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Dannika’s heart thumped to an uneasy rhythm. “What happened to them?”
Fallon shot her an intense glare. “They were beheaded. Clan members murdered by someone they trusted. Someone they didn’t perceive as a threat.”
“It was the young wolf. The one bitten by Lazelle,” Dannika said.
“Yes. A blood bond wouldn’t have worked on a blood-borne shadow or seasoned warrior, but a fledgling learning to be a shadow, honing his skills, was no match for the reaper leader.”
“Killian’s blood is stronger because he’s the reaper leader.” She whispered the words, but they screamed in her soul.
Fallon nodded. “Keep in mind, Killian took over the reaper clan hours after turning reaper. He is more powerful than any leader before him.”
She put her hand to her forehead. “I would remember something, wouldn’t I?”
Raine glanced at the sky, his resolve and pain etched in his face. “Killian can ensure you don’t remember. That you retrieve every child and hand them over to him. You can’t fight your father’s hold on you. You’re not strong enough.”
The distrust in his voice was like a death sentence.
The words hurt more than a dagger in her chest. “What are you saying? That I would steal kids and not remember? What do you want me to do to prove my innocence? Are you going to lock me up again till you believe me trustworthy?”
Raine was killing her. The betrayal of learning who her father was, what he had done, was nothing compared to the guilt on Raine’s face. Whatever was about to happen, it would be bad. For her.
Raine’s eyes were cold before he looked away from her. “I’m sorry, Dannika. I can’t risk the children or the rest of the clan.”
Her heart shattered when he looked at her. There was no warmth. No love.
“What do you want me to do?” she whispered.
Raine’s eyes turned black. “You can’t remain a member of the wolf clan. Return to the reapers.”
CHAPTER16
Raine’s heart shredded as a tear slipped down Dannika’s face. The time he had taken to gain her trust withered as her eyes hardened. His wolf screamed its hatred in his ear as he destroyed his mate. Yes, he had a good reason. Sure, it was the only way to save her from Killian, but what if he couldn’t regain her trust? He couldn’t tell her the truth, because he didn’t understand it himself. He prayed that he hadn’t destroyed the only person in the world that held his soul.
He was careful to keep his shadow away from hers. To keep the facade of unfeeling emotion on his face while she backed away from him.
She took her time, as if disbelieving he would turn his back on her. He recognized the moment she understood he was letting her go. It cut into his heart, more devastating than a reaper blade.
His alpha burst through his skin when Dannika disappeared into the shadow pathway. “Fuck!”
Fallon met Raine’s gaze. “You had no choice. She is a danger to the entire clan.”
Black waves rolled off Raine’s shoulder. “You don’t think I know that? There’s more going on here, and Dannika is at the center. Get Steele and Ryder here now, before my wolf rips me apart.”
Maverick frowned. “Your animals fighting you?”
Raine stepped toward Maverick. “If we don’t get Dannika back and break Killian’s hold on her, I will turn reaper and join her.”
Fallon grabbed Maverick’s arm. “We need to get the other leaders. Raine’s wolf will not let Dannika go.”
Maverick nodded. “I must return to the sanctuary. You get Steele and Ryder.”
Fallon shifted to his shadow form and entered the pathway.
Raine turned away from his clan, needing the solace of the trees. Maverick thought he’d renounced his mate to save his clan, but he did it to save her, and God help them if he failed. His alpha was more powerful than ever, and he’d just taken his first steps to turning reaper.
A disturbance rippled in the air, alerting him he was no longer alone.
“Hello, Ryder.”
