Chapter 427

“I should have killed you on that battlefield,” the King of Atalaxia snarls, his eyes focused on me, “instead of listening to this foolish boy when he said he could control you.”

The King moves slowly across the room, black lightening flickering in his hands as he approaches. I take a gasping step back, reaching for Jackson, who I know is there. I can feel his fury as he presses me to his chest for a single instant before moving me gently to the side, starting to tuck me behind his back.

“She is my luna,” Gabriel snarls. “I do control her!” He does his best to stand alone on shaky legs, though I can tell by his gasping breaths that he’s in no position to be standing, let alone fighting. Guilt sweeps through me because this is my fault – the poison has made him so weak –

“You have control?” the King snaps, his lightening flashing out behind him to slam the door shut in the faces of the dozen soldiers who stand there, wide-eyed. “Such control that our protective barrier has fallen? Such control that Moon Valley jets are on their way now to drop their bombs on us?”

I go pale at this, because – would my father do that? Bomb a palace full of innocents, just to kill this King?

“I am in charge here,” Gabriel growls, glancing over at me. Down our bond I feel our first communication – stilted and unsteady – but a clear request to play along. I nod to him, subtle, and pass the communication to Jacks.

Jacks gives his answer back instantly. No.

“You are a fool,” the King growls, reaching out a hand towards Gabriel, the black lightening swarming there. “A fool and a murderer – you took my son, you ceded your control to this bitch – and for that you will die –“

The lightening flashes out all through the room and I scream –

But to my shock it does not burn, instead binding me – binding me to my place in the room, to the floor, each of my limbs locked so that I cannot move. My eyes were already turned towards Gabriel so I can see that he is the same – locked in place, completely at this King’s mercy –

I try to cry out, but no sound emerges –

I try to tilt, to go to the Dark realm, to escape – but nothing –

Terror sweeps though me as the King advances on Gabriel, pulling a knife from his belt, clearly intent on delivering death to his heir.

But a sudden roar fills the room and behind me I feel Jackson move – feel him shift –

His wolf’s form bounds past me in an instant, completely unbound and aiming right for the king, his fangs bared. If I could gasp or scream in shock I would, but all I can do is watch from the corner of my eye as the King spins towards my mate, raising his dagger high in the air as he emits a terrified scream –

But it’s too late.

Jackson’s knife-tipped paws hit the King’s shoulders, taking him fast to the ground. And then Jackson’s teeth are in the King’s neck.

I know the moment it is done, when the magic releases me and I stumble forward.

Gabriel falls hard to his knees with a groan and I dash to him, though my eyes are on Jackson as he snarls down at the King, at the ragged hole in his neck, at his dead eyes, royal blood dripping from my mate’s fangs.

“Oh…oh my god,” Gabriel whispers as Jackson shifts back, his chest heaving with breath and adrenaline, turning towards us with blood dripping down his chin and over his shirt.

Jackson snarls, more wolf than man just now as he strides for me, even though he’s in his human form. He holds a hand out, a demand, and I take it. He pulls me to my feet, looking me over, a snarl still slipping through his teeth.

A pulse of emotion comes down the bond – a question – needing to know that I’m all right.

I nod to him, shaken and afraid but fine.

“Let’s go,” he orders, low and grim.

“We can’t leave him,” I whisper, gesturing down at Gabriel.

“He is a King now,” Jackson snaps, glaring down at Gabriel, a sneer on his lips. “Let him face his own people and whatever retribution they have for him.”

I hesitate only a second before I nod, looking back down at Gabriel. “I have to go,” I say, taking another step towards Jackson.

Gabriel gapes at me, his heart clearly breaking. Because our bond – it is intact. And even if I am thoroughly, irrevocably dedicated to Jackson now – to Jackson alone – my wolf still howls at the thought of leaving him.

“Please,” Gabriel says, shaking his head, begging. “Please, don’t go –“

Jackson snarls and pulls me closer to his side.

I sigh and reach up for Jackson’s face. He flinches away at first, still feeling very murderous – not at all in the mood to be cosseted - but he checks himself a moment later and ducks his head, submitting to my caress.

“Jacks,” I say quietly, stroking a thumb over his bloody beard, loving him a great deal. “I need a minute with Gabriel alone.”

His eyes flash, accompanied by a rough snarl. Gabriel flinches back, but I just smile.

“No,” Jackson growls, pulling me closer.

I laugh a little and shake my head. “It wasn’t a request, baby.”

He takes a deep angry breath in through his nose, clearly mulling it over in his mind. When he exhales, his breath carries a heavy growl. “I am not leaving you,” he says, shaking his head.

But I just sigh and vanish us away to the Dark world, where we stand alone. “I’m going to take two minutes, Jacks. And then I’m coming back here.”

“Ariel,” Jackson snarls, shaking his head, not letting go of me.

But I step away, gently twisting my wrist in a request that he let me go. Not forcing him but…letting him know that I wish to be free.

“Two minutes, Jacks,” I say, looking him clear in the eyes. “And then the rest of our lives. Me and you. Okay?”

He huffs out a sigh, putting his hands on his hips, and then he hangs his head and nods, I think unable to turn down that offer.

“I love you,” I say, beaming at him.

“Any sign of danger, Ariel,” he snarls, lifting livid eyes to mine. “And you cut that two minutes short.”

“I promise,” I say, pressing my hands to my chest. And then I vanish back to Atalaxia to say goodbye to my Prince.

When I appear back in the room with the Prince and the corpse of the King, I find Gabriel looking very pale.

“What am I going to do?” he murmurs, shaking his head. “How will I explain this?”

“Tell them the truth,” I say, kneeling next to him and looking a bit sorrowfully at the dead King. I mean, he was a horrible man, but the end of a life…it is always a weighty thing, always significant. “Tell them Jackson did it. Or that I did. Blame Moon Valley, we’ll be happy to take the credit.”

Gabriel looks at me, his eyes full of wonder and a bit of fear. “I’m King.”

“You’re King,” I say, reaching out to stroke a hand over his hair. “Can I trust you to rule well? Or do I have to kill you too?”

Gabriel laughs for a second but then stills when he realizes that I mean it.

“I want to work with you, Gabriel,” I say quietly. “But Atalaxia needs to change. No more enslaving humans. No more keeping women illiterate and confining them when they get their period.”

Slowly he nods. “It will take time. But we can do it.”

“Moon Valley will give you whatever aid we can if that’s truly your goal,” I say. “But if we get any information that it is not, we will destroy you. And the next time I come here, it will be with a knife at your throat.”

“God damn it, Ariel,” he says, laughing a little in shock, shaking his head. “I did not expect…you are a surprise.”

“Yes,” I murmur, smirking a bit. “You underestimated me. It was to my advantage.”

“Please,” he begs, shaking his head, lifting a hand to caress my face. “Please stay, Ariel. Stay with me. Be my Luna and my Queen – this world needs you – we could be so good together, and could truly change Atalaxia…”

But his words fade as I just look at him with a bit of pity in my eyes.

Gabriel sighs, his shoulders slumping. “You love that other one, don’t you?”

I grin a bit. “You know his name.”

Gabriel narrows his eyes. “Yes. I do. I know all about him, Ariel, and the Community too – probably more than you do. I also know that McClintock isn’t even a real surname. You’d pick a nameless brute over a Prince? Over being Queen?”

“Your prejudice is showing, highness,” I say with a smirk, my wolf growling warning in my soul. “Besides, you forget that my mother was an orphan too, that she was also nameless. But she’s a Sinclair now. And she’s made a magnificent Queen. I think Jacks and I will do quite well as a Sinclair.”

Gabriel blushes and looks away, rueful. “I can’t live up to him in your eyes, can I?”

“If it helps,” I whisper, truly feeling sorry. “No one can.”

“I still think I’m better looking,” Gabriel grumbles, discontent.

I just settle back my shoulders a little and smile. Because he is getting dumped, after all. I don’t need to rub it in by telling him that he’s wrong.

“Anyway, Gabe,” I say quietly, rolling up my sleeve and extending my arm to him. “I have to go. But I want your mark, if you’ll give it to me.”

He turns to me, his eyes wide. “What?”

“Your mark, please,” I say quietly, nodding down at my wrist. “Granny’s orders.”