Chapter 603

Ronnie rolled his neck. “While this is amusing—to watch two grown men almost piss themselves—I’m exhausted.” Ronnie moved to Yarrow and used silver cuffs on him. The sizzle on his skin as the cuffs clicked into place was accompanied by his soft gasp.

Ronnie kicked the back of his knees, causing him to drop to the ground before moving towards Theo with a second pair. Theo tried to move, but Rowan pressed the point of the spear harder into his skin. “I wouldn’t move if I were you.” Rowan’s threat hung there.

“You can’t do this. We are the council,” Theo tried to argue, but everyone in the office laughed.

“You think that holds any weight now?” My father moved around the desk as Ronnie snapped the second pair on Theo’s wrists. “You forfeited any power you might have held the moment you moved against the royal family.” My dad grabbed Yarrow from the ground.

“Please,” the man tugged away from my father. “I know nothing.”

My dad leaned over to look at Yarrow’s face. “Well, then, I guess you will have to endure a lot of pain for no reason. Because after everything that you all have done, do you think any of us here would believe you? None of you have any honor. Not only did you turn your backs on the King, but you turned your backs on the Goddess, our race, and even each other. None of you are trustworthy. And until I am confident that you know nothing…” He smiled as he yanked Yarrow from the ground. “I guess you will just have to endure.”

Ronnie grabbed Theo’s arm, and Rowan stepped back. “I’ll join you later, but we can’t kill them until I address everyone.” My father nodded and then tried to open the door.

“Amy?” He turned to me with a smile. “Care to release the door?”

“Right.” I ran back around the desk and clicked the button to release the door.

“Wait…” Silas turned to me. “You used magic to seal the room from sound, and to block us from using our mind links.” I nodded and waited. “But you used that button to lock the door…” Silas scratched his head. “I’m just confused.” My dad and Ronnie left the office, dragging their two men out of the room.

I laughed. “Why use magic when werewolf strength steel will do the same thing?” I shrugged as my dad opened the door. “Half the time with magic, it’s knowing when you should or shouldn’t use it. It’s not a fix-all.”

Silas nodded. Then he dropped to his knees in front of Rowan. “My king,” he bowed until his head was on the floor. “I don’t think I can apologize enough.”

Rowan tucked the spear away before he walked over and dropped to a crouch next to the man on the ground. “You did nothing to apologize for.” He grabbed him and gently pulled him to his feet.

“But I was part of the council,” Silas sighed. “I failed you.”

Rowan shook his head. “While I didn’t always agree with what you had to say, I always appreciated your opinion. And you supported me when it counted.”

Silas shook his head. “I helped push you towards Verity and Nina.” He looked down. “I didn’t feel right doing it, but they always had an argument, and I was too afraid of the attacks getting worse and not having an heir to step in.” A tear slid down the old man’s face. “I unintentionally helped them kill the royal family, the lycans, our kind.” He shook his head.

Rowan grabbed his shoulder. “You didn’t know.”

Silas shook his head. “That’s no excuse. We killed your entire race.”

I wanted to say something, but everything that had happened today made me hold my tongue. I watched as the star above his brow flared to life again. Nix’s soft chuff was reassuring as she pressed against the barrier. Her smoky voice called to me: The Goddess wants you to trust him. Maybe he has a part to play. I thought about her words before I decided.

I stepped up to him. “No, you didn’t.” I hoped this wasn’t a mistake. “Some Lycans got away. They have been hiding for the last twenty-plus years, and eventually we will have to find them.” Rowan turned to me, his hope for the return of the Lycans glowing in his eyes. “But that’s not our path.”

Silas’s eyes took on the same hope that Rowan’s did. “They got away?” I nodded. “I’ll do whatever I can to find out anything.”

An idea formed in my mind. “After everything is handled here, you will be the only remaining council member.” I nodded to Rowan. “He will still need an advisor, and we will still need you to train the royal guards, but I think I have a better job for you—you and Rick.”

Rowan turned to me fully. “Silas and Rick…what would they do together?”

“Silas knew the rest of the council the best. I know for a fact that they were looking for the Lycan encampment. You can find everything they have, and Rick can help decipher it all.”

“It could take years,” Silas offered.

Carly flashed into my mind. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”