Page 15 of A Warrior's Fate

She continued to watch from afar as the group began to disband. Kai broke off even further with a man she vaguely recognized but couldn’t put a name to. The two stopped a good distance away from the crowd, so far that they were almost specks. Maybe the alpha had wanted a break from the craziness.

Isla bit her lip as her annoyance mingled with the presence of opportunity. The Hunt would not begin until sundown, and she knew she could not descend into the Wilds with unspoken grievances on her chest. So, before she could second-guess herself, she jumped to her feet and made the trek over, keeping her steps soft and scent masked. But as she neared them, she slowed and then stopped. The men were locked in a heated discussion. About what exactly, she couldn’t tell.

“If this is true then it will require immediate action. I can relay your thoughts to the council while you’re behind the Wall for what should be done, or I can devise a plan until you better settle into the position.”

“No, this is my call now.” Although his back was to her, Isla saw Kai’s hand raise to rub his forehead as he let out an aggravated sigh. “Disperse the covert guard into pockets of the city. Have them investigate if the threats are legitimate. I don’t want to raise unnecessary alarm. And just in case, put a heightened detail on my mother. If this is really what killed…”

Killed?

Kai had trailed off as the familiar man he was speaking with lifted his hand to silence him as respectfully as one could cut off an alpha. Whatever they were saying, he didn’t want Isla to hear. His eyes narrowed as he probably wondered who would be bold—or stupid—enough to linger in their vicinity.

Isla, however, didn’t cower. She pulled her shoulders back to exude the confidence—or lunacy—a commoner would need to disturb an alpha in conference.

Noting that they were no longer alone, Kai spun to face who’d intruded. Isla was surprised to see the scowl he was wearing soften. Not to a full smile, but enough to instill her with the smallest amount of irritation and signal her to do what she was about to.

She stepped forward. “Alpha Kai, may I speak with you?”

One would think she’d smacked the older man across the face. He strode up to her, making sure to stand where he blocked Kai from her view. “Alpha Kai is preparing for the Hunt.”

His tone held an air of condescension that made her blood boil.

“As am I.” Isla gestured down to her own maroon garb. “I’d like to speak with him.”

“Many dames would like an audience with the alpha. However, the Hunt is not the—”

“I’m not ‘some dame’,” Isla sneered.

The man bit back with equal harshness, “Then who are you?”

“Isla of Io.”

They turned to find Kai, having answered for Isla, advancing towards them, his small smile now a full grin. He met the eyes of his destined mate and co-conspirator against Fate, amusement tangling with her aggression and breeding smugness. “Daughter of Imperial Beta Malakai.” He halted a couple of feet away, then glanced at his confidant. “Can we have a minute, Ezekiel?”

The man—Ezekiel—looked stunned. His eyes darted between the two of them before raking over Isla as if sizing her up. He turned to Kai. “With all due respect, Alpha, but Imperial Beta’s daughter or not, this isn’t—”

“Beta,” Kai commanded. “We need a few minutes. Relay my message to the council.”

With a clench of his jaw, the beta bowed his head. “Yes, Alpha.” The words sounded almost out of place in his mouth, seemingly decades Kai’s senior. He shot another dagger-filled stare at Isla before leaving, which she reflexively returned.

There was a pensive frown on Kai’s face as he saw him off before he scanned the length of the Wall. When he lifted his gaze to follow the overcast clouds in the sky, Isla fought the nagging urge to ask if everything was okay, especially after what she’d overheard. But she knew it wasn’t her place, so she refrained.

Though, speaking of her place…

“You let me speak to a beta like that?” she seethed, drawing Kai’s attention down to her. “I was so out of line; you should’ve said something!”

“I was distracted,” Kai said, his smile returning. “You’re very attractive when you’re angry.”

Isla ran her tongue along her teeth. Not this shit again.

She refused to be swayed by the beguilement. “Were you too distracted last night to tell me you’d also be in the Hunt?”

“Honestly?” Her glower in return elicited a soft chuckle. “I didn’t tell anyone.”

“So, I’m just anyone?”

“So we’ve chosen.”

“You don’t think I deserved to know?”

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