Oath Sworn - K.N. Banet Page 0,49

property and there’s going to be repercussions for them if the wolves don’t handle their own.”

“Carey…they have Carey?” My heart sank as that revelation settled in.

“They have Carey,” he confirmed softly. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t risk my family.”

“It’s okay,” I said hoarsely. “I knew that when I jumped in, but I had to try. I-I…”

“I know. We tried to say she was now fae property, but they weren’t buying it. They weren’t going to allow me to keep her and when they shot me, I was fine, but then they shot Eamon…” He reached out and patted my shoulder, ever so gently. “You’re on the mend, but it won’t be fast this time. There was too much…too much damage, too deep. Internal organs and such.”

“Yeah…Thank you.” I was able to get one arm to move and put my hand over his. “Really. I’m in your debt for trying. You must have slowed them down just enough for me to get there.” My lungs hurt, but I didn’t let that stop me from saying what needed to be said. I owed him for so much.

“We tried. I think some of them were hoping you wouldn’t get there before they could sneak off with her. They showed up the moment you entered the gas station and had her before I was even able to cross the parking lot. It was like they were waiting for the right moment to get her in hand without needing to go through you.” He seemed concerned, worried. “They must have been watching us. I only own and have my own claim on this side of the highway. They could have been hiding in the woods across the way and I would have never known. I’m sorry.”

“Heh. I still killed a few of them,” I managed to say, even as the pain and regret filled me. I lost her. She’s gone. I failed.

“They also managed to kill you for nearly two minutes,” he snapped, glaring now. “And I have six dead werewolves to deal with.”

“Call…Call the Alpha Council. They’ll clean up. I’ve already used them.” I coughed now, my body rejecting how much I wanted to use it just to speak. The problem was, I couldn’t stay down. They took Carey. With that thought, I sat up slowly, trying to work my stiff muscles and ignore the pain. “How long have I been down?”

“Ten hours,” he answered, his voice going gentle again. “You can’t be thinking…” Realization dawned in his eyes. “You’re going to go after them? Are you mad?”

“I swore an oath to protect her.”

“And you failed. I’m sorry, but you did. At least you’re alive. Let the wolves deal with their own now.”

“Is that really what’s expected of me?” I couldn’t believe it. “Is that really what you think I should do?” I tried to move so that my legs would fall off the edge of the bed. I had a few things I needed to do now that I was awake.

“It’s what everyone would tell you to do. To get involved now puts you directly in the line of meddling in the politics and affairs of the werewolves, which is a very bad place to be for a werecat. They won’t let it stand.”

“I swore an oath to her!” I growled, louder than anything I had been able to say before. “She’s mine!”

“You lost her. I’m sorry.” Brin stood up and stepped away, heading for the exit. He looked back once and sighed. “Let it go, Jacky. No one would fault you for walking away right now, not after the beating you took.”

No. I stayed silent until he left. No. I’d promised, and I wasn’t going to back out of it now. My Duty was to keep her safe as if she were my own child until I could put her back into the hands of those who have the longer claim, her family or legal guardians. Neither of which were the ones who took her, which meant I wasn’t done.

I was slow to get up—which was to be expected, since it was only ten hours after I had been shot four times and died for two minutes. I stumbled to the doors, checking each. One was a closet, one was to the hallway, and just my luck, the very last was the bathroom I needed. I caught a look at myself when I sat down to do my business, seeing the dark circles under my eyes and the pain in the gold. I