“And four more alphas,” a baron announces.
“Yes, that’s Maddox Sinclair,” the Warden says, pointing to Bear, and I stare at him, wondering what his game is because he should know who Bear is, shouldn’t he? Maddox Sinclair? Who is that?
“And these three?”
“No idea,” he says, glaring at me. Almost daring me.
“Names!” a guard shouts at Mordecai.
“Wait!” I shout before they can hit Cadel. “That’s Andril and Tennison Black.”
“What are you doing?” Bear hisses. “Shut your omega mouth!”
The betas look between us, and whatever false animosity Bear and I are throwing tricks them into believing we’re telling the truth.
They were two alphas who were friends with Maddox and had died of sickness about a year ago. It was out in the wild where the betas can’t track, I know because I was there.
Bear looks at me sharply one last time, then turns back to the duke. With a sigh of resignation, he spits out bitterly, “That’s right. My brothers.”
“What were you all doing in the city?” The duke growls, pacing back and forth. “Did you think you could win? Did you think you could hurt us?”
“Food,” I say bitterly. “We were just looking for food.”
“Huh.”
He looks like the idea of that completely stumps him. It’s the truth but not. Hunger brought me into the city early, but it’s not the reason I was there.
“And you?”
“Iron Hutchins,” the alpha we don’t know says with a growl that deepens.
I can see his intentions before he even moves.
“DOWN!”
All of us drop to the ground as he throws his body up and charges the closest beta. He’s massive, so when he knocks him down and slams a foot onto his chest, the beta’s ribs snap in a killing blow.
The dying oof sends chills down my spine. I turn my head and see the Warden dismount gracefully using no hands. He pulls out a massive black sword and darts in, slicing up from the alpha’s genitals to his chin. His entrails spill in a slippery, steamy mess over his boots. He stands frozen, not moving, and then he collapses, his life extinguished just like that.
“You!” the duke shouts. “I told you to keep him down.”
“Sorry, sir, he got away from me.”
“Clean this up, and you’re demoted. Your punishment will be not to enter Foreen until the High King gets here.”
The boy looks as if he might cry. His punishment is not being able to kill us, and that’s so bad he might cry? I have no words.
“Get them up, and get them into the holding cell.”
I’m dragged up. The Warden grabs my shirt and wraps it around me, tying it up at the back.
“Wouldn’t want you to corrupt any more minds,” he murmurs, and for the first time since I’ve seen him, there’s almost a note of mockery in his voice.
“It’s not my fault they are so easily led,” I whisper back.
His eyes flash up to mine. We look nothing alike but for our colouring. My eyes are light silver compared to his dark grey storm clouds. For a second, I can see him sitting beside me, laughing as the day fades into night. I’m happy.
Happiness is a lie. It’s a heartbreaking betrayal.
