Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“They were more captives than workers,” Nyfain said, finally—and thankfully—getting the picture. “That’s why you didn’t bring us back more than one?”
“It’s why I left everyone, save one, in the village, yes,” I responded. “I did initially capture some of their patrol, but they were able to escape. I’ll get to how in a minute, but they’re all dead now. They attacked us farther along the road, and we took them down. It wasn’t worth keeping them.”
Nyfain dipped his head once, accepting that. Their death was punishment enough.
“Okay, but . . .” Finley held up her hand. “One person is making all of those drugs? What did you mean about the root? I’m still not understanding this.”
“There are two parts to Granny’s drugs.” I explained the details and what each village did.
“So the person you brought back is the one who’d been making the non-addictive element of this drug,” Finley surmised. “The main element of the drug, really.”
“Non-addictive and not dangerous. But yes, the main element of the drug.”
“And a single person is making all of that?”
“Correct. Granny’s people then mash it into a different shape, apply the colorful coating, package it, and send it out for distribution. We found the production village, but not the packaging center.”
She shook her head. “You must be mistaken. I’m not questioning the job you’ve done, Weston. I know you are thorough, but there is simply no way that one person is responsible for the amount of product Granny is pumping into the market. The other place must make a portion of it.”
“I brought all the product with me. They’re unloading the carts now. It’s not pretty, but the quantity checks out. It was kept in a supply shed in the market square. Without a lock.”
Nyfain sat forward. “What do you mean, without a lock?”
I explained what we’d found. What I’d seen with my own two eyes.
Nyfain steepled his fingers, and a wave of nerves washed through me. He was excellent at reading people, amazing at guessing motives. He knew there was something I was holding back.
“I was not able to capture Granny or her beta, Alexander. I learned about the second location, the packaging center, after I had the drugmaker, but by then we were trying to rush her out of the kingdom. They were trying to reacquire their prize. We’d nearly lost people as it was. We’ll need to go back for the others. Or, more likely, we need to wait until they come for her. I’m confident they will.”
I explained about the letter, fighting the rising rage at Granny telling Aurelia that she’d come for her. That had been a direct challenge to me.
“Granny is cunning,” I said. “We heard that when we were searching for information near the castle, but seeing it in action . . . We had a well-organized plan of attack that was executed perfectly. Granny had been our main target, but even so, she was able to evade capture and escape. I still don’t know how. She got her dog out as well, and later released her captured patrol, all disappearing without a trace. Without a scent. She’s not as good during face-to-face confrontations—I exceed her there—but when working in the shadows, she is exceptional. She can’t be underestimated.”
I knew her plans would be complex. Masterful, even. I’d need to overhaul our defenses and ensure there were no holes in coverage. No lapses in our patrol. Our people would need to be operating at optimum levels at all times, not lax, the way we’d allowed them to be in peacetime.
“Why should we bother going back for the others, or even holding Granny’s bait?” Finley asked. Nyfain continued to study me silently. “If you’re to be believed, and I’m still questioning that, then we have the supply maker. You said yourself we have the root of the problem. If we kill her, we kill the organization. Problem solved.”
My rage throbbed, a black weight in my middle. My wolf paced, snarling. Nyfain watched me without expression.
“There are two problems with that,” I said evenly, trying to maintain my composure. “The first is that, given the coating is what makes it dangerous, Granny can replace the drugmaker and resume all activities. Anything she makes will be just as addictive. The second . . .” Nyfain’s eyes gleamed. He clearly knew the shoe was about to drop. “She’s my true mate, and our animals have established a four-way bond. If you kill her, it’ll destroy me. If you try, I’ll annihilate your pack and cripple your kingdom while I take her out of here.”
The last was said on a growl, and the rage got away from me, flooding the area with a burst of my power.
Finley froze. Her eyes kindled fire; dragons were always on the brink of a challenge, and this was more than enough to set them off. Nyfain didn’t react, though, watching me closely, studying me. Thank the fucking gods. Going up against them would be brutal at best.