Chapter 5 - The Crown Turns Blood-Red
The evidence should have ended the conspiracy.
Instead, it nearly began a civil war.
Colin escaped into the capital.
Within hours, rumors spread.
The king was dead.
The Holloworn had killed him.
The council declared Mave an enemy of the kingdom.
Byron knew they had moved too quickly.
“They're preparing the people for war.”
Mave looked at Liv.
Her sister was recovering under royal physicians.
Her father remained under guard.
“I don't care about the council.”
“You should.”
“My sister is alive.”
“And Colin will come for her.”
Mave looked at him.
“You're right.”
They needed allies.
Byron summoned northern clans.
Some refused.
Some feared Holloworns.
Others believed the old stories.
Mave stood before them anyway.
She told them the truth.
About Liv.
About the poison.
About Riden.
About Colin.
The room remained silent.
Then an old Alpha stood.
“My father was killed by the council.”
Another rose.
“My brother too.”
Soon, half the room stood.
The war began.
Colin's forces attacked the eastern gate.
Byron led the defense.
Mave stayed in the palace.
Until the western walls fell.
Then she became the weapon everyone had feared.
She stood atop the battlements.
Thousands of wolves gathered below.
Colin's army released them.
They charged.
Mave closed her eyes.
Her mother had always warned her never to touch too many wolves at once.
Because doing so could kill her.
She did it anyway.
The wolves stopped.
Every single one.
Then they turned.
Colin's soldiers panicked.
Mave fell to her knees.
Byron caught her.
“Never do that again.”
“I had to.”
“You could have died.”
“So could you.”
He stared at her.
“You're impossible.”
She smiled weakly.
“So are you.”
Their faces were inches apart.
“Maybe we're equally foolish.”
“Maybe.”
Then Byron kissed her.
It was brief.
Warm.
Unexpected.
Mave forgot the war for one heartbeat.
Then an arrow struck the stone beside them.
Reality returned.
May you like
Colin was still alive.
And he had one final weapon.
