Hands behind my back, I nodded once. This was the Wolf I knew. This was the Wolf who would do anything to protect his people. He was finally seeing how important it was to be on the defensive rather than waiting for unrest to come to us. “Trust me, they’re ready.”
Rummy laughed beside me. All four of us spun to face her.
“I’m sorry, it’s just…”
My blood ran cold at the loathing look she gave me.
“What?” Huntyr asked. “What is it?”
“Jessiah’s prepared a lot more than just his own men. Isn’t that right? It seems like these events are falling in his favor.”
Xavier immediately straightened.
“What’s she talking about?” Wolf asked, brows pulled low.
Before I could figure out how to explain today’s activities, Rummy stepped forward.
“Jessiah wasn’t waiting for your permission to head to the east. He visited Nathan at The Golden City earlier today to recruit their men, too. He was going with or without your approval.”
That fucking bitch.
Chapter 7
Rummy
Contrary to what most believed, I really did try to be a good person. I tried to do my part, I tried to keep my mouth shut when people were being entirely idiotic.
Some days were easier than others.
Apparently today wasn’t a good day.
“What is she talking about?” Wolf asked Jessiah. I took a few steps back, ready for a full-on fight to break loose.
Hunt stood frozen on the side of the room, her face etched in hurt, a sense of betrayal radiating from her. It almost made me regret exposing Jessiah.
“Despite what some may want you to believe, I had no intention of going anywhere,” Jessiah said, eyes darting to me. “I was only figuring out our options.”
“Options?” Wolf asked, his expression darkening. “Options for what? We told you we would not be heading to the eastern kingdoms!”
“And look where that got you!” Jessiah shouted. “Things changed quickly. I was working to prepare us for any outcome! I was doing my damn job!”
Xavier got really fucking quiet, too. Go figure.
“When were you going to tell me?” Wolf asked.
Jessiah took a long, tense breath. “When the time was right.”
“Well, that’s fucking great, brother. How nice of you to plan your own little wars while Huntyr and I here were trying to keep the peace in Scarlata.”
Jessiah’s face grew red. “As commander of your army, isn’t that my job? You said yourself that things have changed. We need to act! Aren’t you at least a bit relieved knowing that if we needed the backup, I’ve secured it?”
Wolf fumed, his chest heaving as he sucked in ragged breaths. Hells, I had never seen him this mad.
Huntyr, either, though she was better at hiding it. Years of training under an assassin master made her damn near perfect at concealing her emotions.
But not from me. I knew her too well for that.
“I need a fucking second to think.” Wolf turned and stormed out of the study, the heavy door slamming behind him as he went.
