He smiled predatorily, all teeth and no warmth as my hand slid into my purse. Fingers wrapped around my knife hilt - one of the silver ones in a nice sheath ant to mask the scent of the tal, just like my dickey - as I kept my own expression as blank as I could.
"I wasn’t aware Victoria was at all involved with Ashen Threads. Not that what she does in her life matters to . Or who."
He chuckled at my provocative words, taking a step closer. I knew I should have worn the emitters as well. I’m not sure if I can activate them while putting them in my ears quickly enough.
"Oh, this isn’t about fashion. This... is about the pack’s hierarchy."
Another step. Fully playing up the nacing atmosphere. Are suits supposed to be imposing in the first place? Those pieces of clothing that people get all upset over with the slightest stain on them...
"And also about teaching certain Alphas about the consequences of leaving what they want... unclaid."
So that’s it. I heard more than saw Natalie slipping out through the sa door the ’assistant director’ had. And then a sound like a heavy sothing being dropped against the door. So much for trusting humans more than wolves.
> And I guess this is proof that Intuition works on direct malice but not indirect. <
Because it is buzzing all through right now, like the growl from Vrika struggling to keep from my own partially transford throat. Taking a step back to maintain distance, I tried to assess my options.
The room was small, but at certain angles I could probably summon the Stash as a barrier if I can kick that tripod out of the way. This underground area is potentially blocking my phone signal like the caves did. And I’d slipped my security detail again for this.
Basically, I’ve made every bad decision I could in pursuit of this... swan song. I hate swans anyway, so I don’t know why I did this! With those elegant necks and their tendency to not only pair bond for life, but to also never shut up about how happy it makes them!
"I have no desire to be claid, so I think I’ll be leaving now. If you’d kindly do your best to get out of my way."
Damien moved with unsurprising speed before I stepped, positioning himself between and the exit that the others had used. Does that an it doesn’t lock... or that he doesn’t trust whatever they put in front of it can’t be pushed out of the way?
"I’m afraid that’s not possible. You see, I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to arrange this private eting. And I’ve been quite curious about the she-wolf who’s caught our intolerable Alpha’s attention."
His eyes glead with sothing that had nothing directly to do with his wolf. Dripping with contempt. Surging with ambition. It was a social climber’s eyes... and a sadist’s smile that widened along with his arms.
"Others have seen you co down here with . Alone. Willingly. What would Kyrie think about that testimony, I wonder? About her little Duskpaw pet agreeing to et a male in private under her very roof?"
An understanding of his goal subsud , like falling into a break in lake ice just because you wanted the fish you saw underneath. This wasn’t just about intimidating to go away, like Victoria kept doing - it was about creating a situation that would hurt genuinely hurt Kyrie.
> He wants to make her think I’d been ’unfaithful’. <
Rage blood inside . At my own stupidity. At the system not giving a clearer goal that would help avoid this mont. At the realization that this man thought so easily used. A sacrificial princess as a re pawn in his sches.
"If you think Kyrie Voss cares who I et with, you’re sorely mistaken. We have no claim on each other."
"That’s not exactly what I’ve heard. Victoria says our mighty Alpha practically whimpers when your na or packless status is ntioned in their etings. I’ll admit, I was expecting soone more... impressive, thanks to that."
His gaze raked over in a way that fully belied his attempt to put down. Vile lies and more vile truth. Even though I don’t want to, I can picture that sweet wolf reacting when she didn’t an to... but this body is plenty desirable and he knows it!
> No, I know, this is not the point I should be focusing on, but it makes even madder than the rest of this! <
"What exactly do you want, Mr. Eschenhorn? I have no intention to give it to you, but it is only polite to let those who intend to monologue do so. Have at it."
As expected, a dark chuckle and flourish of his hand through his hair. A fellow narcissist. It ’takes one to know one’, as they say.
"You are a ssage. Or you will be. The pack has traditions. Standards. We don’t appreciate strays being brought in to warm our Alpha’s bed while she neglects her duties. While she rejects taking one of ours as mate."
Lips curled in the sort of disgust I knew to be from n who disdained won with other won. I could see his canines growing slightly as his eyes glowed. Close enough that one of us could reach out to the other at any mont - and my hand slides halfway out of my purse.
"Especially not Duskpaw rejects. Did you think we wouldn’t find out where you ca from? That you were mated, impregnated, and rejected? Tossed aside like the garbage you are?"
How I did not try and stab him in the throat then, I do not know. But he backed off. Whether because he sensed danger or just to keep up his villainous speech going is anyone’s guess.
> No, I’m lying. It’s the latter. It’s always the latter. <
"It’s worse than that, though, isn’t it? There are so many photos ready to release... playing all sides, aren’t you? Naughty girl. Does Kyrie know how... friendly you’ve been with other n in her territory?"
His voice took on a mocking tone as lies spewed from his mouth. As he held up a device that flipped through real, if distant, photos with so of the people I’ve t with throughout my ti here. The kind that a private investigator may have taken with an expensive zoom lens.
As well as photos of more intimate monts. Kisses, hugging, and worse. Much worse. Doctored, ridiculous photos of scenes that made my blood boil. Because even if it was Helene’s appearance they used... he was claiming that was ** with n.
> I’ll kill him. Even if I don’t get out of here. I’m sorry. But are you with ? <
Asking this even though there was no need, for in my soul we were already one. Already hybridized. Ready to shift like the lightning that frightens before he could even think to. And the blue glow shining off of his screen tells this isn’t a well hidden secret.
"When you entered Ricoat territory, when you accepted our Alpha’s protection, you made yourself pack business. And the pack? Has decided you’re a problem."
I heard movent outside the main door now, with my hearing near maximally enhanced - multiple sets of footsteps. Reinforcents for him, undoubtedly. Letting go of the knife and reaching for my phone, I pressed the Ergency SOS tied to the device for the first ti.
Perhaps I should have done it at the first sign of trouble. Even if it might not work here. Even if there might not be ti. Because if I rember reading on the hunter’s app right, it also engages the audio recording function.
> The evidence might have been useful. A sha. <
"So you are saying the Ricoat pack wants to get rid of ? Or just you and Victoria... or are you perhaps just her little crony?"
"She speaks for many of us who rember what this pack used to stand for."
His eyes flashed orange with anger but he didn’t fully ’bite’. Or rather, he nibbled, but it was to reinforce his pretty unlikely story.
I’ve t many n like this in my kingdom. Subordinate to the whims of a woman? Never.
If he is talking to her, it is because he intends to *use* her. Always.
Raising my chin, twisting my wrist, and pointing my index at him... I allow myself a sneer and smile. If things are going south, I may as well upset him as much as he upset . Get my own ’punches’ in to even us out.
"You an... before a woman took charge. Before she stopped you from throwing your weight around as you wanted? And led you to be so, so *fearful* that you cannot even challenge her directly. Is that the gist of what you stand for now, then?"
The taunt had its intended effect. Damien cracked, a growl escaping his throat as he snarled. Features transforming so slowly that one would think he has performance anxiety. But it allowed himself a final set of words before the wolf inside him rged outside.
So I will give him points for theatrics.
"I think it’s ti you learned your place. If that lucky bitch won’t mark what’s hers, perhaps soone should show her how it’s done."
Reviews
All reviews (0)