Page 227 of Primal Bonds

She drew a serrated breath. “Not ’til you tell me what happened to Luc.”

Corban didn’t seem to hear. “Use your fucking knife. Don’t let me die like some animal in a cage.”

Her fingers tightened around the switchblade handle. “Why should I show you any mercy?”

“Because it’s Adric’s fault I’m here.”

She scowled. “Oh, no. You don’t get to put this on Ric.”

“He sent me after Lady B.”

“So? You were supposed to turn her over to the king, not ally yourself with her.”

“I’m not stupid, Jani. I knew Adric sent me to India to die.”

“Because you gave me to those river fada, you bastard. We both knew you were behind it, even if we couldn’t prove it.”

His big hands clenched on the sheepskin rug. “Without any backup, I was an easy target for Lady B. So instead, I made a deal with her—she’d help me win alpha, and I’d protect her from Sindre. But the king kept sending people after her, and she gave up and came home. Somehow they worked out a truce—she has him wrapped around her little finger now. And I’m in here.” His gold eyes burned into hers, filmy and tinged with madness. “So my loving cousin owes me.”

“Like hell. You brought this mess on yourself. You worked against him from the day he took over as alpha.”

“I should’ve been alpha, not him.”

“No fucking way. It was a fair challenge. The stronger man won.”

Corban growled.

“You just don’t get it, do you? Ric is stronger than you in every way that counts. The clan has a chance now, under him.”

Her cousin closed his eyes.

She rubbed her nape. Why was she fighting with him? He was going to pass out without her learning anything.

“Tell me what you know about Luc,” she said, “and I’ll do it.”

Beside her, Fane tensed.

Her chest squeezed. She didn’t want him to see this. He’d probably never killed a man in his life, while she’d killed so many, their faces ran together in her mind.

“Go,” she hissed. “I promise, I’ll be there in a minute.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll wait.”

“Please,” she said, but all she got was a shake of his head.

Then Corban spoke, and she turned back to him. Maybe it was better if Fane saw her as she really was—a killer. Then she wouldn’t be forced to reject the mate bond, because he would.

“He’s…with her,” Corban said. “The lady.”

“He went with her willingly?”

“Yes. She…told him…only way…to help you.”

“She lied to him?”

“Don’t know.”

“It might not be a lie,” Fane inserted. “You're alive, aren’t you? That may be due to the bargain he struck with her.”

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