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“Back at the apartment with Casey and Edirn. Just as you ordered.”
“And before that?”
“Before that, she was with me. Also, as you ordered.” I want to stick my jaw out, but I’ve already pushed things too far. I keep my posture rigid in my seat.
“All night?” Jagger tilts his head.
“She was with me all night, Law.” I pause, letting my words sink in. “Now, are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“There was a killing out near the western border last night. A camper. Human.” He rests his elbows on the arms of his chair and interlaces his fingers in front of him. Still, he seems tense.
“What?”
“A human was mauled to death on our territory, Chord.” It’s his turn to let his words sink in. “So where was Cedara?”
“I just told you,” I almost growl the words. “She was with me. We were together.”
“You’re sure?”
“Goddammit, Law! We were in the same bed. Do you want me to spell it out?”
A dark eyebrow rises. “No.” His features remains carefully schooled. “But if she’s been out of your sight at all, there’s always a chance that she could have been out there.
I glare at Jagger, feeling my hackles rise. “Are you seriously accusing Cedara of this?”
His jaw tightens, and I can see the muscle flexing along its sharp line. “I’m not accusing anyone, Barrett. I’m just trying to get the facts straight.”
“The facts are that she was with me all night.” I lean forward, planting my forearms on his desk. “You think I’d lie about something like that?”
Jagger holds up a calming hand. “I’m not saying that at all. But you have to admit, the timing is…suspicious.”
“Suspicious?” I bark out a harsh laugh. “She’s been through hell, Jagger. Her entire family was captured and locked up like animals. She finally gets them back, and you think she’d risk throwing all that away by killing someone? Fuck, she hasn’t even been here long enough to find her way around! She probably couldn’t even get out of this place if she wanted to.”
He regards me steadily. “I don’t know what she’s capable of, Barrett. None of us do. She’s an outsider.”
The words slam into me, and I straighten, a wave of fury cresting over me. “She’s not an outsider. She’s my mate.”
“That’s convenient timing as well,” he mutters.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snap, fists clenching.
“It means that she’s compromised you. Made you blind to what she really is.”
“And what’s that?” I snarl. “You think she’s some kind of killer?”
Jagger shakes his head slowly. “I think she’s more wolf than human right now, Barrett. That’s all I’m saying.”
I open my mouth to retort, but I’m stopped by the memory of her teeth sinking into my neck, of the way she’d attacked me in the woods. Could Jagger be right? Could her wolf be that strong, that uncontrollable?
No. I refuse to believe it. “She’s not a killer, Jagger,” I say, keeping my voice low and level now. “I was with her. All night. She never left the apartment.”
“Can you be absolutely certain of that?” His eyes bore into mine, searching.
I think of waking up alone, of her sitting in the chair, staring out at the sunrise. Could she have slipped out while I was sleeping? No…I’m a light sleeper. I would have heard her.
Wouldn’t I?
“Yes,” I say, keeping my tone firm and resolute. “I’m certain.”
