In many ways, it’s a relief.
“I know,” I whisper. “I know, I wish—”
But he cuts me off again, leaning toward me, swaying slightly. “That cup was meant for you. Thatpoisonwas meant foryou. Izabel didn’t have enemies. She’d still be here if it weren’t for you and your—your bid for power.”
There’s hatred in his gaze.
I stare at him, shivering. We should be united in our heartache, but he’s aiming his at me. He takes another step closer, until we’re only inches apart.
From behind me, Anassa bares her teeth in warning. Tomison’s wolf, Filikos, sidles up next to him, a low growl forming in his throat.
There’s a dark flash as Cratos appears, circling to put himself between Filikos and Anassa.
I glance over to see Stark’s hand on his sword, his face hard. Everything is balanced on a knife’s edge.
“You had to bequeen,” Tomison continues, voice scratchy and almost unrecognizable. “You couldn’t settle for Alpha. And you’ve killed her. Now you’vekilled her—”
Filikos lets out a pained howl, echoing Tomison’s agony, and then moves in fast—lunging, eyes wild, towardme.
I jump back quickly into Anassa’s fur as Filikos’s jaw snaps shut on empty air, but he’s not done. He lunges again, slobbering fangs coming for my throat.
“My family was right about you,” Tomison shouts. “I was blinded, but they saw you for who you are!”
Anassa growls, but Cratos is on Filikos in a flash, huge paw slamming him to the ground. Filikos thrashes against him, his brown eyes still focused on my face. Death is in his gaze. He wants to kill me.
Tomison goes silent. Not egging on Filikos—at least not audibly—but not stopping him, either.
“Stark,” I plead. Then, without thinking, I reach out in my mind.“Don’t harm either of them.”
Stark is on Tomison instantly, a thick arm around Tomison’s throat.
“Call off your wolf,” Stark snaps, steel in his voice.
Tomison doesn’t say a word, just stares at me. The despair and pain on his face tangle in my gut until I might retch.
Behind them, Filikos scrabbles against Cratos, twisting wildly to free himself. Cratos swipes his claws across an ear, and Filikos yelps, a high, painful note.
“Tomison, stand down.” Alpha Egith has appeared beside us.
I’ve never seen her so imposing. Her face is cold and hard, and her eyes flash as she focuses on the pair. I feel myself straighten at her commanding tone. Through my mental link with all the Bonded, I canfeelthe reverberations of her order. Her iron will, forcing itself down on Tomison and Filikos, until Tomison slumps in Stark’s arms.
Filikos stops moving underneath Cratos, submitting to Egith’s dominance.
Stark releases Tomison, and he stumbles forward, gasping for breath.
There’s a whole world of pain in his eyes as they meet mine. “Queen Meryn—”
“You’re dismissed, Tomison,” I manage. “I’m relieving you of your duties on the Council Palast, and of active service generally.” I hear myself as if I’m listening to someone else, someone capable of managing this moment.
There’s a low pounding in my head. I’m saying goodbye totwofriends today. My fingers ease, slipping down from Anassa’s coat.
I take a deep breath. “Go home, Tomison. You need time to heal.”
A small crowd has gathered around us, and I glare at them. Onlookers purse their lips, then move off. Ready to spread this story widely, I expect.
My shoulders slump. I stay where I am, next to Anassa, as Egith escorts Tomison away. Stark and Cratos stand with us, watching their backs as they retreat.
I turn at a pull on my sleeve: Venna’s beside me, mouth pressed into a thin line.
