The Amber Shift

Fifty-One

Noelle

The next morning, Elijah, Killian, and Remi are kicking my ass in the training ring, and I am getting more than a little bit testy.

"I called a random lycan here yesterday, y'all. You want me to do it again?" I ask, sitting down on the ground and stretching my legs in front of me to touch my toes.

"Yes, we want you to do it again, sweetheart. That's kind of the point. You will have the power to do that with all the lycans, so you need to practice it with just a few. It only makes sense," Killian says, crossing his bulky arms over his chest.

I flatten out my body on the ground between my legs and look up at Elijah from under my lashes. "Well, I have to say I am just a little bit tired and sore today, so I am not feeling 100%."

Remi smirks and glances at Killian, who is wearing a shit-eating grin. "I wonder why that is."

Killian raises a ginger brow. "I don't. You and Eli kept me up half the night with your moaning and screaming. You two sure are some loud bangers."

My cheeks flame and I raise up, resting my hands on my hips. Lycans don't get embarrassed about our sexuality, remember? "Yeah, so? Elijah and I solidified our bond yesterday, so we got a little carried away," I say, and Remi claps Elijah on the back.

"'Bout time, boss," he says with a good-natured grin.

"I'm not looking for praise," Elijah says, but I don't miss the sparkle of pride in his eyes.

Despite the call from Corbin, things feel right. I haven't felt so at peace and optimistic since my mom died. Our bond doesn't fill the gaping hole she left in my life, but it has its own special place. It is like the corner piece of a puzzle was missing and now two sides are linked together, making them one whole. It is hard to worry about what dangers lie ahead when life hasn't looked this bright in a long time.

"All right, quit making them jealous and let's get to work," Elijah says, holding out his hand to me and helping me to my feet. "The goal is to sever the connection between Dante and as many lycans as possible. The more you can call, the bigger your army over his, and he has to hand over the throne to you."

I pause and let that thought sink in. I've known for weeks what I am and what my future holds, but I've not really considered what that means. I'm an eighteen-year-old girl who just graduated from high school. What do I know about leading an entire people? Not only that, but my people aren't known to the human world. How do I set the rules and keep them safe when I have only known they existed for months? I don't think I'm the best choice to be the next lycan ruler.

I look down at my feet and back up at Elijah, swallowing over the lump in my throat. "What if I don't want to do this?"

"Do what?" he asks, bending down to tie his shoe. "Train today? That's just too bad, princess, because—"

"No, I mean, what if I don't want to be queen?"

He stands and faces me, placing both hands on my shoulders. "Why do you say that?"

"Because!" I exclaim, as though the answer is crystal clear. And to me, it is. "I have no idea how to lead an entire group of people that I never even knew existed 'til a few months ago. I cannot be the best choice for this, Eli. I can't."

The three men exchange glances, each with a look of shock. I can't be the only one who thought I wasn't the best choice to rule. Others must have forfeited the throne before me. In the human world, it isn't unheard of that someone in line for a crown would bypass it. Why should I think lycans are any different?