Heart of Vengeance (Alice Worth #6) - Lisa Edmonds Page 0,24
wasn’t sure if he knew either.
Also unlike that earlier fight, Sean didn’t shift. That made sense given the potential consequences of attacking Charles in wolf form. But even in human form, with the power of the pack bonds and the fuel of his rage, Sean wasn’t much slower or less powerful than Charles, and he was a more skilled fighter. Their punches flew faster than I could see.
The fight moved from the office to the sitting area, smashing bookshelves, two tables, three chairs, and various antiques and sculptures. Whether on purpose or accident, it didn’t stray into the bar, for which I was relieved—both because of how much potentially deadly glass was in the bar, and because if Charles’s collection of expensive single-malt whisky was destroyed, I might cry, just on principle.
Bryan was back on his feet, but he didn’t try to interfere again or summon backup. That had to have been on Charles’s telepathic order, which meant Charles wanted this fight to continue.
It ended very abruptly, and very differently than the first one. Sean slammed Charles against the wall by the throat, breaking the painting hanging there. They were both bloody, clothes torn and knuckles busted. Charles’s fangs were out, and Sean’s eyes blazed gold.
“Tell her the truth,” Sean snarled into Charles’s face. “Tell her the truth, you lying bastard.”
“I have,” Charles said icily.
Sean’s grip tightened. “She knows already. She’s known since the sorcerer’s lair, when his wards cut through your influence and freed her. Deep down, on some level, I think she’s always known. That’s why your manipulations never worked. Someone who’s been abused will do everything in their power to keep from being victimized again, even if they don’t realize they’re doing it.” He lowered Charles to the floor but kept his hand on the vampire’s slim, pale throat. “Tell her.”
“Or what?” Charles sounded genuinely curious. “What will you do if I refuse to say the words you wish to hear? Will you kill me, wolf? Drag me in front of the Court so my peers may hear your baseless allegations? Call me before the Council and inform the world you cannot protect your consort from anyone—shifter, witch, mage, sorcerer, or vampire?”
For a moment, I thought Charles was deliberately trying to provoke Sean into trying to kill him. But though his eyes blazed, Sean didn’t take the bait. Instead, he released Charles’s throat and took a step back. “None of those things,” Sean said. “I will give Alice the chance to make a choice between your truth and mine.”
Confused, I rose from my chair. “What do you mean, Sean?” He’d gone totally off-script, and I had no idea what he was talking about—though apparently Charles did.
“It’s the only chance you’ll have to come clean and make your case,” Sean added, without looking at me.
Charles glanced at me. “See how your wolf tries to possess you? I knew it would only be a matter of time. I warned you it would come to this. An alpha must assert control.”
How had I never seen how manipulative Charles was before this? Did he have that much influence over me, or had I just not wanted to see it? Was he to blame for my blindness, or was I?
“I want the truth, Charles,” I said. “Or this is the last time you speak to me outside of Court business.”
Charles studied me. “Because the wolf says so?”
His tactic of trying to make this about Sean, rather than his own betrayal, was getting old fast. “Because I say so.” I slid onto a tall chair at the bar and turned to face him, my legs crossed. “So if you have something you want to tell me, now’s the time.”
“And once she’s heard us out, Alice is free to make her choice,” Sean said. “It’s a better deal than you would have gotten otherwise.”
“Why do this?” Charles demanded. “She may choose to stay with me.”
“She might,” Sean allowed. He met my eyes with his softly glowing ones. “But whether she stays with you or leaves with me, or just leaves, I want us both to know she did it of her own free will, and with a clear head. So no more games, no more manipulation, no more influence.” His voice turned to steel. “Tell. The. Truth.”
“Will you tell her your truth?” Charles countered. “If I must speak plainly, so must you.”
I was ready to dismiss Charles’s comment as just another attempt to get under Sean’s skin, but Sean nodded grimly. “I’ll tell her.”