Rawson steps closer to me, protectively. Around us, the Equitae back away in slow, careful steps—even Ceira’s eyes are wide with something that looks like fear.
“That fucking bastard!” Reth’s growl vibrates with rage, fists clenched so tight his knuckles turn white. “He thinks he can send his son here to double-cross us? Scouts hiding at the entrance of Heartwood, betting we’re stupid enough to let them waltz right in?”
My heart lurches.
Kiernan was here? For me?
As Reth starts pacing by the fire, Domanikk walks over to us.
“Rawson, take Alaya to my tent. He’s unstable. I can’t have him around her.”
“I want to stay. This involves me—let me help,” I insist, glaring at him.
“Just fucking do as you’re told for once,” Domanikk spits, his voice hard and cold.
Rawson grabs my arm and pulls me towards Domanikk’s tent. As we move away, I feel Reth’s power surge over the clearing like a breaking storm.
Reth
I know they all stare at me like I’ve gone mad; I can feel their judging eyes boring into my skin.
Let them fucking stare.
I can still see the cocky grin on that fuckers face, his first words hitting me like a match to kindling.
“I believe you have something of mine? I have come for my wife.”
Like she’s a possession to covet, like we’ve taken his favourite toy.
Despite my rising temper, I kept myself in control—Domanikk’s presence and input keeping the negotiation on track. Prince Kiernan demanded Alaya’s return in exchange for five of our own. Regardless of whether I believed she was worth more, I knew for a fact he couldn’t hold his end of the bargain. But I wasn’t about to let him know that.
Then Ceira found them—his scouts hiding around the true entrance to Heartwood. It was well hidden, only revealed when used. They obviously had intelligence of its location and tried to trick us with this farce of a negotiation to lure us out.
Then all hell descended. Their Thorn Guards are ultimate killing machines, but he’d underestimated us. We had the advantage of numbers and speed. We took down the Earthbound with ease, and when the Thorn Guards advanced—even enhanced by his Amplifier Gift—he’d only brought six. Against our newly trained warriors with controlled powers, we matched them blow for blow.
Sensing his mistake, Prince Kiernan retreated into the Barrens like the cowardly fucker he is.
“They’ve gone. We scared the shit out of them,” Domanikk says, jolting me back, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. “They ran.”
He’s trying to break through my fury, trying to temper my rage into something to celebrate. And his hand on my cheek, in front of everyone? What the fuck is he thinking? He knows full well why we must be discreet in front of the Herd.
“He treated us like idiots, Dom. Like shit on those shiny golden boots he could just polish off.” I hiss, slapping his hand away from my face. My anger won’t abate—the more I see Prince Kiernan’s smirking face in my mind, the more I want to see his head roll from my sword blade.
It was too close. Them finding Heartwood’s entrance would’ve been a death sentence for everyone inside. I couldn’t let that happen, no matter the cost.
“Where’s Alaya?” I ask Domanikk calmly. He hesitates, searching my face.
“She’s in my tent, safe with Rawson,” he replies, eyes drawn and piercing.
“This ends now. You might not want to admit it, but that’s why I’m your Alpha. What we’ve worked so hard for—this sliver of peace and unity. They rely on us to keep them safe.Nothingis worth more than Heartwood’s safety.”
“You can’t be serious?”
“He’s shown he’ll stop at nothing to get her back. If we can’t keep her, they can’t have her.”
I start towards his tent, but he grabs my arm.
“I can’t let you do that, Reth.”
