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Finally, Diana whispers, “I’m going to kill him. When it’s time, I want to do it. I call dibs.”
Kelley starts to nod, but stops halfway through, wincing and bringing a hand to rub at the muscles at the back of her neck. “I’m fine with that, but it will probably be faster if Willow does it. Once she’s sworn to the sword, as far as I understand it, she’ll be pretty much unstoppable.”
That’s what she said last night when we were talking about how everything would go down, but today the words hold new meaning. “And what if I drop the sword? Or someone takes it from me?”
“I don’t think it matters,” Kelley says. “I think the sword’s power is yours, whether it’s in your hand or not. But we’ll ask Elsbeth to be sure.” Slowly, she rises to her feet. “If Bane has the camera crew here tomorrow, that will make it harder to sneak away from the party for the ritual, but we’ll manage. We might just have to wait until closer to midnight, when everyone’s either drunk or out running the woods.”
“All right,” I say, pushing my now cold eggs to the far side of my plate as I ask, “How long has it been like this, Kelley? With Bane?”
“How long has it been physical?” She sighs. “About a year, maybe a little longer.” Her lips twist. “But I actually don’t mind it as much as the head games. Before, he was so good at convincing me that somehow, he was this great guy, and I was just too sensitive or selfish or something.” She runs a gentle hand through her hair, wincing again. “For a while there, he had me thinking I was crazy.”
“Typical malignant narcissist,” Diana says. “We’re learning about them in Psychology. I thought Maxim might be one before, but…” She swallows hard. “I wish Maxim were here.”
“Me, too,” I say, ignoring the ache in the pit of my stomach that insists I should tell Diana about the smell in the woods.
But Kelley’s silence and the sudden impenetrableness of her expression as she begins to gather the dirty dishes from the quilt make me hesitate.
Is it possible that Kelley might know more about that smell and what may have happened to Maxim than she’s letting on?
Possibly. Or maybe Maxim is one of those “men at the top” she and Elsbeth plan on getting rid of as we make our move to take control.
His name wasn’t mentioned, but it would make sense. According to the prophecy, aside from Bane, he’s the only other brother with a clear path and claim to the united shifter throne.
The prophecy…
I don’t know when it became real to me the way it is now, but I realize I no longer doubt whether it’s true, only how it will play out.
I could be developing some kind of Stockholm syndrome—beginning to sympathize and identify with my captors—but I don’t think so. Out here in the woods, with the magic of nature all around me and the pull of the nearly full moon dragging at my heart, begging me to embrace the mystical side of myself, it all feels so real.
And just hearing Elsbeth talk about the sword yesterday made my skin tingle all over. I swear I can already feel it summoning me, too, calling me to step up and accept the awesome responsibility Fate has decided to place in my hands.
The thought sparks something in my memory, throwing open a door to reveal a piece of the puzzle I’d forgotten in all the adrenaline-soaked excitement of the past few days.
“Maggie, the woman I talked to while I was with the North Star pack, said the sword wasn’t the only object taken from their antiquities room,” I say as I gather my dishes and Diana’s and join Kelley beside the hearth, scraping the remains of our meal into a bucket I’m guessing will help feed the pen of pigs I caught a glimpse of yesterday as I was carried through the camp. “She said mate-claiming items and a fertility totem were taken, too.”
Kelley hesitates only a fraction of a second before she nods and says, “Yes. Bane and I tried to get pregnant that way, but it didn’t work,” but I instinctively know she’s lying.
I bite my lip, torn.
Should I call her on it, or play along until the pieces of this puzzle hopefully come together?
Before I can decide, she adds, “But that reminds me. You actually will have to take the hormone shots today and tomorrow, Will. The team of doctors here are loyal to Bane. If you refuse to take the shots, it will get back to him and that won’t be good for any of us. Hard to get you to a ritual tomorrow night if you’re locked up somewhere being forcibly injected with hormones.”
I nod slowly, hating the thought of submitting to being injected with God knows what, but understanding I don’t have a choice. “All right. What time is that happening?”
She blinks, seeming to search her memory for a moment before she says, “One.” She nods and her shoulders relax. “Yes, one. And then Elsbeth is going to bring something for a late lunch, and we’ll finalize our plans for tomorrow.” She places the empty plates in a plastic bin by the fire and stands, hands propped on her hips as she lets out a shaky laugh. “I’m glad you’ll be in charge soon, little sis. I’m not sure how much more of Bane my head can take. Feels like I’m one concussion away from permanent brain damage.”
I put my arm around her, hugging her to my side, my stomach snarling into a stress knot as I’m flooded with conflicting emotions.
I want to rescue and protect my sister, but I also know my sister is lying to me about something, potentially something so massive it will drive a wedge between us forever.
I have to find out what she’s hiding from me and fast, and my instincts are screaming that following my nose is my best bet.
“Let me run this over to the pigs.” I pat her arm and pull away, reaching down to grasp the bucket’s handle. “That’s where it’s headed right?”
She nods. “Yes, but it can wait until after lunch. As long as the smell isn’t bothering anyone.”
“It’s okay, I don’t mind taking it now,” I say. “I’d love to wander around the camp a little, get a feel for where things are, and this will give me an excuse.” She nibbles her lip, but I cut her off with an assured, “I’ll keep a super low profile, I promise, and be back way before noon.”
