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"You'll reconsider," Gwendolyn said. "You have a day or two."
I pressed my lips together.A day or two until what?
"Where do I fit into all of this?" Kerina was still rubbing her head. "I don't really have a job I can step down from. I'm just a lowly guard."
"You have time to decide where your allegiance lies," Gwendolyn told her. "You're not a wolf. You're not the enemy, unless you make yourself one."
Kerina put her hands up to either side of her face. "I'm a friendly kinda gal. I can't guarantee I wouldn't try to stop you from killing my boss." She jerked a head toward me.
She was clearly appraising the situation as both a guard and trained assassin. She could probably kill Gwendolyn a dozen ways before the other woman could move. Until Gwendolyn or Viper became an immediate threat, or I told her to strike, she would wait.
Gwendolyn nodded. "Noted. Your actions hinge on his behaviour."
"No pressure," I said lightly.
"Let us out." Devlin's voice was a dangerous growl. "I will pardon you all, as long as you stay out of my way for the rest of your days."
"You may get the same offer," Gwendolyn said coldly. "But that depends on whether or not you behave."
"Bitch," Devlin hissed.
So much for their blissful marriage. I supposed a coup would put a strain on any relationship.
"If we survive this, you'll get your divorce," Gwendolyn told him.
I exchanged looks with Kerina, who shrugged.
"This is why I'm single," she said.
I smiled. "Yeah, understandable." I wanted Viva as much as ever, but I made a note to communicate before it got to this point. "Are any guys badass enough for you anyway? Or girls." I wouldn't judge her either way.
"Not really," Kerina said. "Bain is close, but he's as smitten with Viva as you are."
I smiled. "She is something special. I hope she sees that when I'm cleaning toilets and she's leading the Vault."
"You plan to clean toilets?" Kerina asked, clearly amused at the idea.
"If that's what it takes," I said. There was nothing wrong with hard work, especially if it kept me fed. I wasn't too proud to try anything, even if people laughed in my face.
Fuck them. Only Viva's opinion mattered. And my aunt's.
Speaking of her, I asked, "Is Calista okay?"
"We don't kill old women," Viper snarled. "She's locked up, but she's fine."
"She better be," I said. I'd feel better if I could see her, but I suspected they wouldn't allow that, not yet. I didn't bother to ask.
"She can take care of herself," Kerina said. "I've been teaching her self-defence."
"There's not much defence against the kind of power these people have," I said.
"Everyone has a weakness," she said softly.
I frowned at her, but nodded. What did she know that I didn't? Probably plenty, but she had me thinking. Whatever she alluded to, eluded me.
I would be compliant until I knew exactly what we were dealing with and what I could do about it. If that meant stepping down as Keeper, then so be it. I knew I wouldn't hold the position forever. One of Devlin's heirs would be Keeper. The other would be Alpha. If he only had one, then I would stay until I was replaced with the Alpha's choice. The whim of the Alpha was a flimsy way to keep a job, at best. I had long ago prepared myself for Devlin to replace me because of the direction the wind blew. This was just a different way for me to have a career change. And a bloodless coup was better than a bloody one.
I moved over to a couch at the side of the room. I flopped down, then spread my legs across the cushions.
