Page 44 (1/2)

"Wait ato usurp Marita?"

"Well," Caia’s voice caught a hold of him like a hand at the back of his neck, "When you put it like that, it sounds crazy"

"Cy" Ryder stood up, his eyes blazing "Are you serious? Are you seriously going to go to the Council and do this?"

At first, Lucien detected the uncertainty in her face, and then she looked at hi what he told her about confidence Her shoulders straightened and she swept her hair back off her shoulders, before retorting coolly, "Yes I’ to be done"

Jaeden snorted, "Oh, yeah cos’ there aren’t any other options here It’s too risky, Caia"

"You would rather I aid Marita in killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people"

"Innocent according to you"

Caia’s eyes softened "It wasn’t a Midnight who attempted to kidnap you And these people aren’t my uncle, Jaeden"

"How dare-"

"I don’t ,a faith - it’s a religion to thehts who are beginning to feel the sa experiet to the I can win this We can win this"

"We?"

Lucien cleared his throat "I’m in this with her, which means the pack is If you don’t want in, you leave the pack"

Ryder grinned at him "Final word of the Alpha, huh? You know I’irl in action My bet is on her"

"Jaeden?" Caia asked tentatively "I know it’s not the war you thought you’d be fighting, it shockedblack and white, but it won’t There are no other options"

He watched Jae as she turned to lock eyes with Ryder Whatever passed between them caused the tension to drain from her body and she turned back to Caia "I can’t believe I’ this but OK I believe you I’et aith this"

Caia nodded, only a slight curve to her uess that means it’s time for me and Lucien to check in on Laila and Vilhel It’s in teeks’ tiuys have done me a favor"

Ryder s cere back to the Center"

Lucien chuckled "Crafty"

"Nice to be of help," Jaeden gruly

Caia ju shut, and turned as Vil slowly entered the sitting rooirl looked much healthier than the last tio so far as to say she looked radiantly happy Ryder and Jaeden reallythe from her to Vil

Vil s she knew, the girl had her delicate ar her close

"Callan" Laila eased away froratitude "There are no words to thank you for what you have done"

Caia’s whole body thruolden peace at Laila’s proxiible quality in her trace fluirl was like sunshine and air, her presence so relaxing and sweet Caia couldn’t believe anyone could ever wish her hared abashedly, considering she now needed a favor fro," shehe would understand At once she felt his war eased It onderful, after weeks of feeling alone, to finally trust soain, Caia" Vil sht have happened to you"

She shook her head "The attack went forith the MacLachlans We dealt with it" She didn’t want to think about that night "You should know that Marita can’t pick up your trace"

The two riuess that means neither of you knohy she can’t"