ix'

gotten. But not her. I'd brought her to the mountain estate in

fe, anything she might use against me. Sh

tta had le

full but pressed tightly together. In her sleep, she looked fragile, almost breakable. Nothing like the

rom her lips. I stilled. She stirred, her hand moving weakly to th

asp, barely audib

e fading bruise I'd left. I crosse

to ela

but it fell flat. "If you wanted... a slave... the

pirit. I stood over her, my shadow covering her. "Sweetheart, slavery isn't

till flickering. "Then why am I here?" she asked, her voice hoa

ou? And miss the chance to keep you in luxur

embarrassment. "Those damn witches...

ed. "Sounds like you don'

venom in her tone lacked its usual bite. She s

d, circling the bed. "Instead, you're

esitated, choosing instead to lower her g

fered. "Kalix Moore. Alpha of t

ldn't answer. But then she sighed. "Indira... Marshall

rced. She was trying to maintain th

gnoring the nickname. "

r for a brief moment. "We both know I'm not

u're here because you failed," I said, leaning close

itter scoff. "You think I'm

ng my eyes. "But you're not in

ping the edge of the mattress. "Kill

tting you go isn't an option. You'll stay here

ing under the weight of her situation

Good. Now, get some r

hall, I couldn't shake the feeling that keeping her alive was more trouble t

ugh my thoughts. "What

iting with his usual dis

ou killed her? She's a threat, and you know it." His voice dripped with contempt.

," I replied, cold. "Your

were a

I cut him off, voi

alousy blinded him. The bond we once had

other took the throne. If I had it my way,

and slammed him into the wall. "Another word like that," I gr