Grae stayed his hand. “Wait for the signal,” he signed, and I was grateful to Mina I’d learned enough to understand. Our voices would carry too well through the splintering walls.
“We can take them,” Hector signed back.
“Yes, but they might kill one of them before we fight our way in,” I signed. I frowned at Hector. If anyone died, it would be my responsibility. If I was going to take the throne of Olmdere, every death, every loss, would be mine to bear. “We need to draw them out. I promise—this will work. Wait for the signal.”
Hector’s muscles went as tight as a bow string, but he stayed put.
“I don’t know!” Sadie sobbed. “I ran off with the human. I broke off from them in Taigos. I don’t know where they are.”
“I’ve known you since you were a pup.” Hemming spat at her. “Your parents would be so disappointed you turned into a bloody skin chaser—even more so than disobeying your King. But here’s the thing: I don’t believe you. You think I’d accept you abandoned your pack for a human? You think I’m that stupid? Fine then. I know what will get you to talk.”
He whirled on Navin and kicked him so hard on the jaw that Navin’s eyes rolled back.
“Stop!” Sadie screamed. “Gods! Stop!”
Blood trickled from Navin’s temple as he blinked vacantly, trying to stay conscious. There would be no shifting for him, no magical healing. If they injured Navin badly enough, he wouldn’t survive his wounds.
“Hmm—maybe she does love this human piece of filth—”
“Hemming,” Soris growled, tipping his chin to the window above Navin’s head. “We’ve got a problem.”
Orange light flashed through the window.
“I guess we don’t have to find them after all.” Hemming chuckled, rubbing his hands together. “I knew they’d be foolish enough to try to save you, you lying bitch.” He turned to the two wolves behind him. “You two go find them. Bring them back here.”
The two younger Wolves darted to the door at his command.
“Do you think they’ll be able to take Grae?” Soris asked, looking in the direction they left.
“Grae is a good enough fighter, sure—I should know,” Hemming huffed. “I was the one who first put a sword in his hand. But him and Hector against Ax and Fedic? Against my boys? Not a chance.”
“A proud father of many strong boys. I thought you were already at the top of the heap, Hem,” Soris said with a low chuckle. “But look at you now. Your eldest is Nero’s heir. Evres will take Olmdere and you’ll have the wealth of two kingdoms at your fingertips.”
Grae’s fists clenched by his side.
Soris’s eyes stayed fixed on the far wall. “And Grae’s mate? Do you think they’ll find her, too?”
“She was trained to protect the Crimson Princess, but she’s never been battle-tested.” Hemming shrugged.
I shook my head, realizing I was still a nameless Wolf to them. King Nero wouldn’t tell anyone I was a Marriel, especially not after disowning Grae. My name would only legitimize Grae’s claim to Olmdere.
“Grae would never let his mate come along into battle,” Soris jeered. “She’s probably hiding in a hole somewhere.” Grae and I exchanged glances. I winked at him and his cheeks dimpled, his canines flashing.
“No matter,” Hemming said. “When we kill Grae, she’ll die, too.”
A predatory rumble shook from Hector’s throat at the threat. They were no longer planning on bringing us back for judgment. The orders must’ve changed the moment Aiden died. These Wolf guards were now assassins.
The sound of the two young Wolves’ footsteps faded away and Grae looked between us, signing, “Ready?”
Hector was all but coiled, waiting for that one word that would unleash him. I unsheathed my dagger and nodded. I took one last steadying breath and we crept out the doorway and into the hall. Grae stood in front of the shut door behind which Sadie and Navin were waiting. He tipped his chin up to the ceiling and Hector and I followed suit, our last prayer to the Moon Goddess, before his boot slammed into the door.
Splinters flew as the door snapped clean off its rusty hinges. The three of us barreled into the room, Grae aiming for Hemming as I turned toward Soris. With the element of surprise, I was able to slice across his bicep before he could grab his sword. He growled, jumping back from my next swing. I felt the whoosh of air just in time to duck under Hemming’s swinging fist as Grae kicked him backward.