15. Briss

I was right to tell Matilda my escorting days are over. There was only a couple of days difference between taking her for a quickie with Cillian and Zeke receiving that note. Of course I was panicked, same as Zeke. If Cillian had been murrdered along with half the army then we’d all be fucked, my wavering alliance to Shadowlands the least of my problems.

So while Zeke took on the whole journey with his olive-skinned face pale and washed out, mine was tense with frustration. It feels like strings are being pulled that I have no idea about, dancing over a hole. Zena springs to mind, but then she always does. The jasmine-scented dagger between my ribs.

Whilst the blonde Riley and everyone else ran about like headless chickens trying to put together the pieces of the attack I stood and breathed in. If Cillian had been killed the men would need a leader. And it isn’t me. I don’t have the respect of the pack like Zeke. I don’t want it either.

So I turned to Zeke instead, my voice low an