Page 97 of Bitter Discord

Walking into the fresh air, I inhaled deeply. Zuri followed me, quiet as I started a slow walk around my yard.

“Twenty-four hours and this is all over, huh?” I looked over my shoulder at her.

“That’s right.”

“Will Hisao kill him?”

“No, only capture, but Hisao is good at many things that involve getting close to someone and making them disappear. Disappear into a deep grave or disappear into a cell in Father’s basement… doesn’t matter which.”

“That’s good.” I paced until her hand touched my elbow. Turning to her, she threw her arms around me in a tight hug.

“Jacky, I am so proud of you,” she whispered. “So proud, okay? I need you to know that. To remember it.”

“Thanks,” I said, feeling tears come to my eyes, knowing she was telling me now because, in twenty-four hours, our father wouldn’t be.

36

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Istayed out of the way when Zuri loaded William into the back of Heath’s truck. Landon was riding in the back as well while Heath drove. I was going to be a passenger. The rest of the pack was loaded into Shamus’s truck with two exceptions. Fenris was staying at my house under strict orders. No one wanted to see how he would react to seeing someone like Niko. Dirk was hidden in the security building, and we had Zuri sniff around to make sure none of us smelled like him. Landon had cut it close, needing to spend even longer away from his own house to keep from revealing Dirk’s secret. They hadn’t seen each other in over twenty-four hours. No one really saw Dirk because of the risk. He was a disembodied voice from our cell phones.

Ranger stopped beside me after being sent on a walk to wear him out. Heath was trying to think of excuses to leave him here, but he wasn’t falling for it. Heath would have to order him but couldn’t find a legitimate reason without insulting Ranger.

“Thinking about the family visit?” he asked me politely.

“Thinking about Dirk working so hard in the security building,” I answered.

“Ah… He’s impressive. I didn’t know he could do so much and certainly didn’t respect him the way I should have. He was taught well.”

“He was,” I agreed, smiling a little as I heard something give in Ranger. I tried not to be nosy, but it was nice to hear Ranger recognize Dirk, and it felt as if it was necessary.

“How many are coming? You said your entire family, but… it’s rather big.”

“Everyone except Hisao, actually. It’ll be interesting for people to see Subira.” I nearly smiled, thinking about the reaction to her small form, all of five feet.

“Mother will probably not attend,” Zuri called to me from the back of the truck. “She’s around, probably looking over the area. She likes to do that while the family does official business when no one is in trouble. She doesn’t preside over the things the way Father likes to.”

“Has she ever been to America?” I asked.

“No,” Zuri said, laughing. “She’s going to scare everyone she comes across. I wish I could witness it.”

I did, too.

Loaded into the truck, we finally left for the edge of my territory closest to Dallas, where the other werecats were still staying and the family had flown into. Zuri had managed that. The family was using the mansion that I had tried to model for them. The werecats, except for Coyotl, had gone back to their own rentals. Zuri had mentioned nothing to me, but I wondered how the family felt about Coyotl being their roommate for one more night.

We parked fifty yards from the border. I approached the line first, seeing my family, without vehicles, emerge from the tree line on the side of the road. It was ten minutes to midnight, and there was no one around. On the other side of the street, also outside my territory, a small crowd of werecats had gathered to witness the execution—all of them. Every werecat who had come to speak with me was watching, wondering how this would play out.

I stopped at the edge, meeting Hasan face to face.

“Father, the Everson Rogue Werewolf Pack has captured a werecat who conspired to begin another war among the moon cursed. In his machinations, he murdered a werecat, kidnapped a minor werewolf, and attempted to murder both myself and Lonan, son of Nevin. They are willing to hand over this werecat to our family under specific terms.”

“That I execute him,” Hasan said, gold eyes staring me down.

“No, only that he is executed.” I clasped my hands in front of me. “Zuri and I ask that you do it.”

His eyes narrowed. He knew that, but I had a feeling he hadn’t wanted it to be public. He wanted to say the werewolves had backed him into this, not his own daughters. I looked around him to see my siblings. Jabari nodded respectfully when we made eye contact. Mischa rolled her eyes. Davor and Niko were close to each other, Davor wary, almost hiding behind Niko. It took me a second to remember I hadn’t read his email yet or had the chance to talk to Dirk about how Davor had handed over the digital keys to his kingdom.

“Hey, Davor,” I called softly, letting my father think for a moment. “Thanks for the help. Dirk told me what you gave him for our security, and it was… put to good use this time.”

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