Page 19 of Queen of Wrath

My room didn't have its usual golden glow in the morning due to the clouded sky, but there was also something comforting about the rain.

Sometimes, I liked to close my eyes and pretend that the rain had the power to wash away everything. It was a nice thought…to be wiped clean. To start over.

The longer the light pattering of the rain continued, the heavier and heavier my body sank into the mattress.

I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed.

My eyelids became weighted down as well.

I hummed with delight as I teetered on the precipice of unconsciousness. That was until I heard a noise from the front of my apartment. I sat up, immediately turning my head to listen more closely.

My sensitive ears pounded with the sound of a heartbeat apart from mine.

My claws elongated, and I could feel myself shifting already.

Dammit, stop! Rowan told me to shift as little as possible. The fewer people know I’m a werewolf, the better.

Rage billowed up into my chest, making it feel like I was about to breathe fire. If I’d been a dragon, I probably would have.

In some ways, I was just as trapped now as I had been in Ryklira. I had the powers of the werewolf, but I was unable to use them.

I looked around frantically for a weapon, but the only thing near me that could possibly serve as one was the liquid that kept my lamp lit. If exposed to oxygen, it would ignite immediately.

Great, I'm going to burn down my house because someone decided to break in!

I hopped out of bed, clutching the glass lamp in my hand as I made my way over to my bedroom door.

My fingers slowly curved around the metal knob, but I hesitated to turn it. My ear twitched as the heartbeat came closer to the other side of my bedroom door.

I summoned all the strength in my body and turned the knob, yanking the door open and raising the lamp above my head.

Luckily I was able to focus on who my intruder was before I flung my lamp. “Rowan!”

Relief swept over me as my muscles relaxed and my arms dropped to my side. “You scared me half to death! What are you doing sneaking around this early in the morning?”

“I'm sorry! I came as soon as I got your message. I thought maybe your identity was compromised.” Her eyes searched mine for some kind of solace.

I could tell she was concerned about me. “No, I haven't been discovered, but I did find out something interesting. Diesel has a son. A seventeen-year-old boy.”

Her face fell from concern to annoyance. “And?”

“And! Why wasn't anyone at the DPR privy to that information? I asked around at the office, and nobody knew that Diesel had a son. These are people who have rubbed elbows with him. Why would someone like Diesel go to such lengths to hide a family member?”

Rowan was at a loss for words. It might not have seemed like a big deal to her at first, but the more she thought about it, the more suspicious it became. “I have no idea.”

“I think it might be worth it to find out. We might be able to use him as leverage against Diesel.” I had so many ideas in my head, most of them diabolical.

I hated getting Kiyan tied up in all of this mess, he was a sweet boy, but if it came down to it—down to things turning out to be the only chance I had to get my revenge—I might not have a choice.

Knowing that it would destroy Diesel made it all the more worth it in my mind.

I’d say it’s only fair. He destroyed my family… I destroy his. Tit for tat.

“Lea!” Rowan shouted my name, and I looked up to realize she had been trying to get my attention. “Don’t lose focus on what’s important. We are looking to take down those that are doing harm. Kiyan might be innocent in all this. Just because he’s Diesel’s son, doesn’t mean he’s got anything to do with what his father does.”

“No Ransom is innocent,” I declared dispassionately, as I stared up at Rowan with my jaw clenched and my brows furrowed.

Rowan was taken aback by the look in my eyes. “Do you think hurting Kiyan would make your family proud? Do you think it would bring them peace in the afterlife?”

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