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)
It mildly surprised me that Nyx knew all of that. Nyx talked like the earth spoke to him, but the moon had only spoken to me once, and I still wished I could bash that conversation out of my head.
“Because it’s impossible,” I admitted. “It’s wolfsbane, Nyx.”
“That is not wolfsbane. Wolfsbane is a natural plant.”
I shook my head firm. “And that’s what this used to be too, until it was planted in soil fertilized with echidna droppings and watered with vampire blood.”
He blinked. “Come again?”
“Echidnas are female monsters who live in the demigod dominion. They give birth to other monsters, and their ancestor is a goddess too—the mother of monsters,” I explained. “They’re horrible, nasty things, but their droppings make great fertilizer. Demigod farmers use it to grow crops at three times the normal speed.
“Lizela stole a horse-drawn echidna manure cart when she fled across dominions and wound up in Incepe Din, so there you go. They discovered that you could combine wolfsbane and vampire blood and grow it in that manure to create a more... targeted poison,” I said clearly. “It’s dangerous for us because it’s wolfsbane, but because the vampire blood drains it of life, it can’t spread through our bodies and kill us. It only kills the spot where its injected.”
“The vocal cords,” he whispered. “But if you injected it into a werewolf’s heart, it would kill us.”
I tipped my head. “It’s wolfsbane, Nyx, so of course it will. That’s exactly why they made it. All of that silver bullet shit is a myth, but a bullet to the heart that was coated with this?” My fingers skittered over the horrifying fungus. “That would do the trick. Any werewolves that attacked Incepe Din wouldn’t live long enough to regret it.”
“So...why, then?” Nyx slowly dropped down next to me. “Why waste time taking their voices away from them when you’ve got your hands on a murder weapon that they’ll never see coming?”
It struck me hearing Nyx refer to the alphas as them. He meant it. He was on my side.
“For three reasons. One: We’re wolves and wolves don’t fight with guns or bullets. Two: These mushrooms are all we have of our secret weapon, and every missed shot would be an unforgiveable waste. And three: Because the alphas don’t fear anything or anyone because why would they? Anyone challenges them, they can just command them to turn around and walk away.
“Death won’t get rid of that arrogance. War won’t beat the false sense of superiority out of them. The only thing that will cow those fucking pricks is to turn them into what they look down on the most—omegas.”
Nyx didn’t say anything, but he didn’t argue with me either. Shrewd eyes swept over the small clearing. He was tense like he was desperate to shift and claw these mushrooms up soil and root, but he held back.
“Why are these the only ones we have? Is there not enough time to grow more?”
I shook my head. “There isn’t any more echidna manure. Lucia tried to grow it without the droppings, but it turns out that’s a key part. Echidnas are descendants of gods who hate the gods. That hatred is etched into their very souls, and apparently their shit.” I shrugged. “I said once that an alpha’s command is a gift from a god and you need a god to take it away. Turns out echidnas are close enough.”
“I see.” Nyx nodded slow. “I just have one more question, Daze, and that’s does this need to happen?” He met my eyes. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating for mercy, but if I’m thinking like the alpha I am, I know I’m still dangerous without my voice, because I don’t need my voice to shove a whole log down someone’s throat.
“Why not kill them, Daze?” Nyx dropped without a lick of hesitation or consequences. “Or expel them if you don’t want to make martyrs out of them. Or—my personal favorite—kill them and then expel their corpses.”
I chuckled softly. “Killing them would make them martyrs. I’ll be the mad, bloodthirsty queen priestess who executed the brave heroes fighting to take back our school. No,” I growled. “After what they did to Paxton, Edric, Ava, and Zarina, they don’t get to be remembered as heroes. I want them sobbing and snotting their hearts out while they skuttle out of here with their tails between their legs back to a world that treats them the same horrible way they’ve treated every other wolf their whole lives.
“Oh no, Nyx,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “They don’t get to die because that would be too quick. Too kind. They’re going to live with the shame and humiliation of having the whole world at their fingertips, and then having it all ripped away by one little spoiled, pampered princess priestess. Only when they’re begging and mewling at my feet, willing to give me anything and follow me anywhere to get their voices back... that’s when I’ll cut off their fucking heads.”