"Shixyll whipped him, several times if I understood him correctly."
"What did he do?"
"Went to the grocery store and tried to save a cat."He shuddered as he remembered the cat."I want her dead."
"Hmm, might mess up the alliance you've worked so hard for."
"She shrunk the skin of a cat until it burst."
Ulric made a sound of horror.
"I want her fucking dead.I want her head on a pike like in the medieval times."
"I think it's happened more recently."
"I don't fucking care when it happened.I want her gone."
Ulric patted his back."I understand your rage, I do, but we can't kill Shixyll.Not unless she attacks us first.We've worked hard for this peace, have sacrificed a lot for it."
Rourke ignored him."Do you think Jiprix would take over if she died?I hate his guts, but I have the feeling he's more reasonable than she is."
"No, witch clans are matriarchies.They won't put Jiprix in a leading position."Ulric was quiet for a few moments."Maybe the one who turns people into trees and then sets them on fire.She's prominent, right?"
Rourke shuddered.Fucking witches."I need a cat."
"A familiar?"
"No.A kitten.A normal fucking cat for Ezra."
Ulrick chuckled."And you'd think it would stay with us?Cats normally don't like wolf shifters."
"It'll learn."
Ulric shrugged."Send Geri back to the shelter."
Rourke nodded.He'd do it first thing in the morning.Or maybe not in the morning since he suspected they'd all want to sleep in tomorrow.
"He asked if I'd punish him."
Ulric hummed, then yawned again.
"This is worse than I believed."
"Why?Because he's used to getting whipped when disobeying?Of course he believes you'll punish him if it's how he was brought up."
Rourke fisted his hair."How the fuck do I make him trust me?"
"By trusting him?"
Could he trust him?He was a witch.
"By spending time with him.You're a good guy, Rourke.Sure, you're an asshole and a stupid alpha, and think you know best when you don't, but you're not evil.He's spent his life surrounded by evil.Once he realizes you're fair, I'm sure he'll relax around us."
"Yeah."Maybe."I have to go.He's alone in there.I needed to...I want her fucking dead."
Ulric chuckled."I know."He patted his back again."Give your lovely mate a kiss from me."
Lovely?He frowned at the dark.Was he lovely?Rourke stood."Keep your paws and lips off my mate."
