Andros put his arm around her. “We’ll find her. There are many ways to die, all of them hard. We are Lycans first, and death by silver is an ugly way to die.”
“You wouldn’t,” Vovo protested.
Andros raised an eyebrow. “You chose your own fate. I know every belief of the Sacred Circle. I am not allowed to hold with any religion, but I must respect them. Lycans always come first, as does the guardianship of the land. But your beliefs are sacred to you, and you believe if the transgression is grievous enough, death by silver is the only viable punishment.”
Andros sounded perfectly reasonable. Compelling. His voice was one that was calm and soothing. He could stop arguments and persuade an entire army to do his bidding. It was true that the Sacred Circle believed in death by silver if the transgression was immoral.
“You cast your vote to have Dimitri die by silver, Vovo. In fact, you were the primary councilor arguing for him to be hung up in front of the others to suffer in agony solely because you believed him to be of mixed blood. That was his transgression. Not because he had committed treason for personal gain, a far worse crime.”
There were murmurs of agreement around the room. Nods. Lada buried her face against Andros’ shoulder.
Afanasiv immediately had a feeling of sickness when he entered the remaining judge’s mind: Rudlof Drozdov. This was no ordinary Lycan sitting on the council of the Sacred Circle. He had been silent, taking everything in, but he was a big part of the conspiracy against Andros and the other royals. He influenced them by using their beliefs and their vanities, anything that worked to get them to turn on the people who protected them.
He sat silently, contemplating how he could keep Andros—or Afanasiv—from realizing he had anything to do with the plot against the royals. He didn’t really believe Afanasiv could read minds. Rudlof was very good at reading body language, and he was certain that waswhat the ancient Carpathian did. He couldn’t possibly have Rudlof’s experience in the military or his discipline. No one did. Certainly not the royal family. They indulged themselves at every turn.
He despised freeloaders. Parasites. They didn’t deserve to be living in a palace. Living off the backs of the people, not when they threw out family members in need. They looked their people in the eye and lied to them. Acted holier-than-thou and condemned others for the very things they did. Throwing away others who worked hard for them and trusted them.
They were betrayers. Royals. He had nothing but contempt for them. Let them condemn him to death by silver. They would never get what they wanted. Never. The sweetest, most beautiful woman in the world couldn’t sway them to do the right thing. How could he? They were evil. They needed to go. To be taken away by the government and put in prison for life. All of them. Even Vasilisa. It was too bad, but she hadn’t lifted a finger to help her own flesh and blood.
Afanasiv kept his features like stone, giving nothing away.Vasilisa, are you sharing my mind? Are you getting any of this? He believes every word. He has utter contempt for all of you. He has gifts, much like Andros. He can use his voice to persuade others, and he has done so. He amplifies what they want and subtly helps them with ideas to get there.
There was silence. He felt her shock.He thinks of my aunt Olga. I see her in his mind. They were lovers. He’s totally in love with her still.
I thought you all had a good relationship with her. You had no idea she was consorting with those in the underworld.
I thought we had a good relationship as well, but clearly, she told him we threw her out and she was penniless.
Afanasiv felt her sorrow. She loved her aunt. It was still difficult for her to believe it was the same woman betraying them all. She wanted to hold out hope that someone had cloned her body.
I know that’s silly, Siv.Her voice dripped with tears, but outwardly, she appeared serene.
My lady, it is your empathy, that endless compassion, your ability to lovethe way you do, that makes me marvel. I am in awe that the universe gave me you.
Afanasiv was sincere. He had known the tremendous pull between lifemates because he had witnessed it between Sandu and Adalasia. He hadn’t known how Vasilisa would make him feel. He was with her now for some time, most of it sharing her mind. He could see her clearly. He could see into the heart of her. The soul of her.
Stop. I love my aunt. My brothers love my aunt. What she has become? The woman she is now? That woman, I don’t know. And, Siv, I feel that same awe that the universe would give you to me.
Right there, that little feedback she gave to him when she didn’t have to, was part of the light she shone onto him. She changed him inside for the better.
“Rudlof.” Vasilisa spoke gently. “I know that you love my aunt.”
“Do not speak of her.”
“I must. We love her, too. The things you believe about us, the things she told you about us, they are not true, and I can prove that to you.”
Rudlof leapt at her from his seat, a shocking move that was all wolf. One moment he was seated, and the next he was teeth and claws, going straight at Vasilisa. Afanasiv met him in the air, his solid form hitting the fully formed wolf so hard it knocked Rudlof to the floor. Afanasiv went down with him, slamming him back as he tried to bounce up with a roar of rage. Afanasiv caught the thick ropes of silver and bound the struggling wolf tight. He pulled him up by his fur and shoved him against the wall.
“If you ever try to touch her again, I will rip out your throat.”
“Is Rudlof part of the conspiracy with the government agents?” Andros asked.
“He influenced the weaker ones, playing on what they wanted for their own gains,” Vasilisa said. “He believes we threw Aunt Olga out penniless into the world. He planted the idea into their heads and then sat back and let them run with it.”
“Who took Alyona?” Andros demanded. “Belka, I am asking you directly. Who took this three-year-old child away from her mother?”
“She was stolen from the play yard.” Belka sobbed, staring at her husband. Her voice had risen to a high-pitched shriek. “They should have watched her closer. They weren’t watching her. She was taken.”
“Enough, Belka,” Vovo snarled. “Stop talking.”