Page 54 of Exiled Heir

“Rules?” Cade asked.

“Yes…” Jesaiah sounded uncertain but seemed to gather himself together. “That the wolves here are no pack. Instead of pack dynamics, ours is strictly by house dynamics. He began asking me strange questions, about the wards, about the number of people living in the house. About what happened eleven years ago.”

I frowned, wishing I could see Cade’s expression. When Cade responded, his voice was even. “Did he?”

“He did. When I asked why he would need to know that, he attacked me. I defended myself—I chased him to the edge of the property, then I saw him force his way through the wards.”

The gasp was audible.

“Through the wards?” Cade asked. “Are you saying that our outer wards are permeable?”

“I don’t know, I’m not a mage. All I know is that he asked some strange questions, and then he was able to get through.”

“What magic did you see on him? What spells? Was there someone waiting on the other side?” Cade’s questions sounded logical, and I could see him leading Jesaiah further, allowing him to dig his own grave with his answers.

“No, no one was waiting for him. He must have had something on him, something from another house.” Jesaiah sounded confident. “I saw a flash of something before he got through.”

“So one of the houses has found a way to get through our wards?” Cade asked. “And they decided the best way to test it was to set a trap for me, tempt me with a consort and… What? It sounds like you were quick enough to know not to give him any answers. Unless you left that out, and youdidexpose all of our secrets.”

“Of course not. I have served this house longer than you have been alive.” Jesaiah’s words were fierce, sharp. There was something in them that spoke to a deep-rooted annoyance.

“Well, I’m glad it was you. One of the younger consorts might not have been so quick. I just can’t help…” There was a long pause that stretched, and I wanted to know what the expression was like on Cade’s face, what everyone else saw that made the silence so tense. “I just can’t help but have morequestions. Perhaps we should ask Miles about the situation.”

“We will,” Leon said firmly. “As soon as we find him, we will question him, demand answers, demand he give up his masters.”

“Oh, no.” Cade sounded amused. “I meantnow.”

The door in front of me shimmered, going translucent before disappearing entirely, and I was faced with a room full of the most powerful mages in House Bartlett and every single one of their consorts.

ChapterNineteen

Istepped through the open door. Everyone’s eyes dragged over me, like I was a rare specimen in the zoo. But I kept my focus on Cade, playing the part of the good consort. I couldn’t help the relieved breath at seeing that he was fine. We’d seen each other less than an hour before, so I wasn’t sure why my heart finally felt like it could beat freely.

As I walked toward the table, I saw the shifting out of the corner of my eyes, heard the murmurs exchanged between mages seated next to each other. When I stood at Cade’s right hand, I looked around.

Two dozen mages sat at the table, ranging in age from Leon and Petrona to a child who couldn’t have been older than ten. None of the consorts sat. Instead, the wolves stood against the wall, hands behind their backs, staring at me with the same surprise as the mages. A few looked even more shocked.

Quickly, I memorized their faces. They were the ones whom Jesaiah had called with his howl.

Jesaiah himself stood at the far end of the table, next to Leon. His expression was slack, eyes wide, mouth slightly agape.

Leon himself looked confused, glancing from me to his own consort.

“Perhaps you could tell the table how you spent the afternoon?” Cade asked mildly.

“Of course,” I said. “Jay was kind enough to give me a tour. He took me to visit Jesaiah, because Jesaiah is the oldest consort at House Bartlett. He felt that Jesaiah might help me adapt to my new circumstances. After Jay left, Jesaiah attacked me. Brutally and unprovoked. I defended myself and fled into the forest. When I was sure he was gone, I made my way back to Cade.”

“Lies!” Jesaiah spat, his voice rising to a yell. “He lies. How can you believe him, a newcomer, a stranger? I have only ever served this house. It is my home, my life. Clearly he is back because he believes he can twist Prince Bartlett to his will through trickery.”

I raised an eyebrow and saw Jesaiah go red, baring his teeth. His canines elongated. Leon reached out a hand, gripping Jesaiah’s arm tightly.

“You’ll forgive me if I believe my own consort of forty years, Prince Bartlett,” Leon said severely. “Why would he lie about such a thing?”

The question seemed to echo, and I felt all eyes in the room on me again. They were weighing me. My strange arrival, the suddenness of my arrangement with Cade against Jesaiah and his service to House Bartlett.

Cade stood, placing both hands on the table. “Miles is my consort. You are not challenging him; you are challengingme. Are you suggesting thatIam a traitor to House Bartlett?”

Leon stayed in his seat, even as I saw Jesaiah’s shoulders begin to grow, the muscle becoming heavier, his gaze feral.