Page 43 of It's Kind of a Bunny Story
He barked out a harsh laugh. “Then, by my calculations, they should have died around sunrise.”
“They’re still alive.” I pressed the knife tighter into the fat roll around his neck.
Every fiber of my being wanted to make him pay for his cruelty, but I needed to control my rage before my emotions made me do something I’d regret.
He shook his head, then stiffened, remembering the blade. “Impossible! That toxin is deadly. The wolves we have tested it on lasted less than eight hours. One wolf made it to twelve hours, but he was the strongest of the test subjects.”
They’d killed wolves? I swallowed back the bile rising in my throat. Where had the burrow’s test subjects come from? I’d known for most of my life that the council comprised monsters, but I hadn’t realized just how far they would go to preserve their way of life.
“My mates are still alive, and you’re going to tell me how to counteract the toxin,” I demanded, proud my voice didn’t shake.
“How should I know?” He huffed. “We never wanted to reverse the effects. Every wolf shifter we kill makes the world a better place.”
“No! You’re lying!” I shrieked, unable to bear the thought of a future without Linc and Copeland in it.
The council had to have an antidote. What if one of the coyotes was accidentally exposed? Even if they didn’t care about their hired henchmen, the council was greedy. Surely they’dwant an antidote they could use as a bargaining chip if the werewolves threatened their way of life? Like ahey-we’ll-cure-you-if-you-turn-a-blind-eye-to-all-the-creepiness-going-on-around-heretype of thing.
“Dear, I’m retired now. Occasionally, I’ll read the lab report. But I much prefer to spend my valuable time discussing issues with the rest of the council and providing companionship for the females.” The smugness in his voice made me want to gag.
I doubted there was a single female in the burrows who wanted this creep’s companionship. They say there is someone out there for everyone. For him, it was a therapist.
“The wolves have done nothing to you or anyone else in the burrow!” I gritted out between clenched teeth. “They don’t deserve to be hurt.”
“You belong to us, and by not sending you back, those flea-bitten mongrels interfered in matters that didn’t concern them. If you’d been a good girl, none of this would have happened. So honestly, their deaths are your fault, not ours.” His tone was that of a teacher disappointed in a troublesome student.
“No! You sent coyotes onto pack land and purposely set fires! Then you somehow left a toxin meant to kill my mates. I had nothing to do with this evilness!”
“Charlee, Charlee, Charlee.” The councilman clicked his tongue. “Those are the consequences of your actions. The wolves are collateral damage. But now you’ve learned a valuable lesson. We always win.” Leaning his head back against the chair, he laughed.
He was far too comfortable for a man with a knife to his throat. “You’re an arrogant prick.”
“I have every right to be. Haven’t you realized we’re always going to be two steps ahead of you?” His condescending tone grated on my frayed nerves.
“You’re going to give me the reports,” I demanded. “And I want every single file the burrow has on this toxin.”
“That’s not going to happen,” he snorted. “Those files are all kept in the lab. And I only get summary reports on my computer at my office in the council building. So, I’m afraid you’re out of luck. Checkmate, sweetheart.” His sneer of victory caused something to snap inside me.
He thought I would curl up and cry, but he hadn’t counted on one thing: the all-consuming power of my desperation. I’d come this far, and I wasn’t leaving without the information I needed. Either I got those files or I’d die trying. This made me far more dangerous than he could’ve ever suspected.
“Get up.” My words were low, but something in my tone had him hurrying to comply without protest. “We’re going to the lab.”
“Are you crazy?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Charlee, even if I let you into the lab, you’ll be arrested before you can escape. There’s no chance you’ll leave with your precious information, so what is the point of this?”
“Enough talking. Start walking.” I moved behind him, pressing the knife against the inside of his upper arm.
It was an unusual choice, but the one that gave me the highest odds of taking him out if he fought me. Threatening a victim with a knife to their neck seemed to be the go-to move, but the man was taller than me, and keeping the knife in position was too risky.
“If you move, I’ll slice open your brachial artery, and you’ll bleed out so fast that not even your healing abilities as a shifter will save you. I’ll escape, and you’ll be dead before you can call for help or alert anyone to my presence. So, I suggest you move nice and steady. I’d hate to nick you if you make any sudden moves.”
I could tell he wasn’t sure if he should believe me or not, but thankfully, he was unwilling to take the gamble. He complied, walking slowly down the hall and through the kitchen. As we passed the beautiful cherry-oak knife block, I grabbed another knife that I could press to his back for a little added control.
“Where are your zip ties?” I asked.
“I don’t have any—” he began, but immediately shut up when I started yanking open drawers.
