Page 84 of Oath of Revenge

Elva turned to him expectantly, her bright eyes shining in the half-light. Wulfric stood, and every eye fixed on him.

“Brody wanted to go back home to Busparia once he realized what he’d lost. After we regained all our memories last night, I understand how he felt. However, if we want to be accepted, we must be cautious. We can’t just go running into Busparia trying to claim what was once ours. Growlers who leave the forest are never heard from again. We need allies.”

“Aye, and what makes you think the dragons are going to help us?” someone shouted.

“You have homes there, families even. So just go already. Why wait around for some dragon who may not even listen?” Jamison said, crossing his arms. There would always be a few dissenters from the old guard who were more vocal about all the turned Growlers just leaving.

Elva grabbed Scarlet’s hand and lifted it in the air, drawing her to her feet. Scarlet didn’t speak, and her face blushed, but she didn’t back away. She stood tall, her scent revealing her terror, as Elva spoke.

“The dragon will listen because the alpha’s mate will help bridge the gap between our worlds. It’s as the goddess decreed ages ago.”

Wulfric nodded and took Scarlet’s other hand, linking their fingers together and letting her know that he was right there by her side.

“I don’t know what the goddess said,” he said loudly, not taking his eyes from Scarlet. “But she will learn our ways and help us form a treaty with the dragons to the north, as the dragon king is her brother.”

More gasps from the crowd before the chatter grew louder. Scarlet’s eyes flashed, and her lips pursed, making him frown. What had he said that displeased her? It was all the truth, wasn’t it?

Chapter 26

Scarlet fumed, caught between a rock and a hard place. What the fuck? They hadn’t talked about this at all.

He knew she needed to break her curse and gain revenge on the queen. Didn’t he? Had he not been paying attention? She’d thought he was a decent listener for a man, but she had no plan of staying in the Growlers camp, no matter the mate situation.

Although… his talk earlier of living their lives together had melted something in her chest. Did she want that? Would she ever be accepted here?

Her lips pursed in annoyance, but she didn’t interrupt. Being the center of attention made her clam up, paralyzing her. Frustration mounted in the crowd, then questions flew at them.

“What in the hells is she?”

“Is the dragon as dangerous as they say? He’s real?”

“Where is the druid? What of her? Is she going to attack us again?”

“What about going into Busparia?”

Wulfric held up the hand that wasn’t holding hers. “We have to work with the dragons first, gather information on Busparia and the political climate. I’m assuming everyone got their memories back last night, if you hadn’t had them before?”

The crowd nodded, and one Elder said, “The time has come, and the memories were finally released by the gods as the prophecy says. When dragons ride once more, Growlers will regain what they’ve lost. The born Growlers and the turned are truly one people now.”

“I lost my people when I was turned,” someone yelled as the crowd’s voices rose to a crescendo. Elva slammed her staff to the ground, and magic burst out from the center images, scattering and quieting the group.

Wulfric finally turned to address the people. “I know you must be eager to rush back to your families, but it’s been years. We can send inquiries and check on them, but we can’t go ourselves. Not yet.”

Scarlet tugged on his hand, and he leaned over to her. She whispered, “Tell them about the Growlers that killed my mother.”

Wulfric nodded, and she sat down, forcing Wulfric and Elva to release her hands. She wiped them on her pants as he shared the still-raw information. Her stomach twisted at being the center of attention.

“The king of Busparia has an elite band of Hunters known as the Dragon Claws. Has anyone heard of them?”

No one spoke up, but several shook their heads, so Wulfric continued. “They are a threat to us because they are Growlers too.”

Gasps around the room echoed in the mighty chamber, making her flinch. Wulfric put his hand on her shoulder and brushed his thumb back and forth. It soothed her even as he continued to speak to the crowd.

“They are the Growlers that attacked the druids thirty years ago and killed Scarlet’s mother.”

Elva said, “We don’t know why, but every Growler that has gone into Busparia from various tribes has never returned. We only assume the Dragon Claws either took them or killed them. It would be a fool’s errand to go check on your families without ensuring a way to survive.”

“How are we supposed to go home, then?” The crowd’s murmurs grew louder, but Wulfric didn’t give them a moment to gain momentum. He was a good leader, like Knox but more confident. Of course, he’d had several years of leading them whereas Knox had only been officially king for a few months.

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