Page 72 of Luna's Forgotten Vow

But a guard stands in my way, stopping me from entering.

"Ron says you can't hold him," Tova says without looking at me. Her brown hair covers most of her face from me, falling in elegant waves down her back. "He tells me you might hurt him in your fragile state of mind."

I stare at her, aghast. He would lie to keep me from Landon? I start forward. "Tova, please?—"

A tiny chuckle begins and she shakes her head. "You know, for the longest time, I thought I knew him. I knew he could be cruel, but being Head Alpha didn't come to the faint of heart. He told me he chose me because I saw him for who he was and loved him anyway."

She turns to look at me, then, and I bite back a gasp. She has a black eye and a ring of bruises around her neck. "Safe to say I realized how naive I was the moment you left. Though, I didn't even know how deeply his lies ran at the time."

When she rises from the stool, I notice how lean she's become since I last saw her, her gown barely holding over her bony frame, and I momentarily forget my problems and gasp, "Are you alright?"

She laughs at the question. "You don't seem all that mad to me. I guess he lied about that, too." Then, she tilts her head in a manner I assume she learned from Soren. Her hazel eyes flicker towards the guards listening to every word, no doubt to report back to Ronan, and her expression turns sour. "I hated you, so much that I wished Soren had never saved you or brought you back into our lives. And though I understand that this isn't your fault, I can't bring myself to welcome you here. Or get rid of the animosity I still feel."

I inhale deeply, unsure how to respond, but Tova waves me off. "But my cousin loves you and Landon. For that reason, I will look after Landon. You must focus your efforts elsewhere. I have played these games before and there is but one constant. Blood will be spilled for this to end. Best to ensure it doesn't belong to the wrong person."

I pause, eyes darting left and right as I try to read the intensity of her gaze. The guards are present and it is evident they will report back to Ronan. And we will never be able to meet without supervision to have a proper discussion. But her words ring in my ears, even long after I leave the nursery.

Focus your efforts elsewhere...on getting Soren out. On...killing Ronan. Because he doesn't plan on letting Soren go. My response never mattered.

He was always going to kill Soren.

CHAPTER 24

SERAPHINA

Iworked in the Red Wolf Pack for four years.

Because Ronan's obnoxious ancestors didn't like their previous guests having to mingle with the filthy servants, there were often separate hallways and passages to get through the manor. Shortcuts.

Spending a year away from the mansion didn't dull my memory of it, and all I needed was a break within the guard shift to slip away and find a path that led to the dungeons.

It was harder than I thought it would be. Waiting until Ronan was gone from his bothersome visits, waiting until I could hear the footsteps of the retreating guards. Slipping across the halls carefully, silently, and seeking out path after path, retracing my footsteps until I could find the one that led directly outside Soren's cell.

It took two nights to find it and three days of pretending to be Ronan's obedient doll, all the while sneaking away at night to speak with Soren to come up with a different plan.

Hearing Tova's words instilled a new sense of urgency in me. The plan had to be changed. We couldn't sit still, waiting on the council of six. If Tova's cryptic words had been meant to pass a message across, it was that we didn't have as much time as we initially bargained for.

Ronan isn't playing by the rules, not anymore. A hostile takeover, Soren had told me the first night I found his cell, and it had kept me awake the entire night. Alert to the guard shift and the words that were said outside my door.

The guards thought there would be a private execution soon. I didn't care to confirm it was Soren. I couldn't wait and watch him die.

My feet are near silent on the floorboards as I take the silent stairs out of the servants quarters. And run smack into a face I absolutely abhor.

"Still sneaking around like a little whore, I see," Kaida sneers, her brown eyes running a line along my disheveled hair, my lips swollen from kissing. "Goddess knows who it is this time."

Ignoring her, I try to step around her onto the staircase, but she grabs my arm, forcing me back. "Ronan's proposal means nothing. You will never be welcome here."

I lick my lips. "You assume that you will remain here for much longer. Shall I give Ronan a little slip on who tried to kill me and his unborn child? Want to see if he cares about you enough not to punish you for it?"

Her face pales. "I was only looking after my son. You were a nobody. Tova had more to offer him than you ever could."

"And you decided my life didn't matter. I was already leaving, but that wasn't enough for you. I had to die?—"

"They went too far. The attack was meant to get rid of the child."

There is sincerity in her eyes, but it only makes me feel worse. "The decision to keep him was mine. To think you're a mother yourself and you couldn't understand such a simple thing." I lean in and her eyes flare with apprehension. "If you have any bit of humanity left in you, you will stay the fuck out of my way, Kaida."

She nods tightly, letting my hand go, and I start up the stairs, halting midway. "He hits Tova."

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