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His hands rested on the surface for balance. “The human population continues to plummet in light of the sickness. As they dwindle, so does the werewolves’ food source…”
“Why the fuck does everything eat us?” I snapped. It was the vampires, the Ethereal, and now werewolves. Was that our only purpose? To feed all the monsters?
“They threatened to attack Raventower without donations. I didn’t have a choice.”
This nightmare just got worse.
“I begged the kingdoms for help, but they have their own problems to deal with.”
“What problems?”
“The werewolves are doing the same to them.”
After defeating the Ethereal, I’d assumed the worst was over.
“The Ethereal haven’t answered our call either.”
“And they won’t.”
Whatever hope he had left in his eyes died.
“We have nothing left to give. The Werewolf King will be here tomorrow—and we’ll have no other choice but to fight.”
The Ethereal poisoned the humans, and without this cure that Kingsnake and I had risked our lives for, the kingdoms would have turned into a werewolf paradise. Serpentine’s anger seemed even more reasonable now. Maybe the Ethereals’ crimes really were unforgivable. They could have destroyed the world. “I’ve brought a cure for the sickness. But I’m not sure how much help that will be now.”
“I don’t know either,” he said honestly. “There are so few of us left.”
“Your wife?”
His eyes dropped and he shook his head. “She got sick…”
“I’m so sorry.”
“One of her maidens gave it to her. I couldn’t even comfort her once the sickness settled in…never saw her again. But that’s what most people have already had to go through. And then it was my turn.”
“I’m sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say. The news was so horrible.
His eyes eventually lifted to mine again. “When we lose this battle…and we will…the werewolves will take us captive in their den. Then they’ll eat us, one by one. I’m going to tell my men they have the right to claim their own lives, if that’s what they wish. An option I may take for myself.”
“No.”
His eyes hardened.
“We’re going to fight.”
“You don’t understand, Larisa. Werewolves are—”
“I’ve fought werewolves and orcs,” I said. “And now I’m a vampire.”
His eyes flinched again, and then a cloud of guilt rose inside him. “I’m sorry…that I let them take you.”
It had hurt more than words could explain, but I’d moved on from his betrayal. I’d fallen in love with a man who would never—
My thoughts ceased, hitting something I wasn’t prepared to face. My dead heart tightened into a fist like it was still alive, and all the faith I had in love evaporated altogether. Kingsnake had betrayed me three times now. First, he’d promised to let me go and took that back. He’d turned me when he knew it wasn’t my wish. And now…this was one far worse than the others. I could forgive the past transgressions because they were inconsequential, but this…this was unforgivable. My husband should be the man I trusted most in this world—and he lied to me.
I returned to the conversation with Elias. “I forgive you.”
“How can you forgive me, after what they’ve done to you?”
