"He wants to ask you a few more questions,” Nia said.
Rem held her breath, her pulse in her neck. "Oh… Alright."
"First, he wants to know what you know of the world."
Rem contemplated the arbitrary question. “As in?”
“He says you clearly knew about the antidote. Do you know more? The information could be useful.”
Rem nodded. “Yes, I know some things. Not a lot but enough that, perhaps, we could write it down,” Rem said, her heart rate tripling; she could work her brother into this. “I’d just need someone to do it for me. But I’d be happy to.”
“He says it can be considered… He also asks if you know what the hunters planned to do with you.”
She replayed what Nia said. Rem met his gaze, staring directly into those pale, blue eyes of his, his dirtied, intense body in front of her. “He said something about turning me into a hound.”
Ronan's expression was stolid as Nia spoke. A slight humor washed over his face as he looked away, muttering something with a dark tone. The break in his stoic being to reveal a sharp-tongued male—even if she didn’t understand his words—was so foreign, yet so fitting. The others around chuckled.
"He made a comment regarding the audacity of the hunters. It was mostly a vulgar remark,” Nia clarified, “And about returning it to the hunter, to see if he likes being ahound.”
Ronan met her gaze once more, his shrewd expression returning. Nia translated, “He points out that if it were him in your position, he would have killed the hunter, knowing what they plan to do to Silvers like you.”
"Well, I don't know what everyone keeps referring to, but I’ve known hunters for my whole life, and if I had to guess, this was just a bad lot. Most hunters I know didn’t threaten people with rape,” Rem said, speaking harshly.
She had only known a handful of hunters, but she refused to believe she was in danger against the whole lot of them.
Hugo would never behave like those men…
Ronan's eyes flashed with something intense as Nia delivered those words, all of his humor fading before he looked in the bound hunter’s direction, his attention narrowing in like he was considering breaking another bone. He mindlessly fidgeted his finger and thumb, the muscles in his forearms flexing until he looked back at her, replying in Icelandic.
"He also wants to know why you came here without your family," Nia said, almost in a hushed voice. She added, "Tell him the truth, Rem. Whatever it is, he will help. EvenIcan tell something is wrong."
Rem furrowed her brows, disappointment like a fresh wound at how frustratingly close she was to ripping open the truth.
She carefully chose her words and asked, “Can I ask a question first?” when Nia confirmed she could, Rem said, “First, why did I have to leave my home so abruptly? Surely, telling a Silver they have no choice and have to go to foreign lands, with foreign people, and becoming one of them, is not conducive to inspiring her to mate with them.”
Ronan didn't say anything after Nia translated and rather just stared at Rem. She could see the subtle movements of his eyes. He was reflecting on that. Perhaps she even saw a flash of approval in there.
He spoke, and Nia said, “He says it was because the Elders knew that the witches in the south were coming for you. Something about the Silvers have caught the attention of the Crowley Hunters, and their witches sent the hunters to collect all Silvers. If the wolves didn’t steal you, thentheywould have. And they see any connection to shifters as tainted, so the Silvers would have become slaves to them, turned, and chained to be unleashed in battle. That’s what a hound is. Whereas with us, we see you as a gift from the goddess. He acknowledges the Silvers have a difficult road before them, but not much can be done now, other than to help you claim your own claws.”
Rem breathed quickly, her gaze darting around. Was that really true? What if Ronan was lying to her?
“He adds that the sudden removal from your life was why you were offered to bring your family, so as not to steal you from your life completely. He reminds you that we are pack oriented and that packs value family. We do not take the disruption lightly.”
She nearly felt lightheaded, understanding that the coup from the Callons ran dangerously deep.
Nia added, “He also recommends that you to tell him the truth eventually. He doesn't trust the entire situation and knows something is wrong. He doesn’t know what, though. He’s spoken with Deacon, but that wolf is only valuable in his speed, not his intellect. And that’s his words, not mine.”
Rem smirked at the comment regarding Deacon but frowned at the rest.It’s because an Elder Witch is working against you.
She wanted to tell himeverythingand hope she got it out before she lost her voice. She looked around at those that stood next to him, down to the boots that he wore; they were finely crafted leather, something only an elite person would wear.He's the Alpha, and he wants to help me.Oliver needs me, and Ronan can help.
Nearly speaking, her tongue burned again, and her throat tensed. She wanted to punch something as she realized that whatever curse she had, it was severe.
Then he spoke, interrupting her thoughts, to which Nia said, "You don't have to tell him now. He is saying that clearly you and the Callons are off to a rough start, and your secrets are your own, unless they are a threat, to which you better explain now or face the repercussion later. Otherwise, he cannot help you if you remain silent."
Rem didn't immediately look up at him. It almost made it worse that he might have the interest to help her. She was always so close to that dangling thread of hope, only for it to move two feet back.
Through a mental mirage of exhaustion and desperation, she couldn’t walk away in silence. At some point, she’d have to see if he was actually worth trusting. That’s what the Callons wanted, right? Would it hurt to take a small gamble? Gauge his reaction?
