Page 93 of Those That Defy the Realm

“Excuse me for wanting to understand the circumstances before revealing my secrets.”

“Fine.” Ty raises both his hands, palms up, in a gesture of acquiescence. “I’m wanting to revive the network between the packs. Our numbers are still so low that we really should be working together, trying to safeguard our species' future.”

“Shame you didn’t have that view before you wiped out an entire pack.” Fillias takes a step closer. I ensure Bree is tucked in the back of our group as Antares and I step closer to our leader.

“Adicious was a poison on our long-term survival. But I know he promised you something big, it’s got to sting that you never got it.”

“You’re right, he promised me something far better than a fake friendship where we pretend to help each other. He offered me something that would truly safeguard our future. So, unless you plan to hand over females with your offer of allegiance, then I think we’re done here.”

We’d suspected as much, especially after finding the list, but hearing Fillias say it makes me want to dig up the ashes of the former Froan leader and burn him all over again. Adicious was planning on trading females for allegiance. Those sent to Froan for protection from the war would’ve found themselves in a far worse fate. My stomach lurches at the thought.

“What if I told you we found Adicious’s documents on just that, and would be able to share the information with you?” I’m sure the words burn Ty’s throat as he says them but we agreed the parts we had to play if we truly wanted to get Fillias talking.

“I don’t believe you.” Fillias looks taken aback, Ty has truly surprised him this time.

“It’s true. I was never privy to his methods for selecting females at the time, but he wrote it all down. I now know how he turned my mate, why he chose her. And we think we can replicate it.”

Fillias’s mask drops for just a second. His eyes light with something akin to excitement. It’s there for barely a second before he becomes indifferent again.

“You think or you know?” he asks.

“We’ve not tried it yet but Adicious’s notes are pretty detailed.”

“And what was his method?” He tries to ask the question in a merely curious way, but I see that glint in his eyes again. It makes my stomach drop. He could of course be simply intrigued, this is a big deal after all. No one has managed to turn a female, fae or human, before Adicious did it with Aurora.

But that spark, that tiny reveal of excitement in his irises makes me think he is more than curious. No, it makes me think he is desperate for the information, because he’s already trying to turn a female. Maybe my female.

“I’m not sharing that information until we’re allies,” Ty says.

“Fuck you,” Fillias spits. “This is your chance to help your kind, to improve our power and our strength, and you want to hold that information over us, to what end? To keep every other pack in line? Is that your goal, Ty, to control us all?”

“Not at all, but I will protect the females chosen to do this.”

“Yeah fucking right. You know what? I’ve grown bored of your company. I won’t be part of your manipulation. Get the fuck out of my territory or wind up ashes in the breeze tomorrow.” Fillias’s calm and collected demeanour shatters as he steps right into Ty’s space to threaten him, fangs extended.

Time moves both in a blink and incredibly slowly as my protective instincts ratchet up. Stepping between Ty and Fillias, I put my hand on the rival leader’s chest to push him away. In my periphery, Phelan moves to do the same but Antares blocks him.

Fillias turns, livid that I dared to touch him. He flies at me, fist swinging. I’m quick to dodge the fist coming for my throat but am too slow to defend myself against the bartender, who appears from across the room to land a blow to my ribs.

On reflex, I strike out in retaliation, sending the slim male flying onto his ass. I regain my composure and turn back to Fillias, who is stalking towards Ty as he tries to protect Bree from the fight that’s broken out.

I go to punch the prick but he grabs my wrist and hauls me forward.

“I wouldn’t fucking try that again if I were you,” he growls in my face, his breath washing all over me.

It’s then that I smell it. The sweet pink blossom scent that I’d know anywhere and the metallic aftertaste of blood. He’s touched her. Drank from her.

He has my female.

Staggering as Fillias pushes me away, Ty notices my sudden inability to function as he catches me before I can go down.

“What is it?”

“He smells like her.”

It’s all the confirmation Ty needs. “He came from the door near the bar, I’ll distract him, get through it.”

We’re outnumbered in an enemy pack’s territory—Gods, we’re probably in their pack house—and yet we know this is the only opportunity we’re going to get here.