“I am something far different than I was when I was with you. I am stronger and unafraid. I am loved—and I am not cursed.”
“Silence!” The objection was not from Ramm. The roar came from behind.
She whirled.
Talg stormed toward her, surrounded by four guards who looked small in comparison.
Her confidence wavered.
Though not nearly as tall as Grif, the male who had tormented her for so long was almost the same thickness as Sharluff and nearly as strong. Forty-two planetary rotations of struggle had honed his power and his cruelty. The tusks curling from his bottom lip were huge and thick and far bigger than any of the other males, including Ramm.
Talg was a fearsome sight.
But it was the look in his golden gaze—the pure animosity—that she remembered best of all.
“Gazi do not speak.” He reached her, his expression thick with the smug certainty. “Gazi kneel. Gazi submit. Gazi suffer.”
Her knees trembled. She had heard the same words her entire life. The instinct to drop and bow forward in supplication had been drilled into her since she was young.
She fought the urge.
Talg’s eyes narrowed. She caught the small flicker of surprise within. She knew why. She had never hesitated before, but he recovered fast.
“Gazi who dare to appear without their anazi are punished. Gazi who disobey are punished. Gazi who speak when they should be silent are punished.” He spoke loudly so that all the pack could hear. “She will be disciplined and cleansed. Order once more restored. It is the Ancient way.” He turned toward the closest guard. “Take her to the cleansing bath.”
“Do you dare allow them to touch me?” Rather than dodging the guard’s reach, she held her bare arms up and outward, making herself as large a target as possible.
The guards who had started to obey Talg’s command hesitated, their confusion obvious, their fear of touching her bare skin even more so.
She kept her gaze locked with Talg’s. “Rescind your order.” It was nice to be the one giving the commands. “Otherwise, they will have the proof that one of us lies—and we both know who that will be shown to be.”
Talg’s fangs flashed, his rage so thick it battered at her flesh, a dark, vengeful energy that proved just how personal this was between them, his guise of leadership and Ancient rituals falling away as his real, twisted hate rushed to the fore.
His lies had kept her ostracized and alone and under his control.
Now they worked against him.
“You will pay for this.” His skin flashed deep crimson.
“Your lies cannot control me anymore.”
One guard raised his spear.
“Naja!” Talg’s roar cut him off. “She is not to be killed.”
There was a moment of stunned silence. No one spoke back to the pack leader without consequences, especially Gazi.
The pack’s sense of order took a hit. A few exchanged glances.
But Talg would not relinquish his control so easily.
“The Ancients require her suffering be greater than a fast death.” He yanked at the covering draped across one shoulder. Pulling it free, he wrapped it around one fist. “I will deal with the abomination’s disobedience personally.”
He addressed his followers, once more in control. “That she has returned to us now a traitor is a clear message from the Ancients.” He looked toward the pens imprisoning the Other females. “It is time to rid ourselves of the taint before it corrupts us altogether.”
“No!”
He ignored her protest. “The Gazi and her rebellion is proof of what will happen if we do not stop them now. Our bloodlines will be destroyed. Our powers weakened. We cannot allow more cursed spawn to weaken us. We must destroy the Others.” His fangs flashed as he grinned. “Starting with them.”
“Talg has told you so many lies!” she screamed. “Don’t let him destroy the pack.”
“Go,” he roared. “Kill them now. I will deal with her.”
All the guards except the four closest to him rushed toward the pen. Ramm hesitated, sorrow flashing in his stare before it hardened and he, too, hurried forward.
“Did you think they would listen to you?” Talg’s voice was heavy with triumph. “You are nothing. Voiceless. Worthless.” He finished wrapping the covering around his knuckles, his hand clenched into a tight fist. “Whatever they did to you, I will undo. Soon you will lie at my feet, powerless as always—and you will suffer.”
He advanced, raising his covered fist. “I will always control you.”
“Harm a hair on her head and I will end you.” A new voice boomed over Talg’s.
Grif!
Her heart swelled as she smiled up at