Chapter Twenty-Three
“You’ve been following me,” Vivian said. She crossed her arms and looked down at me like she was queen of the freaking world.
I met her gaze. “I sure was.”
“Did you have something to tell me?” She smiled like she’d already beaten me.
But I hadn’t even started yet. “Not particularly. Other than to ask what do you all think you’re going to accomplish here?” I gestured around the room. We didn’t need a meeting. All of them were traitors. Donovan needed to get rid of everyone here. “You set the fey beast after John, Thomas, Riona, and me.” I shook my head. “Vivian, I get. You’re a mad wolf, and you want me gone so you can move in on Donovan, but that’s not going to happen. Even if I was dead, he’d never want you.” I was pretty sure if I ended up dead, Vivian wouldn’t be far behind me. “But you, Saoirse? What’s your deal?” I took a step toward them. I needed to keep them talking long enough to get close. Everything would be okay if I could just get the brooch.
It was thirty feet away, but I couldn’t seem too eager. I had to stay calm. I couldn’t risk running at her. Saoirse could reach her neck much faster than I could. It would only take a split-second for her to call Bhrunyz.
“Oh, you’re not following?” Saoirse said, and I wanted to punch the smug look off her stupid face. “Donovan hasn’t been part of our pack in a good while. He’s Alpha in name only. What’s the point of it? It’s past time for a new Alpha.”
God. I still couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen this coming. The fact that she was Ian’s mate had really thrown me. Even Ciara had recommended I look Saoirse up.
I should’ve known better. “So you want the pack?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “For now.”
“And let me guess.” I turned to Vivian. “As soon as I’m gone and Saoirse has the pack, you’ll sweep up the mourning Donovan and be his shoulder to cry on.”
Vivian held out her hands. “You see? She’s not a total git.”
“No. I’m not a total git. But you sure as shit are.” The bitch had no clue. For some reason, that pissed me off even more. “What do you think she means by taking the pack from Donovan? You really think he’ll let it go while he still has breath in his lungs? And if he won’t hand over the pack bonds, then what’s the only way to get them?”
Vivian turned to Saoirse. Her face paled. “No. You’re not meaning to kill him, are you? You wouldn’t—”
Saoirse laughed, and the sound was like nails on a chalkboard. “You really are a fucking muppet, Vivian.”
I took a step forward. Saoirse was an idiot, too. “Even if you take over this pack, no one will ever forget that you needed fey help to do it. By killing John and Thomas, you’ve betrayed everyone here. It’s like you don’t even know what being in a pack means.” Saoirse growled at me and I shook my head as I took another step closer. “A pack is more than family. You choose to join one. But this pack… It’s nothing like a family. It is a mess, and it’s your fault. Nothing you’re doing is allowed for a reason. We have rules. Honor. If there’s an issue or a challenge, it’s brought in front of the pack at the full moon. This is backhanded, weaselly bullshit.”
“You little—” Saoirse started, but I cut her off.
“If you wanted to be the Alpha, all you had to do was challenge Donovan. Robbing a human museum to get a fey to do the fighting for you?”
Saoirse clenched her fists and her face was turning a lovely shade of puce. I wanted to get her upset enough that she’d forget about the brooch and come after me instead. I was hurt, but not that hurt. I could take her down. I just needed her away from the brooch.
I scoffed at her. “No one will respect a leader who’s that fucking pathetic.” I took another step as her eyes narrowed. She was about to blow. She was just where I wanted her. My heart sped. I could practically feel the brooch in my hand. “And Vivian. You’ve tormented and killed how many of your own pack? I know it in my bones that Ciara wasn’t your only victim.”
There was a gasp behind me and for the first time, I spared a glance. I was shocked it wasn’t just males back there. Maureen was there with a few of the women. Taking time to count wasn’t an option, but more Weres were in on this than I’d expected. I had no idea who they were supporting—Vivian or Saoirse—and it didn’t matter. At least not right now.
All I needed was the brooch. “How many of you have fallen for her lies? How many of you really think that these two lying murders would be better for the pack than Donovan?” I turned back to Vivian and Saoirse and took another step. Just ten more feet and it’d be in my hands. “Because if that’s the case, then maybe you deserve each other. You certainly don’t deserve Donovan.”
Saoirse nodded to someone behind me and I spun. Around fifteen men had stepped forward. They were coming for me. I was a good fighter. I could probably take them, even with my side as it was, but I didn’t want to fight. I wanted the brooch. Nothing mattered except that.
Donovan. Shit is going down. It’d be good if you could come. Now. The bond was still quiet, but I could feel it.
So I took what I needed.
Yanking as much of Donovan’s power as possible, I let his Alpha energy fill the room until it was thick in the air. “Back. Off.” I poured more power into the words.
The men dropped to their knees and their gazes fell to the ground in submission.
“No. She’s not strong enough for that,” Vivian said, her voice a high-pitched whine. “She can’t. How can she do that?”
I turned back to them. Screw it. I didn’t have much time left. Whatever Donovan was doing had thinned our bond. I had enough power to hold them, but only for a few more seconds. “Donovan and I are true mates. What’s mine is his. What’s his is mine.” I shoved more power at them until everyone hit the ground. Saoirse writhed as she fought the compulsion to submit. “Hands on the floor.” I pushed the command at her as I closed the distance.
I reached for the brooch just as Donovan’s power slipped from my grasp.
Saoirse touched it first.
“Bhrunyz. To me.”
The air shimmered and then all nine feet of black mass and horns was standing in front of me. He growled, showing his teeth. I couldn’t breathe.
Shit.
Shit.
No.
My blood turned to ice, and my hands shook. His scent filled the room. I nearly threw up.
He swung his arm at me, and I was suddenly Bhrunyz’s rag doll.
My whole body slammed into the floor. I screamed.
Bhrunyz grabbed me, and I scratched at him. Hit him. I wasn’t dying without a fight. I wouldn’t give up.
I tried to shake myself free as bright dots filled my vision. “No!”
I crashed into the stone again. I heard a crack and pain rocketed through my body. Before I had time to breathe, I was airborne and falling to the floor, too disoriented to even try to spot the floor. A split-second later I hit something rough and sharp.
The world went black.