Chapter 46 Echo
❀ Maeve ❀
“Don’t!” I spat, striking out with my fist.
The axe glinted. It soared high into the air, knocked from Commander Leif’s grasp.
My claws straightened, fingers arched to attack if he made any further moves. The whole clearing quieted, gazes locked on the axe until it hit the ground hard enough to kick up earth.
Leif turned to me, snarling. “You dare interfere?”
My spine straightened. “I dare. And I demand a complete rewrite of the laws governing Blackbridge. Until the Alpha makes a decision concerning my case, no one is getting executed.”
“Listen, girl…” He took threatening steps toward me. “You toy with forces beyond your control. You don’t want to do that.”
I stared him down, deemed him undeserving of a response, and turned to the soldier holding the girl.
Her arms were pinned back so tightly her shoulders looked at risk of popping. She cried silently.
“Release her.”
When he didn’t budge, looking to Leif for commands instead, I seethed.
“Aren’t you ashamed? Bullying a slip of a girl? If you want to exterminate vampires, do so, instead of harassing the products of your failed society. Release her now.”
The soldier didn’t move. Commander Leif glowered, lips curving into a mean smile.
Then Ashar sighed behind me, stepping forward. “Release the girl…”
“Not just her. All of them,” I interrupted. “I’ll make sure you can’t persecute anyone without proper investigation.”
“Who do you think endorsed these laws?” Commander Leif rumbled, amused.
He pinned me with a glint in his eye. “The same Alpha you’re going to report to. Good luck with that. But know this, I’ll be here to take all their heads when you fail.”
With that, he walked off. His lackey released the girl’s shoulders far too roughly and followed the commander.
I immediately sank to my knees beside her.
“Hey, hey, you’re alright. I won’t let anyone hurt you, okay?”
She fell into my embrace, her short hair spiked with perspiration and dirt. Her shoulders trembled as she sobbed.
My eyes teared up instantly.
From her scent, she was human. I relived the terror of being arrested with her—the cramped cage, the helplessness.
I knew the kind of life she’d endured, only to be delivered to a place that wanted her head.
I drew her up, aware of the stares from pack members and the other prisoners. Cage locks clanked loudly as they were released and led off to holding cells.
“What’s your name?” I asked, wiping her tears as they came.
Her voice was a ragged whisper. “I’m Tammy… thank you so much for helping me. Thank you.”
“It’s okay. You’re fine now.”
Eiden, who’d inched closer after Leif left, openly stared at the girl in my arms.
I waved her over.
“Eiden, would you like to be in my service?” I may not want a throng of personal maids, but a few friends would be nice.
Eiden nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, Princess. It’ll be an honor!”
“Take Tammy to my wing, pick a vacant room both of you can share. Then help her clean up and get fed. I can find my way to the healers, and I’ll join you shortly.”
She came forward immediately, taking Tammy’s weight from me.
I watched them both leave, heading back into the fortress. They had the same shade of dark brown hair, but Eiden’s was longer, and Tammy’s cut in a choppy pixie style.
My sense of protectiveness flared in my chest at the way Eiden supported Tammy’s trembling form.
Stone crunched behind me.
Ashar came up to my side, watching the two girls in the distance.
My fists tightened. “Were you really going to allow it? If I hadn’t stepped in, that innocent girl would have died.”
How many people like us had been executed just for coexisting with vampires? And it wasn’t even peaceful coexistence, just one borne of fear and bargain.
“There is a reason people are warned to steer clear, Maeve,” he muttered.
“Don’t you get it? We don’t have a choice! There are evidently two types of vampires as you’ve seen. The sane ones are stronger, but have been on their best behavior in Blackbridge. They even do business and only retaliate when provoked. The ferals are the ones causing unrest. But instead of making that differentiation and protecting everyone in Blackbridge, you punish the humans and weak wolves whose hands are tied!”
I spun to face him directly, eyes slitted. “Even with the increasing feral threat, soldiers only protect District 1, where only a few Ironwolf pack members frequent. What about Districts 2 and 3? You leave them to fend for themselves. Arrests are only made in District 3. Why is that?”
“I don’t know what you want me to tell you…”
“You do. You just don’t have answers. That’s why I’m going to the Alpha.”
“You will not. At least speak to your mate first…”
“As if you can stop me?” I dared.
His face darkened. “It’s for your own good. Don’t court death.”
At that, I balked. Was I seething and ready to tell the Alpha a piece of my mind? Sure. But not at the expense of my life.
I huffed, staring up at the tallest point of Ironwolf fortress. Day after day, the Alpha sat holed up in there, when his Lycan strength could stamp out the feral threat in a single sweep.
He wouldn’t even need the crimson amulet. Why wouldn’t he take it off, even at the risk of insanity?
I clutched my dress again, lifting it off the ground.
“Can you direct me to a healer?”
Ashar scanned me from head to toe. “Are you injured?”
“I’m fine. Just show me the way, please.” I muttered, still pissed.
With a last prodding look of his golden gaze, he turned and began walking ahead of me.
“You don’t have to follow me all the way…”
“You’re a princess consort now. Not a rogue from Blackbridge. Act like it, and enjoy the perks of your new life.”
My chin lifted instinctively at his words.
Moments later, I asked. “Why aren’t you out there fighting ferals?”
“Because I’m here keeping the pack together. The Alpha is out of service, and the commander is power-drunk—as you’ve seen.”
“Right.”
I faced forward again, noting the slight differences between the cottages we passed. The streets were clean. Children ran around the legs of adults. A few shifted wolves of all sizes and colors prowled.
My jaw clenched at the stark difference between Ironwolf and Blackbridge. I’d make sure to change Blackbridge’s fortune, even if it was the last thing I did.
Rogue or not, vampire or human, they deserved a life worth living.
Ashar slowed in front of a larger cottage half hidden in vines. Its porch was crowded with planters overflowing with wild herbs. They hung over the railings, and more dried herbs dangled from the beams. It had a slightly dark air.
“How long will you be?” Ashar leaned against the porch railing, folding his arms.
I shifted my gaze from the house to him. “I shouldn’t be long.”
Then I climbed up and raised my hand to ring the knocker—
The door swung open.
My breath caught.
“You.” The woman sneered, steam wafting out from behind her.
“Who is it?” another familiar voice called from within.
The interior was pitch dark, with only a reddish glow from an immense coal stove.
“It’s the Echo,” the woman in front of me spat.
My brows drew together. Echo?
They’d called me that before…
Just as I parted my lips to speak, the woman’s wiry arm shot out and grabbed mine.
I was pulled into the cottage with shocking force.
The door slammed behind me.