Page 46 of The Wolf King's Demand

Addison raced to the bars and held onto them tightly, staring the women down.

“You release me this instant, and Cassia too. Then King Tyler may choose to save your pathetic life.”

Letitia belly laughed. “Oh, that’s a good one, that is. To have such confidence behind bars when it’s me who holds the key to both your lives.”

Addison pressed her face against the bars and hissed. “You hold nothing. Maybe you think you do, for a time, but the king and his men are here, Letitia. Your life and those rogues who helped you in this attack are on the line.”

Letitia chuckled. “Oh, dear girl, you’re such a fool. And so is your mate’s entourage. You people bit at my lure even easier than I thought. All for the sake of that pitiful toddler over there.”

“If you put one finger on Cassia …”

Letitia came closer and glared. “And you’ll do what, exactly?”

“I will kill you with my bare hands.”

Letitia chuckled, shook her head, and sat in a wooden chair near the stairs.

“You know, Addison, you’re more of a fool than I thought. It seems you’re too dense to put even two and two together. Here, I’ll enlighten you about how silly that threat you just made is. I am the mate of the alpha who put the bounty on your head.”

Addison opened her mouth to speak, but shock prevented words from forming.

“Oh, dear, sweet Addison, take a seat on that bench over there, and let me tell you a story.”

Addison turned around and took a seat. Not because of Letitia’s suggestion. But because she felt herself too weak to stand.

“Good. Now that you’re seated, I shall begin. You see, dear, my mate is Tyler’s uncle. He and Tyler’s father fell out over the love of one woman. Tyler’s mother. When Tyler’s dad won her heart, his brother left the realm, never to be heard from again.”

“No. That can’t be. Tyler would have …”

“Shush now, and let me finish this wonderful tale. Tyler grew up never knowing who was responsible for his parent’s deaths. It was Tyler’s uncle all the while, as payback for being wronged all those many years ago. I mean, with the pride in the Giles clan. How Tyler’s father could think that slight would be water under the bridge, well, it’s beyond me. The fool should have known his brother would eventually seek revenge.”

Addison, bug-eyed, whispered to herself. “He killed Tyler’s parents. Oh my God, and Tyler doesn’t even know.”

“That’s right, dear. I guess what they say is true. Ignorance is bliss until you aren’t ignorant anymore. Then, the hurt sets in. How delicious!” Letitia cackled like a menacing witch.

“But all those years ago, Tyler was still so young. How could he? How could he leave Tyler to be an orphan? That is beyond cruel. Tyler had nothing to do with the love triangle.”

“Oh, yes, but he was the ill-gotten fruit from that love affair. No matter. Whenever my mate saw Tyler, it only reminded him of his lost love. And, of course, one betrayal had to invite another. One damaged heart to slay one more. Killing the parents was fine. But wreaking devastation on Tyler’s heart would be the coup de gras, don’t you think?”

“Letitia, you and this rogue alpha … you are both pure evil.”

Letitia shrugged. “Maybe so, but whatever brings joy to my mate brings joy to me. Tyler’s loss of you and that little blonde-haired brat over there will be our crowning glory. Revenge at zenith heights. Finally, my mate can rest easy, knowing his hurt has been healed. An eye for several, my dear. The revengeful heart wants what it wants.”

The wretched woman let out another cackle. In the shadows and the bulb lighting, Letitia looked like a monster, a white-faced breathing skeleton infused with blind loyalty and seething hatred for people she didn’t know. Even in her caged world, Addison felt pity for the lost soul, but not enough to quell her anger.

The two sat there for a while in silence. It gave Addison time to think.

Tyler never mentioned his uncle, not even once. Does that mean he never knew about the love affair? Or that he knew, and he had written the man out of his world? Or did Tyler think the man was long since dead?

The question hanging in the air was if there was any hope that Tyler might finally put it all together. Did he know his uncle was the mastermind behind all of this, alive and well? Or did he have no knowledge of an uncle at all? What were the odds Tyler would get to the bottom of this, considering he was a child the last time his uncle was presumably seen?

After a time, Addison spoke. “This isn’t over, Letitia, you know that.”

Letitia looked up from her hands resting comfortably in her lap and smiled serenely.

“Oh, Addison, I think this game is played and won. And neither you nor Tyler are the victors. Once you and that rug rat over there are done away with and my mate delivers your heads on a silver platter, your besotted man will fold like a cheap deck of cards. He will no longer have the will to rule or to defend Somberglen. He’ll abdicate, and in no time, my mate will be the head of the realm. Then I will be his queen, as it should have been all along, all those many years ago.”

Addison said not a word to Letitia. Instead, she bowed her head in silent communication with her mate. The mating bond, with any luck, was supposed to allow them a telepathic link.

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