“I’m a monster?” I slapped my hand against my chest, feigning hurt. “But I haven’t done anything. I have spent the last nine months dealing with your sister. I have allowed her to bully me, take advantage of my kindness, and attack me. Even you came here and tried to demand things from me while you mocked me and I have let it all roll off my shoulder. But now, now I’ve decided to collect.” I turned my focus on Thinius. “Make your decision. Either way, we will know the truth today.”
Nina shook, but she rallied. “How do you figure?”
I laughed. “Your family is so used to people falling in line, but you forget, there is always someone bigger, stronger, or more vicious. I just so happen to be all three. If Thinius here decides to cut out his tongue, then I will kill you two, anyway. And then I’ll start with your parents. And then their parents. And I will command the truth from them one by one.” I sucked my teeth. “One of them will fold. One of them will think their life is worth more than keeping Thinius here on the council.”
I watched as Thinius paled. “You wouldn’t.”
“But I would. My father taught me to put my king above all. Something you seem to forget. If you and the council have been playing games, and abusing your power, that puts our king in the line of fire. And that is something I won’t allow.”
I waited, cleaning my fingernails as everyone else digested my words. “She’s right.” A voice came from the crowd and then more and more murmurs of agreement.
I flicked my eyes to Rowan, and he was still struggling with his command. So I focused all of my aura on to Thinius. “Answer your king.” My command was thick with power, fully focused on him, and I watched as his power folded.
“Yes.” His voice was weak, and blood poured from his lips. I could see his wolf healing the serrated parts of his tongue, and I shook my head. Stupid man.
“What did you say?” Rowan’s voice dropped.
“Speak up for your king.” I turned to Toya, and I gave her a thumbs up when I saw her still recording. “I think he deserved the truth. And since you are always so loud with your opinion, your honesty should be just as loud.” I got a few more yeses from the crowd.
Every one was on pins and needles. You could feel the crowd surge a little closer to hear the next few sentences out of his mouth. “Yes!” He screamed it and a look of defiance crossed his features. “Yes, I allowed my family to use my name, my influence, to do what they needed to. If they needed to win a contract, I was called in to finalize it. If someone hurt someone, killed someone, I fixed it.”
I felt my eyes narrow, and so did Rowan’s. “Fixed it how?”
I watched him fight, but it was no use. “I did whatever I needed to.” Then he did something I never thought I would see. He slammed his teeth together. I heard the crunch and winced. He broke a couple teeth fighting my command. But then he dropped to the ground and started to convulse. His eyes flashed to his wolf’s, and I saw hatred in its eyes. “You will regret this, pup.” His words sounded like his mouth was filled with rocks, and I knew something was wrong. He convulsed more, and his eyes faded. The light that was just present vanished.
I walked closer and then dropped to my knees. Nina and Nadine started to scream as they realized the same thing I just did. I turned back to Rowan. “He’s dead.”
Rowan came over and dropped next to me. “What the fuck do you mean, he’s dead?”
I cracked open his jaw and hissed as his saliva dribbled past his lips. I yanked back my thumb and watched the skin bubble. “Fuck.” The smell of burned flesh and a small puff of smoke drifted from my thumb.
“What the hell is that?” Toya walked over and looked at my thumb, phone still recording in my hand.
“Silver.” Rowan and I answered at the same time.
“Why is there silver in his mouth?”
I grabbed his chin, keeping my fingers away from the dribble of saliva, and cracked his jaw open. “Rowan, use your cellphone and shine it in here.” I looked into his mouth once the light was on and I could see the shattered remains of all his molars. Silver was burning trails into the flesh of his mouth. “He had fake teeth implanted with liquid silver.”
“What are you talking about? There is no liquid silver. That’s mercury, and it was a hoax.” Nadine sniffled, but I ignored her.
Rowan looked at me. “She is right.”
I shook my head. “These are tiny slivers of silver suspended in a liquid, most likely an oil. But it’s there. You can see the reflection of the tiny particles in the burns.” I tilted the head and let Rowan look inside of his mouth.
“Why would he do this?” Rowan looked at me, and for the first time I could see the lost teenager that had to take over as king far too young.
“Because he had a secret, he couldn’t let out. And he was willing to die to keep it.” I let his face fall and turned to Rowna. “Call and have someone clean this up. There are students here that are going to start freaking out soon.” I nodded to the crowd behind him.
He nodded and pulled out his phone. “I need you to come here and clean up after a body. No blood, but silver is present, sowear gloves.” He glanced up at the two women huddled together. “Also, I want Thinius’s family pulled in for questioning.” There was a pause. “All of them.” He hummed in agreement a few times and then stood. “I will personally interview them.” Then he hung up.
“My king!” Nina called out, but he raised his hand and turned to me.
“I need you to keep this table open. But I will postpone the selection process until this is handled.” I nodded and he turned to address the women. “Ladies, I know this is an ugly scene. But I really want all of you to continue to apply. I don’t want this to stop you from getting your chance at being queen. I understand though, if this is too much for you.” He bowed and then turned to Nadine and Nina. “You two are obviously disqualified from applying. And Nadine, you are removed from your duties with the council from this moment on.”
“Please Rowan, don’t do this to me. I love you.” Nina begged, dropping to her knees.
Nadine paled further. “You can’t do this. I’m in line for my uncle’s seat on the council.” She shook her head in disbelief.
