Iwrinkle my nose as I descend the staircase to the prison cells—though I’m not sure that’s the best description. Jail cells? Dungeons? Tiny room?
Usually, these cages are reserved for unruly shifters or those having difficulty controlling their emotions. But today, just one cell is occupied.
Kain grins up at me, baring bloody teeth, as I stop directly in front of him. Only metal bars separate me from the sadistic fuck, but it’s not enough. An entire continent wouldn’t be enough distance.
Despite being a cell, the room itself is furnished with a twin-sized bed, a toilet and sink concealed by a slightly raised wall, and a tiny metal table. It may not be the most comfortable place in the world, but I have to believe wolf prison is better than a human one.
“Ashton!” Kain spreads his arms wide as if we’re old friends reunited. “Long time no see, old friend.”
“I saw you just a day ago,” I deadpan. “You remember? When I was beating your face in and listening to you squeal like a little piggy?”
A shadow of darkness creeps across Kain’s face before he masks it and adopts a carefree smile. He shrugs a single shoulder and moves until he’s perched on the edge of the bed, ruffling the blankets.
“Let me guess? You’re here to apologize and beg for my forgiveness?” Kain quips, arching an arrogant eyebrow.
I grit my teeth together. Prick.
“Or…” Kain continues, tapping a finger to his chin in mock contemplation. “Are you here because you finally know what questions to ask me?” A malicious gleam ignites in his eyes, and he throws his head back and cackles in amusement. “That’s it, isn’t it?”
I don’t answer right away, mainly because he’s right. Ididcome here because I have questions. Questions I only developed at the strange-as-fuck meeting with my father and the other Council members.
For starters, why did no one seem surprised when Kain’s involvement was revealed? I still remember Gerry’s resigned expression as I described what he did. My father should be furious that there was a traitor in our midst, yet he barely batted an eyelash.
Did they…know about Kain? Or at least suspect he had a role to play in all of this?
And, more important than any of that, there’s this sliver of…something tugging at my gut. Intuition, perhaps. It feels as if I’m staring at a half-completed puzzle, and I know the remaining pieces are only a hair’s breadth away. All I need to do is take the time to assemble them and complete the picture, then everything will make sense.
“Who do you work for?” I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him.
Kain laughs, the noise wry and mirthless, and lies down on the bed, his hands behind his head. “This again? I thought you would ask me interesting questions, Ashton.”
He tsks his tongue in feigned disapproval as my blood boils, simmering with unbridled rage.
“Okay, fine. You don’t want to answer that?” I move closer to the bars. “How about this—what exactly is your endgame? You’re working with the Hunters, and I know it’s not because you believe in their ideology.”
I study the shifter intently as he closes his eyes, looking utterly carefree and impassive. A stirring of an idea occurs to me then, and I speak slowly, testing the waters, so to speak, gauging his reaction carefully.
“Unless youwantedthe Hunters and shifters to fight. Unless you wanted the shifters to declare war on the Hunters.” It’s just a guess, but when Kain’s shoulders stiffen nearly imperceptibly, I know I’m headed in the right direction. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re not truly on the Hunters’ side. You want the shifters to finally wipe them out.”
A muscle in Kain’s jaw thrums before smoothing out. He opens one eye to peer up at me, luminescent in the dim lighting. “Maybe.”
“What exactly is your end goal, Kain?” Though I ask the question to him, I know he won’t actually respond. “And what does Isabella have to do with it?”
A slow, cutting grin erupts on his face, and he finally opens both of his eyes, sitting upright. The smile on his face is…unnerving, to say the least. I feel as if I’m staring at a fucked-up, demented Cheshire cat.
“Are you mad that I’m going after your precious Isabella…or pissed that she’s still alive?”
I ball my hands into fists as acid sluices through my veins. “I may be an asshole, but I don’t want her dead.”
“You just want her out of the way, right?” Kain studies me carefully, but I don’t allow him to see even a sliver of emotion on my face, not wanting to give him fuel to use against me. If I give him even something as small as a match, he’ll use it to light me on fire. “I can help you, you know.”
I grip the bars tight. “I’m not listening to you.”
Kain nonchalantly shrugs and moves to stand, stretching his arms above his head until there’s an audible popping sound. He takes his sweet-ass time maneuvering towards me, that shit-eating grin on his face never faltering. My unease ratchets up a dozen notches, though I don’t let it show on my face.
“You want Izzy out of your life. I want to get out of this cell. I think we can help each other. Don’t you agree?” Kain moves to grab the bars as well, directly above my own white-knuckled grip. “Get me out of here, and I’ll solve your little Izzy problem.” He must see something on my face, because he rolls his eyes and scoffs. “I won’t kill her. But Iwillsend her away. She won’t be a problem for you or your pack any longer.”
I hesitate, a plethora of emotions rushing through me as I debate my options. After a long moment, I nod curtly.
