War of Hearts (True Immortality) - S Young Page 0,120
he’s sent to kill me. It was kill or be killed.” She looked back up at them now, defiant. “I won’t apologize for that.
“And I never usually explain myself. As Conall will attest to.”
He gave her a grim smile.
“But I explained myself to him when I realized”—she looked up at him, the love in her expression making his heart pound—“what he meant to me.” Thea reluctantly turned her head toward the room. “Normally I wouldn’t care if you believed me. I know the truth. I know what a sick son of a bitch Ashforth is. I’ve been on the run from him for six years. He stole my life from me.” The air thickened a little as her anger filled the room. “But I need you to believe for Callie’s and James’s sake. You have to understand you’re dealing with a man who will do anything in his pursuit of power.”
When she finished, Conall looked around the room, saw partners exchanging questioning looks, other pack members staring at Thea in concern.
“I’m sorry, lass.” Hugh was the first to speak, his expression haggard. “For not believing and for what has been done to you.”
The older man turned to Conall. “What do you need, Alpha?”
Conall responded to the entire room. “We need a plan. Ashforth is holding Callie and James in Castle Cara. I was supposed to take Thea there, Ashforth would use her blood to heal Callie, and then we’d leave … and Thea would be left with Ashforth.” The thought chilled him to the bone. “Ashforth doesnae know we’re in Scotland. As I explained, we had some trouble on the road back and we used it as an excuse to avoid checking in with the bastard. But we must act soon before he gets too suspicious. We must find out what defenses he has in place at Castle Cara. How many guards, their race, and the best strategy to get in. From there we plan our rescue.”
“Alpha MacLennan,” Peter Canid’s voice rang across the room, drawing everyone’s gaze, “can I offer my services?”
Conall was grateful but felt he needed to be clear with Canid. “You are under no obligation to do so.”
Canid’s expression darkened as he looked between Thea and Conall. “I would hope if our situation was reversed, you would offer a helping hand. We may come from different packs, but the world of wolves is one world. Our world. A human doesn’t come into our world and brutalize our mates and kidnap our pack members.”
“I like him,” Thea murmured under her breath.
So did Conall. “Then I welcome your help. Thank you.”
Peter nodded. “A few warrior wolves accompanied my family on this trip. They’re staying in Inverness. I’ll call them here.”
Conall nodded his thanks.
“Or,” Grace said, standing, “we go through with the switch. Give him Thea in exchange for Callie and James.” Her eyes moved to Thea, her fear obvious. “The lass is powerful. We can all feel her energy, humming against our skin. And look what she did with that knife. She can handle Ashforth. Callie cannot.”
The growl surged out of him before he could stop, long and low, rumbling and dangerous.
Everyone grew tense as the color drained from Grace’s face.
He didn’t care if she was like a grandmother to him. How fucking dare she. “Did you not see my mate’s back?”
Sympathy brightened Grace’s eyes. “Aye, I did. And I’m sorrier for it than I can say. But I cannae bear the thought of Callie in the hands of someone who could do that to a young lass.”
Mhairi turned on Grace, outraged. “This is Conall’s mate we’re talking about. How can you possibly look at what that bastard did to Thea’s back and ask her to return to him? If she was so fucking powerful, do you think she would have allowed that to happen to herself? Those scars …” Mhairi looked at Thea in horror. “That was no ordinary lashing.”
Conall tightened his grip on Thea as he felt her grow rigid.
“I’m sorry.” Grace had the decency to look ashamed. “I’m just … I’m scared for Callie. I’m sorry.”
Thea stepped out of Conall’s protective hold. “Maybe we should go through with the switch.”
It was his turn to tense. “What?”
“If you hand me over, then Callie and James don’t get hurt. Then you can rescue me instead.” She gave him a firm nod.
Denial flooded him. “We’ve already discussed this, and my answer is no. I willnae send you to face that monstrous