Page 11 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

His chuckle was dark and tinged with bitterness. “I do not buy your little sweet girl act. We both know I am not leaving this place alive by your volition. Why do you ask such a question as if you care?”

I met his eyes. There was something in them… something that broke down the walls I’d put around what was left of my soul.

“You do not kill the unicorn, yet my kind deserves your wrath? I deserve to die, but many of my kind do not—and yet you slaughter them without impudence.”

“Who did you lose?” I asked at long last.

He blinked, as if the question surprised him. “My youngest brother. Slain by a Red. His skull was taken back as a trophy. Imagine finding your youngest sibling skinned like an animal. And you have to tell your sisters that he’s dead.”

“You are an animal,” I said, a hint of apology in my voice. What he said hits too close. I couldn’t feel for his species, not yet. I had to gain the heirship before I could change things.

And that meant sacrifice.

His eyes bore into mine. “Does that ease your conscience? Do you treat all animals with the wrath you treat us?”

“Only the magical ones.” Why was I entertaining this? His passion had me by the throat, and it wouldn’t let go.

“As if that absolves you of murder. Anything magical is evil—is that what you are taught? What gives you the right to be judge and executioner?”

I stared at him. What he threw at me were things I had thought myself but couldn’t...

I took out my blowgun, and he stared at me. “You know it’s not right. So why do you do it? I can smell it on you. The guilt. And yet I am still here?—”

The dart sunk into his neck before he spoke another word. His eyes didn’t leave my eyes until his face tipped forward and his chin rested against his chest. I darted him again, just in case he was faking it.

He was getting under my skin.

He releasedhis bladder in his sleep. I felt for him, but it was likely better than him being awake for the mortification.

Why was I worried about the werewolf who’d kill me at a moment’s notice? I shook the thoughts from my head.

Ran gnashed her teeth, drawing my eyes up to see the werewolf and her in a stare down. The werewolf looked away first, his brow lifting with dark humor to find me watching. “Youare a curious creature,” he said, his eyes regarding me as if I were a puzzle knot to unravel.

I didn’t pause my sharpening, allowing the gentle cadence and sharp zings to soothe my nerves. “Do you not know it’s impolite to stare?”

“Do you not know it is impolite to stab and kidnap a person?” His voice was droll.

My lips twitched. We lapsed into silence, the zing of the blade and Ran munching on bones the only things to be heard.

The chair creaked as he leaned back. “Ransom is out. You do not seem the sort to kidnap for personal gain.”

I gave a noncommittal snort. “Such a good judge of character, eh?”

“You shan’t torture me for information.”

I wrinkled up my nose in distaste.

“Curious. You are quite the conundrum, are you not? Violence comes to you easily, and yet you don’t wish to bring suffering. What is your purpose?”

“Are you an interrogator or a captive?” I asked, nearly chipping a blade with the next aggressive swipe of my sharpener. He’s digging too deep.

“Are you a pawn in a greater game?”

I blinked at him. “Are we not all pawns in a greater game, Prince of Wolves?”

He hummed, and I couldn’t tell if it was in approval or disappointment. “We are either pawns or we are not. As soon as you allow yourself to believe there is only one and no choice, there is no chance for change.”

“Philosophical werewolf. Never thought I’d see the day. Now shut up.”

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