The wolf the twisted kin.., p.1
The Wolf (The Twisted Kingdoms Book 6), page 1
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Published by Renegade Publishing
Copyright © 2023 Frost Kay
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any format or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the author.
Cover Artwork by Lisa Fricke
Copy Editing by Ocean’s Edits
Line Editing by Red Ninja Editing
ISBN (paperback):
ISBN (hardcover):
ASIN: B09ZBF1B1B
Created with Vellum
ALSO BY FROST KAY
See all of Frost’s books and find where to get them on her website at:
https://www.frostkay.net/books
DRAGON ISLE WARS
(Epic Fantasy)
Court of Dragons
Queen of Legends
Throne of Serpents
THE TWISTED KINGDOMS
(Epic Fantasy/Fairytale Retelling)
The Hunt
The Rook
The Heir
The Beast
The Hood
The Wolf
The Pearl (2024)
THE AERMIAN FEUDS UNIVERSE
The Aermian Feuds Series
(Dark Epic Fantasy)
Rebel’s Blade
Crown’s Shield
Siren’s Lure
Enemy’s Queen
King’s Warrior
Warlord’s Shadow
Spy’s Mask
Court’s Fool
Prince’s Poison
The Aermian Feuds Collection
Kingdom of Rebels & Thorns
Queen of Monsters & Madness
Reign of Blood & Poison
The Banished Queen Saga
Traitor of the Tides (2024)
DOMINION OF ASH
(Urban Fantasy)
A Spire of Lies
A Kiss of Shadow
A Touch of Mayhem
NEVER MISS A BOOK RELEASE.
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CONTENTS
History of the Twisted Kingdoms
Prologue
1. Scarlet
2. Scarlet
3. Scarlet
4. Scarlet
5. Brine
6. Scarlet
7. Scarlet
8. Brine
9. Scarlet
10. Brine
11. Scarlet
12. Brine
13. Scarlet
14. Brine
15. Brine
16. Scarlet
17. Scarlet
18. Brine
19. Scarlet
20. Brine
21. Arwen
22. Scarlet
23. Brine
24. Scarlet
25. Brine
26. Scarlet
27. Brine
28. Scarlet
29. Scarlet
30. Brine
31. Scarlet
32. Brine
33. Scarlet
34. Brine
35. Scarlet
36. Brine
37. Scarlet
38. Scarlet
39. Brine
40. Scarlet
41. Brine
42. Scarlet
43. Brine
44. Brine
45. Scarlet
46. Brine
47. Scarlet
48. Brine
49. Scarlet
50. Brine
Epilogue
About the Author
What did you think?
Afterword
For the courageous ones who
left their abusers behind.
HISTORY OF THE TWISTED KINGDOMS
Once upon a time… Elves, Shapeshifters, Giants, Dragons, Humans and Merfolk were all at peace—all equals. Their lands and kingdoms were prosperous, and their enemies didn’t dare attack for their armies were formidable. Generations passed and the people began to forget what was most important—love, courage, loyalty.
That was their downfall—for in self-indulgent ignorance they allowed darkness to creep into the land like a thief in the night. It started out slowly.
The Merfolk let vanity take root deep in their hearts, the Dragons became greedy from the skies, the Giants grew bloodthirsty, the Humans covetous, the Shapeshifters prideful, and the Elves allowed apathy to squeeze compassion from their hearts.
It was said that the earth rumbled and cracked, shaking the core of the world. When the tremors ceased, the Jagged Bone Mountain range surrounded the Elvish kingdom, cutting the elves off from every other living creature.
The Dragons abandoned their own kingdom and made their home in the Jagged Bones, threatening all who approached their lairs—making it impossible to pass through the mountains—though the Giants tried. As if the mountains of the Jagged Bones craved blood and hatred, many lives were claimed in the senseless violence there.
Upon witnessing such death, the Merfolk retreated to their watery homes, content to bask in the beauty of the sea and their own splendor, only occasionally consorting with pirates when it amused them.
Years passed and the myths faded from the world’s mind.
The Elvish kingdom became the Wilds, the Giants sequestered themselves in their own kingdom of Kopal. The Fire Isle Kingdoms were forged by mercenaries—the offspring of pirates, Sirens, and Merfolk.
For a time, the Shapeshifters of Talaga held an uneasy peace with the Humans of Heimserya. The two kingdoms needed each other to survive, that all changed with the birth of a new plant and a royal son.
An extraordinary flower—the Mimkia—was discovered in Talaga. When distilled, it was a powerful drug capable of healing any wound. It was practically magical. The applications were limitless and its worth immeasurable. In their pride, the Shapeshifters boasted of their discovery, of their brilliance.
Word reached the Humans of this new source of wealth. They coveted this new miracle plant and the temptation proved to be too much for the newly crowned king who sought to enrich his kingdom. With his greed dawned a new era of bloodshed, prejudice, addiction, and depravity.
Welcome to the Twisted Kingdoms.
PROLOGUE
There once was a little girl who
Believed in fairytales.
Who loved a wolf.
She hated red and shared peaches.
But love was not enough.
The monsters invaded.
And her wolf disappeared like smoke
in the night.
She was left to pick up the pieces.
Enslaved and broken.
The little girl grew.
Owned by the devil’s mistress.
Swathed in blood red.
Poison and silence became her weapon.
Until her wolf came to reclaim her.
But she wasn’t the girl he left behind.
She was ruined.
And he would pay.
ONE
SCARLET
There was something about the woods that called to her.
Perhaps it was because it reminded Scarlet of her father, or that she was finally out from beneath the thumb of her horrid stepmother, or maybe just because the forest gave her peace of mind.
Scarlet peered up at the immense pines and inhaled deeply, savoring the crisp, sharp scent of the trees. For a moment, she felt safe, free, and whole.
A branch snapped in the distance, shattering her fantasy world.
Nothing in the province of Betraz was safe or free.
She stiffened as she spotted a red wolf weaving through the trees not forty paces out. Her hand slipped to the poisoned dagger at her hip. She never went anywhere without it. She pushed her blood-red hood from her blond hair and scanned the woods.
It was Tarros.
The shifter had been pushing Scarlet’s boundaries in the recent weeks, getting bolder and bolder with each turn that he didn’t get caught and punished by Old Mother, the alpha and Scarlet’s stepmother.
Scarlet picked up the edge of her long red cloak that marked her as the alpha’s property and began hiking toward the river. The manor was closer, but she’d encounter more wolves along the way, and many would look the other way if Tarros caught her before she made it back home. Scarlet kept a sedate speed so as not to tip off her pursuer of her intentions. There were several huge rocks in the middle of the river that would offer her the refuge she sought. Tarros couldn’t swim. Scarlet would stay there until her stepmother sent Bright, her stepmother’s second in power, for her. She’d be punished severely for being late, but it was better than whatever the red wolf had planned.
Scarlet struggled to keep her emotions in check as she spotted the river. Wolves were sensitive beings when it came to scents. If Tarros scented her fear, it would all be over. Scarlet reached the river’s edge and waded in slowly, the frigid water biting at her skin. She bent low as if looking for pretty stones and caught a flash of red fur from her right.
Time to move.
She launched herself into the deeper water
Almost to the boulder.
“Not so fast, little rabbit,” Tarros crooned from behind her.
Scarlet glanced over her shoulder as the wolf caught the end of her cloak and yanked. She sputtered as it dug into her throat. If he got his hands on her…
Panic threatened to drown Scarlet. She tore at the clasp, ripping a few of her fingernails off. The pain barely fazed her. The clasp popped open and she swam for all she was worth, the current pulling her a little farther down before she reached the boulder. She clung to the stone, shivering in the water as she looked back at Tarros, who now held her abandoned cloak in his clawed hands.
He bared his teeth at her and growled low. “You really think that will stop me?” As quick as it came, his anger vanished, replaced by glee. Tarros lifted her cloak and ran his cheek over it, rubbing it against the rest of his body.
He’d scent marked it.
That was stupid.
Her stepmother didn’t tolerate anyone touching her possessions, which included Scarlet.
Her teeth began to chatter, and she forced her muscles to work as she clambered on top of the rock. Her breath sawed in and out of her chest as she watched the deranged wolf smile back at her.
He draped her cloak over his shoulder. “So this is how it’s going to be?”
Scarlet just stared back at him. He wanted her to fight, to fear him. She’d give him neither.
“Cat got your tongue?” He cocked his head, eyes narrowing. “You think you’re something special because you were the daughter of the duke? You think you’re too good for a Talagan male?”
This was the special side of Tarros that he kept hidden from everyone but the women he accosted. His father was one of Old Mother’s betas, and that’s why he got away with his crimes.
She methodically wrung out her simple dress while watching the wolf study her. He slogged out of the water and paced the shore. Now it was a waiting game. Eventually Bright would come looking for her. The sun was setting; now the challenge would be staying warm. Scarlet wrapped her arms around her body and tucked her hands into her armpits, shivers wracking her body.
“Poor little human with no fur. Come to me and I’ll warm you right up,” Tarros heckled.
She ground her teeth and stared right over the wolf’s head like he wasn’t there. He didn’t like that. A feral snarl emerged from him and the hair along her arms rose.
Tarros tossed her cloak on the ground and crossed his arms. “Just remember I wanted to do this the easy way.”
Scarlet blinked slowly at him and watched as he disappeared into the trees. Nothing was ever that simple with him. Ice ran down her spine as he returned a few minutes later dragging a long log.
No.
From the looks of it, the log would be able to reach her rock.
Scarlet stood on shaking legs. Tarros flashed her a triumphant smile.
“Already anticipating my arrival, Red?” he taunted.
She yanked two daggers from her sleeves and backed to the edge of the boulder as the wolf hefted the log up into the air and then down onto the boulder. Scarlet had two options. One, fight Tarros and lose. Her poison acted quickly, but not before Tarros could damage her beyond repair. Or two, jump into the river and swim for as long as she could manage.
The wolf sprinted across the log, and the vicious look on his face was enough for her to jump.
A large hand wrapped around her waist.
“NO!” she screamed, stabbing with all her might.
Tarros bellowed, released her for a second and she leapt. The wolf grabbed a handful of her dress and toppled into the water after her. The current snagged her away from him and threatened to pull her into the depths below. She fought against the panic and didn’t fight against the river. She opened her eyes under the water and reached for the nearest roots, her lungs burning. They slipped between her fingers a moment before she slammed into a rock. Her ribs screamed and she dropped her daggers. Scarlet clung to the boulder despite the pain, breaking the surface.
She gasped for air and oriented herself. She wasn’t far from the bank. Leaning her head against the rock, she took several deep calming breaths. She could do this.
Scarlet released her rock and struggled toward the shore. Her bare feet touched sand and she slogged to the bank, falling on her hands and knees. The hair at the nape of her neck rose and she stiffened. Glancing over her shoulder, Scarlet spotted Tarros perched on top of a rock not too far away. Why would he not go away?
She scanned the other rocks. If he played his cards right, he’d be able to leap to the shore.
Tarros grinned and pointed a clawed finger at her. “I’m coming for you.”
Scarlet ripped the bottom of her dress away and got to her feet, running through the last bit of water. Her feet touched forest floor and she made it four steps before Tarros knocked her to the ground. She spun onto her back, yanking a garrote from her bracelet.
A green blur launched from the trees and knocked Tarros down. Scarlet scuttled backward on her hands and feet, blinking the water out of her eyes.
Was that a man?
Said man grabbed Tarros by the throat and lifted him like he was a twig. He gave the wolf a good shake, his green scales shimmering in the fading light.
“You think to harm a female? Have you no honor?” the shifter hissed. He slammed Tarros against the nearest tree, rendering him unconscious. The shifter dropped the wolf to the bank of the river and gave him a good kick in the ribs.
Scarlet trembled as she clutched her garrote to her chest. She stood silently and took one step back, her eyes glued to the shifter’s back.
“Are you alright?” he asked, not looking in her direction, placing his hands on his hips.
She nodded, then cleared her throat when she realized he couldn’t see her. “Yes,” she rasped.
“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself.”
“You and I both agree on that.” Was he a snake shifter?
He inhaled deeply. “You’re from the town near here?”
“Yes.”
“You’re one of Old Mother’s?”
She gritted her teeth and forced out another, “Yes.”
“Perfect.” The shifter faced her, his shocking emerald eyes locking on her. “I’m looking for a man. He calls himself the sheriff. Have you heard of him?”
Oh, how Scarlet wished she hadn’t. He made her skin want to crawl. “Why do you want to know?”
The shifter grinned, flashing two wicked-looking fangs. “That is my business.”
“I don’t make it a habit to speak to strangers.” Her stepmother had punished her for just looking in a stranger’s direction in the past.
“We’re not strangers any longer. I just saved your life.”
Her attention darted to Tarros. But for how long? He’d be even more merciless after today. The shifter followed her gaze.
“I can make him disappear.”
Scarlet blinked. “What?”
“You heard me, lovely. I can make the big, bad wolf disappear.”
“Forever?” she whispered.
“Indeed. Just tell me what I need to know.”
She stared hard at Tarros. It would be so easy to say yes, but did that make her any better than her stepmother? The shifter was clearly speaking about killing the wolf. “No, it wouldn’t be right.” The words were difficult to say.
