Chapter 61 #2
We stopped and knocked on the open doorframe before Kane waved us in. I eyed his throat, but there wasn’t even a scar where yesterday, I’d seen spine. The memory made me shudder.
He pushed back from his desk and strode around it, stopping directly in front of us. “Thank you for coming. There are two important pieces of business. First and foremost, Elodie…”
My whole body tensed. I had no idea what business he could have with me personally. Would he be disappointed I’d wanted to join the Hungarian pack instead of sticking with Galyna to guard Brielle? Surely he understood that my mate was part of the Hungarian pack…
Before I could get too carried away, he shocked my brain to stillness.
“Brielle explained to me what happened yesterday. She was very upset, and I know she intends to find you and apologize to you as well. But it’s my understanding that you played a major role in me standing here today.
I owe you a life debt. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, it’s yours.
Say the word.” And then he craned his neck to the side, exposing his bare throat to me.
The high alpha of the nine great packs just bared his neck to me. It wasn’t done. It was… astounding. I stood there, agape, completely blank for anything to say. Eventually, I spluttered a thank-you.
He chuckled. “No, thank you. You were there for my mate when I couldn’t be, and that’s worth more than you know.”
I nodded mutely as he turned his attention to Valens. “The Johnson City pack captured a wolf yesterday that I’d like you to take a look at. Your new guardian talents allow you to read magical enchantments, correct?”
“Correct, High Alpha.”
Kane nodded. “Excellent. He’s wearing one of the collars. If you can read the enchantments, that could give us a leg up on the pixie king, and we need every advantage.”
Valens straightened at the news, interest suddenly piqued. “I’d be glad to. I can’t guarantee I’ll know how to disarm it, but you’re right. We need everything we can throw back at them. This is a huge win.”
“I agree. Thank you both. Reed will text you where to go see the collared wolf. Before you go, though, I have another bit of news.”
Valens and I exchanged a loaded glance.
“We think the ODL retreated last night because they thought they’d killed me. Without Brielle’s skill, your power supplementing her, and possibly even the influence of the stone… they very well may have.”
Anger simmered in my veins as I connected the dots. “So they thought they took care of the omega problem, which means they got intel from someone that you and Brielle are the ones they’ve been hunting.”
He inclined in agreement. “We knew it was a risk spreading the news so widely, but it was time. We can’t ask people to rally and risk their lives without all the information.
After the announcement, some did leave. For now, we’re choosing to believe it was one of them rather than someone who decided to stay and fight with us. ”
Valens shrugged. “It makes sense.”
“Lucien and I had a discussion earlier this morning, and he’s going to use this opportunity to notify the ODL that I’m dead.”
“But… you’re very much not dead. Isn’t that easily verifiable?” I blurted, confused why they would lie.
“It is, but that’s not what they’re going to do.
We will stay hidden inside the castle for the time being.
Lucien suspects that someone in leadership at the ODL has been corrupted by the pixie king, or perhaps is even wearing one of his mind-control devices.
No one saw their general during the battle, which was odd for an attack of that scale.
The true ODL mission to subdue omegas would be satisfied if the two of us were dead, and the attacks should stop, at least temporarily, until they realize we’re actually alive.
However, if they come back and attack us again tonight after the IGC calls them off… ”
“We’ll know the pixies are involved with the attacks.”
“Exactly.”
“Smart,” Valens said, crossing his arms. “That will also give Lucien proof that someone’s gone rogue who’s in power that he can take back to the IGC and ask for backup with the attacks. It’s brilliant, honestly. Who all knows this plan?”
“We’re keeping the circle small, since there was a leak. Just our closest allies. Now that you two are filled in, everyone knows who needs to.” He smiled, looking unusually tired as he settled back into his chair.
We hadn’t even made it out of his office before he fell fast asleep, head against the back of the chair.
Thus dismissed, we finally got breakfast. We were just finishing when the text came through, and Valens practically vibrated with excitement by the time we got down to the dungeon.
It occupied a small section of the footprint beneath the castle, most of it being reserved for the bunker.
Only two cells, it wasn’t exactly expansive.
But one of the cells held a shaggy gray wolf with orange eyes who snarled viciously and flung himself repeatedly at the silver bars. It was eerily similar to the vampire I’d seen in Rubix’s office cell. The one who’d been mortally wounded when they tried to remove the collar.
“How are we going to get him to hold still long enough for you to examine the collar?” I asked, saddened by his mindless state. He wasn’t our pack, but he was somebody’s pack, and that was enough for me to care about his fate.
Oh, Goddess. What if he had a mate, pups?
I white-knuckled the strap of my staff’s sling.
It was one of the few pieces of equipment I got to keep since I’d upgraded it myself.
“We need to identify him before we try to take it off. What if…” I shook my head, unable to utter the terrible possibilities out loud.
“He may have family that would rather see him alive than have the worst happen when we try to remove it.”
“That’s a good point. I’m going to need to speak to Brielle anyway about something to tranquilize him so I can inspect the collar without him hurting himself.”
“Good idea.”
“Also, do we think it might catch fire? Should we be trying to remove it outdoors?”
“I’ll also ask Reed to call Rubix.”
I nodded, too sad for conversation as we left the dungeon. As I shut the door behind us, I could still hear his body colliding with the metal bars from the top of the stairs.