Chapter8

Brandur

“Iyanna, come. It’s time.”

She hesitated, still seated on the edge of her grand bed, the silk of her wedding gown pooling around her.

“Where are we going at this hour?” she questioned. “Brand, it’s my wedding night.”

I smiled. “To put an end to Sebastian’s rule.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “I still don’t like this.” Even as she said it, she reached for a cloak, fastening it around her shoulders. “Let’s hope, for our sake, that this turns out well.”

I watched as she rose, her hesitation evident in every movement. She followed me, though, and that was all that mattered.

We moved swiftly through the silent streets of Yormsborg, slipping past the occasional patrol with practised ease. The moon hung low, casting pale light over the stone paths as we made our way toward Riverbay.

“Why aren’t we taking a carriage?” Iyanna questioned. “It’s a long way from here to Riverbay.”

I cast her a sidelong glance. “Because a carriage leaves a trail. And we don’t want anyone knowing where we’ve been.”

Her fingers tightened around the edges of her cloak. “This feels wrong, Brand,” she whispered.

“What feels wrong?” I asked, my voice steady.

“All of it. You sneaking around like this. Us plotting in the dead of night.”

I scoffed. “Oh, come off it. We both know you don’t like my brother.”

She exhaled sharply. “That doesn’t mean I want him dead.”

“Well, it ends tonight,” I said simply.

Iyanna frowned. “Why Riverbay?”

I smirked. “Because even kings make mistakes. And tonight, Sebastian made his.”

She shook her head, still not convinced. “And how exactly am I supposed to be of help?”

“Soon, you’ll understand.”

The outskirts of Riverbay stretched before us, the scent of damp earth thick in the air. I could smell him. Sebastian. He had been here recently. But lucky for me, he had just left.

Iyanna shivered beside me. “Someone’s coming,” she whispered. “I hear footsteps approaching.”

I sighed, rolling my shoulders as I reached inside my cloak. No more delays.

“But Sebastian’s not here,” she continued. “So how do we neutralize him?”

I turned to her, drawing the dagger from my belt. The blade gleamed under the moonlight, coated in something far deadlier than silver.

Mistletoe.

“We don’t.”

I moved swiftly.

The dagger plunged into her chest.

Iyanna gasped, her eyes wide with shock as I twisted the blade and drove it in again. And again.

“Why, Brandur?” she choked out, blood bubbling at her lips.

“There’s more than one way to dethrone a king,” I murmured, lowering her onto the damp grass. “Certainly, you didn’t think this was meant for Sebastian, did you?”

Her fingers grasped weakly at my cloak, but I pulled away, letting her slump against the earth. The scent of her blood thickened in the air.

She would be dead soon.

I stepped back into the shadows, watching.

Everything had been arranged. The housekeeper would claim she saw Astrid kill the Queen. Merabeth, under threat of her mate’s life, would testify against her. Every piece was in place.

Now, I just had to watch it unfold.

****

Sebastian

I was staring at reports when Castian burst into my chambers.

“Sire, the Queen has been murdered,” he panted, sweat gleaming on his brow.

I barely glanced up. “I have no time for games, Castian.”

“On Freya, Alpha, I am not joking.”

I set the papers aside. Murdered? The words barely registered.

Iyanna?

Who would dare?

“Take me to her,” I ordered, rising to my feet.

“She has been taken to the morgue, Sire,” Castian said. “She was found at Riverbay. Stabbed multiple times.”

Riverbay.

My heartbeat slowed.

A chill spread through my body, deep and numbing.

Riverbay meant only one thing.

Astrid.

“Tell me more, Castian,” I said. My voice was even, but inside, fear had taken root.

Fear—for her.

Castian hesitated, then continued, “She was poisoned with mistletoe, Alpha. And repeatedly stabbed.”

A growl rumbled in my chest.

Mistletoe.

The only thing that could weaken me. The only thing that could neutralize a wolf’s strength.

This was planned.

This was orchestrated.

Castian’s next words sealed it.

“The housekeeper claims to have seen the murderer. The guards found the killer at the scene.”

I braced myself. “Who?”

His expression tightened.

“Astrid.”

The world stopped.

No.

It was impossible. Astrid couldn’t hurt a fly. She didn’t have the strength to take down a wolf, let alone the Queen.

My body went rigid.

“I don’t believe you.”

“I’m sorry, Alpha,” Castian said softly. “But her scent was everywhere. And there’s… more.”

I barely heard him. My mind raced, trying to grasp reason and logic.

Someone set her up.

“King Edward is in Yormsborg as we speak,” Castian added.

I clenched my jaw. Of course, he was.

I stormed out.

The morgue was cold. The stench of death clung to the air.

I inhaled sharply.

Iyanna’s body was laid out before me, her skin pale, lips tinged with blue. But there was another scent here.

Brandur.

I turned, my eyes locking on my brother. “Brand, who did this?”

Brandur merely raised a brow, glancing lazily at Castian.

“I’m sure he’s already told you.”

“I want to hear it from your mouth,” I growled.

Brandur sighed. “Your mate killed her.”

Liar.

“We found letters from Magnus under her bed,” he continued smoothly. “She was a spy. Luckily we caught her before she escaped.”

My blood boiled.

Not because I believed him—but because someone had orchestrated this to perfection.

I turned and stormed out. I needed to think.

Hours passed, but the answer wouldn’t come. I knew Astrid was innocent, but if I denied Edward justice, it would mean war.

And with the vampires already a threat, Yormsborg wouldn’t survive.

I had to act.

Fast.

A knock came. “Alpha,” Castian called. “King Edward is in the conference room.”

I exhaled. It was time.

****

I left the conference room filled with rage. Edward had demanded Astrid’s head. She had one night left.

My mind spun. I could refuse him, but that would ignite a war with the vampires. And whoever had set this plan in motion wanted exactly that.

Night fell.

I shifted, Fenrir taking over.

We sprinted toward the dungeons, but as we neared, a scent filled the air.

Høtenheim wolves.

They lurked at the far edge of the castle, near the woods. Their scent was thick.

They were waiting. Fenrir panicked, his pace quickening.

His mate was in danger.