Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Edric put his arm around me, gently rubbing my shoulder. “We need more help, Daze. Outside help. We’re too limited behind these gates.” An idea occurred to him, and came down the bond before his words did. “What about members of the lost packs? They can track Cygnus down for us.”
I was shaking my head before he finished. “They’re on the same side as the omegas. They’re not risking themselves until I’ve proven myself. They’re damn sure not going after the Sun councilman just because I ask them to. Even without his voice, Cygnus is incredibly dangerous. The man is the strongest sun wielder in all of Wolf Nation.”
“You’re right.” He blew out a breath. “Of course you’re right, but we have to do something. If the omegas and the lost packs need to see something big to get off their asses, let’s give them something big.”
“My biggest batch of alpha voice killer will be ready in a few weeks. The plan was to pick a place with the douchiest alphas, poison their water, and let the ensuing chaos make my point loud and clear.”
“Hmm. This is good, baby.”
I blinked. “You really think so?”
“Oh, yes. I love that you’re getting all the crazy, madwoman, never-going-to-happen ideas out of your system so that we can get back to reality even faster.”
“Asshole.” I shook him off, sniffing. “If you’ve got a better idea, let’s hear it.”
“I do have a better idea actually, and it should be sliding down the bond right about... now.”
I frowned, brows crumpling as the vague notion of a plan came together in his head, and then mine. I cycled through all the emotions as a glimpse of the man who blackmailed his fated soulmate, and then the most powerful people in Wolf Nation, reared his handsome head. Luame did throw this guy at me for a reason after all.
I settled on an emotion by the end—wicked glee. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more attracted to you than I am right now.”
He winked, his full lips curling up and tickling free his dimple. “As long as nothing goes wrong for the next couple days, we can pull it off easy.”
“—and now, students, one final announcement,” Ash called. “There’s been a lot of upheaval among the student body over the last week. I assure you, I will be reviewing every expulsion and suspension to confirm they were fair and justified.”
My head snapped up. What? What is she talking about? We never discussed that.
“I’ve already begun that process by welcoming back a student that was unfairly—nay, criminally—ejected from the grounds. Please welcome him back.” Ash stepped back from the podium, clapping heartily at someone at the other end of the stage.
My nose got a whiff of his scent before the shadows released him. “What?! No!”
Orion stepped out before his audience, his thick-framed, stylish glasses capturing and reflecting the stage lights—making them glitter so bright, they hid the malice in his eyes.
“Thank you, Vice Headmistress Ash, and thank you, everyone, for welcoming me back to the academy.” Orion spoke to the students, but looked right at me—his nose telling him where I was even though darkness concealed me. “First, I want to assure you that I’m not a threat or danger to anyone. I didn’t kill anyone. Our sainted and illustrious headmistress killed Mason. The guy was a serial rapist, so good fucking riddance. She killed him to protect someone, and I helped cover it up for the same reason.”
I stilled, eyes wide. That was a fair and accurate retelling of events. I thought for sure Orion would have nastier—
“As for Dagem, that psycho killer priestess obviously murdered her so that she could steal her job, and she framed me to get away with it. If you all haven’t figured that out by now, you’re dumb as shit and you definitely need to take these basic proficiency tests.”
And there it is.
Ash gasped. “That is a serious and disturbing allegation, young man. As you know, right of conquest only applies to alphas, so if this is true, our dear high priestess would be arrested and tried to the fullest extent of the law.”
I stiffened, jaw clenching. “So that’s your play,” I hissed, knowing Ash could hear me loud and clear.
Flicking over to me, she found my eyes through the shadows... and smirked. “I’m certain these allegations cannot be true, but in the interest of justice, I’m sure you all will welcome the secret police tomorrow. They’ll be returning to the grounds to conduct a thorough search, investigation, and interrogation of all suspects.” Her stare pinned me through. “They will not rest until they discover the truth.”
I TRAILED ASH THROUGH the halls, trying not to shout and barely succeeding. “Why didn’t you tell me you were letting Orion back into the school? How did you let him back in?!”