Chapter 15 The Broken Mask

The training grounds smelled like dust and old sweat.

I stepped onto the dirt circle. The sun was high and very hot. It felt like a heavy weight on my shoulders.

Hundreds of wolves stood on the grass. They were quiet. They were waiting to see blood.

Valerius sat in a big chair at the edge of the field. His face was like stone. He did not look at the pack. He only looked at me.

His eyes were narrow. He was still thinking about the boy in the hall. He was still thinking about the face that matched his own.

Seraphina stood in the middle of the ring. She wore silver armor that shined in the sun. She held a long wooden practice sword.

She looked at my black veil and laughed. It was a mean sound.

"The Queen of Shadows looks like she is going to a funeral," Seraphina called out.

The nobles laughed. My father was there. He stood behind the King. He looked at me with cold eyes. He did not know I was his daughter.

"Maybe I am," I replied. My voice was low and calm. "But it is not mine."

Seraphina stopped laughing. Her face turned red. She gripped her sword tight.

"This is a friendly match," Valerius announced. His voice was deep. It filled the air. "First blood or first fall wins. No shifting. No magic."

He looked at me. "Do you agree, Queen?"

"I agree," I barked.

I did not have a sword. I did not want one. I stood with my hands at my sides.

"Where is your weapon?" Seraphina asked. She pointed her sword at my chest.

"I am looking at it," I told her.

Seraphina growled. She did not wait for the signal. She lunged forward.

The wooden blade whistled through the air. It was fast. But I was faster.

I moved my head an inch. The sword passed my ear. Whoosh.

"You move like a snake," Seraphina hissed.

She swung again. She went for my legs. I jumped over the wood. My blue dress flapped in the wind.

"Is that all you have?" I mocked. "The maids in my city fight harder than this."

The crowd murmured. They had never seen a woman move like me.

Seraphina grew mad. Her swings became wild. She was losing her head.

"Show us your face!" she screamed. "Show everyone what a monster you are!"

She swung the sword in a big circle. I dropped to the dirt. I swept my leg across the ground.

Thud.

My boot hit her ankle. Seraphina hit the ground hard. Her silver armor made a loud clatter on the stones.

"That is one," I said.

I stood up and waited. I did not use my White Wolf power. I did not let the ice come out.

I used the moves Silas taught me. I used the dirty fighting of the Rogues.

Seraphina scrambled to her feet. She was breathing fast. There was dirt on her face.

"I will kill you!" she roared.

She ran at me again. She did not use the sword like a tool. She used it like a club.

She swung for my head. I caught the wooden blade with my bare hands.

The crowd gasped. The wood groaned under my grip.

"You are weak, Seraphina," I whispered. I looked through the veil. I saw her eyes go wide with fear.

"You think a crown makes you strong. It only makes you a bigger target."

I twisted the sword. Crack.

The wood snapped in half. I threw the pieces into the dirt.

Seraphina backed away. She looked at Valerius. She wanted him to help.

But Valerius did not move. He was leaning forward. He was watching my hands. He was watching the way I stood.

"Finish it!" a noble yelled.

Seraphina looked at the broken wood. She looked at me. She reached into her belt.

She pulled out a small dagger. It was not wood. It was real steel.

"She has a knife!" Silas yelled from the side. He moved to step into the ring.

"Stay back!" I barked.

I did not need Silas. I wanted this. I wanted to break her in front of everyone.

Seraphina ran at me. She went for my stomach. She wanted to kill the boy's mother.

I moved like smoke. I grabbed her wrist. I twisted it behind her back.

"Aaaah!" she screamed.

I pushed her face into the dirt. I held her down with one knee.

"You lose," I said.

The pack was dead silent. The Queen of Shadows had beaten the Luna without even trying.

I felt good. I felt strong. I wanted to walk away.

But Seraphina was not done. She was a snake.

She used her free hand. She grabbed the bottom of my black veil.

"No!" I yelled.

I tried to pull back, but she was fast. She yanked the silk with all her strength.

I heard a sharp sound. Rip.

The pins in my hair snapped. The black cloth tore away from my face.

The wind caught the veil. It flew into the air like a dead bird.

I stood in the middle of the ring. My hair was messy. My face was bare.

The sun hit my skin. It hit my eyes.

I looked at the crowd. I looked at my father. I looked at Valerius.

The silence was louder than a scream.

My father dropped his glass. It broke on the stone. Tinkle.

"Elena?" he whispered.

Valerius stood up. His chair fell over behind him. He looked like he had been struck by lightning.

His face went white. His hands were shaking. He looked at my eyes.

He took one step into the dirt.

"Elena," he breathed. His voice was full of a pain so deep it made the air cold.

I did not hide. I did not look away. I stood tall and looked at the man who had branded me.

"The Omega is dead, Valerius," I said. My voice echoed across the quiet field.

I looked at the nobles. I looked at the people who had laughed while I bled.

"I am the Rogue Queen. And I am here for my throne."

Valerius moved toward me. He reached out his hand.

But he did not get to touch me.

Behind the trees, a loud howl broke the silence. It was not one wolf. It was hundreds.

Shadows moved at the edge of the woods. Big, dark shapes stepped into the light.

My army was here.

And they did not look like they wanted to talk about peace.