Page 144 of A Warrior's Fate

So, he was feigning indifference towards her. Good, she supposed.

As she had, Callan remained quiet.

“I suppose it’s wiser to stay silent than to lie to me.” Kai chuckled humorlessly, and Isla retreated as her mate focused on her former lover. He was directly in front of him when Kai asked, “Callan, right?” But before Callan could even nod in agreement, he added, “Or is it Edriel?”

Callan froze, and Isla swore he was about to soil himself. She had no idea who that was, or what that name meant. And yet, Callan turned her way with pure fear in his eyes as if she could help.

“Don’t look at her.” A ferocity had slipped into Kai’s voice. One that had Callan righting himself quickly, and one he barely dialed back as he continued, “You’ve been a busy man this week. Giving a false name is a commendable attempt, but pointless when you’re being tailed. I heard that you finally made your way down the river last night. I’m quite fond of Abalys, what did you think of it?”

Isla blinked.

Kai was having Callan watched? And he was going around using a false identity?

Callan’s method of self-preservation seemed to be submission and silence. Isla would’ve enjoyed it if she hadn’t been so lost. If she hadn’t realized, yet again, Kai was five steps ahead of her, keeping her in the dark about the true intentions behind his words and actions. In the dark about what he knew.

“What does your alpha have you here searching for?” Kai asked, head cocked as he analyzed the warrior. Almost having too much fun as the inferior wolf worked to avoid eye contact. “I hope it’s important because right now, the way I’m seeing things, you were in Abalys the one and only night rogues were able to breach our borders and slaughter my people, which puts me within my right to deal with you how I see fit. Kill you if I saw you as a threat and if I could fool myself into believing you were intelligent enough to be responsible. But I have enough to deal with, and you aren’t worth the headache of paperwork you dying on my land would bring.”

Kai paused, enough for Callan to take the cue.

“Thank you, Alpha,” he managed to say through gritted teeth.

Kai nodded and turned away from him, towards Isla. He took a heavy breath as he searched her expression—her flared nostrils, clenched teeth, and the hurt and agitation in her narrowed eyes. He knew what he’d done, and, for a moment, his face seemed apologetic.

For a moment.

“You have until dawn tomorrow to leave,” Kai ordered Callan, turning his head his way but not fully. “Don’t let me catch your scent within these borders a minute after, or I may have to reconsider. Am I clear?” Callan nodded, and though Kai couldn’t see it, he still growled, “Go.”

And Callan obeyed, leaving his clothes—and his pride—a tattered mess in the dirt as he shifted and darted as fast as he could through the trees.

Both Isla and Kai watched the spot where he’d disappeared until the sound of his paws hitting the ground was replaced by nothing but the warble of birds.

Isla turned back to her mate, meeting his stare with her own.

“I took care of the bak,” Kai said, clocking her crossed expression. “I dragged it to a hidden part of the stream, and after you all head off and my meeting, I’ll burn it. No one else should venture out this far today, and I’ll consult with Ezekiel about what we do after that.”

“Thanks for telling me.” She was certain he’d only mentioned it because she’d seen it for herself. He couldn’t hide it.

“We should head back,” Kai said, voice straining to stay even.

And then, he shifted.

Isla was wide-eyed as he started to move away. But she was quick. In her shift and on top of him in seconds.

She had him on his back, her wolf above his, as she snarled in his face. “No.”

Mirroring her look, Kai bared his teeth, sharp and lethal, but then, he pulled his wolf back.

Isla did, too.

And now, she was on her hands and knees hovering over him. But the rage she felt usurped any arousal the position could bring.

“Explain. Now,” she seethed.

Kai’s gaze traveled over her face, over the soft curves of her body before he met her eyes again. He sighed. “Isla…”

Her claws re-emerged, embedding in the dirt close to his head. “Don’t. Isla. Me.”

She was done with this. Being the general’s prize. Being bait. Being a pawn.

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