“You really did it,” Katerina says, stopping short to stare at the captives. “I’m impressed, Mace.”
“Of course he did it,” Titus says through his metal jaw. “They were all a bunch of fucking idiots, and the human politicians will love this.”
“Your own achievement is profound,” Mace says in a way that gives away nothing about his real feelings. Everyone here is a mate-betrayer. By anyone’s measure, the worst people on the planet are in this room. But everyone turns to Xander, who also schools his fine, dragon features. I wonder what he sees with his magical eyeballs.
“I’ve done my part well,” The Collector says, taking a seat at the table. “We’ve eliminated our main enemies. What’s your next move?”
“The next fucking move is to avenge my father,” Titus snarls, thumping his meaty fist on the table. “I want that Boneweaver girl dead.”
“I do not want thelastBoneweaver on the planetdead,” Mace says evenly. Katerina nods in agreement.
“Then something needs to be done about her,” Titus snaps. “She’s out of control, and this is the first of it, you mark my words.” He quiets, scowling into space. “You didn’t see her eyes. They weremad.Get her out of the fucking country. Hell, get her off of the fucking planet, if that’s what it takes.”
“She’ll be depleted after this attack,” Mace says, glancing at me. “I will take care of it.”
My shadows tug at me. They’ve always had a little mind of their own, and now they caress my own mating mark, my cheek, drawing up to my eyes where they are always at their thickest, protecting the rest of the world from me.
The urge to kill everyone is something I always have to fight back. A little laser beam here and there, and the world would be totally different. That level of power is something the others have always been wary of. But Mace would never let me around his family unless he was sure I wouldn’t get tempted. The various marks on my body itch. Mace’s venom. My own. Aurelia’s.
“If I might suggest…” Katerina drawls, running a red fingernail across the lacquered mahogany. “The girl has proven strong. Even what Flores and I did didn’t break her. But I think we’ve come close with the loss of her mates. She is wild in her movements. If she continues on a rampage, she will act without precision. I think we can get even closer with just one more little push.” The Collector sits back. “I still want my money’s worth from that girl. It’s a lot of zeros for no eggs, Mace.”
Her concern is for her business only. She doesn’t care about Aurelia’s welfare, only that she got her chance at breeding whatever it was she kept in the dark under her property. That, evenIhaven’t figured out yet. “It better not be a sloth you’re trying to stud,” I say. “Or some exotic pigeon from Peruvia.”
The Collector gives me a look that suggests she wants to gouge my eyes out and toast them like marshmallows over a campfire. “I need to be heading back.”
“You won’t stay?” Charlotte says with surprise. “It’s almost dawn.”
“I want to get back,” Katerina repeats. It gives me great delight to see her fretting like this. To see herparanoid.
“To your pack,” I confirm. “Or swamp? Whatisa group of crocodiles called again?”
“A group of crocs is called a death trap,” Titus growls, proving he’s useless once again.
“And the metal-head knows some words,” I say in a surprised voice as The Collector gets up from the table, muttering under her breath.
“I’ll be in touch,” she announces.
Mace strides over, examining Xander standing stoic and listening by the door. “Your father would not have taken you back if it were not for me,” he murmurs, low and arrogant. “I suggested it may be one of the few things to break the company of Scythe Kharkorous, and I was right.” He smirks, reaching up to pat the dragon on the cheek. “You did the job better than anyone else could.” Xander gives no reaction. Not so much as a lip twitch or an eye flicker. I’m impressed. Mace turns to Katerina. “Watch the evening news tonight. You won’t want to miss my announcement.”
Ah, yes. Phase two is about to begin.
Chapter 14
Aurelia
Beak meets me on the animus roof the next night, settling his giant claws onto the wall and fluffing out his wings. The academy is in complete lockdown, to the chagrin of many of the students. But word has gotten around, whether from illicit phones or via the wolves, of what happened at Clawson House and everyone settles down quickly. The eagles, falcons, and a few cockatoos—whichever avians Beak trusts—have been patrolling the main roads all day, as asked.
“Anything to report?” I ask, crossing my arms as I survey the night sky. There is a chill in the world that makes me want to rub my arms, but I can tell it’s the absence of my mates that has me feeling cold.
I can still feel the aftereffects of Xander’ssignificantpresence inside me last night. With his healing funnelling through me, my leg has not ached at all today. The sight of his towering astral form sauntering through my door ignited me in a way bloodlust had not. He had not been the first ghostly person Iwantedto see. I’d wanted to hear Savage’s singing voice or Scythe’s glinting eyes, or Lyle’s imposing stride. But when I saw him, something in me realised he was the one I’dneededto seethe most. That black mark…those glowing eyes…the arrogant posture.
He understands what it means to be alone. He understood that, in that moment, I needed fire and brimstone. Scythe has always said that Xander and I are more alike than I think. We are mirrors, and it triggers both of us to see our reflections.
Presently, Beak shifts into human form to be able to speak. He keeps his front respectfully angled towards the grounds, so I don’t have to see all of him. “Nothing of note all day.” Those sharp eyes are dilated as they take in every inch of me under the sliver of the moon.
It’s dark tonight. A night for predators.
Something in him knows that about me now. Perhaps they’d always sensed it, but males have an awful habit of using what they see with their eyes over their good sense. Now that he’s seen what I can do, what I wilfullyhave done, he’s…enamoured.
