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)
My mind spun. “I— Uh— Nia,” I blurted. “She was there the night Rici was murdered. She’ll tell you everything.”
Badr was shaking his head before I finished. “She’s an omega. She’ll say what she’s told.”
“But not by me! I’m not an alpha. I can’t command her to lie.”
“But all the alphas she witnessed murder Rici would.” Bright, burning eyes saw straight through me. “Seriously, Volana, that was the most ridiculous part of your story. I’m supposed to believe an omega saw Dagem and Sunella murder the most powerful werewolf in Europe, and instead of killing her or commanding her to keep silent, they just let her skip out of the room to tell you all about it?” Badr barked a laugh. “You must really think we’re all empty-headed pussy hounds like the boy toys you’ve got dangling from your fingertips.”
“No, that’s not it.” Anger made my claws sprout. “They didn’t kill her because they were still using her and her power, and they didn’t have to command her because slaughtering her brothers is a pretty effective threat!”
More headshaking. “Give it up, Volana, I’m not buying it. What else you got?”
I let out a scream, wishing I could wrap my clawed hands around his neck and squeeze, but even then, my wolf wanted to rub my naked body all over his muck-covered form. How could I want and hate someone so much and so equally? “Okay, fine. I can show you the web of payments from Sunella to Dagem, and then Dagem to her co-conspirators.”
He waved that away. “That wouldn’t prove anything. You can prove they were paid, you can’t prove what they were paid for.”
“What the hell are you? A lawyer!”
“I would’ve been if a certain psychopath hadn’t murdered my brother.” He smiled mirthlessly at me. “Without the heir, Papa Cygnus turned on the spare to carry on his legacy, and that included protecting Wolf Nation from people like you.”
I balled my fists, ignoring the vicious pain of my own claws piercing my palms. “All right. Fine. I didn’t want to do this but...” I blew out a rough breath. “Hope.”
“I already told you, pictures of some kid aren’t—”
“I’ll show you her powers,” I sliced in, cutting him off. “She really is a prodigy. She’s already started displaying them.” My eyes latched on to his. “And that will convince you, won’t it? A werewolf baby brimming with more than one impossible power, when having more than one was itself believed to be impossible. That will prove that everything I said was true, yes?”
Badr studied me for a long, silent spell. Tipping up his chin, he said, “Yes. That will prove it.”
“Follow me.”
Chapter Six
It was a long, creepy, quiet walk back to my clothes, and then to the castle.
Badr followed behind me, not saying a single word—though I felt his eyes boring a hole in my head the whole way there.
The castle had never been so still. My wolf ears told me no souls were about—sneaking, scurrying, or listening—and even so, it’d never been so loud.
My heart banged a chorus in my chest, clamoring to be heard over the roaring in my ears.
Getting my fates on my side wasn’t part of my plan when I came to the academy. The fact was they were all strangers to me, and a stranger was a wild card. I didn’t need any wild cards in the deck when it was already stacked against me.
But plans change.
Badr knew everything, and what he knew could bring the whole house of cards toppling down on me before I, or Hope, have a chance.
I couldn’t let that happen. I had to prove to him that my side was the only side, but he had a point. Why should he believe me without a shred of proof?
Honestly, him asking for and waiting for proof was a big improvement over our last interaction. The bastard skipped all that and called me a liar before bashing me over the head and burying me alive. If he’s finally willing to listen, I needed to make him hear me.
“Where are we going?” Badr demanded. “You’ve got your phone in your hand. If you need to call someone or show me something, do it now.”
“I’m not going to show you anything as important as this right out in the open.” My shaking hand held my phone tighter to my chest. “We’re going to my chambers. Edric reinforced the place to be worthy of a wind wolf’s standards. We won’t be overheard.”
“Meaning no one will hear when you and your boyfriend jump me.” Badr stopped dead. “Nice try, Volana. I’m not falling for your trap.”
“Trap? What the hell are you talking about, Divan? I’m not the one skulking through the woods at night, covered in manure!”
“It’s mud,” he gritted.
“This isn’t a trick or a trap. Edric isn’t even up there. He’s too busy trying to save the projection equipment that your buddy destroyed. I’m trying to end the war between us, so we can focus on the war that’ll save our lives.”