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Selena goes completely still. “Not order her. Nothing that obvious.” Candice looks almost amused now. “The thought was planted. Arlene has been stuck inside with a newborn. Arlene needs some fresh air. Arlene should take a walk. Cypress Moon Park is peaceful. Quiet. Far enough from the pack house to give her some space.”

My eyes move to Selena. Her face changes. It's subtle, but I know her well enough to see it. Shock comes first. Then disbelief. Then something harder settles into her eyes as pieces I don't have begin falling into place inside her head. She knows. Whoever planted that thought in her head, Selena knows exactly who it was. I don't ask.

Not with Candice standing on the other side of these bars. “You had fifteen warriors assigned to protect you,” Candice continues. “You were supposed to make the suggestion and stay safely behind them while Arlene went to the park alone. Instead, you Luna commanded all fifteen of them to leave you alone and decided to go with her.”

“So me being there was an accident,” Selena says.

“A very fortunate one.” Candice's gaze drops to Selena's stomach. “Like I said. Two for one.”

Selena doesn't respond. She doesn't have to. I can see the truth written across her face. She knows who betrayed us. I turn back to Candice. “If I'm the one you wanted, why am I still alive?” Her smile changes.

“Because you're useless to me dead.”

“You want revenge against me, but you don't want me dead?”

“Oh, I absolutely want you dead.” She steps closer to the bars. “Just not yet.”

My stomach tightens.

“Darian has to come here first.”

My wolf gives a faint, angry stir. Mate comes.

"I know."

Trap.

"I know that too."

Warn mate.

If only I could. “He doesn't know where I am,” I say.

“He'll figure it out.”

The confidence in her answer sends ice through my veins. “And if I die before he does?”

Candice's gaze drops briefly toward my chest. “Then your mate bond breaks.”

Understanding settles over me. “The second that bond breaks, Darian knows you're dead,” she continues. “And a male who knows his mate is already dead has no reason to walk willingly into the place she was taken.”

“But as long as he can feel that I'm alive...”

“He'll come for you.”

She's right. Darian will come. Even if every instinct he has tells him it's a trap, he'll come. I stare at Candice through the bars, letting my expression relax as another question takes shape.

“People really are obsessed with us.” Her smile slips. “Following Darian and me all the way to another pack?” I shake my head. “I guess some people have too much time on their hands. Maybe if you spent less time worrying about my family, you could get a life of your own.”

Selena makes a choking sound beside me that suspiciously resembles a laugh. Candice's face hardens. There it is. “You think I wanted to follow you?” she snaps.

I shrug. “You're the one standing outside my cell.”

“Because your stupid former pack made sure I didn't have a choice!”

My amusement disappears. Selena's does too. Candice grips the bars. “Do you think Zeke and I would still be dealing with this nonsense if we didn't have a blood oath hanging over his head?”

Blood oath. My wolf gives a weak stir.