Page 41 of Fire Touched

‘Carter—’ Prescott’s eyes are wide.

He shakes his head. ‘You’ve been good hosts. I won’t bring you death and destruction.’

Elga’s voice echoes in my mind. Put the pieces back together. You’re right. They should not be separated.

I glance down at Courtney. ‘You were sent to me, weren’t you?’ I finally put it together. She wasn’t just here to mess with me, or to get Carter back. ‘You knew Julian would want his only heir back. You were working for him, which means you’re important to him.’ I take a step forward, out of the shadows. ‘Julian,’ I call. ‘I’ve got your girl.’

The Water alpha’s gaze takes us in, my hand wrapped around her, my fire ready to scorch. I won’t admit I don’t have the heart or the guts to burn a woman held in my grasp, but I need to make them think I would.

A muscle feathers Julian’s cheek. His grip loosens on Verron, a strike delivered. He glances between me, Courtney, and Carter. In that moment, I know I’ve got him.

There’s a contract ensuring that Julian can’t attack our people, and the people of Terran, but wording is everything. There must be a loophole he’s exploiting. There would be no point in bluffing. Somehow, he could kill Verron, I know it.

‘There’s a reason you sent her, isn’t there?’ I goad him, drawing her a little closer so he can see. Courtney squirms in my grasp. ‘Because you trust her. And, from everything I know about her, I think it’s more than a coincidence that she has the same cruelty in her heart as you do.’

‘He’s my alpha,’ she growls at me.

‘You don’t know, do you?’ I raise my voice. ‘Carter, I don’t blame you for not wanting her. That’s pretty weird, isn’t it? Sleeping with someone you’re related to?’ I watch a dozen people flinch. ‘So, what is it, Julian? You had a wife, she gave you a daughter. But you didn’t want to rely on a girl, a woman, as your heir, so you set all your hopes on Carter?’

Carter cringes. ‘Tell me that’s not true.’

‘It has to be,’ I counter. ‘Katherine told me how you’re treated, Courtney, how the guards let you roam about as you please. How you’re given as much reign as Carter, and not because you’re his mate. You never were.’ I meet Carter’s gaze now. ‘It never felt right, did it? You could feel it. She was too hard on you. Not kind.’ My gaze slides to Ella. ‘Not like her.’

Courtney elbows me in the ribs, but I expected it. I adjust my grip on her. ‘Easy. The truth needs to be heard,’ I murmur to her. If she truly didn’t know, this must be killing her. I raise my voice for Julian. ‘To use your words, alpha, let’s make it simple. The Earth Pack are a peaceful people, and I’m honoured to say I’m their ally. I don’t want any bloodshed today. Let Verron go, and I’ll release Courtney. But Carter stays here, with us. You’ll have her. An heir.’

Carter looks as though he’s about to be sick, but he takes a couple of steps back. I can see the cogs turning in his mind, piecing it all together.

Julian gives me a hard look, deliberating.

I take a few steps closer. ‘You know you don’t want Carter. He’s not like you. She is. She can be the ruler you want.’ Nearly there. One more blow. The final chink in his armour. ‘Julian, you can leave here with one heir, or I’ll make sure you leave with none.’ My fire comes up, near her throat. A stab of guilt goes through me at her quiet whimper.

Julian caves. He releases Verron. ‘Fine!’ he calls, a distinct note of panic in his voice. ‘Release her.’

I let Courtney go. She breaks free and scrambles forward. She pauses and looks back at me, a bewildered expression on her face.

‘Sorry you had to hear it from me,’ I offer.

Courtney looks like she doesn’t know what to feel, but she runs back to her alpha.

Verron raises his arm, a signal. ‘Retreat,’ he warns. A moment later, the barrier flicks back into place, gold and glowing brightly. Breathing heavily, he and Prescott and the others gather. We all watch as the Water wolves turn around.

Not a single casualty. I breathe a sigh of relief. Did I just manage to do something right? I cringe for Carter and Courtney, both of whom might have nightmares about this for a while yet.

The Earth alpha rumbles, a hand running over his beard. ‘I believe you just saved my life. How did you know that, Killian?’

Prescott smiles, relieved, and grasps my shoulder. The kindness in his eyes mirrors his son.

My gaze lands on Carter, and I feel a great swell of sympathy for everything he endured at Julian’s hands. Saving him from returning to that might just be one of the best things I’ve ever done. ‘Believe it or not,’ I say, a tired smile curving my lips, ‘it was just a guess.’

Chapter Twenty-One

Killian

To celebrate the encounter with the Water wolves going right, and getting rid of Julian, Verron decided to throw a feast. The great, big man smiles gruffly down at us. It occurs to me I know nothing of his family, or even if he has one. He offers an awkward smile and shakes my hand. I can’t tell if he still doesn’t really like me, or he’s just not a people person. ‘Everything will be ready in a couple of hours,’ Verron rumbles. ‘We’ll host in the hall. You’ll sit beside me,’ he informs me, then turns and departs.

‘Oh, okay,’ I murmur. ‘Sure, I’d be delighted,’ I say to his retreating form.

Ella’s dark, piercing gaze is the first to find me. I sigh inwardly, preparing for the worst. When I first met her, she’d been looking after Katherine, and since then, she’s looked after all of us. I should have known I would incur her wrath sooner or later. I yelp in surprise when she wraps her arms around me—am I being attacked?—in a… a hug.

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