“We can. We’re a powerful pack, and we know how to fight them.”
“No one wins against them.”
“Well, we’re a good match at least,” I say, determined. “We killed Breckley and about six others that night.”
Tobias can’t hide his surprise.
I say it again, hoping it’ll sink in. “Breck is dead. We thought we were killing Foxx, but it was him.”
The smaller man says nothing for a long time, stormy eyes dancing between mine.
“Can you tell us who branded you?” Sage asks.
Tobias flinches, and he looks at his wrists again.
“Was it Orem?”
“You know about Orem?” Tobias says weakly.
“We knowofhim, but we don’t know how he got involved with the coven.”
Tobias swallows hard, eyes sliding closed again like he’s struggling not to cry. When he speaks, his voice is quiet. “Rip was the one who branded me, but Orem sealed it. He hasn’t been with the coven very long.”
I look to Red for clarification. Sealed? He shrugs.
“What does it mean? What kind of brand is it?” Sage asks.
Tobias doesn’t answer.
I can tell Red and Sage are thinking the same thing I am.
Whatever it is, it isn’t good.
3
TOBIAS
Itremble as the three shifters remain close. I wish they’d leave.
“How—how do you know Rip and Foxx?” I ask, still trying to make sense of things.
“I told you. They killed our pack sister,” Rowen says. “And Rip killed a friend of ours just a few days ago. Tried to kill another friend too.”
The bigger of the other two men—Sage or Red? I can’t be sure—looks like he wants to wring someone’s neck. Maybe this pack really does hate the coven as much as I do. Not that it matters. I can’t stay here.
“Would you tell us about the mark?” the smaller man asks again.
They seem almost desperate to know, like it’ll help them with the coven or something. It won’t. It will only get them killed.
I don’t want to talk about the mark, or Rip, or the damned coven. I pull the blanket tighter around me. It’s softer than anything I’ve had in years.
The man sighs and changes the topic. “I see you ate the food we left you. Are you still hungry?” When I still say nothing, he tries again. “I can make you another healing tonic, if you need it?”
“You going to shove that one down my throat too?” I snap.
He grimaces. “I’m sorry about that. I really was just trying to help.”
I sigh, looking between the three of them. Deep down, I believe him, even if it doesn’t make sense. These men don’t feel dangerous. Not in the way the vampires felt dangerous before.
