“He’s here?” Costin asked, his eyes slowly left her face and focused on Vasile.
“Skender’s in a cell in the basement,” Vasile confirmed. “He is aware that you have killing rites. The female is aware that her life is forfeit because of her association with The Order of the Burning Claw. Even if she hasn’t directly taken a life with her own hands, she’s a conspirator to their atrocities. And she, too, had to have known about Sally. “
“Do you believe anything he has said?” Sally asked. She’d turned around so her back was pressed to Costin’s front. He had barely loosened his hold to allow her to move, and as soon as she’d stilled, he’d tightened his hold again.
“His tale is interwoven with lies. There are some truths, but he isn’t being completely forthright. I don’t know why. He knows his life is forfeit no matter what. He claims to have information concerning the Order’s future plans.” Vasile’s eyes glowed when they looked up at Sally and Costin. “I am leaving the decision up to you as to when the sentence will be carried out. If you want to get the information from him first, I will support you. If your wolf will not stand for the traitor to continue to live, I will support that as well.”
“What about his mate?” Sally asked. “What if they aren’t bonded? If she doesn’t die automatically at the same time as Skender, then does Costin still have to”—she paused and swallowed before finishing the question that make her a tad nauseated—“be the one to execute her?”
“She is a member of the Order, so…”
Sally held up a hand to stop Vasile’s statement. “I understand she is a part of an organization responsible for countless crimes. She has chosen her fate, but mustmy matedeal out her judgment?” The thought of Costin killing the female, having that on his conscience for the rest of his long life, didn’t sit well with Sally. She knew he’d already killed two females, had seen it in his memories and knew that a part of him felt guilty for not finding out first what their part had been in the whole scheme. Had they known what had been done to Sally? That was a question she caught in his mind every now and then. She didn’t want to add to his burden.
Vasile shook his head. “No. It is my job to be the one to pass judgment and carry out her sentence. I assure you it is not something I am looking forward to. It breaks my heart to take the life of a female Canis lupus.”
Sally let out a breath she’d been holding and felt Costin lean down next to her ear. “You worry too much, Sally mine.” His warm breath caused a shiver to run down her body. He kissed the spot just behind her ear and, though he was still wound tight as a coiled spring, she felt relieved he was calm enough to show her such affection.
“How will you get him to tell you what you want to know?” Lilly asked, circling back to the topic at hand. Sally had been wondering the same thing until the realization hit her.
“NO,” Costin snapped, the gentleness he’d shown her seconds ago was suddenly gone. “No way in hell.” A low growl rumbled in his chest, and she felt it against her back.
Sally looked at Lilly, ignoring her mate. “I could get the information from him.”
“The hell you will,”Costin spoke through their bond. Sally knew if her mate was cursing, then he was about to go into a full-blown rage. Costin didn’t swear often or lightly. She didn’t respond. Instead, she kept her attention on the rest of the people in the room.
Vasile, Alina, and Lilly, were on their feet, but it was Peri who spoke.
“No one would expect you to do that, healer,” the high fae said as she stepped away from the wall upon which she’d been leaning.
“No way in seven hells will I allow it. Just forget it, female. It is not going to happen,” Costin snarled.
“I can do it,” Peri said, looking at Vasile.
“Can you do it without killing him?” Alina asked.
“I can turn his brains to mush while still keeping his body alive,” Peri said casually, as if she were talking about making a salad instead of turning someone’s brains into coleslaw.
“I want him able to fight,” Costin said. “He does not deserve an easy death.”
“You’re going to fight him?”Sally asked.
“Do you doubt my ability to best him in combat?”Costin asked, his voice sounding tight in her mind.
“I know what you’re capable of. Don’t be a butthead. I’m your mate. I’m allowed to worry. Keep your ego in check.”
“What did those sprites do to you? You’re a lot mouthier lately,”he said while nipping her ear.
“Stop that.”
“Two things will satisfy my wrath right now, killing or you. Which will it be, mate?”
Sally sucked in a sharp breath as she felt the blood rush up to her neck and face, no doubt turning her a lovely shade of red. She pinched the arm that was wrapped around her and didn’t respond to his seductive statement. It would only encourage him to keep taunting her. Instead, she turned her attention back to the high fae who was still talking about mushy brains.Lovely.
“Have you ever had your brains turned to mush?” Peri asked, raising her brow at him. “I’m guessing, and this is just purely from observation, that there is nothing easy about it.”
“Regardless, the kill is mine. If you cannot keep from harming him, then you cannot be the one to extract the information.”
Peri’s eyes flashed like lightning, and Sally shuddered under the intense glare the fae was shooting at her mate.
