Page 147 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
“I… I can help.”
I look up at the familiar voice, unable to register that it’s really here. I can’t even remotely understand what she wants to do here, now. “Why are you here?” I say shortly. “To celebrate your victory?”
Rona takes a step closer, grabbing the bars. Her eyes widen in horror when she sees me. “What did they do to you?” she cries.
“What do you think they usually do to traitors?” I ask sharply. “Pat their heads and give them a cookie?”
“No, but-”
“They have only just begun,” I interrupt her. “So, what are you doing here?”
“It wasn’t a lie,” she insists.
“Of course it was,” I point out. “Or, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Not all of it was,” she says quietly. “I… I couldn’t take the pressure from Penelope anymore. It was too much everyday.” Tears fill her eyes.
I hate that her teary eyes affect me so much. I just want to reach out to her and touch her, and tell her everything will be alright, but with my wolf being dormant, the bond is too. And all that remains now is the feeling of betrayal, and the pain she left behind. “She told you to test me, didn’t she?”
“I…” Rona pauses, but the fact she doesn’t answer is enough for me.
Penelope is a dangerous witch. Those around her fear her for a reason, and Rona probably did too. I don’t think she lied when she said she abused her. I’ve seen the bruises on her body. But, she also made active choices. One of them was to sell me out.
“Leave,” I tell her.
“Please Royan,” she begs, reaching out through the bars and handing me a blanket. “At least take
this.”
I hate that I find my body automatically reacting to her offer and taking the blanket. It’s freezing cold. She gasps when I scoot closer, giving her a clearer view of my damaged body. She starts crying all over again.
“Please tell me how I can help you,” she begs. “Anything. I will do anything. I know Penelope is using me, and I know I allowed her to use me. I know I fucked up, and I know you don’t trust me. But I didn’t lie when I told you, you were my light. This place is forsaken, and you were the only hope here for me. I know I should have been stronger, and I know I’m weak.” She gets down on her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. “Please don’t reject me. I will do anything to make it up to you.”
My heart aches at her words. I don’t know what she went through with Penelope. I don’t know how Penelope used her.
“You could tell someone from my pack,” I suggest. “But, it’s probably too dangerous.”
“No, I will do it! Where do I start looking?”
I look at her for a long while. “In the northern area, in the Silent Forest, there is a secret pack with my informant. In a hut there you will find a man named Seamus. Talk to him, and tell him it’s a code blizzard. He will understand.”
Rona nods and jumps up. “I will do it immediately,” she promises.
“Be careful.”
forty-seven
The Inner Circle
*SHAYAN*
Penelope paces up in front of me. “He is hard to break,” she muses. “I didn’t expect that.”
I don’t answer her, but personally, I’m not surprised. Royan was inexperienced as an undercover agent, but he has the rank of a gamma for a reason. His only mistake was trusting his mate, and who can truly blame him for that?
Talking of the devil in disguise, Rona enters the meeting room. Before she can even utter a word, Penelope has approached her and slaps her so hard, Rona drops to the ground. She clasps her cheek in shock and looks at Penelope through teary eyes. “What did I do!?”
“Do you think I’m stupid?” Penelope huffs. “Do you think I wouldn’t know if you secretly visited the dungeons?”
