of the magic from him. He had plenty of werewolves handy for the cure, but what if while he battled Mortimer, he wasn’t able to get werewolf blood quickly enough?
While Zack had werewolf-vampire hybrid powers, he didn’t come from ancient parents. My parents? No, I couldn’t let them or Natasha fight Mortimer. The reason they survived at all was because they had escaped, not because they’d beaten Mortimer. I couldn’t give him the chance to hurt anyone I loved.
Mortimer, you coward, come fight me like a man. I vaulted up and avoided a blade to my neck, and landed near the wall. I shoved my way to the doorway, cutting my sword through the air as I passed werewolves. I searched for Mortimer, my gaze landing on people I didn’t know who had just joined the fight against Mortimer’s army.
Shape-shifter prisoners! And Natasha fought alongside them, her sword blazing as she ripped through her attackers. Maybe we were only outnumbered twenty to one now.
And you are? Mortimer appeared in the cafeteria and slipped past his people who were fighting for their lives, his eyes hunting for the silent voice.
Right, he hadn’t located me yet, probably due to all the supernatural energy swirling around the room. Good, I needed to be invisible a bit longer.
Who am I? The cure for your disease. I couldn’t be stupid about this. While I didn’t want Mortimer to kill anyone I loved, I needed to survive this too. Hugging the wall and keeping low, I avoided getting too close to anyone’s sword as I scanned the faces for Mortimer.
My dad battled a werewolf. No, two of them. Blood oozed from his abdomen and he reeled. I rushed to his side and caught him by the arm as he went down, cutting my sword through the air and slicing off one of the werewolf’s arms. A thrust of my sword into the other werewolf’s neck, stunning him long enough for me to swing the blade and take off his head.
Letting my dad slide to the floor, I leapt up, landing a heel in each of the two approaching werewolves. I followed it up with a dagger in the heart to one, then sprung up behind the other and wrenched off his head. After retrieving my dagger from the paralyzed werewolf, I chopped off his head, then moved my dad out of the way.
“Your mother.” Pressing his hand into his abdomen, he nodded to his left.
I tossed him my sword so he could defend himself until he healed, then bolted to my mother, who was fighting three werewolves. The ground trembled, but I couldn’t worry what was happening outside the building. Maybe Mortimer’s “secret” entrance was blowing up one side of the mansion.
Snatching up a sword beside a dead werewolf, I rocketed to my mom. I couldn’t afford to be fancy or play games. I slashed the neck of one. Using the momentum of the swing, I whirled around and cut off the head of the next one. That left my mom fighting only one.
More werewolves poured into the cafeteria. My gaze landed on Mortimer just as he located me. He smiled as he strolled along the other side of the wall, leaning occasionally to avoid a blade. I mimicked his moves, making my way to the other end of the room.
A little girl is going to overpower me? He chuckled into my mind. This is intriguing.
I’d let him believe I was weak, then take him by surprise. You’ll probably kill me. But while I keep you busy, your men are dying. Pretty soon, you’ll have no one to fight for you. And then your whole empire will be gone.
He laughed. We were face to face now, near the door leading to the cooking area. I didn’t want to be trapped in any small space with Mortimer. I backed up a few feet, but didn’t take my eyes off him. Maybe Zack needed help. Either of my parents could have been killed by now. Where the hell was Dathan?
I had to focus on Mortimer.
I dedicated all my attention to him—the stench oozing from his pores, arms hanging loose at his side, the flutter of his index finger against his thigh, his relaxed stance and the angle of his chin. His slow heartbeat and steady breathing told me he was confident that he and his people would triumph.
I wouldn’t bother trying to match his strength, but I was pretty sure I could compete with his speed. And I doubted he had any magic.
His gaze met mine and grew a shade darker. You’ll drop your weapon and meet me after this is all over. At that time, you will be my servant and do anything I ask.
My scalp tingled as he tried to enter my head. Nice try.
A blaze ignited in his eyes. “What makes you so special that you can withstand my compulsion?”
One side of my mouth curled up. “Come closer and find out.”
In a flash, his sword pressed against my neck and his other arm gripped my waist. He was fast. I’d thrown my shield up and knew his blade couldn’t pierce my skin, but the shield wasn’t necessary. He hadn’t intended to kill me. Yet. He was too curious to learn what made me tick.
When he angled closer for a whiff of me, my knee slammed into his groin, then the palm of my hand thrust into his nose, my fingertips gouging his eyes.
Keeping my shield up, I swung my sword at his neck. His arm blocked me with such power, my sword went flying. While my arm flailed to catch the sword, all my attention went to retrieving it and I let down my shield. He wrenched my arm in an impossible direction and my ulna snapped. I grimaced, but threw my shield back up. Wincing in pain, I mentally searched for the sword.
Why was I bothering? I couldn’t get enough power into the weapon to kill him, not without getting hold of it. With all my mental power, I shoved him away and he crashed into a steel rack.
He smirked. Is that all you can do, just push things around?
Crap, yeah, it really was all I could do. And shield myself. How the hell was I going to kill him? And why was I so stupid to think I could ever overpower him?
Your arm is broken and you’ll need your energy to heal. But you’re using up all your power. You can’t battle adequately with a useless limb. Eventually, you’ll get too tired. Mortimer’s smug grin had my jaw clenching. And then I’ll kill you.
My good hand gripped the sword and my muscles tensed. Mortimer was right. I was already wearing out. Whatever move I made had to be good—with only one arm—and it needed to be final.
Dathan had told me to trust myself, that I could do more than I thought. He had enough faith in my abilities to give me the witch blood instead of keeping it for himself. What did he know that I didn’t?
If you thought you could kill me, you would’ve already done it.
He sneered. Or I just enjoy toying with my kills.
That was probably it. I steadied my invisible shield, tuned out everything else around me and ignored the searing ache in my arm. Taking a deep breath, summoning all my telekinesis power, I jammed his eyelids closed, blinding him. While he was stunned and couldn’t see, I held his arms in place with my mind and then plunged the sword into his heart, the force of the blade pushing him back.
But he was paralyzed, not dead. Which meant he was still conscious. I scanned the room to see it had suddenly become motionless and eerily quiet. Headless bodies covered a large portion of the floor. How was it possible that they’d all been killed or neutralized when there had been hundreds of them? The place was filled with shape-shifters and werewolves, most of whom I didn’t know. Where had they come from?
Then I spotted Renzo and my throat thickened. He hadn’t stayed back as Dathan had commanded. Instead, he’d brought an army and kicked some major ass. His presence probably explained the earlier booms as he broke into the building. I wasn’t so sure that we would have triumphed against all those werewolves without his help.
And next to him stood Favianne, Zack’s mom. At the sight of her, knowing she was alive and well, my heart swelled and my eyes misted.
“What are you waiting for?” Dathan appeared at my side and handed me another sword. “Kill Mortimer. Do it.”
“In cold blood? He can’t do anything to us now, not like this.”
Autumn, you can’t allow him to live. He won’t be your average prisoner and since he can control minds, we’ll never be able to keep him locked up. He’ll get free somehow, and this will all have been for nothing. Dathan gripped my chin and made me face him. Finish this. Now.
Dathan was right. Mortimer had become my job when I started the fight with him. I positioned myself standing at his shoulder and I raised my sword. Images rushed me—my mother struggling to free herself from Mortimer, my dad’s agonized face as he received a lashing, Natasha screaming as werewolves beat her.
Mortimer had figured out who my parents were. He didn’t want me to forget that even if I killed him, I could never undo the suffering he’d inflicted on my family. His last-ditch effort to control me.
My sword swung low like a guillotine, flesh squished and bone fractured.
Not a clean cut.
Again, Dathan urged me silently.
Bile rose up from my stomach and my eyes leaked with frustration. But I couldn’t be weak and allow Mortimer to ever harm anyone else. I commanded myself to lift the sword again, then sunk the blade into his neck with all my strength. The cement floor below cracked and I nudged the head away. It was as if the world stopped around me. Nothing but silence as I stared into Mortimer’s lifeless eyes.
“Long live Queen Autumn!” Dathan bellowed.
What? I blinked, meeting the stunned expressions on the people in the room. Everyone stared at me, some with their mouths open.
“Bow to your queen!” Dathan ordered, but the werewolves didn’t budge.
“On your knees!” Zack hulked toward those who remained standing. Most of them dropped and the rest followed moments later.
“She’s just a little girl,” a man from the crowd rasped. “And a shape-shifter.”
Dathan stalked through the mob, looking for the source of the voice. He stopped, held out the tip of the sword and poked the shoulder of the man who had spoken. “This little girl just slayed your king. According to werewolf law, the one who kills the king inherits the throne.”
“She’s a shape-shifter,” another man growled, avoiding our gaze. But he remained on his knees.
“Yes, but she’s half werewolf. The legend of Hannah and Eli, who defied Mortimer and escaped, is all true. Hannah lived hundreds of years and became strong enough to birth a child.” Dathan turned toward me and bowed. “A child with all her mother’s ancient power and her shape-shifter father’s cunning, a baby girl who would grow to be more powerful than any werewolf in history. You want a strong werewolf ruler? Here she is.”
Are you kidding me? Zack asked me silently.
“Even if her mother was once betrothed to the king, that doesn’t make her royalty. Besides, she’s an outsider,” a werewolf snarled from the back of the cafeteria.
“An outsider is precisely what your people need. The old ways of slavery don’t work, be it your own women or other species. The girl will help you acclimate to modern day.”
My mom weaved through the crowd, her head held high, to stand in front of me. She turned to the people. “I am Hannah and can attest to the truth in Dathan’s words. Anyone who challenges my daughter’s right to the throne will have to go through me.”
“And me,” my dad said, standing next to my mom then threading his fingers through hers. “I am Eli.”
Hannah and Eli are your parents and you don’t look surprised at all. How long have you known? Zack sounded more than a little pissed, which almost made me forget about my throbbing arm. But who could blame him?
Natasha leaped past the crowd to land beside my parents. “I am Natasha, the shape-shifter queen. I stand with Autumn too.”
Natasha is actually Isabella, Eli’s sister. She’s my aunt. My eyes pleaded with Zack to understand. Please don’t be mad. I didn’t find out until recently and my mother swore me to secrecy. I gave her my word.
A hurt look replaced his fiery eyes. All right. Now’s probably not a good time to go into detail about it.
But how upset was he at me and could he forgive me for keeping that secret from him?
Zoe slipped in front of my parents, raised her palms up and the air swirled in the room. Swords and random objects levitated, then circled above the heads of the crowd. The objects picked up speed, spinning around until the whir of the noise grew to a high pitch. Then the objects clattered to the marble floor. “Trust me, none of you are getting past my sister or me.”
The crowd lowered closer to the floor in submission, signaling their total surrender.
I was actually going to take the throne and be queen. How could I get out of this? I didn’t want to be ruler of all werewolves. I had just needed Mortimer gone so Zack and I could be free to be together. Dathan, I don’t understand what’s happening. I don’t want this.
Sorry, but being ruler is a life sentence. The only way to give up the throne is through death. Not an option for you. “As werewolf law mandates, anyone who refuses to pledge fealty to their ruler gives up their right to live.”
“Wait.” Zack’s eyes were wild, desperate. “I’m still marrying Autumn, whether she’s queen or not.”
You still want to marry me? I asked Zack. Even after I kept that secret?
Zack hooked an arm around my waist and pulled me against him. We’ve been through too much to give up now. And I know you, Autumn. You’ll weigh everything and make the best choice you can. You thought you were doing the right thing keeping your mom’s confidence. I trust you.
My heart warmed and I brushed a soft kiss on his lips. Thank you.
Dathan nodded, then shifted to me. “Do you intend to marry this man?” If he’s going to rule with you, his position must be established now. This is how it works in the werewolf world. It’s an alpha thing.
If ruling would be a life sentence, I wanted Zack by my side. I met his gaze, hoping with all my heart he meant what he’d said and wasn’t going to bail on me. Why would he want such a huge responsibility when he could be free instead? His eyes shone and I almost got lost in them. But now was not the time to get soft. “Absolutely. Zack is my forever.”
“Then, as her betrothed, you will be king,” Dathan told Zack, then refocused on the crowd. “Who gives away this woman?”
“I-I do,” my dad stuttered, looking dazed.
“We’re getting married now?” My pulse jumped. “We can’t. We still have to repair the building and gather up nearby werewolves so they don’t scatter. What if they call others and attack?”
Renzo approached, surveying the room before setting down his sword. “Actually, the perimeter is secure. Anyone not here in this room is locked in the dungeon. The women are under guard as well. Nothing urgent to be immediately addressed.”
Though I appreciated Renzo solving the problem, he was no help at all in derailing Dathan trying to rush Zack’s and my marriage. I wanted to marry Zack more than anything in the world, but I had planned on a real wedding with a white dress, and all the details meticulously carried out. “I’m sure everyone has other priorities than to take part in a rush wedding.”
You don’t have a choice, Dathan told me.
“Is there a reason for us to delay?” Zack asked me, a guarded frown creasing his forehead. Are you having second thoughts?
Knowing Zack was totally okay with proceeding completely blew away any reason I might’ve had to delay. I beamed at him. “No. None.”
Zack’s eyes lit up. “Me neither.”
“Family and friends, gather around,” Dathan ordered, motioning them to approach.
Renzo waved over Favianne. Natasha stepped forward, then hesitated, glancing at my dad before turning to me with a questioning gaze.
Hi, Aunt Isabella, I told her silently so she would see I already knew.
Her face lit up. Aunt Natasha to you.
Aunt Natasha it is. I beamed, then I redirected my attention to the four witches closing in.
“We are here to witness the joining of this man and this woman in matrimony.” Dathan waited a beat. “But we’re going to skip all that and get to the vows.” Are you both positive you’re ready for this? Dathan asked us telepathically.
Zack flashed me a wide smile. Hell, yes.
All this—my family, peace between species, and a life with Zack—is what I’d scratched and clawed for all these months. Marrying Zack had always been the end game for me. No point in putting it off. I’m more than ready. “Are you able to marry us though, like a minister?”
Dathan’s mouth curved up. “I’m a king. My word alone is law. And you’re the werewolf queen now, which means your word is also law. A piece of paper isn’t what validates marriage. What binds you is your commitment and the agreement of others.”
I shot a quick glance at Zack who grinned, then joined my hands with his.
Dathan’s arms spread, encompassing everyone in the room. “Werewolves love ferociously and mate for life. For thousands of years, they’ve bound themselves to one another with a mere promise. I have witnessed the deep and fierce affection between Zack and Autumn and I know their unity shall be no different than others before them that stood through time.”
Dathan faced us again. “Zack, do you promise to stay absolutely loyal to Autumn, always be faithful and worthy of her trust, support her in all her whims, do everything in your power to encourage, assist and protect her, and if necessary, give up your life for her?”
“Easiest promise I ever made.” Zack pivoted to see me. “I do.”
“Autumn, do you promise to lead and protect Zack, to love and honor him, until death do you part?”
Something was up with those vows because mine were very different from Zack’s. No way was I going to let Dathan get away with that. “I also promise to be faithful and worthy of his trust, to support and encourage him, protect him and if necessary, give up my life for him. I do.”
Dathan’s mouth twitched. “I now pronounce you husband and wife, until death do you part.” He covered our joined hands with his, then lifted them high.
Our friends and family cheered, and the rest of the crowd clapped politely. I studied the faces of the strangers, wondering if they would truly be loyal to us.
Dathan aimed a look at Zack. Mortimer is dead, which means these people are no longer under his power. They are yours to command and you must do whatever necessary to ensure their loyalty. As each one swears allegiance, you will glamour them into meaning it. We need the bible.
“Bible?” I didn’t think werewolves would be religious or that a bible would mean anything.
Dathan leaned over Mortimer’s body and yanked off a ring. He sauntered back and shoved it at Zack. “Your ring, Your Majesty.”
Zack surveyed the mass of werewolves. “Cesar, find a bible.”
“No. Not just any bible,” Dathan told Cesar. “The werewolf bible, the master copy of all werewolf laws.”
That made more sense.
“Cesar, do you know where that is?” When he nodded, Zack said, “Bring it to me.”
As we waited for Cesar, we had a moment of downtime. I stared at Dathan, marveling at how well he handled everything. As if he’d been privy to the outcome since we’d met him—or planned it all.
All my breath left my body and Zack watched me, alert. I’m fine. Just realized something.
From the very beginning, we were led to this. Dathan had figured out who I was and what I could be. He knew about my parents and my aunt, and that Zack was a hybrid. He had steered, manipulated and guided all of us, like he was Fate itself. But why? To what end?
Did his motives even matter? He’d helped me get what I’d wanted most, freedom from oppression and a chance at a real life with Zack. Dathan, you’re kind of amazing.
Yes, I am. His smile faded when his gaze shifted to my aunt. I’m hoping you’re not the only one who agrees with me on that.
I arched one brow. My aunt?
Dathan ignored me when Cesar returned and offered the werewolf bible to Zack. It was dirty brown with yellowing, tattered pages and probably twelve inches tall by about ten inches wide. And it was almost as thick as it was wide. Like centuries of laws had been added.
Zack blinked. We’ll have to go through those laws and probably cancel most of them.
Because we won’t have enough to do transitioning and cleaning up our kingdom.
Our. Zack’s mouth curved up. I like the sound of that.
You guys have time to flirt later. Dathan took the old book and held it out for Cesar. “You first. Place your right hand on the bible and repeat after me.”
Cesar’s eye narrowed. “And what if I don’t?”
“You will,” Zack told him and I knew he was glamouring him into submission.
I didn’t love taking away anyone’s ability to think freely, but if Zack had to mind-control every werewolf in the world to keep them from being vile animals, I could live with it.
Cesar’s hand slapped onto the bible in a hurry. “I pledge my undying loyalty to Queen Autumn and King Zack. I promise to put their needs before my own, execute their orders and do everything in my power to keep them safe.”
My stomach growled and my broken arm ached.
“Who here is the best cook?” Dathan asked, obviously tired of listening to my stomach. When a woman came forward, she pledged on the bible, with Zack ensuring her loyalty, then Dathan sent her off to cook for Zack and me. This is a lot to cram into one day, but all of it must be done to make sure you live through the night. You understand?
I nodded, too hungry to argue with him.
Autumn, you must order all werewolves from around the globe to come and pledge their loyalty to you. Zack, you must glamour them all into meaning it. You can’t leave the smallest opening for anyone to betray you. The welfare of all supernaturals and humans around the world depends on the peace that you two will bring.
I’d never considered humans in the equation. Zack and I didn’t have a choice but to compel every werewolf we encountered. Controlling them, for now, was the only way. Maybe someday, after they acclimated and the newer werewolves were created in peace, we wouldn’t have to glamour them anymore. I could hope.
Zack and Dathan called on the next werewolf and then the next. After about twenty were sworn in, Zack held up a palm for Dathan to pause, then directed all his mental powers to the ones who had pledged. “Gather the werewolves from town. Women too. Any shape-shifters still in captivity should be brought as well.”
Once the food was ready, Zack and I ate while Dathan and the others waited. A little awkward but Dathan pushed me, reminding me that our show of strength was crucial. A whirring sounded above. Must have been the vampires returning in the helicopter with our belongings.
Dathan’s gaze flitted to the ceiling. “It’s Kayla, Tony and Joseph with our luggage.”
“I have no idea where to put it.” I scrunched up my nose. “All I know is I don’t want to stay in Mortimer’s room.”
“Your Majesties, I can have the rooms redone for you,” Colin said, his gaze lowering. “We’ll have to begin repairs on the garage and any other areas affected by the explosion anyway. May as well do it all at once.”
“That would be great, Colin. In the meantime, please have all the luggage put in the dungeon.” Zack lifted his fork for another bite of food.
Zack had taken to the king role with ease, masterfully ordering others around. I guessed his comfort level in getting them to do his bidding came from compelling so many werewolves over the last few hours. I hoped I could get used to ruling as quickly as he had.
After we finished our meal, the pledges continued as more and more werewolves were brought in.
The last werewolf to pledge was a woman—until the next round arrived. Her entire body, except for her hands and eyes, were covered. I reached across and undid the hook above her ear and the fabric fell away from her face. She was of Hispanic decent and quite beautiful. “You’re no longer required to hide. You are free.”
Her gaze ping-ponged between Zack and me, and I realized she’d probably never known any other life than being imprisoned and used. After she placed her hand on the bible and recited the words, I thanked her. I expected her to back away and leave, but she hesitated.
“Do you need something else?” I asked.
Her lids lowered, her shoulders slouching. “I’m not sure what to do. My husband was killed in the battle and I have no clue what’s expected of me now. All I’ve ever done is serve my husband.”
My heart wept for her and how much living she’d missed out on. “When things are settled, we can assign you a duty here if you want.”
“If it pleases Your Majesty, I would consider it a great honor to serve you.”
My own personal servant? Weird. “Perhaps you could assist Colin in preparing our accommodations. What is your name?”
“Paola Fuentes, Your Majesty. I’ll get on your room immediately.” She curtsied, then backed out of the room.
“Hang on, Paola,” Dathan told her. “Everyone gather around for Queen Autumn’s coronation.” He stood straight, shoulders back and chin up, as if daring me to rebel.
Oh, I dared. “Seriously, Dathan?”
Informal for now. Pomp and circumstance later after werewolves arrive from all over the world. Dathan looked like he was about to laugh. It’ll be short today, I promise. But you must make your reign official. You mustn’t risk anyone challenging you.
Because that could mean my death. I really hate you.
Dathan winked. Ditto.
True to his promise, he kept the ceremony brief. “Autumn Lily Rossi, daughter of Eli and Hannah Wortham, and Zackary Matteo De Luca, son of Renzo and Favianne De Luca, rightfully ascend to the throne, she by slaying her predecessor, he through marriage, and for all eternity shall be ruler of all werewolf kind near and far, across the world and all continents. They will lead their people to freedom and prosperity. Everyone, please welcome, Queen Autumn and King Zack.” Standing between us, he raised both our hands, like he had when he’d married us.
God, I wanted this to be the end of the ceremonial crap.
The glamoured crowd welcomed us, cheering and stomping. When the roar died down, Dathan called up four members of the royal council—my parents Hannah and Eli, Renzo and Favianne. For an instant, I wondered why Dathan hadn’t included Natasha. Then I remembered she had her own kingdom to rule.
“Long live Queen Autumn! Long live King Zack!” The werewolves broke into another thunderous round of applause, repeating the words and dropping to their knees. Even both my parents, Zack’s parents and Natasha bowed.
Zack, me, and our parents lined up to receive those who had pledged their loyalty. Each of them kneeled, kissed our knuckles and followed it with the same words, “I am at your service, Your Majesty.”
My head reeled and honestly, I just wished the ceremonies would be over. Finally, the end of the line was in sight. My arm was practically healed now and I could wait for sustenance, but I was hungry again. “Are we done or do you have any more surprises?”
Dathan held up an index finger. “One more thing I need to do.”
My chest squeezed, anticipating what else he had in store for us.
