The Queen's Half

Chapter 6

Liar

I landed crouched on all fours, Theo landed behind me a few seconds later. He stumbled before righting himself. Whatever drug they had used was still in our systems.

I stared into the wilderness surrounding the house, my eyes adjusting to the flickering darkness. The flames that engulfed the house cast the tree line in a hazy orange glow.

I growled in warning as dark figures emerged from the woods. My hackles raised when I spotted Alrick's smug face leading the group. "Abomination," he spit out the word as if it were my name.

"You're a dead man," I hissed at him. "You're all dead," I said looking into the eyes of his five other accomplices. Two were wise enough to look away from me, their faces pale and guilty.

"You are unnatural," Alrick said, revealing a sword from behind his back. "A blemish on our kingdom that must be wiped away."

Theo growled behind me, moving to stand ahead of me. I laughed despite my nerves. "Try and wipe me away then," I taunted, the words muffled by my canines.

My claws descended and from the corner of my eye I watched as Theo's skin rippled until he stood in a half-shifted state. He huffed angrily; Alrick smirked. "Having a hard time shifting, Alpha?"

"What have you done?" Theo ground out.

"Wolfsbane," was all he said before he charged at me, sword gripped in both hands.

I shoved Theo out of my way before swiping at Alrick. He cried out as my claws scraped across his cheek, blood blooming instantly.

He swung at me relentlessly, the edge of the sword nicking my flesh as I dodged and deflected his blows. I was distantly aware of Theo fighting alongside Eric and Diana who had joined us at some point. My moves were slower than usual, my limbs heavy and my thoughts sluggish from the wolfsbane. I managed to kick the sword out of Alrick's hand, his eyes wide with surprise. I snatched up the sword and drew it back, ready to lop off a limb. Alrick whistled sharply before turning tail and running off into the woods. I gave chase, hearing the sounds of the others hot on my heels.

I stumbled through the underbrush, branches and vines scratching against my skin as I rushed past, thorns catching on the threads of my clothes. My breath was loud and ragged as I plowed forward, my eyes locked in on Alrick's retreating form. He peeked at me over his shoulder then shifted midstride, leaving a trail of shredded clothing behind. I quickly lost sight of him, his wolf form much faster than my human body could go. I ran forward a few more steps until I tripped on a fallen log, landing harshly on my hands and knees.

I screamed in frustration, chucking Alrick's sword in the direction he had gone, not caring that I was disarming myself while my enemies still lurked nearby.

Without warning, my stomach heaved violently, and I vomited everything I had eaten for dinner. My throat burned with bile, my eyes blurred with unshed tears, and my head throbbed with each heartbeat. Theo came up beside me and silently rubbed my back in soothing circles while I continued to expel everything in my system.

I sat back and swiped the back of my hand across my mouth, cringing at the bitter taste that clung to my tongue. "They got away," I whispered hoarsely, my eyes scanning Theo's in the dark.

He nodded silently before pressing his forehead against my sweaty brow. I fisted his shirt in my hands to hide their shaking. I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears