Page 17 of Wrath

Everyone knew that the majority of humans in the shifter kingdom were put into camps years ago, after rebels killed the king’s mate. I’d never been inside one myself, but I’d heard the horror stories.

All of us had.

Lupe looked as if he was going to be sick, especially when Turner flicked his keen gaze in the bear shifter’s direction.

“Could you get us into the camps?” he demanded.

“I…” Lupe struggled to find words.

My sweet mate had nothing to do with his father’s activities, despite being the crowned prince. I didn’t think he even knew the extent of his father’s depravities until recently. Most of the shifters guarding the camps were loyal to the imprisoned shifter king and him alone.

They would kill Lupe on sight.

But Lupe didn’t say that out loud.

Instead, fierce determination crossed his face, and he nodded once, a stiff jerk of his chin. “I can try.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Bash gripped my hand under the table and gave it a squeeze—an eloquent “shut the fuck up.”

I narrowed my eyes at the mage, but he simply cocked an arrogant eyebrow at me before releasing me and refocusing on the table once more.

Cocky asshole.

He shifted, folding his arms over his chest, and I caught a glimpse of his muscular forearms.

Cocky,sexyasshole.

“At least you’re good for something,” Turner muttered under his breath, and it was official.

I was gonna stab him. In the eye. Or the cock. Or the ass. Maybe the ear canal…

“So we send a team to liberate the humans…” B ran a hand through his rapidly graying hair. I swore in the span of hours, it had turned whiter than before. “What about the Trials of Lilith?”

An atomic bomb replaced the stone in my stomach. I felt suddenly sick and lightheaded, my thoughts swirling like a tornado, unable to settle.

“How do these trials work exactly?” Dair placed his elbows on the table and frowned.

“It hasn’t been done in centuries, if at all. No one knows for sure.” Davia’s gaze flicked to the book sitting in front of Lupe, the pages brittle and yellow with age. “It appears as if we say a spell or incantation or something, and then the trials will begin.”

“Right away?” Bash’s eyebrows drew together.

Davia shrugged. “What part ofhasn’t been done in centuriesdo you not understand?”

“Who’s to say it’ll even work?” Ryland’s voice was thick with disdain as one shadowy finger lifted to caress the cover of the book.

A shudder reverberated through him as if he couldfeelthe raw, unencumbered power emanating from the pages.

“It might not,” B agreed readily. “But does it hurt to try? If you guys receive Lilith’s backing, then you’ll be legitimized in theeyes of the other nightmares. Not only that, but the kingdoms’ forces will be more willing to fight with us against Aaliyah.”

“Humans and nightmares fighting side by side.” Turner scoffed, as if the sheer prospect was utterly ridiculous.

Very purposefully, I placed my hands over Bash’s on the table. My mage’s lips quirked upwards into an almost taunting smirk, and Turner paled.

“Stranger things have happened,” I quipped.

“So are we doing this?” Lupe asked, volleying his gaze from side to side so he could see all of our faces. “Are we going to ask Lilith to bless us?”

I wanted to say no, but I knew it was my own fear holding me back. Having Lilith’s blessing—whatever that meant—would help us tremendously. Nightmares would have no choice but to follow my mates’ rule.

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