“What?” my sister screeches.
Patrick jolts at her tone and looks back. “When he was younger, before the new world, a seer read him.”
We give him a puzzled look.
Seers don’t exist anymore. The queen had them all killed, along with many other gifted people. It’s been over eleven years since she took the throne, and I struggle to remember what it was like before her. Granted, we needed order, but not her type of order—no way in hell.
“His heir is to rule the wolves, greater than he ever could, and that’s saying something, since John is the best we have ever had.”
“I’m not having any damn kids, so he better start fucking other people, because it won’t be me.”
My eyes go wide at her harsh words. “You really don’t want kids?”
“No,” she says, not even missing a breath.
“You would be a great mother.”
“And the earth is slowly dying, and we are letting it. Why on God’s green earth would I ever choose to bring someone into this world when I can’t even protect my own sister?” She turns and catches up with Patrick, who starts walking with her. I follow as we go deeper into the forest.
“Tatiana…” I walk up behind her.
Suddenly, a gust of cold air hits us and we all freeze. It’s not like your average wind, and not like anything we felt yesterday. No, this one is colder than I have ever felt before. I stand still and hug my arms to my body as the wind grows louder and the area fills with fog.
“Tatiana,” I call again, not able to see her through any of the whiteout now surrounding me.
My brown hair whips across my face and hits my freezing lips. I kneel to cover my legs and hug them tighter to give myself as much warmth as I can, hoping this will go away soon. When my teeth start to chatter loudly, the fog vanishes, and in its place is rain. Heavy rain followed by hail. I look around, my hands touching the ground, searching for anywhere to hide my head so I don’t get pelted to death, then start to crawl. My hands are covered in mud, and my knees are the same. I tell myself to move faster, but my body is locking up, ceasing due to the incredible chill that has overtaken me. My body wants to give up, curl into itself and find warmth. But, no, I keep moving until I reach a tree and place my numb, shaking hands on it. I know I’m at least half safe from the hail if I stay here, the branches of the large tree providing some shelter.
“Talia.” My back straightens at the sound of my sister’s voice, and my eyes frantically search for her.
How did everything change so quickly?
“Told you I would find you.” A hand grips my shoulder and I’m pulled backward. I don’t drop to the ground, though my body is dragged through the rain and hail as hot hands hold on to me and pull me away from where I know my sister is located. I scream and try to rid myself of her grip, but it’s no use. I cannot move, and she’s stronger in here—this is her home, after all.
“Cinitta,” I say her name, but she sneers at me in return. Not letting me go as she moves farther from Tatiana and Patrick. The rain and hail stop, and the sky clears, as if the storm never happened. I’m about to say something, when I’m dropped to the forest floor and then sat on. I watch as she loses her scales and sits on my chest, pinning me to the ground. A sinister smile touches her lips as she stares down at me.
“You dare say my name, as if you have the privilege to do so.” She leans forward, her face now inches from mine, her violet eyes shining bright as she pins me with her stare. “I usually like to end my kills fast and efficiently. But you…” Her hand lights up and fire coats her palm as she touches my shoulder just barely enough that the burn intensifies, and screams start leaving my mouth. “You think I will play with a prophecy? No one has ventured in here to help us. Those who come in here usually have no choice, or think some hidden treasure hides in here. They pay for their foolish mistakes with their lives, the same way you will.”
Her hand comes back down onto me, with more force this time, and I scream again, but she only smiles as her violet hair falls around her shoulders. I buck and buck some more, causing her to move the barest bit. When she does, I do it again until she lifts ever so slightly, and I push at her, getting my hands free and then throwing her to the side until I’m on top of her. I pin her arms to her sides the same way she did mine, and she starts to buck immediately, but I know how to keep her still because my sister would do this to me often.