Page 99 of Lycan’s Hunt

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to regain control of my emotions. My hands are trembling with the effort it takes not to lash out, not to let my rage consume me.

“I’ll deal with this,” I say finally, my voice cold and detached. “Take Max and leave, Aubrey.”

Aubrey hesitates, her eyes searching mine, but she nods and carries Max out of the room. My mother following close behind. His cries echo down the hallway, each one tearing at me as he thrashes in Aubrey’s arms.

“You opened the gates for Rhett. You let him in!”

Her lips tremble, and for a moment, I think she might cry. “I went to get Jacinta’s and Max’s breakfast when the bell for the gates rang. I opened the display panel to see the truck, its logos. I didn’t realize it was Rhett, I assumed it was his father,” she says quickly, her words spilling out in a rush.

“You didn’t think to verify? You let him in! Do you even realize what you’ve done?”

“I didn’t know! By the time I realized, it was too late. They were killing everyone. I used the hidden stairways to get back to warn her, but then…” she wipes a tear that falls down her cheek.

“I heard King Alaric’s voice; Jacinta was arguing with him and Rhett. So, I did all I could. I got Max who was hiding in the cupboard, and hid him in the stairwell behind your walk-in cupboard until you got back.”

Damian wanders in hearing everything, “And your excuse for helping Clyde? For calling Bianca’s parents?” I ask. Her bottom lip quivers.

“I would never betray her, that wasn’t intentional. You think I would kill my best friend? Look at me, Soren, look at what has become of me. I’m dying, I have been since I lost her.”

“That isn’t what I asked. Why did you help them?” I shove my aura over her, flooding her with it, forcing her to answer.

“Because I didn’t want to lose Max! He is all I have left of her. Clyde told me if I didn’t keep him in the loop on what was going on, he would leak the stolen footage of that day of me pressing the intercom.”

“That’s why there was no footage in kitchens,” Damian murmurs.

“I tried to delete it, but everyone came back. Clyde caught me on the cameras and said he deleted the kitchen footage. But had a copy on his phone.”

“So he blackmailed you and you let him?” Damian snaps and she looks away guiltily.

“And you thought that was helping Max?” I ask horrified.

“You would have cast me out or killed me!”

“The second one is correct,” I tell her.

She nods, her gaze moving to the window. “Not in Max’s room. He doesn’t need my blood spilled on his carpet.” She turns toward me and starts for the door. I step aside letting her pass and she moves down the corridor toward the stairs. We follow her, and Damian seizes her arm quickly as we pass my bedroom. I follow, knowing Damian will lead her to the dungeons.

Yet once we are down the stairs, instead of turning for the dungeons she turns for the back of the castle where the courtyard is. Damian jerks on her arm.

“I don’t want to die in the dungeons, can we do it outside?” she asks like she is asking for something common, not willingly going to her death. Damian looks at me, I can tell he feels conflicted, this woman has been in our lives for years.

“I’ll allow it, you won’t run,” I tell her, and she shakes her head.

“What would be the point? I wouldn’t get far.”

I swallow, emotion getting to me.

Damian lets her go, and we follow her, maids step into her path as she leaves, she pretends nothing is going on, telling them goodnight. They realize something is wrong when they notice me and Damian following her. Mary, one of the kitchen hands is the last to stop her as we pass the kitchen. She is looking at two packets of chocolate when she spots Mavis. I know the two women are close. They knit together on Tuesdays; it used to drive Max nuts being dragged along. “Ah, the perfect person to ask.” She holds up both ingredients and I notice a heap of desserts being made for the wedding.

“Which of these would be best for the strawberry tarts, Mavis?” Mary asks, holding up the bags, one is dark chocolate, the other is milk chocolate.

Mavis stops in her tracks, her gaze lingering on the array of sweets on the counter behind her. Taking a deep breath, she smiles at Mary. “The dark chocolate, it has a richer taste which will go nice with the tarts. Just make sure you make a smaller one for Max. He hates dark chocolate,” Mavis advises.

Mary flashes her an appreciative smile as Mavis is about to stride off. “Where are you off to this late?”

“Just going for a stroll.”

“Might want to take a jacket, it is a little chilly outside tonight,” Mary chuckles.