Page 22 of Ruin

“Who are you?”

The woman lifted her chin. “I am Tyen.”

“Um, hello Tyen.” In a lightning quick move, I pulled a faerie dagger and pointed it directly at her heart. “And who are you,exactly?”

“No,” bellowed Zander, shifting his bulk to push in front of Tyen, his eyes wide and panicked.

Tyen rested her fingers on his arm and he allowed her to push him aside, though his jaw remained tight and his eyes watchful as shadow and smoke swirled around him.

“It’s alright.” Tyen’s obsidian eyes met mine and she took a deep breath. “I am Zander’s mother.”

I shot Zander a look, my eyes wide. “Really?”

He sighed and nodded, looking suddenly weary. “Yes.”

Things started to click into place, and I lowered my weapon. “Who is your father, Zander?”

He lifted his chin, looking as defiant and stubborn as Connor ever had. “Berith.” Whether he knew it or not, the shadow that seemed to cling to him, enveloped Connor as well. And it hit me. I shuffled sideways, brushing my palm over Connor’s jaw. “Why have you always tried to protect Connor? Why Zander? Why have you risked your life getting him out of that place, and away from your father?”

Zander clenched his jaw and looked at Tyen. She nodded. “It’s okay, we can tell her. He’s safe, now that he’s away from that bastard. We all are.”

Connor’s top lip curled a little.

Zander sat forward, his eyes flickering between me and Connor. He was clearly reluctant, but took a deep breath. “Because Connor is my brother. Tyen is his mother, too.”

My mouth gaped open, my attention shooting to the woman. “You’re his mother?”

The woman seemed to grow taller. Her eyes took on a dark glint and her chin tilted up. “That is the truth. His father was a wolf shifter, a bastard of a man who bought me from a supernatural slave market. When I didn’t provide him with more children, he sold me to the warden for the promise of more power and wealth.”

“Oh, Mother Wolf. Does Connor know? That you’re his mother? That you’re his brother?” I couldn’t get my head around this new information.

“Well, if he didn’t, he does now,” muttered Alex. He was right, Connor was looking at Zander with eyes so dark they were black. I couldn’t see anything of the Connor I knew in those eyes. They were utterly cold. A spike of fear made me shuffle away from him. I wasn’t sure why, he was human after all, but I couldn’t help my reaction to the hate in his eyes as he looked at Zander.

Zander sat forward and held Connor’s gaze. “Didn’t you ever wonder why I tried so hard to help you?”

Connor huffed, his top lip curled. “Why would I? You were the one who helped imprison me, weren’t you? Then you brought Ember into the mix. You blackmailed me with her safety.” He took a deep breath as if talking was too much for his weak body. “You led me right into Berith’s lair. You used me to get in there—and then left me there to be tortured.”

Zander’s face fell. He shook his head. “No, you’re wrong, I didn't leave you, or use you. Gods, I came back for you as soon as I could. Berith was always there until those last few days. I had to wait until it was safer, to get you out. If he had suspected I was going to help you escape, he’d have locked me up with my mother. And I needed to free her, too…”

“Save it. I don’t need to hear your fucking excuses.” Connor’s voice was so weak, yet so full of hate and pain my anxiety spiked. I’d never heard Connor sound so cold. But then, I supposed it was to be expected.

“Zander, please. Let’s leave it for now. He needs to rest. You can explain things better when you’re both stronger.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Now isn’t the time.” Zander just sounded weary now, and I wondered how much he’d suffered, too, because of Berith.

A thought struck me. “What did Berith do with Rawson? Have you seen him, Zander?”

Zander stared at Connor, a deep furrow appearing on his forehead. Connor had lost interest in Zander, and was staring at Tyen. The brow furrow got deeper. After a moment, Zander looked at me and then held my gaze. “No. I haven’t seen him since you were first brought to the prison.”

That was a lie and we both knew it. We’d all been together many times. I blinked slowly. He just held my gaze before he slowly shifted his attention back to Connor. “Oh, okay.” But it wasn’t. Why was he lying? He had a reason, I could see that much, but one he didn’t want Connor to know?

Chapter 8

Ember

Shannon returnedwith Owen and Stone. Behind them Myles and Kawan loitered, staring at Connor as if they didn’t know what to do. I tensed. Owen was their alpha now. I moved in front of Connor. Owen could easily kill Connor, after all, Connor was human without his wolf spirit, and Berith had abused him so badly his body was emaciated and broken. I couldn’t feel any power around him. I inhaled, searching for his scent, my stomach sinking when it was so faint I could barely find it.

Myles froze when his attention was pulled to the massive werewolf Lionel guarded. Reed was unconscious and still. Pain flared in Myles’s eyes at the sight of his mate brought back from the dead, only to realise he was possessed by evil. The Mother only knew what kind of creature Reed was inside. My heart and mind had enough to deal with so I blinked my burning eyes and watched Owen approach Connor, flanked by Kawan and Stone. My hand began to burn and though I didn't look down, I was sure I heard a chuckle from Connor.

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