each other coldly. There would be no quarter given by either of them. Stone stood. Slowly and deliberately, he turned to Shannon. He didn’t touch her, but leaned close and murmured something in her ear. She nodded but didn’t look at him. He hesitated, and I was sure his fingers lightly brushed the tip of hers before he walked away without a backward glance.
The day passed slowly and even with Ember’s presence, my wolf prowled inside me, his anxiety filtering into my emotions, and vice versa. In turn, I stalked around the prison. Even those with their wolves near the surface gave me a wide berth. It was wise since I was spoiling for a fight, something to release the tension in my body.
I began what must have been my fourth round of the halls and corridors.
“Enough.” Ember’s voice was sharp enough to get my attention.
Kawan and Shane sighed. We hadn’t eaten and it was late in the day, but I wasn’t hungry. My body was wound to a breaking point as I waited for the inevitable.
Ember placed a hand on my arm and glanced at the two alphas. “Give us a minute, would you?”
They stepped back and she leaned her shoulder against the wall. Her jaw was tight, but she patiently stared at me, giving me the time to think that I wouldn’t give myself. She was right; wearing us all into the ground wasn’t going to help. I dropped my chin to my chest and took a deep breath before releasing it slowly. I raised my gaze, but couldn’t look her in the eye. Instead I studied strands of her bright red hair. My heavy sighs lifted them, until they danced and sparkled like tiny threads of fire in front of my eyes. I blinked, clearing my fanciful thoughts. “I know I’m supposed to have no feelings.” I thumped a clenched fist over my heart. “I have killed so many and have a river of blood on my hands, so it’s assumed I don’t feel. But I can’t stand waiting for one of my brothers to die.” I swallowed against the painful ache in my throat. Briefly, I closed my eyes. “I would rather it was me.”
Her fingers were cool against my hot face as she urged me to look at her. “I wouldn’t. This is not your fault. Do you hear me?”
I dropped my gaze and she hissed. “Don’t you do that. Lift your eyes. You are the Prime. Connor, you may not be able to stop any of this, but your brothers will need you no matter who ultimately survives.”
I touched her cheek, her skin soft under my finger tips. “I know. But losing them, any of them is unthinkable. I’ve failed them. I’ve failed Rawson, too. He might not be fighting, but I’ve no idea where he is, or if he’s even alive.”
I hated the way her face dropped at the mention of Rawson, who had just disappeared. No one had seen him since the night before the start of the fights.
“Rawson’s a survivor, he’ll be fine.” Her gaze pierced me. “Tell me what you have planned to get us out.”
I swallowed hard and took her hand in mine. “I can’t, I’m sorry. If the warden gets in your head, he will make you spill every piece of info you have.”
Her face tightened, but she nodded and didn’t push. “Okay. Fine. But once we’ve got the information you and Zander need, we get out. If anything happens to me, you don’t try and save me—not at the cost of your own life. Do you understand me? Because I will always survive.”
I didn’t respond. I already knew that ultimately she would survive, but knowing it didn’t make what I had planned any easier.
“Connor!” she snapped.
I nodded, but a deep, gut wrenching fear coated my insides with ice and I hoped with everything I had that her Fire would step up when it really mattered.
It took another hour before the agony hit me. I roared and fell to my knees clutching at my chest. A piece of my heart fractured as the tiny part of my brother’s soul that I held was wrenched away.
“Boss?” Kawan yelled, his voice breaking.
Tears burned my eyes. I held my hand out to keep him away. Leaning forward, I bellowed, panting as those tears ran down my cheeks. “You fuckers!” I yelled up at the guards, my wolf raging and trying to break free. He wanted revenge, on them, on me, on