Page 52 of Moon Kissed

I hesitated. “Then why would he say that if it wasn’t true?”

“Because he blames you for everything that’s gone wrong in our lives, but a couple months into our forced vacation, it was obvious to all of us that you weren’t coming after us. You weren’t hunting us. You didn’t give a shit about us at all.

“Sunella could’ve let me go home to my mom. I begged her to,” he gritted, jaw clenching. “But she refused. Not even under guard were we allowed to leave, and there was no fucking point to it, because you weren’t coming.” Edric shook his head. “You’re to blame for a lot of things, Volana. But it wasn’t you who stopped me being at my mother’s side.”

I was quiet taking that in. “Why wouldn’t the alpha council let you leave?”

“Because of you.”

“What?” I pulled a face. “But you just said—”

“It wasn’t to protect us from you. It was tosaveus for you. They didn’t want us getting hurt, falling for other people, degrading the bond, and, most of all, they couldn’t let another one of us die.” His gaze pierced my soul. “They locked us away—”

“—because they had to make sure when they caught me, they could force us all to complete the bonding, and create the first batch of super wolves.”

Edric just nodded.

I almost said something bitchy likenow you know what I’ve gone through my entire life. But I held back. I was allowed to be with my mother every day of her too-short life. So... Edric didn’t know what it was like.

“Why did they let you attend the academy, then?” I eventually spoke up. “What changed Sunella’s mind?”

“It wasn’t Sunella. It was the Sun councilor,” Edric said. “He found out Nyx and I were hooking up.”

My brows shot up my forehead. “Uhhh, come again?”

“The guy was worried bisexuality was catching, and he couldn’t have that around Badr. Just like that, we were off to the academy.”

“Mhh hmh,” I hummed, head bobbing. “You and Nyx, you say? You two strong, muscly alphas were going at it like sex-starved animals.” Just saying the words made my lower belly contract so hard I nearly doubled over.

His voice was dry. “Stop picturing it.”

“Edric, I say this with all the sensitivity and respect in the whole of my chest: I can’t.”

Edric arched a brow—amusement faintly coloring his twitching lips. “We’re getting off topic.”

“Nope, what happened is we finally landed on the most important topic. And snowballing off this vitally important topic, I must ask if there are videos or pictures of the sexual events in question.” I slowly looked down. “And would those videos happen to be on the unlocked phone that is currently in my hands?”

“Give it back.”

“I must once again say with nothing but sensitivity and respect: I cannot.”

Edric barked a laugh—short, sharp, and gone too quickly for me to enjoy. “You’re funny,” he said matter-of-factly. “Quick, clever, and charming. I truly do see why Luame chose you as myfate. If only you didn’t come with an airport’s worth of baggage with homicidal crazy packed in every case.”

“That’s just more proof we belong together.” I pointed at the both of us. “Crazy psycho killer and panty-sniffing, nudes-hoarding blackmailer. Match made in heaven.”

Edric chuckled again. “You’ve always got a comeback, don’t you.”

“And you’ve either got big, brass balls, or a broken thermometer where your danger sense should be.” The humor bleached out of my tone. “Who in their right mind tries to extort a homicidal crazy person?”

“One who has leverage. I’ve got a doomsday button too. If you try anything, those coordinates go wide,” he shot back. “Say goodbye to your blackmail and for what? Money you don’t even care about. Take the deal, Volana.” Edric held out his hand. “It’s the only fair one you’re going to get.”

“Hmm. Before I do, why don’t you do me a favor?” I tossed him the phone, surprising him. “You obviously didn’t look up where those coordinates lead, so do it now. See for yourself where Lucia is.”

Edric frowned. “Why? What does that matter?”

I shrugged, grinning shit-eatingly. “Humor me.”

Scowling harder, Edric stood up and moved around the armchair—keeping the furniture between him and me while he typed in the coordinates.

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