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“It was a failsafe in case I ever became compromised.” Ledger met my eyes and didn’t flinch and looked away like most wolves would have done.
“And the plan was to… lock you and your wolf away until one or both of you died?”
“Pretty much.” He shrugged, like having a dark entity inside your head holding you and your bonded hostage was normal.
“How long has it been like this?” Deacon asked the question I wasn’t prepared to have answered.
“As long as I can remember. I take it from your facial expression that this isn’t normal or what you have experienced?”
“Nope,” Deacon and I said together.
“Interesting,” Ledger mused, his eyebrows scrunched thoughtfully.
“The darkness spoke to you?” I asked Pearl, wanting to make sure that I’d heard her right.
“Yeah. It was terrifying.” She shuddered, snuggling against my warm chest.
“I wonder what it could be,” Deacon said as he absently rubbed Estella’s back.
“I can answer that,” Estella chimed in. Her face was paler than it had been, and I noticed that her hands were shaking.
A scratching sound came from the door, and I suspected it was the wolf version of Estella. The guard outside knocked before opening it a crack, which was all the invitation that the white wolf needed. She beelined for her human half, lying beside Deacon and rubbing her head on her human’s shoulder then resting its head on her lap.
“I think you should rest first,” Deacon interjected, looking worried.
“It can’t wait.” Estella shook her head. The trembling in her hands had spread to the rest of her body.
Deacon nodded, conceding quicker than I would have. He grabbed one of her hands and placed her palm over his heart, covering it with his own. Her shaking slowed as she felt his heartbeat, her breathing evening out.
“It’s time I tell you all about my death.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rylan
“Wait a second. Who is she?” Ledger asked, making everyone stop and turn toward him. “I recognize that wolf. It infuriated my mother the night of the gala.”
“For good reason,” Deacon retorted while the wolf bared its teeth at my cousin.
“Shhh,” Estella whispered, petting the top of her wolf’s head affectionately.
Shit.
How was I going to explain Estella to Ledger? I’m pretty sure he had no idea that his mother murdered her only sister.
“Sorry,” I muttered, clearing my throat before glancing at Estella, who nodded her head in permission. “This is Estella… your aunt.”
No one said anything for a beat, then he threw his head back and laughed. Everyone stared at him as he continued for nearly a full minute. When no one else joined in, he got a clue that this wasn’t at all humorous.
“What are you saying?” Ledger swallowed hard as he took in the serious faces of everyone in the room.
“Estella is your mother’s sister,” Pearl said without a trace of humor in her tone.
“That’s not… how is this possible?”
“Let her tell her story, and maybe you’ll learn,” Deacon gritted out, his jaw muscles flexing as his anger grew.
Estella leaned her head against his chest, and I saw the anger and frustration drain out of him by her simple touch. I’d suspected before, but now I was sure that my friend had found his mate. It made me happy that he had found his person, but it also worried me.
