"I understand, my queen. I just wonder… Once we do this, we can never take it back," Imari cautioned, looking at her.
Enola stared at Imari, the queen’s patience clearly tested. She looked away, as if she wanted to say more, but refrained. “They have all struggled to adapt properly, and I simply don't trust them. I should know a thing about where their hearts truly lie—it has been fifty years, and I still find loyalty to home.”
"Why not tell the other Alphas?" Imari pressed, taking a step forward. "Tell them that you do not trust these women, especially with your own anecdote. Surely, they could help. I just fear that killing them will upsether.”
"Because," Enola warned, eyeing Imari, "I have hinted at it with them, and they were vehemently against it. They'd rather trust the Silvers. Tell me, Imari, why would any of those women willingly accept their life as a shifter? Why would they not turn on us one day? What is stopping them? We can’t. And whoever they mate will feel what they feel, potentially turning their mate into their ally as well. And—” Enola paused, sucking her bottom lip to her upper teeth, releasing with aclick, “there is more that I cannot share with you…”
“Of course, your grace,” Imari said with a bow of her head.
"Get the poison, and be ready to journey with them. Remember, the curly-haired one is the one who lives and whoever she chooses. They will be given the chance to become Osmond’s hounds, rather than drink the poison. And don't tell her we plan to poison the others. I don't think she knows," Enola said, turning to leave.
Imari took in a long, deep breath, looking around the peaceful courtyard with dread in her heart.
She hoped this wouldn't haunt her.
27
DESPERATION
R E M
"Hello, members of Warden,"Caden said in Icelandic as he stood before them in Ronan’s home. "Based on the howl I just heard, I'm going to guess that you understand things are changing.”
About two dozen shifters stood behind him, compared to the fifteen that was with Rem.
They were outnumbered, and Rem knew Scarlet had hundreds more.
"What is going on?" Freya asked as she grabbed Rem's shoulder, pulling Rem behind her as the small group formed a circle around Rem.
"Enola will explain everything," Caden said, although Rem couldn't see him. She could only see the bodies that surrounded her, the area growing thick with heat.
"Think carefully about what you're doing," Freya cautioned.
"Don't need to. Your son isn't here."
"Hewillbe."
She heard Caden chuckle as Rem stared at the floor, as if it helped her concentrate on translating.
"We won't let him in, Freya."
"I doubt he will come alone,” Freya coolly replied.
There was a pause, a surge of loyalty filling her heart at the thought of Ronan arriving with an army.Just as Deacon said.
"By then, it won't matter. Come along, Rem, wherever you are in there," Caden said.
Rem’s heart skipped a beat at being singled out.
Then, it was silent. No one moved, and Rem thought for a moment she heard a heart hammering away, not sure if it was hers or another's.
"What if we refuse?" Freya asked.
Rem glanced up at her, and although she only saw Freya’s back, it was clear how confident she stood, even though the she-wolf had to know that they were not going to win. Rem corrected her own posture to mirror Freya’s
"Then we will kill you."
Rem’s posture changed again at those words, panic challenging her.
