Chapter 117
Chapter 117
FAYE
I paused at the iron bars of the cell, staring at the man slumped against the corner. His chest rose and fell lowly, and the stench of wolfsbane was thick on him. Whoever had been in charge of dosing him hadn’t just weakened him…they’d drowned him in poison.
His skin was pale beneath the bruises, his lips cracked and dry. If the point had been to reduce him to something less than a wolf, they had succeeded. Not like he deserved any better.
“Open the cell,” I said quietly.
The two guards stiffened. Their eyes darted to each other, then back to me. One of them spoke, “I’m sorry, Luna,” he said. His voice was strained. “But Alpha Alexander gave orders that-”
“Do as she asked.”
The voice came from behind me.
I turned, and there he was…Alexander. He leaned against the stone frame, arms crossed.
My chest tightened. Of course he followed me.
“Alexander,” I said, my tone carrying more reproach than I planned to. “What are you doing here now? ”
He stepped forward, closing the distance until he stood at the threshold of the cell. “I know you,” he murmured, his voice low enough only I would hear. “You wouldn’t stay outside the bars, you’d go in. And since you’re daring enough to put yourself within arm’s reach of him, I decided to follow.”
I moved closer to him, lowering my voice so the guards wouldn’t hear. “The last time you were here, you nearly beat him to death. I need him lucid, not broken. Can I trust you not to interfere?”
Something flickered across his expression…guilt, maybe. Or restraint he was forcing into place. Then he raised his hands, palms outward in mock surrender. “You’re in charge,” he said. “I won’t touch him… unless he’s foolish enough to get violent.”
I studied him for a moment longer, searching for cracks in that promise. Then I nodded.
Turning back, I gestured at the guards. “Bring him water,” I ordered.
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