Page 69 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

“Not all of them, Graham.” My voice came out pitiful as I watched him. It was odd, seeing him like this. And I saw myself in him. It was as if who I once was collided with the me I was becoming. He was stuck in a mire of avoiding the truth. I just hoped his eyes opened before it was too late.

“Get help, Alia, before you kill us all.” He spun, trudging through the underbrush with heavy steps.

My shoulders dropped as fear carved a chilling pathway down my spine, and I shivered.

CHAPTER 23

Sicario Hood

ALIA

Anna writhed in the bed. I dabbed her brow with a cool cloth. I’d already given her Ledum three times that day. It had helped tremendously those first few weeks, but today she’d only became worse. She was wheezing. Her lungs were shutting down.

My heart hollowed out in my chest when the first shiver wracked her. Her eyes were rolling in her head and her fingers began to shake. She moaned in pain. Everything was breaking to pieces.

An episode was coming.

And I didn’t have a mage stone to stop it.

Sheneededto relax so her body could heal from being constantly on edge, so it could rebuild detoxification passageways. Sheneededto refuel her energy. I couldn’t exactly explain that one besides it couldn’t happen until she felt safe. And sheneededto know her loved ones were safe and cared for. Wait.

Rey had visited and taken their kids to go play with his friend’s children. Mom told me that’s why they weren’t here.

Anna hadn’t been able to sleep or relax ever since. I’d sent Jacob to watch them. Maybe…

“Anna, I sent Jacob to watch over your kiddos. They’re safe. Relax, sis, and remember the waterfall. Do you hear its gentle roar as it falls into the blue pond beneath? Do you see the dragon queen yet? I see her. She’s splendid in all her beauty, white as a lily and shimmering with the mists alighting on her scales.”

When I finished, I glanced down to find her still, her eyebrows remained furrowed but her mouth relaxed and her breathing evened. Relief sent a cool balm into my soul. Sheneededrest and peace, and her body was finally getting it.

My neck muscles spasmed from being wound so tight with worry.

The episode had passed.

But next time, if I didn’t have a mage stone…

I couldn’t afford one seeing as I hadn’t been paid for the months I chased after Hood and had brought in no other pelts. Hood would bring everything I needed, but I only had a few weeks to accomplish that mission. I’d paid a few Reds to run some errands for me, and I knew where Hood would be.

Yet could I truly kill Fen? Someone Shen cared deeply for. Could I kill Shen’s brother to save my sister and my place in this tribe?

I could change everything. As matriarch, I could save so many lives.

Maybe he would understand?

I shook my head.

No. He wouldn’t. Shen would find another way instead of killing.

But as Anna shivered and whimpered in pain, I knew what I had to do.

The arena was teemingwith individuals who had come to cheer on their perspective teams. It was a monthly match between the best and the worst of the upcoming human mages.

Prince Gerald was a mighty big supporter of this so-called sport. He never missed a match, not even the one after his son died when most would stay home in mourning.

The matches begin with the least powerful and end with the most powerful. Which was why I was dressed in a freakin’ dress and huddled around a bunch of people who could slit my throat at any moment, watching both those around me and the people surrounding Gerald, who was already half-drunk on spirit rum.

He planted a sloppy kiss on a woman with long, black hair, wearing a short skirt. She giggled, but as soon as he turned away, she discretely wiped off the slobber. I gagged on her behalf.

Down beneath the screaming of the crowd was the sizzle of lightning as two wielders went at it in the center of the bowl-like sand arena. This was the last match. Thank Source. I was about to die if one more person touched me. Or I suppose it wouldn’t bemewho died if I accidentally stabbed someone. Would hate that for them.

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