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“He has spoken,” they said as one as their ancient gazes settled on Cornelius. “Treason as proclaimed, death is his decree.”
“What?” Cornelius truly looked shocked.
“Council Elder Anika has just been killed at the hand of the Drakhyn,” Ada said sorrowfully. “Death to the traitor.”
“Death to the traitor,” Agatha repeated.
“Death to the traitor,” Aryna spoke also. Slowly the same was echoed around the table.
“It is decreed,” Council Elder Warren said. Cord noticed he looked almost as shell-shocked as Cornelius, and Cord quickly looked to Salem, who he saw had noticed the same look on the Council Elder’s face, if his expression was anything to go by.
“Step away, son,” Salem said to Sloane gently. “This is not for you.” He spoke softly as he looked to Cord. “Or you.”
Cord actually felt relieved, and he nodded in acknowledgment. Sloane sheathed his sword and hurried to his brother’s side.
“You aren’t going to kill me here and now,” Cornelius scoffed.
“Where is Council Elder Alexander?” Council Elder Farsin asked him. “It is in your best interest to tell us now.”
“The mountain,” Cornelius bit out as he looked away from them all, his guilt finally acknowledged.
“Council Elder Carnain?” Marguerite called. The older Akrhyn stood. His dark robes of the Great Council were similar in colour to the robes he wore as a Castor. With a steady hand, he reached out and drew the sign of death on Cornelius’s forehead. The black powder clung to his head, and Cornelius felt fear. He looked to his two sons in desperation.
Sloane averted his eyes, but his brother tightened his grip on his little brother’s arm. “No,” Cord whispered hoarsely. “You must watch.”
Slowly the powder turned to liquid, almost an oil, and shortly after doing so, it seemed to be absorbed into Cornelius’s skin. When not a trace of it could be seen, they watched as his veins gradually turned black. It felt like a long time, but in reality it was a short time only before Cornelius was dead.
“Burn his body,” Marguerite said into the quiet of the room. “We are done here,” she added sadly.
Cord realised he had been holding onto Sloane harder than he thought as he eased the pressure from his brother’s arm. He also hadn’t appreciated the fact that his brother had been holding him up.
“We would see what was wrought on your skin,” Agatha said to him. His witty sarcastic retort was stolen as he clutched his chest and cried out in pain.
Salem once more rushed to his side. “Cord?”
“The Ravens,” he gasped just before his vision went black.
Marcus, Tove and the twenty Lycans from both packs ran north to the Yukon. They were all in Lycan form, and Marcus listened to them as he ran. His wolf was happy as his paws dug into the dirt and propelled him through the dense brush. He heard the roar of a grizzly bear in the distance, and he smiled inwardly. His wolf relished the sound of the wilderness, and he felt free as he ran.
It had been too long.
Tove ran at pace beside him, and from the corner of his eyes, he appreciated her lupine grace. She was a beautiful wolf, her coat thick and shining. Tove had long since embraced the balance of Lycan and shifted regularly. The Lycans behind him were the same. Taras actually looked healthier as a wolf than he did a male.
Alpha, I resent that.
Marcus chuckled, having sent his inner thought to the pack leader as they ran.
The bear sounds furious, one of the other Lycans thought through the link.
Drakhyn, Tove said.I can smell them on the wind.
Marcus could too, that’s how he knew they were closing in on them. They were racing north, and the Drakhyn were running south. They would meet them in the reserves soon, he knew.
Marcus?The voice was faint and distant.
Marcus concentrated hard as he listened.I am here.
Cornelius Ivanov has been decreed a traitor, his sentence has been carried out.
