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Because we were obviously far from done with thattrouble.

“We know you had something planned with the rogues for our visit here,” Marco said. “Care to share any details or should your dragon shifter burn the truth out ofyou?”

Ren came up beside me, wrapping her hand around my arm. She’d felt my distress. I didn’t want to show any of my own weakness in front of our prisoner, but I did let myself quickly nuzzle her hair. The softly sweet smell of my mate steadiedme.

“I just told them you were coming,” Julius said. “That it would be a good time to get involved. That’sall.”

“Well, I definitely don’t believethat,” Marco said. He glanced at Ren. “Princess?”

Ren looked up at me as if asking my permission. As if she needed to. I could stand back for a moment. It might be better if I did. Instead of pushing for the answers I wanted, I needed tolisten.

She’d gotten through to Orion. Maybe there was something redeemable in this wretched feline shiftertoo.

* * *

Ren

Icameto stand directly in front of Julius. He kept his head low as if he thought he could worm his way out of telling the truth that way. Hadn’t he heard the stories about mypowers?

I wasn’t going full dragon on him yet, though. He’d given me a strange vibe all through his questioning. I wanted to get a better sense ofit.

“Look at me,” I said. When he didn’t move, I repeated the words with a hint of fire creeping into my voice. “Look atme.”

The tiger shifter startled, his head jerking out. He blinked as his gaze met mine. His light brown eyes looked oddly hazy. There was no reason for him to be spaced out. He’d been complying enough so far that Marco hadn’t had him drugged. If he tried to shift, the chains that bound him would hold his tiger form even moretightly.

“Tell me exactly where you met with the rogues,” I said. “If it’s been different places, start from the firsttime.”

“I—I’ve only talked to them in person once,” he said. “Out beyond the glade. The other times, I had people speak forme.”

I frowned. My senses told me he was telling the truth. But at the same time his whole demeanor, the vagueness of his answers, unsettledme.

“You could show us thespot?”

“I’m not sure I remember exactly where it was,” he said. That seemed to be the truthtoo.

I ran my tongue over my teeth. “Who spoke for you the othertimes?”

“No one here. It was their idea. I couldn’t tell you theirnames.”

“We can make you tell us,” Marco broke in. “And believe me, I’ll very much enjoy watching you taken over by thoseflames.”

I made a motion with my hand, and he stopped, his forehead furrowing. But Julius still gave every appearance that he was being truthful. My violet fire couldn’t provoke more out of him thanthat.

If I got any clear answers, the most important questions were about what waited ahead, not what had alreadyhappened.

“Do the rogues plan to attack the felineestate?”

“I don’t know,” Julius said honestly. His lips curled slightly. I couldn’t tell if he was on the verge of smiling or grimacing. A prickle ran down myback.

“Do they have anything planned for when we leave theestate?”

“I don’tknow.”

“Whatdoyou know about what the rogues are planning to donext?”

The tiger shifter’s head sagged back down. He let out a rough sigh. “I don’t know anything about what they have planned next. As far as I’m concerned, they do a great job figuring out how to mess with youthemselves.”

“And what do you think they’d have done if youhadmanaged to beat me?” Marco asked. “They’re against the whole system of alphas. Did you really think they’d bow down to you after you’d become what they hate about the shifterkin?”

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