Page 67 of A Curse So Vile

The others gathered around them, murmuring in agreement. It surprised Cole how quietly the Denithians could move in the darkness.

Orrick wore a somber expression as he addressed his men. “What I’m about to say is going to change everything. I haven’t been entirely truthful with everyone, and for that, I apologize. What I have to say is of the utmost importance, and secrecy was essential.”

“So you waited until we were knee-deep in Ossorian territory?” Cassius scoffed.

“It was the only way to avoid war,” Orrick replied.

“And how do you figure that?” another man said.

“Brenna is not who you think she is. She transcends what we are, and what we could ever hope to be.”

Cassius cocked his head to the side. “What are you getting at?”

“She’s stronger than all of us, and will soon be more powerful than the Ossorians.”

“Are you saying that because she transformed so young?” a Denithian named Kerk asked.

“I’m saying that because I had to stop her from transforming sooner than she had. She’s not just any Denithian. She’s from an ancient line, one with stronger blood than we could have imagined.”

The men looked at each other, confused.

He continued with, “I knew something was amiss when Brenna was a child. Her mother, Marium, was weak in the blood as her grandmother was wholly human and hailed from Cresite Terras, but we had it wrong. The grandmother was far from human, and the mother was stronger than we knew.”

“What are you talking about?” Cassius interrupted. “Marium transformed later than anyone I know.”

“Marium wore an amulet that her mother passed down to her from her deathbed when she was young. What we didn’t know at the time was that it was a power dampener. We thought Marium’s weakness came from her weak line, but the reality was that she was immensely powerful, and even the dampener couldn’t stop her from eventually shifting.”

Murmurs rose from the gathered men as they contemplated Orrick’s words.

“If this is true, and you knew, why would you keep this from us?” Kerk asked.

“Because Brenna’s power terrified me. At first, I didn’t understand it. Marium had a mate that was strong of blood, so I attributed the anomaly to him, but then I found out I wasn’t the only one who sensed her power. There were others taking notice, and I had to make choices. Tough choices.”

Cole glanced around at the uneasy looks of the Denithians. Clearly, they had no clue that Brenna was different, and that secrets were kept from them wasn’t sitting well.

“What tough choices were there?” Kerk said, arms crossed over his chest.

“The choice of whether we should go to war was my initial concern, but that pales compared to what was really at stake.”

Orrick paced slowly as he spoke, causing an uneasiness in Cole. This wasn’t a man who looked confident. He looked ashamed.

Cole knew shame well.

“Tell us, then. What’s at stake?” Cassius finally asked when Orrick stalled.

“Our blood.”

The Denithians looked back and forth at each other in clear confusion.

“Why would Brenna have any bearing on our blood?” Kerk asked. “And why the hell are we even out here? The Ossorians have never spared us before. Why should we believe Brenna is even alive?”

“I’m sorry,” Orrick said. “I truly am.”

Savage howls erupted from nearby trees, sending the wolves sprinting through the forest, ready to attack.

Kerk grabbed his weapons from his belt and took an offensive position. “How did they get this close?”

“We should have smelt them!” Cassius added.