Page 135 of Contested Crown

I didn’t need to ask who it was. I knew from scent alone, from the echo of a wolf in my chest that knew when someone unwelcome stepped into my territory.

“No killing! Not yet, at least!” Rhys gestured. “Not until I have some spellwork to protect everything. Do you know how expensive a couch is these days?”

They walked over to the door and opened it. There was no one on the other side, but I knew they were there. I could feel it, could sense it in my bones.

Tattoos dripped to the ground, orange climbing up Isaac’s legs as he stared at the room. His eyes caught on Cade, going wide, his face pale.

Behind him, Jay shrank back. He didn’t like packs, I remembered. Something about a group of wolves terrified him, and I was sure he had a good reason, probably one worse than whatever I could imagine.

“Cade,” Isaac said.

“Come in.” Rhys gestured them both in, looking out the door before closing it behind them.

Jay was shivering, a lone wolf backed into a corner, unable to escape but not about to go easily. Then, Isaac moved. He dropped to his knees.

The sound was loud, hard, his entire body weight hitting the ground with no protection. “Cade.”

Cade was pale, and when I glanced at him, protectiveness rose up in me, a growl just barely contained. I crossed my arms. “Talk.”

“I’m sorry,” Isaac said, the sound low, a murmur. “I’m so sorry.” He was crying, his face wet, and he didn’t even try to wipe away his tears. “I’mso sorry.”

“Explain what you did.” I stepped forward, blocking Cade from his view.

“We…Iused my magic to cut Cade off from House Bartlett magic.” Isaac stared at the ground. “I thought that he had to be behind the poisoned magic, behind the reason that the mages have been born with less and less magic. You had somuchmagic compared to the rest of us.” Isaac looked up, searching for Cade, but I stepped closer, keeping Isaac from seeing him.

“You hurt him on purpose, you weakened him on purpose. Because of you, Leon could make his move.” I snarled. “Youalmost got us killed.”

“I—Cade, I never would have done it if I’d known. I just wanted to protect House Bartlett. I just wanted to keep the house safe.” Isaac looked down again. “It was the only thing that made sense.”

Part of me knew that Isaac cutting Cade off from House Bartlett magic was the only reason Cade hadn’t been as bad off as Lily, Jack, and all the other mages who’d escaped the house.

“What do you want now?” Cade asked, his words clipped and cool. He came up beside me, and I glanced at him. No expression marked his face.

“Rhys told us they had a way to take down Leon.” Isaac looked for them, and Rhys nodded encouragingly. “We figure that Leon has to be involved in the poison.”

“Howdidyou know we were going after Declan and Leon?” I asked Rhys.

“I didn’t,” Rhys admitted. “I had no idea you two were in town. Where have youbeen? Nia and I thought maybe youdidget killed after all. I just wanted to collect these baby ducklings before the poison killed them.”

“For which we’re very appreciative,” Lily said wryly. “So, that’s what we’re doing? Going after Leon?”

“Going after Declan,” I said firmly. “Because he knows whatever Leon is up to.”

“We don’t deserve to go with you,” Isaac said. “We betrayed you once. You should… my life should be forfeit.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re coming with us.” Cade looked at him coolly. “And we’re going as soon as everyone is well enough to fight.”

“Uh, boss…” Gabe handed over his cell phone. “You gotta see this. It’s all over social media. It’s happening all over the city.”

I frowned, watching the looping video. A werewolf was throwing tables in a restaurant. He began shifting, his wolf coming out. I didn’t need to smell him to know that he probablyreekedof the sickly sweet scent of Thorn.

Then, as though a switch had flipped, he froze and collapsed, his shift regressing to nothing. The next video was the same. A different wolf on Thorn, a different attack, and the wolf collapsing.

“We don’t have any more time.” I turned to my pack. “Leon and Declan are going down now.”

ChapterForty-Four

Coral and Theo told us what they’d seen in the building. Cade’s face got darker and darker as they spoke.