Page 21

He let out a harsh laugh. "You should have let me die! Now that stony bitch has her fangs deeper into me than you could know."

I cocked a brow and motioned to the crisp uniform and Lieutenant's lapel. "You don't look very trapped to me."

His gaze narrowed, and he tilted his head to the side. "Not all collars are worn around your neck, Witch." Lightglinted off a set of pale tattoos rising up from under his shirt and up the side of his neck.

They had a strange metallic sheen unlike any ink I'd seen before.

It almost reminded me of …

I gasped, stomach lurching. "They put the mage collar metal into your skin?!"

Stepping forward, I reached out to get a closer look.

But Tye jumped back. "Enough," he growled. "I don't want your pity. I do what I must to control the wolf."

I looked into those dull yellow eyes, and sadness tore through me. So, he still rejected that side of himself ….

For a while there in the Preying Wilds, it had seemed like he'd started to at least accept that side of himself, if notlikeit.

But now —

"Did you not hear me, Witch?" he bit out. "I don't want your fucking pity! I want this wolf silenced so I can get back to being myself again."

My throat tightened as I forced myself to look away from him and his new tattoos.

He'd made his choice and gone back to the Empire. It didn't matter that it made my heart ache.

"Fine," I said, voice raspy. "I don't care anyways. What about Jaiel? Have you seen or heard from him? I'm worried."

Tye's eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms. "No. Not since he left with Alpha at the Preying Wilds."

I nodded. That matched what Frexin had said.No news is good news, I suppose.Hopefully, he was off working with the Rogues. Or, better yet, teamed up with Alpha Blackwood and the other wolves to fight Frexin.

My gut said that wasn't right, but I pushed away the painful thought.I could still feel him, so he was okay … he had to be.

"Why are you here, Tye?"

He sighed and unfolded his arms. "Against my better judgment, I cut a deal to get you — and only you — out of here." His voice was cold. "You'll be working under me, helping me hunt an enemy of the Empire. It will get you out of this hellhole and will repay my debt to you for saving my life."

"Help the Empire?!" I shouted, as memories of working under Frexin flooded my mind —

Karemi. The body mages. The relic.

Rien …

"Youseriouslythink I would HELP the Empire?!"

He nodded stiffly. "You must."

Gritting my teeth, I moved forward until we stood toe to toe. "If you think" — I jabbed a finger into the center of his chest — "I will EVER help those evil assholes again, you're just as insane as everyone says." I threw my hands up. "I mean —" I released a bitter laugh. "You know Frexin is one of the three Kings, right?"

His jaw tightened, pulse thrumming in his neck as he stared down at me. "I know. Frexin is the real Torsten andthat man with the stone crown and wheelchair is a puppet. The Kings are not what I thought, and I hate it more than you will ever know."

Tye looked genuinely upset by the information, but that didn't matter. He was working forthem!

"I'm not doing it," I said, crossing my arms. "Not happening."

"Don't be so stupid! This is the only way."