Page 30 of Enemies By Fate

“I should have given you a choice,” Sadie moans, bowing her head with regret. “But you were hysterical and driven by anger. I couldn’t abandon you again, or you would have gotten yourself killed before you had a chance to live your life.”

The witch reaches through the bars to touch Poppy’s hand. Slowly, they join fingers as Sadie begs us to release Poppy. “None of this is her fault,” she pleads. “Just send her back, and she won’t make any more trouble for you. I’ll make sure you never see her again or hear our names. You have my word.”

My chest constricts at the idea of sending her home, even if she’s not a danger. I don’t want her to leave. I want her to stay right here with us, where she belongs.

“That’s up to Poppy,” Warrick growls. “If she can agree, this grudge of hers is forgiven.”

“I’m sorry,” Poppy mumbles, her eyes darting between all of us. “I… I don’t know what else to say.”

Malachi gapes at her, looking from me to Warrick and back at Poppy as if he expects us to make her stay, but this is beyond our control now.

I nod toward the guards. “Unlock her cell. Poppy is free to go.”

“Oh, thank you, Alphas!” Sadie gushes, her relief genuine.

The cell door opens, and the women embrace as I watch sadly, but as Poppy clings to her adoptive mother, her gaze dances from one of us to the next.

I turn away, unable to watch this anymore. There’s no need for us to stand around and witness this private moment.

“Do I have to go?”

The unexpected question stops me in my place, and I turn to look at Poppy. Her eyes are fixed on me.

“What?” I ask, dumbfounded.

“Can I stay here?” she asks, nonplussed, holding my gaze for a moment, before glancing at Malachi, then Warrick.

“You want to stay in the cells?” Malachi asks.

I roll my eyes as Warrick snorts.

“You can’t stay in the cells,” Warrick answers. “It’s no place for a shifter of your bloodline. But you can stay in Oak Valley—if that’s what you mean.”

Pink tinges Poppy’s cheeks as she bows her head slightly. “Can I stay at the estate?”

Glee floods me, but dismay overcomes Sadie’s face. “You won’t come home?” the witch demands, looking warily at us as if we’d brainwashed her somehow. She releases Poppy to study her face worriedly, and Poppy holds her hand tightly.

“I will come home eventually,” she promises. “But right now, I’d like to stay here, with the Alphas.”

“Why?” Sadie shoots out bluntly. “You don’t know anyone here. Your friends are back home. Circe?—”

“I would like to get to know everyone here better,” Poppy demurs gently. “And I don’t think you or my friends are forbidden from visiting… are they?”

In tandem, my brothers and I shake our collective heads. “No, of course not. You’re always welcome here, Sadie, and so are any friends of Poppy’s.”

The shadow of suspicion lightens over Sadie’s face, but the disappointment remains. “The door is always open at home,” she murmurs.

“And I will come back,” Poppy reassures her, drawing her into a hug again.

They embrace again, and we all head up through the tunnels.

“Don’t forget about us!” Tavric croaks as we pass by, his gnarled hands reaching out for Poppy.

She falters and smiles weakly at him.

“Don’t worry. I won’t,” she promises. “I’ll be back for you, too.”

Chapter 8

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