The woman of diamond eyes stood regal atop her perch on the rock. Her sister crouched below her, studying everything with a critical eye. “Looks like a good pack,” the black-spotted woman said finally. “Once we win over their alphess, I’ll win her trust and then make my move.”
Elise knew her sister wanted a crown. Swallowtail was determined to find a pack where she could rule justly, where she could be queen. The sisters had been in Swallowtail for less than a week. They had seen more than their fair share of violence and bloodshed. And judging by the scents of death and blood on the air, mixed with ash, this strange land full of mystical wolves and pulsating magic had just been through a war. Elise tipped her head up to breathe in a cool breeze that was twisting by. “Swallowtail, just think for a second. Do you really have to be queen?”
“YES,” her sister said forcefully. “Sister, I’ve heard whispers on the wind. The Dane King, the newly crowned Storm King, the Fire Queen. The overthrown queen of Nightingale who inhabits the shores, who would make an excellent ally.
“Elise, fire is unstable and strong. The queen of Sindri, the Fire Queen, is holding an unstable thread of influence over her pack. She is struggling for balance, for any little foothold. She could be the destruction of Sindri. Even now, she makes decisions that throw her reign into an uncertain sea, viciously tossed and turned. I want to preserve this pack and rule as a real queen should.”
Elise considered. Swallowtail was speaking from the spirits and gods, the saints and martyrs, that she believed in. They guided her every move. “Water will temper fire, my sister. ‘The downpour of water will temper the hand of flame that guides its followers along a sheer path of destruction.’ I don’t believe it, Swallowtail. It was just an old muttering of that crazy elder who said she was a prophet . . .”
“It is not a prophecy. Elise, it’s the truth. Water will always defeat fire.” Swallowtail looked to the pack. “She’s the fire, and I’m the water.”
Elise and Swallowtail entered the pack lands, heading for the meeting. They agreed now. Elise was sold. Now their plan just had to take time. She did the speaking as they emerged into the glade, very conveniently rescuing the alphess from a reply. “My queen, I am Elise, and this is Swallowtail. My sister and I are looking for places as sigmas in your pack.” She bowed slightly. The woman paused.
“Elise and Swallowtail, I will welcome you in as sigmas. I am Queen Athena; this is my beta, Callie, and my children, Helene, Asmodeus, and Vryko.” A couple of wolves chimed in to introduce themselves, a Starling named Sydney included. A firefly stood wordlessly watching the proceedings. Her glowing eyes met Elise’s.

“Baby, I been, I’ve been praying hard!”