Page 31 of Make Me

Bethany’s eyebrows shot up as she stared at her friend. She agreed that some parts of the Great War and the reasoning the leaders of the Realm provided were a bit hinky, but what was Claire thinking? That everything they had been told was a lie?

“Why do you say that?” Holly asked the question Bethany was sure on everyone’s minds.

“All the official records are written by the witches, shifters, and dragons, correct?” Claire asked, her voice low.

“Yes,” Desmond answered.

“Wouldn’t they want their stories to be told? Or, at least, the stories from their perspective? And isn’t it convenient that there are no records from the Fae and Elves?”

“I thought you thought the Fae and Elves recalled the records?” Bethany asked, her brain spinning.

She remembered asking her mom about the Great War when she was little. Her mom told stories of battle strategy and strong warriors, but she’d never shared any details of how the war started. Or really anything about the Fae and Elves. If their records were recalled, that could explain why.

Claire shrugged. “I did, and I do think that. I’m just also wondering if there’s more to it that we don’t know. Would the Council keep records from the other side’s perspective? Especially if those records didn’t fit the story they were sharing, like the book Zack read.”

The group was silent as they processed that information. Claire brought a unique perspective, having grown up in Windshire. If she was right…

“I think you’re onto something, Claire,” Cody said, his words careful. “I think it’s time to consider that everything we’ve been told might be wrong.”

“But that would mean the Council…” Bethany trailed off, but the rest of her statement hung heavy in the silence.

That would mean that the Council had been lying to everyone. But not just the Council. Were their leaders lying to them? Was her mother lying to her? How much of their lives now after the Great War were built on a lie? Selfishly, Bethany thought of the ban on intermixed matings. Was that a lie, too? She let herself have a moment of hope before she dashed it. Even if it wasn’t a lie, it was what the Realm had decided, and she didn’t disagree that there had been serious fallout from Triads with species on both sides of the war.

Desmond swore softly and scanned the area. “We can’t talk about this here and now, out in the open like this.”

“Later,” Claire agreed.

“After the festival tomorrow, before Bethany and Cody have to go back,” Holly said, her face pale.

Bethany agreed with her. They needed to talk about this, but not now. If it was true, though… if her mother knew… Bethany didn’t know how she’d be able to go back to the pride and look at her mother, knowing she might have lied to her.

They finished the last of the decorations in somber silence. Thankfully, Clarissa only had a few more tasks for them when they made it back to the village center, but they managed to paste smiles on their faces. Desmond must have filled in Malcolm and Everett, because Malcolm’s face got even stonier, and a low growl emanated from his dragon. If Claire was right, if the Council was responsible for the Great War, they were all well and truly fucked.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BETHANY

It was a miracle that Claire convinced her Triad to let the girls get ready by themselves. Malcolm had only acquiesced after Claire promised they would get ready in their suite at the manor house.

“We look amazing,” Holly said proudly as the girls stood in front of the long mirror.

Claire was wearing white linen pants and a dark red blouse that billowed at the sleeves and cinched around her wrists. She paired it with Holly’s gold belt. Holly was wearing a similar outfit, except her shirt was copper colored and set off the warm tones of her dark brown hair. Holly had lent Bethany a dark red wine-colored blouse that wrapped around her body to tie at the sides. The deep V and fitted sleeves made Bethany feel sexy. She opted for a short white skirt instead of the pants the other girls wore. Even with the lightweight material, shifters ran hotter than witches did. With all the dancing Holly said took place, she wanted to be able to enjoy the evening.

“We really do,” Claire said, twirling slightly in the mirror.

“Come on.” Holly tugged Claire away playfully. “Let’s go show your obsessed men how hot you look.”

“I believe they already know.” Bethany laughed as Claire blushed.

“You don’t have room to talk,” Holly threw over her shoulder, her brown eyes dancing. “You’re going to knock Cody and Zack dead in that outfit.”

Claire stopped by the door and whirled around. “That’s right! I keep forgetting to ask, but what’s going on there?”

Bethany rolled her eyes. “There’s nothing going on.” There couldn’t be anything going on. Not with everything stacked against them, and Bethany was tired of thinking about it.

“Bullshit,” Holly said calmly, folding her arms. “You could cut that sexual tension with a knife when you got here yesterday.”

Claire looked from Holly to Bethany with wide eyes. “You didn’t mention that last night,” she accused.

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