Wait, did she even have a weapon?
I blinked, and she stepped back, away from Beo, her lip curled in disgust. There, next to the throwing dagger lodged in his throat, was the last inch of her pen.
Wow.
“You chose to follow the orders of a bully,” she snarled. “I expected more of you, Beo.”
Headmistress Elaine spun toward her son. “Courage!”
As soon as she said his name, her door opened, and four guards marched in, weapons drawn.
“No!” Elaine screamed.
And at the same time, Rage bellowed, “Standdown!”
Almost as if time stood still, the guards froze, confusion washing over their features.
I blinked, and then my jaw went slack as all four of them shook their heads.
“Now,” Rage growled. “Weapons down.”
Three of them put their weapons away. Just like that. But the fourth one trembled, his entire body shaking with a seeming battle of wills.
Holy mage, what was happening?
His sword tightened in his hand as he raised his head and howled as if in pain.
Rage stepped forward and ran the guard through with his knife—his wail cut off with a wet gurgle.
“He was trying to signal the king,” Rage growled. He looked sadly at the wolf he’d just killed as the limp body slid to the floor.
“Your commanding power is getting stronger,” Elaine said, voice filled with shock as she stared at her son, then her eyes widened and her gaze darted from the selkies to Rage. “Are you making friends?”
I giggle-snorted.
“Trying,” he said, with a crooked smile. “Harp, Gray, this is my mother, Elaine.”
The selkies bowed, and Harp said, “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Elaine nodded her head. “You as well.” She then pulled Rage into a fierce hug. “I was so worried.”
I watched their reunion with a newfound respect for my future mother-in-law. She’d raised four alpha heirs, so of course, she was badass.
“Mom,” he said, his words coming in a rush. “Will you go to the infirmary and then bring the Harvest girls to the basement of the south tower. I have a feeling we’ll need all the help we can get.”
She nodded and then pulled his forehead down for a kiss. “I’ll do what I can to lead our guards the other way. Most don’t want to attack you, but…”
Rage swallowed hard. “But the pack link makes it hard to refuse the king.”
As we’d all just witnessed … but apparently, Rage had commanding power as well—a trait of an alpha king.
Maybe Ragewasready to take over for his uncle.
“I’ll see you soon,” she said, crossing toward the door. “Now, Chance, Jonathan, Robert, come with me.”
Rage frowned at me, but the expression slid from his face as his attention jumped over my head. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Beo dead on the ground. But Rage didn’t go to his childhood friend. Instead, my mate jerked his head toward the open door.
“Let’s go get Justice and Noble.”
