6

“I’m not so sure. Zeke wasn’t going to allow you to get them back.” She blew out a breath. “It’s foolish of you to think you had things handled.”

Every fiber in me wanted to reach through the phone and strangle the cocky bitch. “Sybil was releasing my memories when your wolves attacked. Your attack stopped her magic.”

“Still so young and naive,” she cooed. “Zeke was messaging me, telling me to attack before he took matters into his own hands.”

My eyes flicked to Zeke again, and sweat beaded on his brow. He might try to deny it, but his reaction showed the truth. I didn’t need to bother questioning him. “How? Killing her made my memories return.”

“Who said anything about killing her?” She tsked. “He could’ve fallen into her, breaking the spell before it could be completed, or claimed he got some worrisome news and you needed to leave. There are endless possibilities. This is why I need to take charge of your territories. You’re too naive to lead. You weren’t raised as a royal and trained to lead your people.”

I hated that I’d given her the opportunity to say that. I felt inadequate enough without having her throw inexperience in my face. “Don’t put yourself out. I’m a fast learner, which is why I’m going to ask what you want one more time before hanging up.”

“Please. You won’t hang up when you know your mate is in my possession.” She paused. “Or, rather, will be soon unless you give me a reason to kill him.”

“If you hurt so much as a hair on his head, I will rip out your throat.” I’d never understood the expression I saw red until that moment. Red infused my vision even as my senses strengthened, making it hard to remain logical. I could hear every person’s heartbeat. My head began to swim.

“A fight between us is inevitable and may happen sooner than you realize.”

We all glanced at one another.

Her words sounded more like a promise than a threat. A shiver coursed down my spine.

“No questions?” A door slammed shut on her end. “How boring. I’ll answer what I know you want to ask. I have an offer for you.”

My heart hammered. I doubted it was a true offer, but she was right. There was no way I’d hang up. Not with Bodey in her custody.

I forced myself to remain quiet, which took every ounce of willpower I could muster. I wanted her to get on with it so I could focus on getting my mate back. I needed him beside me.

It was like Fate wanted me to lose everyone near and dear to my heart, just as Queen Kel had vowed.

Hatred curdled within me. She didn’t give a shit about Zeke; she just wanted to remind me of everything I’d lost to break me.

I’d thought I could never hate someone as much as I hated Zeke, but boy, she was determined to prove me wrong.

Kel remained quiet, dragging out the moment, wanting me to break.

The problem was, if I broke, I would confirm she had complete control over me, and that would further jeopardize Bodey’s safety.

I ground my teeth together, and an ache shot through my jaw.

“Even though you’re not saying a word, Caroline,” the queen said, “I can hear your rapid breathing. So I’ll still make this kind offer since I know you’re invested.”

Jack and Miles inched closer to me, their arms touching mine, maybe afraid I might snap.

In fairness, I might.

“I’ll give Bodey back to you if you submit to me.”

The word done was right on my lips, but I held it back. I’d seen how her promise not to attack us at the meeting spot had turned out. She’d chosen her words carefully and had instead attacked two of our packs in other locations.

“Not good enough.” I wanted to throw the phone, but then I couldn’t negotiate. “For all I know, you’ll give him back dead or on the brink of death. I’m not falling for your games.”

She snickered. “Look at you. You learned something.”

“I told you I’m a fast learner.” I couldn’t falter. Dad had told me during my time with him in the study that, to an adversary, it was the first sign they had you where they wanted you. Worse, he’d been talking about Queen Kel and how, if we didn’t stop her, she’d eventually become a dangerous adversary.

And here we were, in the exact situation he’d foreseen.

“What assurance do I have that Bodey will be unharmed?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, though all I wanted to do was shriek.

You can’t be serious. Samuel stared at me, mouth slack. There’s no way you’re going to hand yourself over to her. As soon as you submit, she’ll kill you. You’re the biggest threat to her reign.

Even though he was right, there was something he didn’t realize: I had no intention of submitting to Kel. A lifetime of torture and mistreatment had prepared me for the exchange. As long as Bodey came back in one piece, the risk would be minimal because Samuel had been trained to rule. This option would prevent Queen Kel from following through on her promise to take everyone I loved away from me. I would save my family and my people.

“Since capturing your mate, it sounds like you’ve come to your senses.” She chuckled.

“That doesn’t answer my question.” All of this ended now. “Before we make the exchange, I need to link with my mate and make sure he’s well.”

Absolutely not. Michael shook his head. This isn’t happening.

My head jerked back. I hadn’t expected him to discourage the exchange—this was his son we were talking about.

“Deal.” Queen Kel laughed. “I’ll call you in two days.”

“What?” I gasped. “No. We do it now.”

“Nope. That’s not how this works. I need to make sure you don’t do anything foolish. After two days, you should be willing to do anything to get your mate back since you refuse to sacrifice him.”

Pulse galloping, I didn’t know what to do. Two days without Bodey would be torture, but if I truly handed myself over to her, I would be without him for a lot longer than two days. “There’s no need—”

“I’ll call you when it’s time to meet. Don’t do anything stupid. I’d hate for your mate to get injured.” She hung up, but I kept the phone to my ear as if that would make her come back on.

Call— Miles flinched before clearing his throat. Caroline, did she hang up?

I nodded. I looked at the screen to make sure she’d disconnected. “She’s gone.”

“There’s no way you’re handing yourself over to her.” Jack shook his head. “I admit I have some pretty dumb ideas, but you just surpassed me.” He knocked his hand against his chest, emphasizing the point.

“I have no intention of submitting to the queen if that’s what you’re worried about.” I looked at Zeke and wrinkled my nose. “Someone here taught me to endure pain and hatred.”

Zeke straightened his shoulders and winced when the knife in his chest shifted.

“You’re the rightful queen,” Phil said from behind me. He placed a hand on my shoulder, urging me to turn around. “If you become weak, so do the rest of us. Don’t you see? Even if you don’t submit, if you’re weaker than she is, she could take over our territory. Our power is only as strong as our alpha’s.”

I barely managed to swallow around the lump in my throat. I remembered another thing my father had told me: Our people are at their strongest when we’re at ours. A weak king or queen makes a pack vulnerable to a takeover. It’s better for a royal to submit than to allow her people to be weakened. By submitting, the wolves in our territory can still fight against the new queen and try to break free.

My wolf surged forward, refusing to let me seem weak. That had to be what she’d been doing inside me while she’d been locked down. She’d had just enough influence to make me refuse to cower.

The truth was that I might remember things, but I still wasn’t fit to lead. I’d thought I could do the right thing by handing myself over, but again, I would be playing right into Queen Kel’s hands. Worse, if I submitted and she killed me, she’d turn her focus on Samuel. He would be as big of a threat as me.

But leaving Bodey with her wasn’t an option. “What do we do?” I asked, needing their help. I had no clue where to go from here. “We’ve got to bring Bodey home.”

Jasmine cleared her throat. “I have an idea.”