for a debate. I didn’t. You’ll bite her, or I’ll find a lycan who will.”
“Technically, Damien invited us,” Jace said, his tone conversational again. “And you also failed to mention he’d fallen off the deep end over a human.”
“It’s a fairly recent development,” my progeny muttered. “I’m still working on a solution.”
“Is it a result of royal stress, perhaps? From what I understand, Silvano’s former region is quite a mess. No one wants to inherit it, even with Lilith actively searching for a replacement.”
“He’s handling it,” Damien replied.
“I am,” I agreed. “And I would handle this, but I’m not a fucking wolf. Your lycans started this, Alpha. Fucking fix it.”
Edon sighed. “And I imagine you want us to protect her as well? In case you’ve forgotten, we’re currently under scrutiny because of your predecessor igniting a war.”
“Protecting her won’t be your concern,” I said, exhausted from this discussion. Every moment we wasted debating her fate brought her a second closer to death, and that was unacceptable.
“Then whose concern will it be?” he tossed back.
“Mine.” I allowed him to hear the power in my voice, underlined with my age and superiority. “Willow is mine.”
A ripple of shock went through the room, my proclamation having the desired impact.
“I tried and failed to turn her because of something your mutts did to her. Now either you can fix it for me or I’ll take her to your breeding camp and find someone else who will. And trust me, Edon, you don’t want me anywhere near that compound right now, not after what Damien found in her files.”
His pupils flared at my threat, the alpha in him not taking kindly to my aggression.
“You think I’ve lost my mind,” I continued. “Wait until you see what I’ll do to bring her back.”
Damien cleared his throat. “I suggest you bite her. Ryder’s not one to issue idle threats.”
“Why are you doing this?” Silas asked, a note of confusion in his tone. It took me a moment to realize he was addressing me, not his mate—who, in my opinion, needed to hear the same damn question because he was continuing to stall despite my threats.
Regardless, I focused on the young wolf and replied, “Because she’s mine.” I’d already said that, but if he needed to hear it again for it to register, then so be it.
Maybe his hearing had been impaired during his own transition. I truly hoped that didn’t happen to Willow, but we’d cross that bridge when we came to it.
“What does that mean, exactly?” he pressed. “How is she yours?”
“Ask her what it means when she wakes up,” I countered. She probably wouldn’t have an answer, but he didn’t need to know that. “Unless you want her to die?” I added. In which case, I’d note him as a horrible friend and ally.
Silas remained silent for so long I thought he wasn’t going to respond. I was about to pick up Willow and leave when he quietly said, “My heart broke when the Magistrate sent her to the breeding camps. She deserved better.” Emotion darkened his tone, his expression taking on a stern edge. “There’s no positive path in this world. However, Willow deserves the right to choose, and she can’t do that while in limbo.”
“She would never choose death,” I said, certain.
Apparently, that was the right thing to say, because Silas gave me a look of esteemed approval in response. “I agree. But there’s only one way for her to tell everyone else that.” He looked at Edon. “You have my vote, Alpha.”
“And mine,” Luna said.
Edon considered them both, then nodded. “All right. We face the consequences together.”
“Always,” Luna murmured, a hint of emotion in her voice. Then she placed her palm on his shoulder while he picked up Willow’s arm.
“This may not even work,” he warned me. “The energy around her is unique, but my only experience has been turning Silas. I’m going to try, but I can’t promise anything.”
He didn’t wait for me to acknowledge his comment; he merely turned his head and sank his teeth into her forearm.
Silas winced as though reliving a memory of the pain of transition. Then he watched Willow with the predator in his gaze, his nose twitching as the scents in the air began to change. Luna’s lip curled into a slight snarl, the three wolves reacting to the magic.
I glanced at Damien. He remained stoic, while Jace leaned against the wall, hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers. We’d need to have a