Page 10 of Bullied Wolf Mate

I stared open-mouthed at him as anger washed over me. “Excuse me, but none of this is your business,” I hissed. “You don’t have any right to demand any information.”

“We grew up together,” he argued. “I think that gives me some right to some answers.”

“‘Grew up together?’” I repeated, incredulous. “You made my life a living hell. And we haven’t spoken in years. In no world do you have any claim to any information about me.”

His jaw worked, and I saw the stubborn defiance in his expression even though I could tell he knew I had a point. I could also tell he didn’t care and was going to keep pushing until I caved. He’d been pushy and controlling when we were kids. Not much had changed, then.

Sure enough, instead of backing down like I obviously wanted him to, he doubled down. “I’m still not leaving until I get some answers,” he said mulishly.

I wanted to slap him. Behind him, I saw some of the others muttering behind him. Klyte and Sam watched me with interest, while Oliver and Rand continued to keep their eyes on Mark, as if ready to step in if things got out of hand. It was obvious they were as surprised as I was at the connection, but it was also clear that none of them knew anything about the type of person Mark used to be.“All right, stay here.” I spun toward Declan. “Let’s move.”

Declan glanced at me. “He’s going to keep doing this. And there’s no reason for them not to know at this point. His whole spec-ops team is wrapped up in all this now. They’re going to have to know. Inara’s still a danger until we neutralize her.”

I bristled, jaw clenching as I flexed and unflexed my fingers. “Fine,” I said. “You tell him. If you know enough to send a rescue team to get me out of there, then you probably know why they kidnapped me in the first place.”

Declan shrugged. “If you insist.” He turned back to Mark and the rest of the shifters. I’d noticed they had separated into two clusters, though I had no idea why. “Lorelei’s family is thelast of an ancient line charged with protecting a hoard of magical items known as The Trove.”

There was a pause as the words washed over them. Mark stared, bewildered, gaze locked on me.

“I thought it was a legend,” Jameson said.

“Nope,” Declan said. “It’s very real. Inara wants something from it, though we’re not sure what.”

“I do,” I said, causing everyone to turn toward me. “I figured it out a couple days ago based on something she said.”

That got Declan’s attention. He whipped his head around to stare at me. “What is it?” he demanded.

“It’s Morgana’s Diadem,” I said.

Declan stiffened as his eyes flashed with alarm. I knew he recognized the name. Morgana’s diadem, supposedly worn by Morgan Le Fay, was supposed to enhance one’s magic abilities and allow the wearer the ability to control others for a period of time. Morgan le Fay had managed to bring about King Arthur’s death with the diadem. In someone like Inara’s hands, there was no telling what she could do with it.

“In that case, I’m glad we got to you when we did,” Declan told me.

“And she can only get to it through you?” Mark asked. “Whatever this diadem thing is?”

“No, she just kidnapped me because she thought it would be fun. Or because she needed a cottage witch who can barely cast a gardening spell,” I spat.

Declan coughed. “Anyway, the opening is locked behind magic passed down through Lorelei’s family. Lorelei is the onlyone left in her family line, meaning that she’s the only one who can open it. Which is why Inara wanted her and kept her alive.”

I scrutinized the massive shifter, brow furrowed. “How do you know all this?”

He snorted. “A stash of magical artifacts so powerful, they can alter the fabric of reality and change the course of history, and you don’t think the Council would keep an eye on the family charged with protecting it? They’ve kept an eye on you since you were born. They didn’t want anyone opening it.”

I hesitated. “They don’t have anything to worry about,” I muttered, heat flooding my face as I looked at the ground. “I don’t know how to open them. My parents died before they could teach me. My powers only manifested a year before they died, so I never got really any training. Hence, I’m not particularly powerful. On top of that, I don’t even really knowwherethe opening is. Just that it’s around the cottage.”

“That’s good, though, right?” Mark chimed in, and I rolled my eyes. “They’ll knock it off and leave her alone if she can’t open it.”

Declan raised his eyebrow. “She was a captive for over two weeks,” he said. “If Inara was going to give up and cut her losses, she would have done it by now.” He turned back to me. “She’s going to keep coming after you until she gets what she wants or we stop her.”

The words sent a chill through my body. I sucked in a breath. I knew he was right. Hearing it aloud was something else entirely. The thought of her coming after me again, of constantly looking over my shoulder and wondering what she would do to me next time she got a hold of me, made my pulse race.

“Then she’ll have me to deal with,” Mark snarled.

I rounded on him, still bristling. “You don’t have anything to do with this,” I snapped, then turned back to Declan. “What then? We kill Inara? How the hell do you plan to do that?”

“We’re still working that out,” Declan said. “Our mission was to get you out of there before she could convince you to open the doorway. I’m guessing she didn’t believe you when you told her you couldn’t open it?”

“No, she believed me. But she didn’t think that would be an issue. She offered to train me,” I admitted. “She thinks I’ll be able to figure it out even without my parents.”

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