Blood of the Wolf: The Crown (Mackenzie Grey Book 11) Read online

  Blood of the Wolf

  Mackenzie Grey: The Crown #2

  Karina Espinosa

  Copyright © 2021 by Karina Espinosa

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover design by © Christian Bentulan

  Edited by Stacy Sanford

  Copyright 2021 by Karina Espinosa

  ISBN-13: 9798504516967

  ASIN: B093YNQ2VY

  To all the moms.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  About the Author

  Also by Karina Espinosa

  About the Author

  1

  The rain poured down, weighing down my wool coat and making it hard to see through the dense forest. I relied mainly on Shadow’s senses to guide me through Caledonian Forest as we ran. Branches whipped against my face and the rain soaked my skin and hair, plastering it against my skin. My heart pounded in my chest and I breathed heavily as we bounded out of the tree line and into an open pasture. The night sky illuminated the field, the moon and stars guiding the way. I grabbed the hood from the hoodie pinned underneath my wool coat and placed it over my head, then snapped the reins to make Shadow run toward the cabin.

  I looked around to make sure we weren’t being followed, but the only thing I could hear was the blood pumping in my ears and the thunderous rain. Shadow ran faster with every snap of the reins, sensing my urgency and feeding off my fear.

  As we approached the cabin, we skidded to a stop and I jumped off Shadow. I took the reins and latched them to the nearest wooden post, patting Shadow on the side. “I’ll be back,” I murmured, licking my lips and tasting the rain. I hiccupped on a cry and rested my head against Shadow’s until I collected myself. My tears mixed with the rain.

  I sprinted to the front door of the cabin and ripped off my hood, banging on the door with a closed fist.

  All the lights inside were off, and I worried Lucian wasn’t home. He wouldn’t be asleep at this hour, so either he wasn’t home and was somewhere in the village or … I don’t know.

  I banged on the door even harder, making the glass in the windows rattle. I let out a little cry and bit my bottom lip, trying to swallow back the noise. I looked behind me to make sure my guards or Bash hadn’t followed me out of the castle when suddenly the front door swung open and the porch light flicked on.

  I gasped and stumbled backward, turning to stare at who stood before me. My chest heaved from the adrenaline rush of running from the castle all the way here in secret.

  He frowned, standing before me dressed in black, silk pajamas and a matching robe. His blond hair was tied at the nape of his neck. He held onto the door as he watched me, dripping wet on his Welcome doormat.

  “I need your help!” I gasped. “I’m … I …” I looked around for the right answer, but I couldn’t find it. All I felt was desperation. I’d never felt so scared before in my life. “Lucian … I’m pregnant.”

  His dark eyes widened as they sized me up and down and then he released a long breath. “Well … this is déjà vu all over again.” He opened the door wider. “Come, Pet, it’s pouring outside. Get in.”

  I hurried inside and wrapped my arms around my midsection as I entered Lucian’s small living room. The door closed behind me with a click as the lock was engaged, and Lucian walked to the sofa and grabbed the afghan that was resting on the back. Unfolding it, he wrapped it around me and tucked it under my chin.

  “Why would you come running here in this weather in your … condition, Pet?” he asked kindly as he walked to the kitchen.

  I followed him, feeling wretched and miserable. “I had nowhere else to go,” I sniffled. Lucian started boiling water in a tea pot. “I don’t want tea,” I grimaced. “Give me coffee.”

  He grunted. “Coffee? While pregnant? Sorry, Pet, I don’t have decaf.”

  “Decaf?” I scoffed. “What kind of blasphemy is that?”

  Lucian peered over his shoulder at me in shock. “You’re having tea. That’s final. You need to warm up. You’re shivering like a chihuahua.”

  I growled in response, but it didn’t sound as tough as it should.

  When Lucian was done, he set me down at the small dining table and poured me a cup of chamomile tea. I wrapped my hands around the cup to warm myself but didn’t raise it to my lips.

  Lucian sat across from me and sighed. “Why are you here, Pet?”

  “I – I can’t do this, Lucian. I can’t have a baby!” I wailed.

  His eyes widened slightly and he cleared his throat. “You know … your mum came to me in the middle of the night too, running from someone. I never figured out who, but she came to me on a rainy night to tell me she was pregnant with you and asked me to help her. But even in the midst of her trials, not once did she want to get rid of you.” He glared at me. “All she thought about was how she could protect you.”

  I gritted my teeth. “Don’t compare me to Adaline! She wasn’t Queen! She didn’t have hundreds of enemies!”

  Lucian tilted his head. “No, she didn’t have hundreds of enemies—she had one, and it cost your mother her life.”

  “That should be answer enough,” I growled.

  “So, you’re only trying to protect yourself?” Lucian scoffed.

  I rolled my eyes and slammed my palm on the table, making the cup of tea rattle in its delicate bone china saucer with hand painted pink roses. “No! I’m protecting the future heir to the MacCoinnich line! It won’t survive! If I give birth to this child, I’ll only do more damage,” I sighed, slumping back in my seat.

  “You don’t know that, Pet,” Lucian whispered. “You are the ultimate protector. If anyone can protect that child, it’s you.”

  A single tear slid down my face and I wiped it away roughly. “I can barely protect myself.”

  Lucian pursed his lips. “Does Sebastian know?”

  I shook my head. “I found out tonight, but I’m pretty sure he knows something.”

  He frowned. “Why do you say that?”

  “When I ate the nightshade at our ceremony, my vision was of a teenager … He looked so much like Bash, except … he had gray eyes. I didn’t put it together until I found out I was pregnant. I’m sure Bash had a similar vision.”

  “You can’t hide this from him, Pet. You must tell him!” Lucian leaned forward. “You’re not alone. Sebastian will protect you and that child with his life,” he whispered.

  I covered my face with my hands and took deep breaths as I processed his words and the implications this decision would have on our future. Lucian was right; I didn’t have to do this alone. I had Bash, but Bash was biased. No matter how much danger there was, he’d still want this baby. His dream was to have a large, boisterous family. With this child, he would get everything he ever wanted.

  Except, this was my nightmare come true. In my life, a child would be nothing but a weakness. They were vulnerable, and I would be destroyed if I couldn’t protect them. I had to put th
e Lycan first, and with a child I wouldn’t be able to do that.

  “Pet …” Lucian reached for my trembling hand across the table. I peered up at him. “Don’t make any rash decisions. Talk to him before you do anything. I’ll help you; you know I’d do anything for you, Pet, but be smart about this. This is the heir to the MacCoinnich line. It must be protected at all costs … even if it’s from you.”

  I jerked back and snatched my hand away from him, furrowing my brows at his ominous tone. “You would really go against me?”

  “If it means protecting that baby … yes. Some things are bigger than you, Pet.”

  I narrowed my eyes and swallowed as I processed his words. Was this bigger than me? Ophelia sure thought it was. Now Lucian. No matter where I turned, there was someone there to protect this unborn child.

  I tried to look at the positives, at how I could keep this baby safe, but the enemies in the dark kept clouding my vision. It just seemed utterly and completely impossible.

  “There’s something else I haven’t told you,” I muttered. “And it might just change your tune.”

  “What is it, Pet?” he asked carefully.

  I looked at my hands and then up at Lucian with glassy eyes. “We’re not the only ones who know about the baby. Abaddon knows. That’s what he’s after. He’s after the baby.”

  Slowly, Lucian’s eyes widened until he fell back in his chair. An unsettling quiet descended over the room. That was a complete game changer and he knew it.

  “He sent me a wedding gift,” I continued. “It was a rattle with a little note that basically said he’s coming for me and the baby. Knowing that, do you still think I can protect it?” I raised a challenging brow.

  Lucian calmly took a sip of his tea and frowned. “That doesn’t make sense, Pet. What would a demon want with a baby?”

  I was about to answer, but my voice caught in my throat when I realized it must be because of the fae magic in my blood. What was going on inside me because of the baby? I couldn’t tell Lucian about that part. Not now, at least. I needed to speak with Ophelia. She must have more information.

  “I – I don’t know,” I mumbled.

  “Listen to me, Pet. First thing in the morning, you must tell Sebastian and Alexander. You need medical attention. A lycan pregnancy is not easy, and you will need help that I cannot give you—”

  I shook my head adamantly, my eyes wild. “No! If I do that, people will find out!”

  Lucian snapped back, “You’ll eventually start to show! Even if you try to hide it, they’ll find out in a couple of months!”

  “Fuck.”

  Lucian got up from his chair and came around the table to squat beside me, grabbing my hands. “Everything will be fine, Pet. Trust me. This happened for a reason. We may not know why just yet, but I am convinced there is a reason. You are meant to be a mother and you will be an amazing one, but you need to have some confidence in yourself and trust that you can protect this child. You’re Mackenzie Grey! There’s nothing you cannot do.”

  I snorted. “I’m not invincible, Luce. A baby might just be the one thing that can defeat me.”

  Lucian smirked. “I think this baby will make you stronger than ever. There’s nothing a mother won’t do for her child. You’ll move mountains.”

  I looked down at my abdomen that was covered by a damp hoodie and placed my hand over it. Whomever was in there was special, so much so, he had a damn demon chasing it before he was even born. Even Ophelia said he would be the greatest leader the Lycan would ever know. He already had his own prophecy. His destiny was huge, and it was my responsibility to protect him. Could I live up to the task?

  Lucian patted my hand reassuringly. “Go back to the castle. The forest is not safe, Pet, especially for you,” Lucian said. “Go home. Rest. And speak with Sebastian in the morning.”

  I clutched my abdomen and bit my lip as I nodded. We stood at the same time and Lucian walked me to the door. I flipped my hood over my head and prepared to leave.

  “Don’t fret, Pet. Everything will be okay.”

  “Thank you, Luce,” I muttered as he opened the door and I stepped outside.

  Without looking back, I headed for the wooden post where Shadow was secured and unwrapped the reins with trembling hands. I climbed onto Shadow and motioned him around to head toward the forest. Instead of a run, we started off in a trot. I was not in a rush to return to the castle.

  2

  By the time I walked across the drawbridge to the castle, a light drizzle was all that was left from the previous deluge. Two guards standing at their post were about to deny me entrance when they saw my face. Startled, they glanced at one another in confusion before hastily letting me in. I heard them report my entrance through the radio, but I didn’t have the energy to care about the repercussions of my escape from the castle.

  My Converse sneakers made squishy noises as they sloshed onto the pristine marble floor as I headed towards the grand staircase that led to my chamber. Guards were posted all along the way, but they were eerily quiet as I dragged myself upstairs.

  When I reached the corridor that led to the Royal Wing, William was pacing outside the door, waiting for me. He ran a hand through his buzz cut hair and scratched at his scalp in frustration. He wasn’t on duty tonight, but when the other guards realized I was gone they must have woken him up.

  “Yer Majesty!” He stormed over to me, meeting me halfway. “Where have ye been? It was storming tonight! How could ye go out there like that?”

  I was deflated and tired and lacked the energy to argue or explain my actions. I just wanted to go to bed. But I knew that would be impossible.

  Heavy boots sounded behind me, getting louder and louder with each booming step. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

  “Ye have a lot of explaining to do, Yer Majesty!” Ranulf shouted from the end of the corridor.

  I tightened my hands into fists to keep from crying. Right now, all I wanted was Bash. I didn’t want to speak to anyone else.

  Ranulf grabbed my arm and whirled me around, throwing my hood back. “And yer dressed like a commoner!”

  I rolled my eyes. “That should be the least of your worries.” I ripped my arm from him.

  “What the hell were ye thinking, Yer Majesty? It’s dangerous out there! Especially for ye!” Ranulf yelled.

  I knew he was right, especially after receiving that package from Abaddon, but I couldn’t sit still. After opening it, I hid it in the closet right away. Once we’d spent a respectable amount of time at the reception for our mating ceremony, Bash and I went to sleep, but I couldn’t even close my eyes. Hours went by and sleep never came. I knew I had to do something, anything, but the only thing I could think to do was to reach out to the only one I knew I could count on in times of peril … Lucian. He always told me to go to his cottage if I was ever in trouble, and right now, I was in a lot of trouble. Except I didn’t get the response I expected.

  “I don’t answer to you,” I growled.

  Ranulf’s expression darkened. “Ye may nae answer to me, Princess, but my job is to protect ye! So right now, ye will answer me!”

  “Ranulf!” William gasped, taking hold of my arm lightly and pulling me back. “The Queen should probably get cleaned up and get some rest. We can talk afterward.”

  Ranulf’s glare was unmoving as we stared each other down. “Double the guards around the Queen. I don want her going anywhere.” Without another word, he spun on his heels and stormed away.

  “Come on, Yer Majesty, let’s get ye some dry clothes.” William was gentle as he ushered me into the Royal Wing.

  We entered the common area and there were guards all around. Apparently, William was ten steps ahead of Ranulf. He’d already doubled the guards.

  “William?” I turned to the guard and stopped him mid-step. “I need a favor.”

  “Anything, Yer Majesty.”

  “I need the guards gone,” I said.

  “Anything but that,”
he said dryly.

  I sighed. “I promise I’m not going anywhere; I just need to speak to Bash without any prying ears. What I need to tell him is extremely private. No one can know.”

  William’s face tightened. “Yer Majesty, I cannae leave ye unguarded. Ranulf will have my head.”

  I bit my lip as I thought about it for a moment. “Then … you stay behind. Only you. But what you hear, you cannot repeat.”

  William frowned, not liking the idea whatsoever. “Ye know I would never betray yer trust, Yer Majesty.”

  I nodded. “I know.”

  “Very well,” William grunted and turned to the guards. “All right, lads, let’s give the Queen some privacy. Head down to the foyer. I’ll come get ye in a moment.”

  “Aye,” they all agreed and started to exit the Royal Wing.

  William turned to me. “I’ll be right outside in the corridor, just in case anyone decides to come upstairs. If ye need anything—”

  “Thank you, William.” I patted him on the shoulder. He was the last to exit the common room.

  I took a deep breath before running my hands through my wet hair. I shook out my hands and approached the double doors that led to the Queen’s private chambers. I turned the handles and opened the doors, stepping inside.

  I expected Bash to be sound asleep, but instead he was sitting on the edge of the bed in the dark room with only a small lamp turned on. He wore a pair of cotton pajama pants and nothing else. His hands were clasped between his legs and his head hung to his chest. He was waiting for me.

  “Bash …” I whispered.

  “It’s late, Mackenzie, just come to bed.”