Page 2 of Wolf Duke

“A moment for me, then honey cakes,” said Magdalena as she reached down, unable to stop herself smoothing each cub’s fur and scratching behind their ears. They were just so adorable.

“Mo-ther,” grumbled Lucan, narrowing his green de Wynter eyes in such a Hugo way that she almost laughed. There was certainly no denying their sire.

Hugo tilted his head, his eyes glinting. “Be grateful the queen loves you so, cub. If I had my way—”

“My king. MY KING!”

They all froze as a sentry sprinted toward them, his human face flushed and drenched in sweat, and green-and-white de Wynter livery flapping. Then he fell to one knee in front of Hugo.

“Take a breath,” said Hugo calmly. “What news?”

“The Book of Lore,” gasped the sentry. “It is gone.”

Shock rocked Magdalena back on her heels. Impossible! The Book had its own chamber, rested under a glass dome, and was guarded night and day with a six-hourly change. “How can that be? Who was posted to guard duty?”

The younger wolf met her gaze unflinchingly. “Lord Guy, my queen. He is also…missing…along with two other guards.”

She frowned in confusion, struggling to understand the unfathomable words. “You mean they were abducted? Surely there would be a ransom.”

“No. Lord Guy rode out with his accomplices. The stablehands who saw them were knocked unconscious and dragged to an unused antechamber. They were only recently found.”

Magdalena shuddered, crushed by shame. Guy Saville was her cousin and only living relative, another outcast who had been warmly welcomed by Hugo. As kin to the queen, Guy had received every comfort, every freedom of the castle...and repaid that generosity with the worst possible treachery. How had she been so deceived by his courtly gestures and charming smiles that she’d not seen his true heart: a wolf coveting great power?

“When was Guy last seen?” Magdalena whispered.

“Dawn, my queen,” said the sentry grimly.

Hugo snarled, a feral sound of great fury, and the four cubs shrank against Magdalena. Even they understood the grave news, but were struggling to reconcile it with an uncle who had juggled apples and worn oversized shoes to amuse them.

“Noon approaches,” bit out her mate, as his fingers clenched around the elaborately carved hilt of his sword. “He’s six hours ahead. I’ll summon the standing army, every wolf who can be spared, until the Book of Lore is returned. It cannot remain in evil hands. For Guy to wield such ancient power, a power he does not understand—look out!”

Magdalena almost screamed as a longbow arrow sailed over their heads and plunged into the grass mere feet away. Such precision over a high castle wall was only possible for a wolf. A human wouldn’t have the strength or sight. “Cubs! Behind me!”

Her young scrambled to obey, whimpering in fear.

Then Evaine peered hard at the arrow. “Mother, there is parchment attached!”

Hugo strode across the gravel path to the arrow, yanking it from the ground and carefully unrolling the paper encircling the shaft and secured with a dab of hot wax. Moments later, he went ashen, before tearing the note to pieces.

Magdalena gasped. Never had her mate looked thus, both enraged and anguished.

Very, very tentatively, she reached out through their bonded link. “What message, my king?”

He scowled. “Guy has raised an army to challenge my crown. If I surrender swiftly, I, and my cubs, will not be imprisoned and tortured, but executed respectfully. He may spare your life, but you’ll no longer be Queen of the Eastern Lands or Alpha Female of the pack.”

Magdalena’s stomach roiled, and she pressed a closed fist to her mouth to stop herself retching. Guy dared threaten her beloved mate? Her miracle cubs? No. Guy would seize control of the Eastern Lands over her dead carcass. While there was breath in her body, she would fight him. But first, she had to get the cubs to safety. With a different enemy, the castle would be a sanctuary. However, Guy knew every hidden entrance. Every tunnel. Every staircase and tower. Her cousin had asked enough questions, damn his eyes.

Magdalena turned to the sentry. “Fetch my ladies and four of the strongest warriors. Their only duty will be to protect the princesses and prince until this enemy is vanquished. Do what you can to disguise them. But it must be now.”

He glanced at Hugo. “My king?”

Hugo nodded curtly. “Do as your queen commands. Then sound the bell. We are at war.”

The sentry bowed and ran toward the Great Hall.

“Father, no!” pleaded Evaine. “Do not send us away. We can fight!”

“I’ll kill them all!” said Lucan, his eyes wide and jaw trembling.