Chapter Seven: The Call

Helena was holding the phone away from her body as if it were a hot coal.

"He is waiting," she said. and he will not wait long."

"Put it on speaker," Adrian instructed.

"Sir, are you sure?"

"Do it, Helena."

Helena pressed the button. A voice came dripping false calm, with an absolute deep slow.

A LONG TIME." Adrian Ashfeld

"Say what you called to say, Corin.

"Straight to business, I heard you had friends over tonight.

But you know you did, and your man wrote me a letter.

"A courtesy," Corin said. "I could've taken the girl too, instead of just warning you, but I didn't."

That is a courtesy you call breaking into my house??? Adrian asked.

"I call it patience, what your father never had too much of. Corin's voice sharpened. One week, Adrian. That's more mercy than what your family ever showed mine.

Mira's chest constricted at the term mercy. Adrian’s jaw was hard like a stone cracker.

Corin: "You will get nothing from me. "NOT the girl, NOT the territory, and NOT one bloody inch of what my family has built," Adrian said.

"You own everything your family has on the back of my father, but you buried him under it. Do NOT talk to me about something that is not yours. Corin said,

"That is not what happened," Adrian cut in.

“Ask Helena, she was there and saw everything happen, all of it. …a cold laugh. Even if you won't, she already knows the truth.”

Adrian's eyes cut to Helena. Helena didn't turn her head, though something in her face paled.

Leave her out of it, Adrian said.

You only call in who you want; that is the difference between us, Adrian. You still believe there are rules to this game. Corin's voice dropped low. "There are none, and there never were."

"Then why call at all?" Mira stepped over to the phone before Adrian could jump in. 

Silence on the other end. "Who is this?" Corin asked.

Mira felt her heart pounding, but she spoke evenly. "You know who this is, the girl you have never dared to threaten.

A slow, pleased laugh echoed from the speaker. "Here she is, braver than I thought. " You never told me your bride had teeth, Adrian.

Adrian spat, "Keep her out of this."

"The moment she spoke to me, she allowed herself to be a part of it." Corin took on a tone that was nearly soothing, and it only made the matter worse. Little bride, he states, "Do you know what you truly mean to me? Or is he still permitting you to believe that this is just about safety?

Mira glanced at Adrian. He did not meet her eyes.

"I know enough," she said.

"Do you?" Corin asked. "Do you know the bond that is growing between you could make him into something even his own pack fears? Are you aware that's the sole reason behind my father's grandson wanting you dead?

"That is a lie," Adrian said.

"Is it?" Corin's voice hardened again. "One week, Ashfeld. Either kill the marriage or see what happens when I lose my patience. I will not warn you twice."

The line went dead.

Out in the study, all was quiet apart from the snapping of the fire in the grate.

Marcus came in with his arms crossed at the door. "He is just trying to spook you. "You do not let him beat you before you even get in the ring."

Adrian said in a tone too quiet for his voice, "He's not just trying to scare me." He is saying the truth, Marcus, and that's the dangerous part of it.

Mira crossed her arms. Then tell me the rest of the story; all of it. No more pieces."

Adrian stared at her for a long moment, and then it was as if something in him broke.

My grandfather did not build the eastern territory alone; he and Corin's grandfather built it. With equal shares, equal risk. Then there was a bloody battle over cash and dignity, until my grandfather shoved the Dravens out the door for good. He took the land, he took the contracts, he got the businesses — everything.

"And it was not theft?" Mira asked.

"It was theft," Adrian said. "Well dressed, though all identical."

Without saying a word, Helena confirmed it more loudly than words could.

Mira took her time with her words. "Well, the Dravens aren't wrong: they actually lost something, and this isn't just an old grudge.

"No," Adrian admitted. "My family never made good on that debt."

"Then pay it," Mira said. "Give them something; talk and do not fight."

Adrian replied with, "That is no longer an option. The person who does not want the deal anymore is Corin. He wants blood; now he wants to make you a part of that revenge.

"Because of the bond?" Mira asked.

"Yes, I could tell it’s because of the bond," Adrian replied. When the bond is done growing, I will be strong enough to carry what my family has forever. There would be no weakness to exploit, and that is the one thing Corin cannot allow.

Mira's mind raced. So the real fight wasn't about land tonight. It was always about stopping me.

"Yes," Adrian replied.

"Then don't hide me," Mira said. "Let me help. Let me be the plan and not the reason you have one.

"Absolutely not," Adrian said immediately.

Adrian reacted viscerally, with his temper flaring for the first time. "It's not your decision to make alone, especially with your life as the price." My father has been in this war long enough, Mira. I will not lose you too."

The room went quiet. Mira's breath caught at the near-violence in his voice.

Marcus's radio at his hip crackled to life before she could respond. He picked it up smartly, perked his ears, and within seconds he was white as a sheet.

"Sir," Marcus said, his voice tight. "You need to hear this."

He turned the volume up. The voice was that of a guard, breathless and panicked.

"Sir, the east gate has fallen. Movement near the old gates, sir, and something else!

"What?" Adrian demanded. "What else?"

The static radio crackled a second longer before the guard spoke again, his voice trembling slightly.

There is a woman at the gate, and she calls your name. Corin’s men brought her, Sir."