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Keep quiet, you worthless waste of space.
Her stomach roiled—not from the turbulence this time—as she swallowed down the bile that bobbed in her throat. She pinched the skin on her forearm, a visceral reminder she was alive and not under her father’s roof any longer.
Flora released a calming breath as she tried to pull herself together and focus on the things she could control. Primarily, her trip to the Moon Ridge Pack. Though Callum insisted Emery and the baby were safe for the time being, Flora needed to convince the wolves to help protect them. The Moon Ridge Pack was the supernatural liaison between the factions. They may not have been the richest pack, or the oldest pack, but they were the most feared. They didn’t need legacy or money when they had honor, brute strength, and the ear of the Moon Goddess. And Flora had to convince them to pick a side. To help Emery and the future of hybrids.
No pressure.
The plane lurched again, first whipping Flora forward and then throwing her back against the seat. “Why couldn’t I drive to Tennessee?” she mumbled to herself. Not that she could actually drive. She’d never learned. But, honestly, how hard could it be?
The bag on the seat beside her had toppled over in the turbulence, and the letter Callum had given her for the heir to the wolves slid out. Flora pushed back an rogue lock of hair that had fallen and tucked it behind her ear before grabbing the envelope and running her fingertips over the raised wax seal. Anything to distract herself from her imminent death as the plane continued to bump along.
She flipped over the letter, and on the front of the envelope, the name of the recipient was penned in elegant script.
Draven Dempsy.
Flora chuckled. His name was as douchy as all the princes’ names. Then again, being the heir to the wolves made him a prince in his own right, so douche probably came with the territory.
Flora pulled out the smooth silver crescent necklace hidden between her breasts, tugging on the chain, and fingered it between her thumb and forefinger. It was beautiful. The silver stone was littered with white highlights and when the light from the sun outside the window caught it, gorgeous iridescent beams gleamed throughout the cabin.
It was clear the stone held value, and would be a bargaining chip with the wolves. What Flora wanted to know was why. Callum refused to say and instructed her not to let anyone know she wore the stone unless she had no other choice. She dropped it back into her blouse and fingered the envelope once more. The next time the plane lurched, her finger slid under the flap and popped the seal.
Oops.
For a split second, she debated following through with the deliberate act of treason, before fully opening the envelope. Callum should’ve known better than to tempt her with answers. Now that it was open, she couldn’t very well let the men be the only ones with secrets.
With her mind made up, she removed the letter and between the jostling of the plane read the swooping handwritten note.
Dear Brother -
Flora blinked, touching her fingertips over each letter in case she read it wrong. Brother? That meant… the heir to the Moon Ridge Pack was a hybrid. She expected a lot of things when she decided to read the letter, but not a scandal of epic proportions. Hybrids might be accepted by some, but a royal hybrid was the sort of news that ruined dynasties and started wars, and they already had one on the verge of exploding.
It’s been a long time.I was going to send you a feeder from the castle as a gift, but opted for something I think you’ll enjoy more.
I’m calling in the favor you owe me for intervening and saving your life from the hands of our father.
Our cousin’s mate is in danger and needs protection only the wolves can provide. She currently resides with the witches, and though she is safe at the moment, she will not be when they discover she carries the heir to the vampire's crown in her womb.
Did I mention she herself is a witch?
Yes, brother, her child will be the same as you. A royal child of two species.
Something that felt a lot like hope blossomed deep within her as she continued to read. If Draven was a hybrid, he would be sympathetic to her cause. That meant he would help Emery and the baby. Maybe the trip to the woods of Tennessee wouldn’t be as daunting as she’d imagined.
Don’t worry, I don’t expect your pack to protect her out of the kindness of their hearts. That wouldn’t be fitting of the Moon Ridge legacy. Which is why I sent you something sweeter, to convince you. Or rather someone. Emery’s best friend, Flora.
Play nice with her. She’s got half my offered payment around her pretty little neck.
I’ll be expecting your call.
Callum
That ostentatious waste of oxygen. Any hope she had was doused and replaced with white-hot rage. A parade of curses she’d never utter aloud danced across her tongue. Callum didn’t send her because she was the only one he could trust. He’d planned all along to trade her to his brother in exchange for help from the wolves. Maybe that’s why he refused to turn her before sending her. Human blood was so much sweeter.
Flora barely refrained from ripping the letter into tiny pieces even though the anger coursing through her demanded she do so. She knew Callum was only doing what he needed to in order to gain the help of the wolf, but he should have prepared her if he thought she was going to be a feeder or anything else to Draven.
She wasn’t.
She didn’t owe him anything, and she certainly didn’t owe Draven a damn thing. They weren’t her family. Emery was. And she would never send Flora to become a plaything to the heir of the wolves.
