35. Chapter 34

Chapter 34

With her energy restored, Nina was virtually bouncing with exuberance. Joyfully, she furnished the room I was standing in: soft fur rugs appeared on the floor, leather sofas winked into existence and a roaring fire appeared in the hearth. There were cushions on the sofas and blankets strewn around in attractive wicker baskets. A small wooden table took centre stage and some cork coasters appeared. On one of them rested a steaming cup of tea, made to my perfect milky colour. Doors appeared off the main room.

Do you like it? she asked shyly. I could feel how eager she was for my approval.

‘I love it,' I said out loud, clapping my hands with delight. ‘It just needs some books and it will be perfect.'

Even as I spoke the words, her floor opened up and wooden bookshelves started soaring through the hole from her basement. Once the shelves were lining the walls, books flew in one by one and neatly filled them.

Okay, that was cool. I picked up my cup of tea and sipped it whilst all the books found their new homes. Once they had stopped flying and Nina had settled, I set the tea down, went to the nearest shelf and picked up the first book that caught my eye. I opened it: it was about werewolf history. Now that could certainly come in handy.

‘Nina, you've outdone yourself. This is absolutely wonderful,' I enthused. ‘My only regret is that I can't stay in here with you all day.' I sighed wistfully. I wished the seat of power was on my lands instead of the Staffordshire's. I could see myself whiling away many hours here.

I can relocate if you would like? she said eagerly.

I blinked. ‘You can move?'

Oh yes, she said, her tone matter of fact. I am the seat of power. I go where the ruler needs me.

Tension drained out of me. On some level I'd feared that I would need to stay here with the seat of power whilst I consolidated my position, but now I wouldn't need to. I could move Nina and then the Council and the alphas would have to come to me where I felt safest.

‘Nina, you are amazing! I would love you to go to the Home Counties Pack for me.'

Now?

‘Well, you'd best wait until I'm out of here.' I sighed. ‘I'm not quite done.'

Of course, my Queen. I will move once you step out, and eagerly await your return. There was a pause. Please don't make me wait too long. I don't like to be alone, and I won't let another set foot in here until you say so.

My heart ached for her. ‘I know you don't like to be alone, Nina. I promise I won't be long.'

Thank you, my Queen.

Regretfully I placed the book back on its shelf, gave the walls a comforting pat and stepped out of my perfect home.

When I'd taken a few steps away, I turned back – and gasped with shock. Nina no longer resembled a shack; she was a beautiful wooden cabin. A tree still grew though the centre but now it felt intentional, and the cabin somehow grew out from her. I realised that the tree was Nina; it wasn't some stray tree growing through the building, it was the building. The cabin was an extension of Nina and it looked magnificent. She'd had a major facelift.

‘You look beautiful!' I called to her.

The house gave a slight shudder in acknowledgement and disappeared, leaving a monumental crater in its wake. Nina's roots were long. I was so glad she wasn' t murderous because I could envisage her becoming my favourite place to be. Books and a hot drink on demand? It was my idea of heaven.

I was already missing her. I hoped my pack wouldn't be too worried when a huge wooden cabin suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Ivy trotted up to me, looking at me with accusing eyes. I reached out to her with my magic. She was petulant – she had wanted to trample the wolves – and I stifled a smile. She was young and still very small; the only thing that would have been trampled was her.

‘I appreciate the thought,' I said. ‘But maybe you can trample my next set of enemies?'

She nodded grudgingly but I sensed I wasn't wholly forgiven. I patted her neck lightly. ‘Come on, Ivy, let's go and face the music.'

Another absurd saying, Esme grouched. You cannot face music. You hear it. You do not see it.

That saying is probably military in origin, I explained, thinking that might curry favour with her; after all, she loved a battle. ‘Music' was a term soldiers used for gunfire. ‘Facing the music' meant going into battle – either that or it comes from when disgraced soldiers were paraded in front of the other soldiers to the sound of the drum .

If they were disgraced, they should have been harried and eaten.

Cannibalism is very much frowned on.

Not to wolves, she said flatly. It is far worse to allow your pups to go hungry than to feast on the flesh of your enemies.

I was exceedingly glad that she hadn't started to eat our enemies even though we were incredibly hungry. We should have made Nina bring us some food before we strolled back outside. Live and learn.

Ivy trotted next to us as we made our way back to Fellworth House.

All right, Terrance? I asked my crown.

Oh quite, Your Majesty. A crown is like a child: it should be seen and not heard. I shan't disturb you unless you call on me.

We no longer hold such outdated beliefs. Nowadays we are happy to let our children be both seen and heard.

How bizarre, he commented and I suppressed a smile. Perhaps the werewolves weren't the only ones in need of modernising.

I walked deliberately slowly to make the wolves wait for my return. They had seen me battle and kill three foes without breaking sweat, then partially shift my head and scare an opponent into instant submission; even so, I wasn't fool enough to think that I'd gained the respect of all of them . But hopefully I'd bought myself some time to consolidate my power.

I found Greg among the crowd. Although he kept his face blank, his eyes were smiling at me. I wanted to smile back but now was not the time – we needed some privacy for me to show him exactly how I felt about him. I was gratified that he had followed my orders because leaving me to face danger alone must have been the hardest of trials for him. He was not a man to stand by idly, yet he had respected me enough to let me do so. My heart swelled.

I was so fixed on Greg that for a moment I didn't notice the movement around him. The terrace moved like a sea as all the wolves fell to their knees and bowed their heads. Esme's exultation roared through me. They truly recognise us as Queen!

For now, I muttered grumpily.

‘Thank you all for recognising me formally as your rightful Queen,' I called loudly. I decided to strike again while the iron was hot. ‘My next act as Queen is to limit the number of challenges a person can make or receive. You may make or receive one challenge to your rule once a week. In that way, no one may be attacked repeatedly with no time for respite. We are above such unfair and dishonourable action, are we not? '

As one, the crowd looked at their toes.

‘Anyone found breaking this law will forfeit any title they have gained through such a cowardly attack and will enjoy a brief stay in the seat of power.' I smiled unpleasantly. If Nina could make a cosy room with books, she could make a secure prison too. Hopefully, her dark reputation would make anyone think twice.

‘As I will it, so mote it be,' I finished my proclamation.

Queen Lucy was in the house.