Chapter 251
I watched as my words hit, and he staggered. “No.”
The smile on my face was sweet as I took a step. “Oh, yes.” I took another. “You see, my father, the one you said was lucky to be dead, he made sure I knew the rules. He made sure I was a dutiful wolf, one who followed the new laws, but protected those she cared about with knowledge of every law in play.” I let my smile turn into a shit-eating grin. “And that includes the duties and oaths that the council took to ensure the safety and unity of our people.” I looked at Rowan. “These people are a bunch of bullies. I wouldn’t be surprised if their entire family has become like this, bullying others all because of Thinius’s power and influence, because he allowed them to.”
Rowan looked at them, and I watched the idea form in his mind. “Is this true?”
I snorted. “Rowan, do you think he is going to just admit it?”
Rowan focused on Thinius, and I watched sweat spring to his forehead. “Thinius, do you allow your family to use your status as a council member to bully or command others to do their bidding?” I felt the force of the command, but I was confused. I didn’t understand why it took so much out of him to command Thinius.
I watched the man tremble, trying to evade telling the truth. Blood trickled out of his mouth, and I shook my head. I slammed my aura out. “Thinius, I command you to answer the question, and if you decide to bite your tongue instead of answering, I will invoke a Cath Báis and make you watch as I pull Nina and Nadine apart, limb from limb.” I let my threat hang in the air. I meant every word of it.
“You wouldn’t.” Nadine’s eyes flashed with the first hint of worry, and I tilted my head and grinned.
“Oh, I would. And I would take my time with it too.”
“You’re a monster.” She whispered, but I heard a few girls behind me giggle.
“I’m a monster?” I slapped my hand against my chest. “But I haven’t done anything. I have spent the last nine months dealing with your sister. I have allowed her to bully me, take advantage of my kindness, attack me. Even you came here and tried to demand things from me while you mocked me, and I have let it all roll off my shoulder. But now, now I’ve decided to collect.” I turned my focus on Thinius. “Make your decision. Either way, we will know the truth today.”
Nina shook, but she rallied. “How do you figure?”
I laughed. “Your family is so used to people falling in line, but you forget, there is always someone bigger, stronger, or more vicious. I just so happen to be all three. If Thinius here decides to cut out his tongue, then I will kill you two, anyway. And then I’ll start with your parents, and then their parents, and I will command the truth from them one by one.” I sucked my teeth. “One of them will fold. One of them will think their life is worth more than keeping Thinius here on the council.”
I watched as Thinius paled. “You wouldn’t.”
“But I would. My father taught me to put my king above all, something you seemed to forget. If you and the council have been playing games and abusing your power, that puts our king in the line of fire, and that is something I won’t allow.”
I waited, cleaning my fingernails as everyone else digested my words. “She’s right.” A voice came from the crowd, and then more and more murmurs of agreement.
I flicked my eyes to Rowan, and he was still struggling with his command. So, I focused all of my aura onto Thinius. “Answer your king.” My command was thick with power, fully focused on him, and I watched as his power folded.
“Yes.” His voice was weak, and blood poured from his lips. I could see his wolf healing the serrated parts of his tongue, and I shook my head. Stupid man.
“What did you say?” Rowan’s voice dropped.
“Speak up for your king.” I turned to Toya, and I gave her a thumbs up when I saw her still recording. “I think he deserved the truth, and since you are always so loud with your opinion, your honesty should be just as loud.” I got a few more yeses from the crowd.
Everyone was on pins and needles. You could feel the crowd surge a little closer to hear the next few sentences out of his mouth. “Yes!” He screamed it, and a look of defiance crossed his features. “Yes, I allowed my family to use my name, my influence, to do what they needed to. If they needed to win a contract, I was called in to finalize it. If someone hurt someone, killed someone, I fixed it.”