Page 113 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

“He claims it’s not their fight and won’t risk shifters in a battle they don’t get anything from.”Typical.

“Why would they?” Fee scoffs. “They’ve never been attacked in this fortified village. The Crimson Army leaves them alone so the shifters don’t bother with them.”

She’s right, of course. With the mountain pass dangerous and the hollow protected by the Hadeon, the army had no reason to seek them out.

“What do we do?” Reid comes closer, dark brown locks curling around his face. “We were contracted to be guides, but this small of group will be kill. I, for one, don’t want to be slaughtered because a bunch of men don’t know when to quit.”

“We onlyagreed to be guides to stay close to the blood summoner,” Fee explains tiredly. “The raid doesn’t concern us. We don’t even need the water from the Blackwoods Coven. We don’t need to stay.”

“Are we not taking her back?” I shake my head, Reid smiling. “Then let’s get our guards and get thefuckout of here. I miss my bed.”

It doesn’t occur to him that by going home without Max, we’d be asking for trouble withZelos.

That’s if I can let Max go. Everything in me, in my very soul, rebels at the idea of letting her leave me, to go back to the Blackwoods Coven and live a quiet life in solitude.

Would they even accept her after she chose to stay behind? Or wouldshe continue on this path to prove her darkness isn’t evil—just is?

“I’ll wake her,” I say, moving back to the cabin. “We’ll meet you at the meeting hall and go from there.”

“And what would be the plan, big brother?” Fee taunts, knowing full well I don’t know what to do next.

Flipping her off, I enter the cabin.

Chapter 40

Max

Rushing after Kaden, twigs snap under my worn boots.

After watching me rinse the blood from my body, Kaden hurried me into a dead run to the center. If not for how he had me screaming his name last night, I’d assume he wanted nothing to do with me.

Glancing to the hard set of his jaw, I ask, “What’s wrong?”

Kaden holds up a hand, halting me from continuing as we take in the large group of Humans. They’re arguing, looking to leave.

Turning to me, he sighs. “Wulf has declined to help. The Humans are readying to continue on without his support.”

Outrage and confusion stifle the words on my tongue. After everything yesterday, Wulf isn’t goingto help us?

“But the Crimson Army?—”

“Isn’t his concern.” He shrugs. “Wulf’s first priority is always to his shifters. If he puts them into unnecessary danger, they can vote and get him out of leadership.”

So it’s all about power. Like everyone else with some kind of control, Wulf was more interested in protecting his best interest, his power, instead of the betterment of all.

Disappointed but not surprised, I pull the heir back a step. “The raid won’t survive without help. What do we do?”

We could send word to Griffin but even if a hawk reaches him, he won’t be here quick enough. By then, the raid could be picked off by a solider—or another creature.

“Now, we should find a way out of the forest and back to safety,” he says slowly, hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The sunlight catches the silver in his ear and the distaste in his eyes as he scans the group.

“Safety? You’re just going to abandon the raid?” Abandon the peace treaty he struck on behalf of his father and people?

I was to stay with him as a gesture of goodwill toward his partnership with the Blackwoods Coven. The Dark Fae were supposed to help them rebuild. What happens to me, now, that the raid didn’t finish?

“The raid was never my concern, kitten.” Burning eyes lock on to mine. “It was a means to an end.”

“What does?—”